Workers sign new agreement at Lounsbury Automotive in Bathurst, N.B.

Also added new members to bargaining unit: IAM

Workers sign new agreement at Lounsbury Automotive in Bathurst, N.B.
The new three-year agreement provides wage increases of nine per cent over the life of the agreement, said the union. GOOGLE STREET VIEW

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Local Lodge 2418 signed a new collective agreement on April 19 with Lounsbury Automotive in Bathurst, New Brunswick, and added three additional members to the unit.

“The collective agreement had expired at the end of January so instead of applying to the labour board to amend the certification, we decided to seek voluntary recognition at the bargaining table,” said Rick Arsenault, IAM grand lodge representative. “When the employer resisted, we as a committee told them we were suspending negotiations so we could go apply to amend the certification to include the service advisors. The employer reconsidered and we were successful in negotiating the service advisors into the new agreement."

A request for voluntary recognition of three service advisors into the local and the current collective agreement was initially rejected by the employer, according to IAM.

The new three-year agreement provides wage increases of nine per cent over the life of the agreement, said the union.

Other agreement highlights include an increased safety boot allowance, an increased tool allowance, improved bereavement leave, improved clothing allowance and a signing bonus of $400 in lieu of retroactive pay, said the IAM.

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