Employees gain wage increases, better control over working conditions: USW
New members of the United Steelworkers (USW) at an Ottawa-area manufacturing plant approved their first-ever contract that guarantees significant wage increases, benefits, seniority and improved hours of work.
Workers at Power Precast joined USW in February and they now have a collective agreement with wage increases ranging from three per cent to 18 per cent, as of April 1, with the average being a 7.3-per-cent wage increase. Workers will receive another three per cent increase in the second year of a two-year contract, said the union.
“This is a great step forward for workers in an industry that is vital to public and private infrastructure projects,” said Marty Warren, USW Ontario Director.
The agreement guarantees benefits, a retirement plan, seniority and other rights, according to USW.
Power Precast Solutions’ workers manufacture custom and standard drainage components, as well as components for bridges, underground electrical products, precast products for roads and highways and products for transit infrastructure.
USW represents 225,000 men and women working in every sector of Canada’s economy.
