USW Local 6285 members, who work at the Tacora Resources mine in Wabush, N.L., have a new five-year contract with several improvements in working conditions.
The new contract covers 271 employees at the iron ore mine, including mine operators, plant operators and maintenance staff. Over the course of their contract, they will see a 24.5% wage increase, starting with 12.5% in the first year, followed by 3% each of the remaining years. Almost 60% of the membership consists of young and new workers, under 35 years old.
“This new contract will provide a big economic boost to the Wabush economy and these union jobs will give workers and their families opportunity and the ability to remain in their community,” said Myles Sullivan, USW District 6 Director (Ontario and Atlantic Canada).
The collective agreement also improves workers’ vacation allowances, retirement plan, shift premiums, contract language and other multiple monetary allowances. The agreement will also now allow a paid, full-time union president who will be able to assist members and carry out day-to-day union business on behalf of members.
The United Steelworkers union represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.
Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of our strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation – including good wages, benefits and pensions.
Share on Facebook
