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20 February, 2001After nearly seven months of strike action at the company's nickel-mining operations in Sudbury, union members ratify contract offer.
CANADA: An agreement reached on February 19, 2001, after intensive bargaining between the IMF-affiliated Canadian Auto Workers' union and Falconbridge Ltd., was overwhelmingly ratified on February 20 by the 1,250 production and maintenance workers at the company's nickel-mining operations in Sudbury, Ontario. The bargaining committee of CAW Local 598 - Sudbury Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers' Union - reported that 87 per cent of the ballots cast were in favour of accepting the company's latest offer.
Highlights of the three-year agreement (in Canadian dollars, 1 CAD = 0.65 USD) are:
- a basic pension formula increase to $50, as well as a $3,000 monthly pension after 30 years of service (an increase from $2,700);
- a $0.50/hour wage increase;
- a $0.47 cost-of-living allowance (COLA) fold in from previous contract, and a new $0.10 COLA float;
- a signing bonus of $2,000;
- the Nickel bonus is maintained ($0.01 per hour for every cent the nickel price is over $2.15);
- participation in the Employee Share Savings Plan (for every $1 contributed by the employee, Falconbridge will contribute $0.30);
- an increase to $325 in the vacation bonus (up from $275).
- an increase in the supplemental unemployment benefit (SUB) from $120 per week top up to $175, plus an improvement in the SUB fund to $1 million from $400,000.
Other items in the agreement include three paid personal leave days, an increase in the sickness and accident benefit, and improvements to health, dental and long-term disability plans for both active workers and retirees.
Sudbury workers at Falconbridge went on strike in early August 2000 when talks collapsed for the new three-year contract. It is now expected that the company's Sudbury operations, which produce about 35,000 tonnes of nickel and 45,000 tonnes of copper annually, will return to normal operations within 30 days of ratification of the agreement.
Highlights of the three-year agreement (in Canadian dollars, 1 CAD = 0.65 USD) are:
- a basic pension formula increase to $50, as well as a $3,000 monthly pension after 30 years of service (an increase from $2,700);
- a $0.50/hour wage increase;
- a $0.47 cost-of-living allowance (COLA) fold in from previous contract, and a new $0.10 COLA float;
- a signing bonus of $2,000;
- the Nickel bonus is maintained ($0.01 per hour for every cent the nickel price is over $2.15);
- participation in the Employee Share Savings Plan (for every $1 contributed by the employee, Falconbridge will contribute $0.30);
- an increase to $325 in the vacation bonus (up from $275).
- an increase in the supplemental unemployment benefit (SUB) from $120 per week top up to $175, plus an improvement in the SUB fund to $1 million from $400,000.
Other items in the agreement include three paid personal leave days, an increase in the sickness and accident benefit, and improvements to health, dental and long-term disability plans for both active workers and retirees.
Sudbury workers at Falconbridge went on strike in early August 2000 when talks collapsed for the new three-year contract. It is now expected that the company's Sudbury operations, which produce about 35,000 tonnes of nickel and 45,000 tonnes of copper annually, will return to normal operations within 30 days of ratification of the agreement.