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A small but feisty group of USW Local 8646 members has reached a very positive new collective agreement after overcoming a lockout amid wind-chill temperatures exceeding -50 C.

The 10 members of Local 8646, employed by the Northern Workers Union in Yellowknife, NWT, have negotiated a fair and equitable collective agreement featuring a new job evaluation system. The workers – five men and five women – coped with the extreme weather during the December lockout by rotating one-hour shifts on the picket line.

In addition to winning a job evaluation system with comprehensive job descriptions and an appeal/review process, the USW members negotiated wage increases of 10% over three years (4, 3 and 3) and improved benefits and leave provisions.

“All our members wanted was a decent collective agreement,” said USW District 3 Staff Representative Jeff Kallichuk. Both sides are now looking to build a positive relationship in the workplace and putting the dispute behind them, Jeff said.

The bargaining unit includes staff representatives, an education officer, a secretary, administrative assistant, public relations representative, membership secretary and financial secretary.