SAINT-EUSTACHE, Que. – United Steelworkers/Syndicat des Métallos members at the Forterra water pipe manufacturing plant in Saint-Eustache have ratified a good collective agreement, negotiated in challenging circumstances.
The new contract provides for wage increases of 3% in the first year, 2.75% and 2.5% in the second and third years, respectively.
“The company is not at its strongest right now and we’re very pleased with the increases given the circumstances,” said Patrick Rousseau, Steelworkers Local 6425 President.
In addition to the general wage increases, the contract includes additional wage adjustments and improvements to the group RRSP and shift premiums.
“There has been a modernization of the pay scale and classifications have been merged, resulting in an additional wage increase for a portion of the workers,” said Steelworkers North/Northwest Region Co-ordinator Benoît Locas.
The United Steelworkers/Syndicat des Métallos, affiliated with the FTQ, is the largest private-sector union in Quebec, representing more than 60,000 workers in all economic sectors.