Wednesday October 2, 2013
	For Immediate Release
	Crofton, BC – Members of IAM Local Lodge 456 have ratified a new collective agreement with Geo-Tech Inc.
	The three-year agreement provides an immediate 2 per cent wage increase retroactive to May 1, 2013 followed by Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) increases every six months for the remainder of the agreement. Other agreement highlights include :
	• Provision for four day ten-hour work week for shop and field employees
	• Vision care benefit providing eye glasses and frames replacement for employees and insured family members once every two years to a maximum of $300.00
	• Company will pay up to $200.00 every two years toward Prescription Safety Glasses for employees from the OVP Plan
	• A maximum of 80 overtime hours can be banked per year
	• All unused banked hours will be paid out on the last paycheck of the year
	• $20.00 meal allowance paid to employees who work a 12 hour shift or greater
	• Travel Pay will now be indexed
	• Living Out Allowance increased to $60.00/day plus accommodation or $100.00/day without accommodation
	• Family Day added to Statutory holidays 
	• Field Worker Letter Of Understanding
	  Wage Table: Rate of Pay = shop rate + 5.5 per cent
	  Holiday and Vacation Pay: 12 per cent on paycheck
	  Health and Welfare payment raised by $0.47 / hour
	  Field Workers on Permits paid by Employer
	  Employer contribution of 10% Retirement savings to be paid on each cheque
	The 22 members, including field crew on permits, consist of fabricators, welders and machinists. 
	Geo-Tech specializes in all types of custom fabrication and services the pulp and paper, mining, petroleum and chemical industries all over the world.
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	For further information:
	Alistair Haythornwaite – IAM District Lodge 250 Business Representative
	250-360-2505/250-889-8903
	Bill Trbovich – IAM Director of Communications
	416-386-1789 Ext# 6331/416-735-9765
