Thursday February 12, 2009
For Immediate Release
Flin Flon, MB – The 200 members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1848 have ratified a new three-year collective agreement and avoided binding interest arbitration with Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting.
“We were fortunate to reach an agreement and thus avoid the Interest Arbitration process this time around in light of the current economic situation that both primary and secondary manufacturing are facing right now,” explained IAMAW Grand Lodge Representative Brian Short. “When you add the uncertainty of a third party establishing wages and benefit levels based on these economic times, I applaud the negotiating Committee for their hard work to get an offer they were comfortable with bringing back to the membership for ratification.”
The new agreement provides wage increases of 2.5 per cent in each year. Other agreement highlights include :
• Pension benefit increased by $4.50/month/year of service over the life of the agreement
• Underground mine bonus paid to apprentices restored to 100 per cent
• Improvements made in other benefit areas
“I think it is also imperative to thank the rank and file membership for the support they gave their bargaining committee throughout the process,” added Short. The membership ratified the new deal by a 74 per cent margin.
Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting operates copper and zinc mines in Flin Flon and Snow Lake, Manitoba along with a copper smelting and zinc processing operation.
For Immediate Release
Flin Flon, MB – The 200 members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1848 have ratified a new three-year collective agreement and avoided binding interest arbitration with Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting.
“We were fortunate to reach an agreement and thus avoid the Interest Arbitration process this time around in light of the current economic situation that both primary and secondary manufacturing are facing right now,” explained IAMAW Grand Lodge Representative Brian Short. “When you add the uncertainty of a third party establishing wages and benefit levels based on these economic times, I applaud the negotiating Committee for their hard work to get an offer they were comfortable with bringing back to the membership for ratification.”
The new agreement provides wage increases of 2.5 per cent in each year. Other agreement highlights include :
• Pension benefit increased by $4.50/month/year of service over the life of the agreement
• Underground mine bonus paid to apprentices restored to 100 per cent
• Improvements made in other benefit areas
“I think it is also imperative to thank the rank and file membership for the support they gave their bargaining committee throughout the process,” added Short. The membership ratified the new deal by a 74 per cent margin.
Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting operates copper and zinc mines in Flin Flon and Snow Lake, Manitoba along with a copper smelting and zinc processing operation.
