Hamilton, June 6, 2013 – G4S workers in Ontario ratified a new labour agreement on May 29. The roughly 500 workers represented by Teamsters Union Locals 419 and 879 voted overwhelmingly (90%) in favour of this collective agreement, which will run until 2016.
Besides obtaining significant wage improvements, workers will also see their pensions increase A number of non-monetary clauses were also improved.
“This labour agreement allows workers to choose whether to take their 85 cents wage increases in cash (for years 2 and 4) or they get a lump sum payment they can cash or add to their pension (for years 1 and 3),” explained Jim Chalmers of Teamsters Union Local 879. “It’s an original approach that satisfies both younger and older workers.”
The negotiations, which began in April and involved several meetings, were co-chaired by Owen Lane of Local Union 419 and Jim Chalmers, who is also the director of Teamsters Canada’s Armored Cars Division. Stewards Carlo Andrade, Faheem Bhatti, Craig McLaughlin, Joey Labelle, Peter Lemaitre, Garnet Caswell, Derek Fuller, Sean Broumpton and Scott Garbett made an invaluable contribution at the bargaining table.
“Unions have to find creative ways to meet worker expectations and needs,” added Owen Lane. “Based on our members’ response, I’d say we delivered the goods.”
G4S operates in the cash processing and armoured cars industry.
The Teamsters represents 115,000 members in Canada in all trades. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.
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Information:
Stéphane Lacroix, Director of Communications, Teamsters Canada
Mobile: 514-609-5101
Office: 450-682-5521 x236
Email: [email protected]
