Machinists Ratify New Deal with Strongco!

Edmonton, AB – Members of IAM Local Lodge 1722 have ratified a new collective agreement with Strongco Corporation by a margin of 97 per cent.
The three-year agreement provides wage increases in the first year of 9 per cent for service personnel and 11 per cent for parts personnel, 6 per cent in the second year for both groups and 4 per cent in the third year for both groups. The agreement also provides a Cost of Living Allowance clause (COLA) in the third year if the cost of living exceeds 4 per cent in the city of Edmonton.
Other agreement highlights include :
• Increased seniority provisions
• Severance provisions have been doubled
• Benefits for retirees
• Retro pay
• Increased pension contributions
• Increased holidays
• Increased Dental Benefits
• Increased Short Term Disability Benefits
• Increased Life Insurance Benefits
“This agreement reflects how well Strongco has been performing over the past three years,” explained IAM District Lodge 14 Business Representative Kevin Clark. “We went into bargaining with approximately 123 demands and we walked out satisfied on close to 120 of them. I would say our members are extremely happy with this agreement.
The 75 members consist of mechanics (shop, field and residents), apprentice mechanics, labourers, drivers, shipper receivers, and warehouse and parts department personnel employed at six Strongco locations in Alberta.
Strongco sells; rents and services equipment used in the construction, infrastructure, mining, oil and gas, utilities, waste management and forestry sectors.
The IAM, among the largest industrial trade unions in North America, represents more than 700,000 active and retired members, and administers more than 5,000 contracts in transportation, woodworking, aerospace, manufacturing, healthcare and defense related industries.