Kingston, ON – Members of IAM Local 54 walked off the job at midnight Sunday and set up picket lines outside the Novelis plant.
“The membership exercised their legal right to reject a tentative agreement presented June 16, 2012 in Kingston Ontario,” said IAM Grand Lodge Representative Bill Shipman.
The 47 members consist of provincially certified millwrights and electricians.
In 2008 the membership settled for a three-year agreement with no wage increase as a sign of good faith and a sincere attempt to strengthen our footprint in the Kingston community.
“The economy was flat and the metal industry was doing poorly,” explained Shipman. “We were dedicated to keeping this plant open and we took the hit.”
But while the Kingston Machinists accepted a zero percent agreement, the employer spent $250 million building a fully integrated mill in nearby Oswego New York. Now other millwrights employed in Kingston are making more money than Novelis workers and there’s concern the Oswego plant will take away work from Kingston.
“Where’s our multi-million dollar investment or some assurance that this plant will last for years to come,” added Shipman
No new bargaining talks are planned at this time. “We’ll go back when there’s something to go back for,” said Shipman.
The Novelis plant, formerly owned by ALCAN, has been part of the Kingston community for more than 70 years. The facility produces specialty and industrial products for marine, transportation and other industrial applications.
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.