Monday, January 10, 2005
For Immediate Release
Toronto – Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local Lodge 901 have erected a picket line outside the Protectolite Inc. facility in North Toronto. The strike at the fibreglass products manufacturer occurred when the membership failed to ratify the company’s final offer.
“It comes down to wages and punitive healthcare concession demands,” said IAMAW Business Representative Paul Mitchell. “The membership rejected the initial offer on December 18, 2004, and even with the assistance of a mediator, the company’s final offer still fell short.”
The membership is seeking a three per cent increase in each year of the proposed three-year agreement. The average hourly wage is currently $16.05.
The company has offered no wage increase in the first year, one per cent in the first six months of the second year and one per cent in the last six months of the second year and 2.75 per cent in the third year. The company demanded that members pay 10 per cent of dental and major medical benefits and agree to a three-dollar reduction in prescription dispensing fee coverage. “Any wage gains in the third year are negated by the reduction in benefits coverage. Our members simply wouldn’t go for it,” said Mitchell.
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