Friday April 13, 2007
For Immediate Release
St. Thomas, ON – Members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1975 have a new three-year collective agreement with GKN Sintered Metals.
“This agreement didn’t come easily and I commend the members of the bargaining team for making some tough decisions,” said IAMAW District Lodge 184 Directing Business Representative Brad Brereton. “GKN wanted to reinvest in a facility and the committee members made sure the company looked no further than St. Thomas. As a result we have secured a long term commitment from GKN with years of job security for our members.”
The agreement includes a wage freeze in the first year, a 2 per cent lump sum payment in the second year and a 2 per cent wage increase across the board for all classifications in the third year. Other agreement highlights include:
- Increased deductibles on benefits in the first year
- $1.00 employee cost per prescription for the life of the agreement
- $150.00 lump sum payments to both Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit pension plans in the second year
- $500.00 lump sum payment to each member in the third year
- Additional $25.00/year of service to any member who retires during life of the agreement
“GKN were looking a total expenditure of $10 million including renovations for three new pieces of machinery to make the St. Thomas operation a High Tonnage, High Priority Facility,” explained Brereton. “In order to gain this expenditure, the membership ratified several language changes beneficial to the operation of the expanded facility including the possible introduction of a Continental work week. The company also agreed that the union must agree to any changes concerning a Continental work schedule prior to their implementation.”
Local Lodge 1975 represents 11 office staff and 114 hourly employees at GKN which manufactures transmission gears for the auto industry.
For further information:
Brad Brereton – IAMAW District Lodge 184 Directing Business Representative
519 - 631-1180/519-636-5006
Bill Trbovich – IAMAW Director of Communications
416-386-1789 ext 31/416-735-9765
