The union representing more than 200 employees at Arconic Corp. in Lethbridge, Alta. has ratified a four-year collective agreement that protects the defined benefit pension plan currently in place.
“Local 99 members showed great commitment to fairness in the face of [threats to] their pension plan,” said Justin Araki, Local 99 president, in a press release. “This agreement would not have been possible without the solidarity of the membership and the support of expert staff from Unifor.”
Read: Hilton, Unifor agreement includes retirement, benefits enhancements
Unifor also ratified a three-year agreement for more than 2,000 VIA Rail Canada Inc. employees. The collective agreement includes enhanced benefits, improved contract language and significant wage increases in each year of the agreement.
Wages will increase by 5.5 per cent retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022 and then by 3.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent in the following years, respectively. Skilled trades will see an immediate trade adjustment of $1.25 effective Jan. 1, 2022 and another adjustment of $0.75 on Jan. 1, 2023.
Read: HBC Logistics, Unifor agreement includes benefits gains