Unionized Ontario Northland workers with Unifor have officially ratified a new deal with the Crown corporation.
Two weekends ago, Unifor Local 103, the union bargaining committee, unanimously recommended acceptance of a tentative agreement.
That was a big change when union members voted an overwhelming 96.3 per cent in support of strike action.
Since last summer, the bargaining committee has been in discussions with Ontario Northland Transportation Committee (ONTC), striving to address key issues including benefits and wages.
The length and terms of the deal were not disclosed in a Unifor news release.
Some of the highlighted improvements in the new contract are across-the-board wage increases, lump-sum payments, skill trade adjustments, and improved shift premiums and benefits.
“This is a historic agreement the membership of Unifor local 103 has ratified," Jeremy Rodgers, Unifor Local 103's president, told BayToday.
"An agreement like this does not happen without the full support within our union. Our membership, bargaining committee, local executive and national union came together in a show of solidarity.
Rodgers also credits management for helping see these negotiations through.
“I also need to thank Chad Evans, CEO of Ontario Northland, and the rest of the ONTC bargaining committee for identifying the needs of their frontline employees and agreeing to the demands of our membership at the negotiation table.”
Unifor represents more than 420 unionized employees at Ontario Northland Transportation Commission working in clerical, on-board service, hotel staff at Cochrane Station Inn and shops throughout Northern Ontario.
— BayToday
