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Coastal Ford Members Fight To
Gain New Agreement
(October 4,06)
The 79 IAM members of Coastal Ford would
not settle for anything less than a solid
contract, taking twenty days of bargaining proving to their employer they
were a solid
unit.
This round of bargaining has been very
different from the past, a group that was
reluctant to stand up to their employer now fully understands the
importance of the
IAM in their workplace. After an opening offer of 1.25%, 1.25% and 1.5%
from
the company was rejected by 92% the bargaining committee held meetings
with the
members who vowed to stay solid through the process. The Union took a
strike vote
that gave them 100% support and with that the Union served the company 72
hour
strike notice and immediately placed an overtime ban at the two
worksites. When
Union was notified that the company had filed for a lockout notice the
committee sent
a bulletin to all members stating; should they be placed on lockout
notice they are
recommended to remove all their tools from the workplace, upping the
threat of full
work stoppage, (the members never saw a 72 hour lockout notice from the
employer).
The company forced a final offer through
the labour board and immediately after the
results of 96% rejection came back the employees walked off the job for a
study
session. The turning point of negotiations occurred when the employer applied for
mediation but
the committee would only agree to informal mediation allowing for
the overtime band now
in its third week to continue. With that pressure a tentative
agreement was reached
after 10 hours of mediation.
Some of the improvements include:
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2% increase in each of the 3 years with
additional cost of living adjustments
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in the second and third year.
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Required work on Statutory holidays will be on a seniority basis with a
right to refuse.
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Increase premium for first aid attendants
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Job description for Lube tech's
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Specific language around "Menu Pricing" (pre set
hours given to a particular
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repair on a vehicle.
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Specific language and wages for pre apprentice
students including time served
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up to two years applied to their apprenticeship.
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Ratio for Journey persons to apprentices.
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Increase to the minimum hourly guarantee for flat
rate.
with this package the members ratified the agreement by 65%
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Congratulations to the bargaining committee and all the
members at coastal Ford
for their dedication and commitment.
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