STRIKE OVER: THREE YEAR AGREEMENT RATIFIED

Strike over at Teck Cominco: Three-year agreement ratified

Canada NewsWire - Wednesday October 5, 2005

VANCOUVER and TRAIL, BC, Oct. 5, 2005 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- United Steelworkers' Western Canada Director Steve Hunt announced Wednesday evening that members of Locals 480 (1,140 production and maintenance employees) and 9705 (170 office and technical employees) have ratified new, three-year agreements with Teck Cominco Ltd., ending a strike that started July 19. Voter turnout was high, 78 per cent of Local 480 members and 81 per cent of Local 9705 members.

The agreements increase wages by a total of 10 per cent (4, 3 and 3) and each employee, including temporary ones, will receive a lump-sum cash payment of $3,500. That amount will be pro-rated for casual employees.

Pension plans for both groups of unionized employees have been improved, along with other benefit boosts. "This strike was successful in the end because our members did a lot more than just walk the picket line," said Hunt. "They demonstrated at corporate headquarters in Vancouver, put the spotlight on the company's profits from hydroelectric sales, appeared on syndicated talk shows and never let people forget about where Trail is on the economic map of BC."

Hunt said area businesses supported the strikers in different ways, including offering discounts and providing funding for the bus that carried Steelworkers to Vancouver for demonstrations. Lower Mainland Steelworkers provided breakfast for the strikers, who slept over in the Langley union hall, while politicians in the West Kootenays came out to rallies and lifted workers' morale on several occasions.

"Municipal and provincial politicians, along with business people, understand that the economic life of a region relies on people working, and preferably at good-paying union jobs," said Hunt. "Our members support the community when they're working and the community around Trail have paid us back with their support and kindness. That played a huge part in our ability to hang in and get a decent contract settlement.

"Our thanks to everyone who did their part."

SOURCE: United Steelworkers of America

Steve Hunt, (604) 683-1117, (604) 816-2554

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