The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor The new contract between Hudbay and United Steelworkers Local 7106 delivers workers a cumulative raise of nine per cent over three years. The contract, a copy of which was obtained by The Reminder through a source outside the union executive, gives Steelworkers raises of three per cent each year, among other improvements. Over the life of the deal, each employee will see an extra $4.50 added to his or her base pension for each month of service to the company. Through bridging, another $1 per month of service will be added to the pensions of those who retire before they collect Old Age Security. When they start collecting OAS, the bridging payments cease. The contract also grants workers eye exams and improved dental coverage. They further receive up to $150 a year for chiropractor services and/or orthotics and/or massage therapy on a 50 per cent coverage basis. Long-standing concern Retroactive to Jan. 1 and ending on Dec. 31, 2014, the deal also addresses a long-standing concern of the union: Hudbay's policy on hiring contractors. Hudbay 'agrees to have their department representatives meet with the union on a monthly basis concerning contracting out,' states the contract. 'A significant purpose of these meetings is to have meaningful discussions on contracting out issues including but not limited to any potential movement of manpower and other issues to assist in the alleviating of contracting out.' As well, the deal bars 'any strike, sit-down, slow-down or any suspension of work' on the workers' behalf and 'any lockout in the Flin Flon and Snow Lake areas' on the company's behalf. See 'Profit...' on pg. 6 Continued from pg. 1 The contract maintains the profit-sharing agreement between employees and Hudbay. Ten per cent of the company's after-tax earnings will be shared with full-time hourly and salaried employees, with no cap on payments. It also commits Hudbay to hiring an employee who will 'participate in the development of manpower requirements necessary to facilitate the closure of Trout Lake Mine and Chisel North Mine and the opening of Lalor Mine, Reed Mine and 777 North Mine.' Procedures to be discussed will include employee bumping and layoffs, training requirements and cost-effective work procedures, among others. The employee must be acceptable to both the company and the union. Other changes in the contract include: An employee who works in Snow Lake but does not live in subsidized company accommodations will receive a premium of $2.50 in addition to his or her basic rate for each straight-time hour worked. That's up from 35 cents an hour. A steady day worker called out within 10 hours of his or her next scheduled shift, as long as this occurs between midnight and 4 a.m., will receive an additional payment of $50, up from $25. The company will provide transportation to outlying mines to all employees called out. If the employee must use his or her own vehicle, Hudbay will pay an allowance of 40 cents per kilometre, up from 25 cents.
