A new contract agreement Aug. 28 brought an end to a 55-day strike at the Simplot Canada fertilizer plant in Brandon, Man.
Members of the United Steelworkers of America Union (Local 7184) voted Friday to accept a four-year contract with the company. The deal will see their wages increased five percent in the first year, four percent in the next two years, and three percent in the final year.
The strike began July 5 after negotiations between management and the union reached an impasse and more than 190 workers walked off the job.
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The company continued to operate seven days a week during the strike. Simplot was able to supply its customers, said company spokesperson Reid Lumbard. Some maintenance work was postponed.
There was strong support for the latest contract offer, with 128 union members voting in favor. Not everyone who was eligible to vote did so.
“The guys were ready to go to work,” said Wayne Moyer, president of Local 7184. “It was long enough.”
Unionized workers returned to work Monday evening, Aug. 31, for production and Tuesday morning, Sept. 1, for maintenance.
The last strike at the Simplot plant was in 1986. It ended after four weeks.
