New Agreement for ABB Ber-Mac Employees

DATE: December 05, 2011

Calgary—Following a three-week negotiation process, members of Construction Workers Union, Local 63, employed by ABB Ber-Mac voted strongly in favour of ratifying a renewed 24-month collective agreement.

The new contract provides an immediate wage increase of between 2 and 4.5 percent, as well as improved vacation and general holiday pay, night shift and on-call premiums, and winter clothing allowances. A follow-up wage review is scheduled for 2012.

“This agreement provides solid increases for our members,” says Izzy Huygen, Alberta representative. “It also gives the employer an opportunity to attract and retain qualified employees as Alberta braces for an anticipated labour shortage.”

ABB Ber-Mac employees represented by Local 63 are electricians and instrumentation technicians, both journeypersons and apprentices, who manufacture, maintain, and install specialized electrical and instrumentation equipment, particularly for the oil and gas industries.