Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Huge Wage Increases for VanRooyen Earthmoving Employees

Woodstock, ON—Employees of VanRooyen Earthmoving Ltd., based in Woodstock, voted overwhelmingly in favour of ratifying a three-year collective agreement providing them with huge wage increases as well as numerous other improvements.

The employees are represented by Construction Workers Union, CLAC Local 53. The union has represented them since November 2013.

The new contract provides employees with wage increases ranging between 22 to 33 percent over the term. In addition, if the Operating Engineers Local 793 London ICI provincial agreement provides total package compensation increases of more than 15.5 percent over 3 years, the parties agree to a wage opener in year three of the agreement to maintain competitiveness.

Other improvements include an increase in employer contributions to employees’ pension plan to ten percent, and vacation pay increases to eight percent after ten years’ service. Life insurance payout increases to $80,000 and vision coverage increases to $350. New improvements include a production and retention bonus retroactive to 2022 and the introduction of five paid sick days and three paid days for the birth or adoption of a child. The contract also includes a letter of understanding to establish a diversity and inclusion working group.

“Strategically, the union bargaining committee did things a little differently this time and it paid off,” says Sonya Dean, CLAC representative. “Bringing an agreement like this to the membership was exciting. We were really pleased to see that 94 percent of members voted in favour of this excellent settlement. We’re looking forward to the next three years!”

VanRooyen employs 142 excavator and dozer operators, truck drivers, mechanics, surveyors, and labourers. The company provides excavating and heavy construction services in the residential and ICI (industrial, commercial, and institutional) construction sectors. Most recently, the company has been active in Woodstock, London, Milton, St. Mary’s, Acton, Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge.

Huge Wage Increases for VanRooyen Earthmoving Employees

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