Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Liftsafe Engineering Employees Overwhelmingly Ratify New Agreement

Ayr, ON—Employees of Liftsafe Engineering & Service Group, based in Ayr, Ontario, voted 93 percent in favour of ratifying a three-year collective agreement providing them with annual wage increases and other improvements.

The employees are represented by Construction Workers Union, CLAC Local 53. The union has represented them since 2006.

The new contract provides employees with a 3.25 percent wage increase in the first year followed by 2.5 percent increases in the second and third years. A special one percent adjustment was negotiated for shop employees. Other improvements include an increase in matching contributions to employees’ retirement savings to three percent, an increase in paramedical coverage to $1,200 annually, an additional day of bereavement leave, and an additional personal emergency leave day. In addition, the boot and safety glasses allowance increases to $500, the tool allowance moves to 100 percent replacement cost, the per diem allowance increases to $60, and the shift premium increases to 1.5 times the hourly rate.

“This round of bargaining had a much different tone,” says Sean Clemens, a crane and hoist specialist and member of the union bargaining committee. “It was refreshing to be able to have honest, respectful, and open conversations where management truly seemed to hear and understand the needs of the members. The union bargaining committee was steadfast in ensuring all members’ needs were brought forward in negotiations and ensured that their voices were heard at the table.”

Liftsafe Engineering is a turnkey solution provider of lifting, material handling, and fall protection systems equipment. The company supplies overhead cranes, jib cranes, and other industrial material handling equipment throughout Ontario. The 57 unionized employees work in a range of classifications including crane and hoist technicians, welders/fitters, millwrights, electricians, and labourers.

Liftsafe Engineering Employees Overwhelmingly Ratify New Agreement

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