New Contract Provides Unprecedented Increases for Valley Mechanical Employees

Scarborough, ON—Local 52 plumbers, fitters, and welders employed by Valley Mechanical Inc., based in Scarborough, ratified a three-year collective agreement providing unprecedent increases to the compensation package. The journeyperson wage rate will increase by $3.75 per hour, followed by subsequent raises of $1.32 per hour and $1.36 per hour.

In addition, employer pension contributions will increase substantially over the life of the agreement, and benefits coverage will improve significantly. The foreperson and lead hand rates will also increase, as will the travel and live-out allowances. Weekend overtime was improved. A paid parental day, and paid days for illness or emergency, were also introduced for this group of skilled workers.

The parties also agreed to restructure the pay system for Valley’s apprentices, with huge benefits for Local 52 members early in their career. The biggest adjustments are to first-term apprentices ($4.40 per hour increase in 2022) and second-term apprentices ($4.95 per hour increase in 2022). The union also negotiated additional vacation pay for employees with more than four years of employment with Valley.

“Our bargaining committee worked hard to find an agreement that will work for everyone,” says Robert Brink, representative. “The employer saw what was necessary to attract and retain an excellent workforce, and so the company’s interests aligned well with the workers’ desire to see big increases in compensation. This is a great settlement that sets the workers and the company on an excellent path going forward.”

The members employed by Valley have been represented by Local 52 since 2016. They work in the GTA and throughout Ontario, often on commercial projects related to the production and storage of food products.