Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Viewcon Construction Employees Ratify New Contract

Woodstock, Ontario—Employees of Viewcon Construction Ltd., based in Woodstock, Ontario, voted 86 percent in favour of ratifying a three-year collective agreement providing them with annual wage increases, retirement savings increases, and many other improvements.

The 24 employees are represented by Construction Workers Union, CLAC Local 53. The union has represented them since April 2018.

The new contract provides employees with wage increases of $1.25 per hour in year one, $1 per hour in year two, and 80 cents per hour in year three. Employer contributions to employees’ retirement savings increased to 10 percent. Other improvements include increases to the boot and tool allowances of between $100 and $150 depending on classification, a 10 cents per kilometre increase to the mileage rate, a $10 per day increase to the per diem allowance, a $1 per hour increase to the shift premium, and vacation increases to 8 percent after 10 years and 10 percent after 15. In addition, bereavement leave increases by one day for immediate and extended family, vision coverage increases to $350, and life insurance/AD&D payout increases to $60,000. Dental coverage was also improved.

“This round of negotiations saw the union bargaining committee achieve wide-ranging improvements not only to wages but to many other areas of the collective agreement,” says Sonya Dean, CLAC representative. “These improvements were much appreciated by the membership who voted overwhelmingly in favour of ratification. The contract is not only an excellent one for our members, but it will also help the employer attract and retain workers in an increasingly competitive labour market.”

Viewcon Construction primarily does sewer and watermain excavating in Woodstock and the surrounding region. Employees work as truck drivers, equipment operators, labourers, pipe layers, welders, and topman.

Viewcon Construction Employees Ratify New Contract

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