Westward Electric Employees Unanimously Ratify New Contract

Fort McMurray, AB—Employees of Westward Electric Site Services unanimously ratified a 32-month collective agreement providing them with a significant wage increase and other improvements.

The employees are represented by Construction Workers Union, CLAC Local 63. The union has represented the employees since June 2019.

The new contract provides employees with a 4.46 percent increase to their base wage rate, bringing their hourly wage to $44.25. In addition, a wage review will be conducted prior to February 1, 2023, the night-shift premium was increased from $2.25 to $3.00 per hour, and the dual-ticket premium was increased from $1 to $2 per hour. Other improvements include all breaks paid when working a maintenance schedule with compressed work hours, the addition of a carpenter classification, introduction of the use of an oral swab for alcohol and drug testing, $300 toward laser eye surgery, and a new rain gear allowance (50 percent coverage up to $200). The settlement also includes the adoption of CLAC Training’s new training model, which provides employees with direct access to 34 core training courses. In addition, training time for required new or expiring tickets will be paid.

“This is an excellent agreement for our members that provides them with a significant wage increase as well as many other needed improvements,” says Izzy Huygen, CLAC representative. “The union bargaining committee did a thorough job in identifying the needs of the membership. The new contract keeps members’ wages in line with other contractors while ensuring that their employer remains competitive in securing new work.”

Westward provides services to the industrial and commercial sectors in the Fort McMurray region.