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ST. CATHARINES, Nov. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - A two-week strike at Industrial Management Group in Niagara on the Lake is over after Unifor Local 199 reached a tentative agreement with the employer that was ratified by the membership.
"It was the significant union response to support our fair demands and defend the picket line from the employer's attempts to gain access that made a real difference," said National Representative Doug Orr. "Unifor is pleased to report that a settlement was reached after the employer returned to the table for a full day of bargaining."
Workers at Industrial Management Group, previously Seneca Manufacturing, voted overwhelmingly in favor of the agreement reached yesterday. The deal includes immediate payment of lost wages withheld by the employer, as well full settlement to the outstanding arbitration and Labor Relations Board rulings. The agreement will see up to half of the 14 workers return to work beginning Wednesday after being on strike since November 13.
The agreement allows for the terms of the current collective agreement to be enforced month to month, as well as a continued relationship with the employer's current customers into 2017 as it looks for new investment. The company makes hinges for Multimatic in Concord and front end components for THK, formerly TRW, in St. Catharines.
"The very difficult labor strike and Unifor's response could never have been achieved without the outpouring of support of so many union activists from all over the province day or night," Orr said.
Local President Greg Brady said support from the Niagara on the Lake community was also instrumental.
"The Bargaining Committee would also like to acknowledge the people of the community for their generosity to the picket line over the two week work stoppage, as well as MPP Wayne Gates and his staff for their support," Brady said.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged.
SOURCE Unifor
