Saint-Gedeon-de-Beauce, Que. – August 15, 2016 – UFCW Canada Local 501 members working at the Canam Group plant in Saint-Gedeon-de-Beauce, Quebec have ratified a new collective agreement. The 501 members work as maintenance and machining employees for the largest fabricator of steel components in North America.

As part of the new contract, members will see an average wage increase of 2.25 percent per year. Other highlights of the agreement include:

• Increased employer contributions to the workers’ pension fund;

• The employer will contribute to the FTQ Solidarity Fund at a rate of $5 per week, conditional on the group insurance being amended in June 2017;

• Increased vacation pay for all employees with seven or more years of service;

• A pilot project that will experiment with a new shift-exchanging process.

“We are proud to have a new collective agreement that will improve working conditions for the members at Canam Group,” says Alain Lachaîne, President of UFCW Local 501. “I would like to congratulate the bargaining team for their excellent work during negotiations,” he adds.