WINDSOR, Ontario, March 9, 2016 /CNW/ -- Workers at CS Wind, a wind turbine tower manufacturer, ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with Iron Workers Local 721 Saturday February 6, 2016.
After a 3 year-long organizing effort facilitated by the Ontario Ironworkers District Council, roughly 330 workers ratified their first collect bargaining agreement with their employer, CS Wind. Bargaining lasted just under one month.
Production workers at the company reached out to the Iron Workers Union in the summer of 2012 citing numerous workplace issues. Workers were seeking representation from the Iron Workers to address workplace health and safety issues; fix unfair scheduling of work; correct inequitable wages between employees performing the same work; and to obtain better wages.
Workers voted by a 4 to 1 margin to ratify the agreement.
Randie Stone, an employee active in the organizing effort and now a chief steward says, "Workers at CS Wind and their families are feeling more secure with the new contract. CS Wind management initially fought us, but all of us workers joined to together to demand our dignity and respect. With this contract we'll earn more, have better health and safety protections, and real job security. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with management to make CS Wind the most profitable company out there and with the best trained and qualified workforce."
The Ontario Iron Workers District Council says they are looking forward to working with CS Wind to make the plant into a model for the future of energy industry manufacturing in Canada.
Media contact:
Kevin Bryenton
General Vice President
Ironworkers International Union
ph: 705-748-3099
SOURCE Ironworkers International Union
Share this article