ArcelorMittal workers in Quebec sign six-year deal with 26% raise

LONGUEUIL, QUE.—Steelmaker ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada has announced it has signed three collective agreements with its employees from the Contrecoeur-East and Longueuil complexes in Quebec and from administrative offices.

Worker ratification came in a vote on Feb. 27.

The vote puts an end to a worker strike that began on Feb. 2 and enables a return to normal operations at the Contrecoeur East and Longueuil complexes and in the offices as of Feb. 28. The 800 workers are represented by the United Steelworkers.

The new six-year collective agreements covering 2022-2028 offer a wage increase of $9 per hour, which represents a 26-per-cent increase in average wages. This means that by the end of the agreement, the wage at the bottom of the scale will increase from $29.93 to $38.93 per hour. The wage at the top of the scale will rise to $49.92 per hour.

Premium increases could eventually lead to an increase of up to $2 per hour.

The workers’ defined benefit pension plan has increased by $9, including $4 in the first year, from $59 per month per year of service to $68 per month per year of service at the end of the six years.

“We are very proud of the innovations introduced in these collective labour agreements, and we count on each of our employees to continue the development of our company,” stated company CEO Francois Perras in a statement.

“This new contract is a step forward for the industry. It will allow us to attract the new generation and retain all our people, to whom we are particularly grateful despite the conflict.”