CAW Members at Evraz Camrose Works Ratify New Agreement

CAMROSE, AB, May 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Yesterday evening, on May 24, CAW Local 551 members in Camrose, Alberta voted 80% in favour to accept the tentative agreement reached two days before with Evraz, ending a more than two week long lock-out.

"The overriding factor in agreeing to the settlement wasn't anything do with money, but rather the company agreeing to keep the defined pension plan in the agreement for new hires and the company agreeing to limit supervisors and foreman working outside of the bargaining agreement to hold their seniority rights for only a one year time frame, while previously it was open ended," said CAW National Representative Todd Romanow.

CAW Local 551 President Larry Luckwell went on to say, "Respect and a good relationship are earned, with the way Evraz has treated our members and this community, they have thrown over 50 years of both out the door. Evraz has a long road ahead to win both of these back. One thing is for certain; our members will return to making the best pipe in the world for our customers as we have always done with pride and excellence."

The CAW contract with Evraz expired on February 1, and negotiations had been ongoing since November 2011.  The settlement includes wage and pension increases over the term of the agreement.

CAW Local 551 represents a bargaining unit of 105 workers at Evraz Camrose Works in Camrose Alberta including trades persons, machine operators and labourers.

Evraz located in Camrose, Alberta (previously known as OSM Tubular Camrose) manufactures oil country tubular goods and line pipe for oil and natural gas, all API certified. The company is headquartered in Chicago, Ill., and its manufacturing facilities are located in Portland, Ore.; Regina, Saskatchewan; Pueblo, Colo.; Claymont, Del.; Calgary, Camrose and Red Deer, Alberta; and Surrey, British Columbia. EVRAZ North America is the No. 1 producer of large diameter pipe, the second largest producer of steel plate and the largest producer of rail.

EVRAZ North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of EVRAZ Group S.A., one of the largest vertically integrated steel and mining businesses in the world.

please contact Todd Romanow, National Representative at [phone] or email [email protected]