New collective agreement includes wage increases making Delta employees the highest-paid in Canada.
TORONTO and MONTREAL, July 24, 2018 /CNW/ - The best pay rates in the industry are among significant improvements in a new collective agreement achieved by United Steelworkers (USW) members working at Delta Airlines operations in Canada.
USW Local 1976 members approved the new, five-year contract in ratification votes held across Canada this month. The contract covers more than 300 Delta employees at airports across the country, including ticket and gate agents, baggage handlers and ramp workers.
"This contract represents a great achievement for our members and for our bargaining committee," said Steven Hadden, President of USW Local 1976.
"With the solidarity and support of our membership, the bargaining committee achieved meaningful contract improvements while also defending our members' defined-benefit pension plan and contracting-out language that maintains job security."
The new, five-year collective agreement provides a 4.5% wage increase this year, to be followed by increases of 3.5% in 2019 and 3% in each of the last three years of the contract, making Delta employees the highest-paid in Canada.
Approximately 50% of the employees covered by the collective agreement also will receive additional wage increases in the contract's first year, to address disparities in pay rates in some job classifications. These employees will receive wage increases ranging from 13% to 16% this year.
Other gains in the new collective agreement include increases in shift premiums and improved vision care and paramedical coverage.
"This is a solid collective agreement that recognizes the key contributions the members of Steelworkers Local 1976 make at Delta Airlines," said USW Canadian Director Ken Neumann. "The hard work and excellent customer service that our members bring to their jobs each day are vital to the company's success."
SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)
Ken Neumann, USW National Director, 416-544-5951; Steven Hadden, President, USW Local 1976, 514-526-8280; Troy Lundblad, USW Staff Representative, 416-544-5947, [email protected]; Denis St. Pierre, USW Communications, 416-544-5990, 647-522-1630, [email protected]
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