After two weeks of being on strike, Tembec workers are back on the job today after signing a four year deal with the company.
Local 233 President Roger Gauthier was jubilant by what he saw as a win for the union.
“I don’t think the company thought we had the testicular fortitude to do it. They didn’t think it was going to happen,” he told BayToday about being forced out on strike.
"When you look at the final offer they gave us, it was rejected by 94% with a strike mandate. When they gave us what we wanted, which wasn’t ridiculous by any stretch of the imagination, it passed by 97.16%. So we’ve always had very strong support from our members.”
Gauthier describes the mood of his members as “very positive”.
It was Gauthier’s third set of contract negotiations, and he hopes he won’t have to do a fourth. “I’ve done my share,” he said.
He says five keys thing got accomplished.
• Progressive discipline: “Someone shouldn’t necessarily get suspended for a month for a first offence. We have a chart established, so depending on the offence, it shows the discipline deserved. That was very important for us, our number one priority.”
• Company not respecting the labour agreement: “Now there are consequences if the company does not respect the agreement. For example, with a grievance, the company will have to set up a meeting within a certain time, or the grievance will be considered won by the union.
• Security of employment: “Our job security clause says nobody other than union people can do union work.”
• Following the industry pattern of salary increases: “We’re looking at 2% annually on the four year contract, vacation pay going back up to 2.4%, and a signing bonus of $1,000.”
• The claw back of some concessions the union gave in 2010.
Gauthier also gave a lot of credit to the townspeople for their support.
“The restaurants were feeding us regularly, delivering pizzas and never once charged us a cent. It was really a united group we had behind us. I never felt so supported in my life. We came back Tuesday from Gatineau with a tentative agreement and there were hundreds of people waiting for us at the bridge.”
Workers were back on the job today, with the last due back Monday.
Gauthier says over four days, they negotiated for over 60 hours.
“Everybody’s happy.”
