Last month, over 200 trades workers in the Fort McMurray area ratified a new contract with their employer, SMS Equipment. The previous contract between these workers and their employer expired in April 2023.
SMS Equipment is based out of Acheson, Alberta, but has locations throughout Canada (and two in Alaska). The company is a heavy equipment dealership, specializing in equipment for the construction, forestry, and mining industries, including oil and gas.
The new 3-year contract includes a 11.5% wage increase during the life of the contract. Broken down by year, it looks like this:
| 1 May 2023 | 4.5% |
| 1 May 2024 | 3.5% |
| 1 May 2025 | 3.5% |
Technically, the raise over the life of the contract is set to be 11.94%, once you account from each raise accumulating on top of the previous raise.
There were no other details made available regarding gains in the new contract.
According to Alberta’s collective bargaining agreement database, this new contract will affect 462 workers, which include various tradespeople, including painters, mechanics, carpenters, crane operators, welders, machinists, electricians, millwrights, and parts persons, as well as drivers, warehouse workers, and various apprentices.
The ratification vote occurred between 11 and December 2023. Of the 454 eligible voters, 436 submitted ballots. Those in favour of ratification numbered 240, or 55.56%, while only 190 voted against and 4 abstained.
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