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EAR FALLS — Officials with the union representing municipal workers in Ear Falls say employees overwhelmingly voted in favour of a new three-year deal that guarantees wage increases and improvements to other benefits.
In a media release issued on Monday, Unifor Local 324 said members voted 91 per cent in favour of the deal, which will run from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2028. Officials said it includes a combined 14 per cent pay increase over that period (with eight per cent of that in the first year), a $500 signing bonus, improvements to eyeglass and orthodontic coverage and boot and uniform allowances.
The union also highlighted “improved language related to floaters, vacation, sick leave, scheduling and standby allowance,” according to the release.
Katrina Peterson, the president of Unifor Local 324, was quoted as saying she commended the work done by bargainers “in securing solid monetary and language improvements for our municipal members in Ear Falls.”
“This new deal builds upon our already solid relationship with the Township of Ear Falls, but most importantly, it addresses the high cost of inflation that impacted our members and their families."
Part-time employees will also be eligible for Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System pension coverage, the release said.
“Unifor members at the Township of Ear Falls were very pleased with the key monetary and language gains secured in this new three-year contract,” Stephen Boon, Unifor’s northern area director, was quoted as saying.
“Unifor has been successful at achieving significant wage increases across the region's forest sector over the last three years and we are pleased to see similar improvements now being replicated in other sectors across Northwestern Ontario.”
