IAM Local 1120 members ratify agreement after standing strong

07 October, 2020
For Immediate Release

Thunder Bay, ON – Members of IAM Local Lodge 1120 have ratified a new collective agreement with Badanai Motors. The deal comes as a result of a final offer from the employer, removing some key controversial items from their initial demands.

“The employer removed two of their demands from the table: concessions and flat-rate compensation,” explained IAM Local Lodge 1120 Directing Business Representative Pete Topetto. “The flat-rate language was the most contentious part – our members want to be fairly compensated for their work, and it showed in their resolve.”

Flat-rate compensation means workers get paid by the job no matter how long it takes. An hourly wage means they get paid according to the time it takes to get that job done.

The three-year agreement provides a wage increase of 7 percent over the life of the contract. Other agreement highlights include an increase in pension contributions, improvement in benefits and updated language for the collective agreement.

“Another win for the members is the agreement from the employer to pattern bargaining, where their contract will reflect the prevailing rates and conditions of dealerships in Thunder Bay. If there are better contracts, we will be able to match them,” said Topetto.

The 20 members at Badanai Motors include mechanics, body men, painters, parts personnel, shippers and receivers, truck drivers, lot porters, installers and lube technicians. The IAM represents workers at six auto dealerships in Thunder Bay and Nipigon.

The IAM represents more than 1,500 members at auto and truck dealerships on Vancouver Island, the lower mainland of British Columbia, Edmonton, Calgary, Fort Frances, Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Sault Ste. Marie, Markham, Toronto, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador.

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For further information:
Pete Topetto – IAM Local Lodge 1120 Directing Business Representative
807-475-4779/807-251-0600

Frank Saptel – Communications Representative, IAM Canada
fsaptel@iamaw.org
(416 579-0481