By Jim Selby, AFL Staff

Calgary – Members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 6034 have voted to accept a new contract with Caradon Indalex West in Calgary, ending their seven-week strike on August 2, 1999.

"We’re really happy with the agreement," said Bargaining Committee Chairperson, Glen Jack. "It’s a five year agreement with a three per cent wage increase in each year. We won improvements to our health & welfare and pension benefits. We increased our vacation entitlements and our union leave provisions, and improved our discipline and occupational health & safety language."

The members voted 76% in favour of the new agreement, and 65 of the original 84 strikers are scheduled to return to work on Tuesday, August 3, 1999.

According to Glen Jack, the strike was very well organized. "We had good attendance on the picket line and a real sense of solidarity," he said. "There was a real high spirit throughout the strike." The union had very active strike committees – particularly the ‘good deeds’ committee, which actively raised money for the Children’s Hospital during the strike.

The Local appreciated the support they received from the rest of the labour movement during the strike. "We had excellent support from the Alberta Federation of Labour, the Calgary Labour Council and many affiliated unions,’ said Jack. "Our food bank always had something for every member every week. We also really appreciated it when people like Les Steel (AFL Secretary-Treasurer) walked our line."

In an interesting experiment, the employer and union agreed to refer all unresolved issues to a labour-management relations committee. The committee will be meeting over the next fourteen days, facilitated by labour lawyer Andy Sims, in an effort to resolve disputes over problematic issues like the union’s proposal for duty to accommodate and the employer’s TQM program.

Meanwhile, the workers, who have been on the picket line since June 13, 1999, are back on the job.