Canadian Labour Reporter

Quebec steelworkers agree to tentative deal SEPT-ÎLES, Que. – The nego- tiating committee representing 2,500 members of the United Steelworkers (USW) in Port- Cartier, Fermont and Fire Lake in Quebec reached a tentative agreement on a new collective agreement April 12 with Arce- lorMittal Mines Canada. Less than a week after contract negotiations suddenly broke off, bargaining resumed in the pres- ence of mediator Jean Nolin and a tentative deal was reached. The agreement will be submitted to a ratification vote by union mem- bers in coming weeks, says USW. No details of the tentative agreement will be released until terms of the agreement are pre- sented to the membership, says the union. Montreal longshore workers strike MONTREAL — The Syndicat des débardeurs du port de Mon- treal (Canadian Union of Pub- lic Employees (CUPE), Local 375) issued a notice of a partial strike on April 10 in response to a notice from the employer that announced they would be sus- pending the job security provi- sions in the collective agreement effective April 13. "Last Friday following a good week of negotiations where the work was going well, we were surprised to receive a notice from the employer, informing us that in 72 hours, they would be exercising their lockout rights," says Michel Murray, CUPE na- tional representative. In response to this notice, the union responded with a notice of a partial strike on April 10. Long- shore workers will not be work- ing overtime and will not extend their shifts beyond the regular eight hours. In addition, workers will begin striking on Saturdays and Sundays indefinitely, says the union. Day, evening and night shifts from Monday to Friday will be worked normally. "This way, we are putting pres- sure on the employer without disrupting clients who are await- ing their goods. We still believe in negotiations and are eager to return to the table," says Murray. Kingston, Ont. school bus drivers sign contract KINGSTON, Ont. — School bus drivers in Kingston, Ont. rat- ified a new collective agreement on April 8 in the midst of a pan- demic that recognizes their ser- vices with wage increases each year and emergency leave days. "These members are truly among the heroes of the pandem- ic. Every day they safely transport students back and forth to school, and ensure that the buses are san- itized and safe for the children on the bus," says Jerry Dias, Unifor national president. The new four-year contract was ratified by the 52 members of Local 4266 at First Student Kingston and was ratified by 98 per cent, says the union. The agreement includes wage increases of two per cent, two per cent, three per cent, three per cent, as well as many improve- ments to language and newly negotiated personal emergency days, says Unifor. Each employee will get five leave days, three of them paid, that can be used for personal emergencies including family health obligations and sickness, says the union. Lady Comeau ship workers ratify agreement SAULNIERVILLE, N.S. — United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Local 864 members at Comeau Seafoods deployed in Shelburne, N.S. aboard Lady Comeau III vessel voted to accept a new union con- tract on April 12. The new contract guarantees 100 per cent of earnings in the form of salary or wages, in ad- dition to commitments that the company pay for all operating expenses including fuel, food, gear and clothing, says the union. Event Partner MAY 11, 2021 | ONLINE HRD presents a one-day virtual summit that will provide senior HR and wellbeing professionals in Canada with valuable insights on how to support the wellbeing of their workforces – featuring case studies, panel discussions and workshops by HR leaders from top companies. FEATURED SPEAKERS MARY ANN BAYNTON Director of Collaboration and Strategy Workplace Strategies for Mental Health SCOTT STE MARIE Founder Depression to Expression AMY DEACON Clinical Social Worker, Founder of Toronto Wellness Counselling DR. KATY KAMKAR, PH.D. C. Psych. Clinical Psychologist Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) REGISTER NOW HR Mental Health - Print Ad_137.319 mm X 65.193 mm.indd 1 HR Mental Health - Print Ad_137.319 mm X 65.193 mm.indd 1 3/24/2021 11:04:49 PM 3/24/2021 11:04:49 PM FORMERLY CLV REPORTS Serving labour relations professionals since 1956 www.hrreporter.com/labour Subscription rate: $599 per year Customer Service subscriptions@kmimedia.ca President Tim Duce Editor/Supervisor Sarah Dobson | (416) 644-8740 Ext. 330 sarah.dobson@keymedia.com News Editor John Dujay | (416) 644-8740 Ext. 321 john.dujay@keymedia.com Employment Law Editor Jeffrey R. Smith | (416) 644 8740 Ext. 319 jeffrey.r.smith@keymedia.com Business Development Manager Fred Crossley | (416) 644-8740 Ext. 236 fred.crossley@keymedia.com NAUK Subscriptions Coordinator Donnabel Reyes | (416) 644-8740 Ext. 243 donnabel.reyes@keymedia.com ©Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher (Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd.). KEY MEDIA and the KEY MEDIA logo are trademarks of Key Media IP Limited, and used under license by Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd.. CANADIAN LABOUR REPORTER is a trademark of Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd.. e publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. If legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. e analysis contained herein represents the opinion of the authors and should in no way be construed as being either official or unofficial policy of any governmental body. ISSN 0045-5113 Publications Registration 2089 Canadian Labour Reporter is part of the Canadian HR Reporter group of publications. Visit www.hrreporter. com for more information. 2 LABOUR BRIEFS Canadian HR Reporter, a Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd. business 2021

• Cover