Results from Local 2251 vote on Algoma Steel contract

Algoma Steel's largest bargaining group has ratified an agreement with the company.

Mike Da Prat, president of Local 2251 of the United Steelworkers, announced shortly before 11 p.m. that 77 percent of the local's membership voted today, with 80 percent in favour of the new contract.

It's a three-year agreement with a 10.5 percent wage hike provided as three annual increases of 3.5 percent each.

With cost of living allowances factored in, Da Prat says the new deal will be worth more than $7,200 over the duration of the contract, with an average wage of almost $30 an hour by August 2010.

Salaried employees represented by Steelworkers Local 2724 also ratified an agreement yesterday.

Other Local 2251 contract highlights

- Shift premiums will rise five cents an hour for night shifts, afternoons and Sundays.

- Profit sharing remains intact, with changes in language to reflect the company's new private ownership.

- Pension improvements - windows continue and average earnings go back to 1972.

- Lifetime maximum for major medical benefits is increased to $120,000 for active employees, with no cap for retirees for the life of the contract.

- Vision care benefits will rise from $200 to $225. - Hearing aid benefits increase $500 to $650 every three years.

- Orthotics benefits go up $500 every two years.

- Chiropractic benefits will be increased from $12 to $16.

- Past, present and future retirees will be entitled to 50 percent of the receipted cost of eyewear and hearing aids, to a maximum of $200 per family for the life of the contract.

- A special team will be established to study the issue of coke oven spells.

- Letters of agreement address a number of issues including corporate governance, board representation, commercial relationships with third parties, strategic plan and capital investment in value added.

- tradespeople will get one job class additive in the third year of the contract.

Of 2,690 eligible Local 2251 members, 1652 members voted in favour of the new contract, with 415 votes against and one spoiled ballot.