Workers at Xstrata's Raglan Mine in Nunavik ratified a new six year collective agreement on May 21st 2011 that will see a lot more money go into their pockets and give them more time with their families.
A news release from the metalworkers union the Syndicat des métallos, which represents 60,000 workers across Quebec, said that the new labor deal brings their wages up to par with other northern mines.
The new agreement means the average wage at Raglan will rise by USD 10,000 a year and see average salaries reach USD 100,000 a year. A maintenance worker's salary will rise from USD 75,000 to USD 85,000 while a miner will bring in as much as USD 150,000.
The news release said that Raglan workers who live in Nunavik will receive a USD 1.50 an hour bonus due to the high cost of living in the region. The new agreement also allows the mine’s 400 workers, of whom about 15% are Inuit, to work fewer shift rotations at the mine. This means they will spend up to six months of the year at the mine instead of nine months.
Mr Marc Thibodeau union representative of Raglan said that "That was one of our important demands and we obtained that. Workers at Raglan make a big sacrifice in being away from their families for long periods, so we want this to be recognized in their working conditions."
As well, workers will now be paid time and a half for their weekend work, which means an increase of 5.5% a year in their salaries. There will also be minimum cost of living increases during the second and third years of the agreement, and a minimum 2.5% salary or cost of living increase for the last three years. Night shift workers will now receive a bonus of between USD 0.50 and USD 1.25 an hour. Another bonus will be tied to the performance of the nickel mine. This may go as high as USD 5 an hour, and that’s in addition to an existing bonus that can run as high as 25% of total salary.
New retirees, 62 and over, with more than 10 years of service, will get a parting bonus of USD 1,000 per year of seniority. Workers also stand to receive a signing bonus worth USD 6,000 as well as USD 7,500 from retention bonuses between 2014 and 2016.
From 2012, workers based in the South will be able to fly to the mine from Quebec City, as well as from Montreal and Rouyn Noranda. The new package is expected to help Xstrata recruit more than 60 new miners needed for its operations located between Salluit and Kangiqsujuaq.
(Sourced from www.nunatsiaqonline.ca)
