Sault Ste Marie Ontario based Canadian steel maker Algoma Steel announced that the Negotiating Committee of United Steelworkers Local Union 2251, the union representing Algoma’s hourly employees, have agreed to 15 day extension beyond the July 31, 2022 expiry of the collective agreement for the purpose of continued discussions. Algoma President and Chief Executive Officer Mr Michael Garcia said “This extension demonstrates the willingness of the parties to work towards an agreement that provides fair and equitable improvements to wages and benefits and supports our collective future under the electric arc transformation.” Algoma Steel had earlier submitted its best and final Collective Bargaining Agreement offer to the Negotiating Committee of USW 2251 which had refused the offer and was unwilling to bring the offer to employee members for a vote. Algoma believes its offer to 2251 provides a compensation package that is superior to many of the Company’s peers in the industry, and includes numerous health and wellness benefit enhancements and protections offered by the Company in an effort to reach an agreement. Algoma’s offer contains improvements to the CBA including wage and cost of living increases totaling at least 12.6% over 3 years plus increased afternoon, night and Sunday shift premiums Increases to employee benefits that includeIncrease in the Company’s contributions to the Defined Contribution pension by a total of 45 cents per hour over 3 yearsIncrease in major medical benefits, including lifetime maximum and visit allotmentsIncrease in vision careIncrease in dental benefits, including improvements to lifetime maximum for orthodontics and crown coverageIncrease in short term and long term disability reduced earnings capsIncrease in retiree health benefits, including increased lifetime maximum and more for hearing aids and eye glasses Algoma Steel had rejected the final counter-proposal from United Steelworkers Local 2251. Negotiators for more than 2,000 members of United Steelworkers Local 2251 stated “We responded to a company proposal with reasonable terms and expectations. The company turned down our counter proposal and stated they were going to the members to present them the company proposal.”
Sault Ste Marie Ontario based Canadian steel maker Algoma Steel announced that the Negotiating Committee of United Steelworkers Local Union 2251, the union representing Algoma’s hourly employees, have agreed to 15 day extension beyond the July 31, 2022 expiry of the collective agreement for the purpose of continued discussions. Algoma President and Chief Executive Officer Mr Michael Garcia said “This extension demonstrates the willingness of the parties to work towards an agreement that provides fair and equitable improvements to wages and benefits and supports our collective future under the electric arc transformation.” Algoma Steel had earlier submitted its best and final Collective Bargaining Agreement offer to the Negotiating Committee of USW 2251 which had refused the offer and was unwilling to bring the offer to employee members for a vote. Algoma believes its offer to 2251 provides a compensation package that is superior to many of the Company’s peers in the industry, and includes numerous health and wellness benefit enhancements and protections offered by the Company in an effort to reach an agreement. Algoma’s offer contains improvements to the CBA including wage and cost of living increases totaling at least 12.6% over 3 years plus increased afternoon, night and Sunday shift premiums Increases to employee benefits that includeIncrease in the Company’s contributions to the Defined Contribution pension by a total of 45 cents per hour over 3 yearsIncrease in major medical benefits, including lifetime maximum and visit allotmentsIncrease in vision careIncrease in dental benefits, including improvements to lifetime maximum for orthodontics and crown coverageIncrease in short term and long term disability reduced earnings capsIncrease in retiree health benefits, including increased lifetime maximum and more for hearing aids and eye glasses Algoma Steel had rejected the final counter-proposal from United Steelworkers Local 2251. Negotiators for more than 2,000 members of United Steelworkers Local 2251 stated “We responded to a company proposal with reasonable terms and expectations. The company turned down our counter proposal and stated they were going to the members to present them the company proposal.”
