The 317 members of Unifor Local 195 employed by Jamieson Wellness Inc. have ratified a new collective agreement, ending a 34-day strike. After several weeks of very challenging negotiations, Unifor and Jamieson Laboratories in Windsor, Ont. reached the tentative agreement on March 2. Members voted 72% in favour of the deal on March 5. The new four-year contract ?

which is in effect Feb. 1, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2028 ?

includes significant wage increases, including a $5.50 an hour wage hike over the life of the agreement, a 20.5% increase. Production workers will receive a $2.50 hr increase upon ratification and a $1 an hour increase in each year of the last three years of the collective agreement. Skilled Trades workers will receive a $4 an hour bump in year one and $1.75 an hour increase over the remainder of the contract.

Full-time production and Skilled Trades workers will also receive a $3,000 ratification bonus. The agreement includes improvements to the language to provide for a more equitable distribution of overtime, increases to vision and eye exams and additional call-in days.