Major pay and benefit boosts outlined in new contract
The agreement raises hourly pay up to 45 cents with a 20 cent general increase and 5 to 25 cent boosts for high skill day workers. It adds cost of living protections, two reopeners with right to strike, enhanced pension minimums at 65, new long term disability cover, liberalized insurance, expanded vacation and sick pay, improved death in family and citizenship benefits, stock sale options, and faster income extensions after layoff.