CAW Local 2163 members have ratified a new four-year collective agreement with GM-supplier Autrans Canada that includes wage, benefit and vacation entitlement improvements, among other contract gains.

The members voted 79 per cent in favour of the new deal at a meeting held at the Ingersoll District Memorial Arena in Ingersoll, ontario on May 26.

Members will receive a $1.50 increase in base wages over the life of the agreement, in addition to a signing bonus of $750 paid in two installments before the end of 2013.

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The new agreement also includes an increase in the safety shoe and adds a new statutory holiday to the list of recognized days-off (Friday of the Labour Day weekend) while eliminating a year-long lag between a members anniversary year and when they receive additional vacation weeks.

Bill Perry, the unios Bargaining Committee Chairperson, said this new agreement includes important, and long-overdue, gains for members.

Weve taken a big step forward in our efforts to improve the standard of living for workers in our facility, Perry said.

The membership was committed to this process, they were supportive of our committee, and that helped us negotiate this strong deal.

In addition to wage and benefit gains the deal also improves funding to the CAW Paid Education Leave (PEL) program as well as funding to the CAW Social Justice Fund, said CAW National Representative Luis Domingues.

This new agreement goes beyond pocket-book issues, and helps us continue to support membership development as well as social justice initiatives at home, and around the world, Domingues said.