Local 96 members voted YES to ratify our contract by 80% in a vote of 364 to 86, with 82% voter turnout. This victory belongs to the Contract Action Team and the entire Local 96 membership.
The Local 96 Executive Board was determined to negotiate this contract differently. We put an end to backroom deals and conducted the negotiations with transparency.
We got information in the hands of our members with regular text and email updates. The Contract Action Team spread the word Teamster-to-Teamster.
AltaGas management came to the table demanding givebacks. Local 96 members responded by uniting in action. We held workplace rallies and blew the whistle on corporate greed. We voted by 97% to authorize a strike.
United and strong, we defeated the company's demand for givebacks and won comprehensive gains, including:
Wage Increases
The contract includes increases of 14% over five years plus a $1,000 lump sum payment in the first year. Our first year wage increase of 2% will apply retroactively to June 1. After that, we will receive a 3% wage increase on July 1 of each year through 2025.
Management’s total raise was 1% a year, which shows that being union puts power in your hands and money in your pockets.
Healthcare
The contract protects quality, affordable healthcare for our members. The contract includes some increases in our co-pays, deductions and maximum out-of-pocket costs.
These changes are more than offset by the wage increases we won and will keep paycheck deductions consistently low over the next 5 years.
Job Security
The new contract preserves our No Layoffs protections, which the company tried to eliminate.
On mutual aid, the company will not be allowed to use AltaGas affiliated employees, including nonunion workers, to perform work for up to 30 days without triggering “mutual aid.” Double time emergency pay will continue to be triggered by mutual aid.
Drug & Alcohol Policy
The new contract lengthens the time for employees who self-identify to get help from 60 days to 90 days (or longer if authorized by the SAP) to obtain treatment and be eligible for rehire.
Probationary Period & Seniority
The new contract reduces the probationary period from ten months to six months. It also improves procedures for in line progression, promotions, and temporary transfers.
Equipment, Allowances & Reimbursements
The new contract increases the reimbursement from $100 to $300 for prescription safety glasses and reimbursement for Free Air mask inserts for prescription glasses.
The meal allowance and boot allowances are also increased.
Discipline
The contract reduces how long discipline on your record can be held against you and reduces points for many less serious driving infractions. It increases points for using hand-held devices while driving, but eliminates points for rolling stops at less than 11 mph.
Red light tickets and speeding tickets will now be paid by the company with no discipline.
Drafting / Call-In
The new contract establishes a drafting procedure for implementation across the business, as opposed to having different procedures across departments. It relies more on volunteers.
Union Strong
Thank you to every member however you voted. This contract is our contract. We've come a long way and have more to do. We will get there together. Union Strong.