Members of Unifor Local 3018 have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with Taseko, bringing an end to the strike at the Gibraltar mine.
The agreement, which includes significant wage increases and equity measures, was approved following an 18-day strike. “Unifor members in Williams Lake have successfully negotiated a collective agreement that reflects their important contribution to the success of Taseko,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. Payne highlighted the role of the bargaining committee and the strong support from members during the strike as crucial factors in reaching the agreement.
Key features of the new contract include a 13% wage increase over three years and the introduction of a Women’s Advocate in the workplace to support equity initiatives. Additionally, the agreement recognizes federal labour code leave provisions for Indigenous practices and introduces clearer and fairer procedures for drug testing incidents and disciplinary actions.
“Gibraltar mine is an economic powerhouse in the region, and the community will realize benefits from this collective agreement for years to come,” stated Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle.
Taseko, which owns and operates the Gibraltar copper-molybdenum mine, employs 550 workers at the site located north of Williams Lake. The mine is the second-largest open-pit copper mine in Canada and the largest employer in the Cariboo region.
Unifor represents 320,000 workers in the private sector across Canada.