United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1-405 reports it has reached a tentative three-year agreement with Trickle Creek Resort and parent company, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, following six days of negotiations from September up until reaching a tentative deal December 21, 2016.

“This was a pretty smooth set of negotiations,” said Jeff Bromley, lead negotiator for the unionized employees of Kimberley Alpine Resort. “Our members had some specific needs that they wanted addressed, not the least of which was health care coverage.

“While it might not seem like much on the surface, I believe there are some ground-breaking additions to this collective agreement,” added Bromley. “We were able to negotiate a Health and Welfare benefit $0.20/hour worked similar to Kimberley Alpine Resort has for its seasonal employees. This will enable our members to build up and use funds for health care expenses like prescriptions or eyewear. It’s something we’ve never achieved at the lodge in the 11-year history of being certified there.

“And for the first time I believe in any Steelworker collective agreement there is language that specifically deals with Domestic and Family Violence. In a workplace that is predominantly female, that process and protection outlined in their collective agreement is a good resource to draw on should the employee and the employer ever encounter it,” Bromley said.

The union was also able to negotiate wage increases of five per cent over three years along with improvements in vacation and bereavement leave.

The union is recommending acceptance of the memorandum and will have the members vote on the new deal January 18, at Trickle Creek Lodge.

USW Local 1-405 based in Cranbrook is a diverse union representing over 1,200 workers in sawmills, pole plants, credit unions, insurance services, hotels, ski resorts and municipal workers in the East and West Kootenay.

USW

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