Sifto Canada Corp., a subsidiary of Compass Minerals, Overland Park, Kan., has signed a new collective agreement with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union Local 16-O, which represents approximately 400 employees at the company’s salt mine in Goderich, Ont. The agreement was ratified by the union membership on Sept. 29, ending the union’s strike which began Aug. 20.
A tentative agreement had been reached on Aug. 28. The union remained on strike an additional four weeks until the new three-year agreement was ratified on Saturday.
“We’re pleased that the union has ratified the mutually beneficial agreement, and we look forward to having all of our Goderich mine employees back to work,” said Angelo Brisimitzakis, Compass Minerals’ president and CEO. “Production and shipping continued during the strike; our customers should have all the salt they need this upcoming winter.”
The final agreement, which includes competitive wage increases, more flexible production scheduling and skill improvements associated with the company’s investment in continuous mining technology, has no material changes from terms of the tentative agreement the parties previously reached.
Compass Minerals is a leading producer of minerals, including salt, sulfate of potash specialty fertilizer and magnesium chloride.