National Steel Car union reaches tentative deal with company 

A month-long strike at National Steel Car has ended after the union reached a tentative deal with the company.

Union President Frank Crowder said they got almost exactly what they wanted from the company.

“I believe we came extremely close to it and with the signing bonus, it looks like we hit our targets. I’m very proud of our members, they were very respectful on the lines, we kept a good clean picket line, we followed the rules. Our members stood strong together, and we only went out on a 52 percent strike vote but I believe 100 percent out on the line,” Crowder said.

READ MORE: National Steel Car workers’ month-long strike: no vacation pay, struggling wages

Over 1,400 workers went on strike at the end of June. Many were making $25 or $26 an hour base pay.

They say they don’t want to get rich, they just wanted their wages to keep up with inflation, so they stood their ground and got a better offer from National Steel Car.

“We ended up getting a six per cent raise in the first year, four per cent raise in the second year, three per cent raise in the third year, they’ve also added a dollar more to the pension, and we already had a dollar in the second and third year,” Crowder said.

READ MORE: Hamilton unions rally in support of National Steel Car strike

MP Matthew Green said this is a good example of workers standing firm.

“I think what we witness is the front-line workers, standing firm, demanding fair wages, and pensions and better working conditions and they had support from across the city and the country,” Green said.

The union members will vote on the latest agreement on Tuesday, and if it’s passed, the strike will break down that night and then the majority of employees will return to work the following Monday.