Unionized security guards at ASAP Secured Inc. in Goderich have their first collective agreement.
The security guards, who are members of United Steelworkers Local 9597, voted Monday to ratify a two-year contract that includes wage increases and other improvements to the terms and conditions of their jobs.
ASAP Secured provides security services at the Compass Minerals operations in Goderich.
After being locked out of their jobs last December 10 by ASAP Secured, the workers filed an application with the Ontario Labour Relations Board for first contract mediation.
The board ordered the company to end the lockout and the workers returned to their jobs on January 19 as the mediation process continued.
The board awarded damages to the workers, and the company paid employees all lost wages and premiums they would have earned during a two-and-a-half-week period in January when they were locked out.
The new collective agreement runs from January 1, 2018 to December 31 of 2019.