TORONTO (March 10, 2003) — Workers at Freightliner LLC’s Sterling Truck plant in St. Thomas, Ont., voted overwhelmingly to ratify a tentative labour agreement reached Friday between their union and the company.

Nearly 1,100 workers had been on strike since Feb. 21. They were seeking their first collective agreement after the Canadian Auto Workers were certified to represent them last October.

About 91 per cent of the 851 workers who voted on the contract Sunday cast their ballots in its favour. The three-year deal includes a 2.5-per-cent wage increase in the first year, 2.7 per cent in the second, and 3 per cent in the third year.

As well improvements were made in time off the job, pensions, and specific healthcare benefits, the union said. The company agreed to drop plans to impose escalating co-pays on the health care package in the second and third year of the agreement.

“This settlement not only ended the strike but these workers have built a solid union with their first contract and they understand these gains were made because of their solidarity and strong leadership,” said Bob Chernecki, CAW assistant to the president, after the vote results were announced.