Abbotsford-based Vedder Transport reaches labour agreement with its 162 employees in local union; wage increases range from 4.5% to 9.4% in 1st year of deal

ABBOTSFORD — Employees of Vedder Transport Ltd., a regional company founded in 1956 and often synonymous with trucks bearing its namesake that collect milk from Fraser Valley dairies, have reached a three-year collective bargaining agreement with its employer.

The Christian Labour Association in Canada (CLAC) announced Tuesday (Nov. 15) that the 162 employees represented by Transport, Marine, Warehousing, and Allied Workers Union, CLAC Local 66, have ratified a three-year deal with yearly wage increases and other improvements. The union has represented the company’s employees since September 1993.

The new contract provides employees with wage increases ranging from 4.5 to 9.4 per cent in the first year. Wage reviews will be conducted for the second and third years, with wage increases ranging between three to five percent each year guaranteed. Employees will also receive a large increase to employer contributions to their RRSPs. Several changes to contract language will provide improvements for employees.

“We’re pleased to secure yearly wage gains for our members,” says Jeremy Thompson, CLAC representative. “The union bargaining committee did a good job identifying members’ concerns and bringing them to the negotiating table.”