Local 449 Stands in Solidarity With USW Local 4820

Renfrew – May 2nd, 2021

As of March 29, 2021, Production and Maintenance division members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 4820 went on strike at Magellan Aerospace in Hayley’s Station, Ontario. USW Local 4820 is negotiating for wage increases, pension, and benefit improvements, as well as better working conditions including hours-of-work provisions and other protections.

OPSEU Local 449 President Samantha Kelly says that this strike is a necessary push in the right direction to validate the need of fair compensation and equal rights of rural employees. “Fighting for essential points such as wage parity, pension improvements, and better working conditions is a common battle trade unions face at every negotiation table,” Kelly says. “Like our brothers and sisters at USW Local 4820, we at OPSEU Local 449 stand in solidarity and will work to promote the need for fair and respectful bargaining at any negotiation table.”

OPSEU Local 449 Vice President Liam Vanderbraak also notes that this may become a familiar headline when the provincial government heads to the bargaining table in late 2021 to negotiate the impending collective agreement expiration. “Trade unions of all sizes and purposes are there to ensure the fair treatment of employees who live and work in local communities.”

“Every dollar and every hour we fight for is reinvested back into the community, and we hope that Magellan Aerospace recognizes the important part their employees play not only in the supply chain but also the communities they live in.”

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About OPSEU Local 449
Local 449 proudly represents the 50+ full-time and part-time Ontario Public Service employees located in Renfrew, Ontario. Our members of this union local work with the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG), Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), Ministry of Consumer and Government Services (MCGS) at ServiceOntario, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Transportation (MTO), and Ministry of the Solicitor General – Correctional Services (MSG-CS).

Media Contacts
Vice President Liam Vanderbraak, 1-866-283-0557 x.2, vicepresident@opseulocal449.ca