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Members of IAM Local 459 have overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year labor agreement with DeZURIK Inc., securing major wage increases, improved healthcare contributions, and significant contract protections in what union leaders are calling a major victory for the membership.
The agreement, which runs through May 2029, delivers a 16% wage increase over the life of the contract, including a 9% raise in the first year and a $1,000 ratification bonus for members. Workers also secured improvements to healthcare costs.
Union representatives said the outcome reflects years of preparation and member solidarity following a five-day strike three years ago that helped reshape the bargaining relationship between labor and management.
“This contract shows what solidarity and preparation can accomplish,” said IAM District 77 Business Representative Nicholas Bernardy. “The membership stood together, and the company recognized the importance of retaining a skilled workforce.”
Negotiations were led by IAM District 77 representatives, along with a five-member bargaining committee and alternates representing approximately 236 IAM Union members at the company’s Sartell, Minn., facility.
The union entered bargaining with 12 proposals and secured changes to nearly every item. Management reportedly withdrew nearly all of its own proposals, with only limited company-requested language ultimately added to the agreement.
The bargaining process itself marked a significant shift from previous negotiations. Both sides adopted a more collaborative, interest-based approach, focusing on problem-solving and data-driven discussions rather than confrontation.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the negotiations team and the entire membership,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “They showed real solidarity and power to the company, and it shows from the contract they ratified.”
The IAM Union credited several factors for the smoother negotiations, including increased market competition for skilled workers. A new manufacturing facility planned near the area is expected to intensify hiring competition in the coming years, creating additional pressure on employers to improve wages and benefits in order to retain experienced employees.
In another notable development, DeZURIK’s CEO personally addressed negotiators during the opening session to discuss the company’s current state and emphasize the need for workforce stability.
The company also chose not to bring outside legal counsel to the bargaining table, allowing discussions to remain focused on core workplace issues rather than broader contract restructuring.
DeZURIK Inc., manufactures industrial valves used in critical water and wastewater infrastructure systems across the United States, including projects serving major municipalities such as New York City and Los Angeles.IAM Union leaders said the agreement demonstrates the continued strength of organized labor and the importance of maintaining solidarity at the bargaining table.
“The strike remains a tool in the toolbox,” said IAM District 77 Directing Business Representative Andrew Peltier, pointing to the successful action three years ago as a turning point that helped secure a more respectful and productive labor-management relationship today.
