Members of IAM Local Lodge 1975, St. Thomas, ON, Canada, have ratified a new collective agreement with Ludachris Hats.
The three-year agreement provides wage increases of 1.5 percent in the first and second year and 2 percent in the third year. The agreement also contains the implementation of a new shift schedule proposed by the membership.
Ludachris Hats approached the IAM to organize its workers in 2006 after other members of the Canadian labor movement rejected the garment manufacturer because its workforce was too small.
The seven members perform all facets of hat making.
“The size of a bargaining unit has never been a problem for the Machinists,” explained IAM District Lodge 78 Business Representative Derek Ferguson. “One of the best methods of promoting your union is through the use of ball caps with your logo on it and it was getting difficult to find a unionized Canadian manufacturer. With Ludachris, we have secured a Canadian supplier and we represent their workers.”
