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Chatham

Agreement Reached For Woodbridge Foam

Workers at Woodbridge Foam in Blenheim are returning to work Monday morning with a new contract in place.

On Sunday morning, about 190 unionized workers gathered at the Kent-Belgian-Dutch-Canadian Club in Chatham to vote on the deal.

Plant Chairperson Brian Wright says after hearing from the bargaining committee, members voted 94% in favour.

Wright says the deal they presented on Sunday was much better than the one members voted down on November 27.

"We did make increases on the wages - over the life of the agreement $1.75 [per hour]," says Wright. "We [also] get a dollar an hour up front, which was very contingent on getting this agreement,"

In addition, Wright says members received a signing bonus and an increase in life insurance.

"I think this will be retroactive December 1," says Wright. "All increases are December 1 of each year in the collective agreement."

Moving forward, Wright says it's back to business as usual.

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