While it wasn’t unanimous, a vote to ratify a recent agreement will see Rio Tinto employees return to work soon.
70 percent of members of Unifor Local 2301, which represents the Kitimat operation’s employees, voted in favour of ending the 69 day strike yesterday.
The previous Collective Labour Agreement ended this year, and talks of a new one initially broke down in late July.
In addition to a new Labour Agreement, the groups have also worked out a Memorandum of Understanding on a return to work protocol.
Covered under the agreements are employees at both the Kitimat Smelter and the Kemano Hydropower Facility.
Workers at either location will also see their benefits, including pre-paid medical travel, reinstated.
Management will now work to get members back to work, and begin a progressive restart of the smelter.
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