Bayer's Canadian workers in Sarnia get new three-year deal

SARNIA, Ontario (April 26)—Union employees at Bayer Inc.´s Sarnia production complex approved a new three-year pact April 24 after working nearly three months without a contract. The deal covers about 900 members of Local 914 of the Communications, Energy and Paper Workers Union of Canada. The previous contract expired Jan. 31, but the union continued to work until while negotiations continued and an agreement was reached. The new pact runs retroactive from this past Feb. 1 through Jan. 31, 2004. It includes wage increases of 3½ percent retroactive to Feb. 1, 3 percent on Feb. 1, 2002, and 3 percent on Feb. 1, 2003.