Thousands of construction workers and crane operators will soon be back on the job after voting in favour of a new three-year contract after a weeks-long strike.

“The strike is now over and Local 183 members working in the Formwork Sector can return to work,” said the Labourers International Union of North American local 183.

Some 15,000 of its members of the Labourers International Union of North America (LIUNA) and the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) have been off the job for better wages at a time of surging inflation.

The labourers fill all kinds of roles in residential construction: in high rise, self-levelling flooring, as house framers, tile installers, and carpet and hardwood installers.

Their new deal runs from May 21, 2022 to April 30, 2025.

It comes with an increase of $9 an hour over three years.

Operators’ wages will rise by $3 an hour each year.

“Though this was a challenging round of negotiations, we are very pleased that our members have voted in favour of accepting the employers’ last offer,” said Virgil Nosé, Chair of the High-rise Forming Council.

“Our members will be returning to work right away.”

The ratified deals came as a relief to the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON).

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