Plant consolidation helps L-359 members

Employees receive first profit-sharing check

FACING TOUGH ECONOMIC times and lagging orders for heavy-duty trailers, manufacturer McCoy Corp. had to decide whether to keep its unionized plant in Penticton, British Columbia, where members of Vancouver Local 359 are employed, or consolidate those operations at its nonunion plant in Edmonton, Alberta.

To preserve good union jobs, Local 359 negotiated a new agreement that helps the company remain competitive in a tight market, said BM-ST Phil Halley. The agreement resulted in McCoy closing its nonunion plant late last year and consolidating manufacturing at the Penticton facility.

Halley said that approximately 60 L-359 members have been recalled from layoffs, and the company is seeking to add additional employees. He noted that members received their first profit-sharing check in April. Profit sharing was added during the most recent contract negotiations.

In a letter to Halley, Andy McEachern, president of trailer manufacturing for McCoy Corp., praised the union for its cooperation during a down economy. “Manufacturing lead times are down, quality is up, and morale and employee engagement is growing daily,” he wrote.

The Penticton plant manufactures products under the Peerless and Scona brands, including heavy-haul trailers, oil field trailers, forestry trailers, and custom-built trailers.