Key facts
- USW members at Vale Base Metals refinery in Port Colborne ratified a new contract.
- The contract includes major wage increases.
- Retiree health-care benefits have been restored.
- The agreement was ratified on June 5, 2026.
United Steelworkers (USW) union members working at the Vale Base Metals refinery in Port Colborne, Ontario, have ratified a new contract. The agreement, finalized on June 5, 2026, includes significant wage increases for the workers. A key aspect of the new contract is the restoration of retiree health-care benefits, which were previously a point of contention. The ratification by the union members marks a resolution to contract negotiations between the union and the company.