CAMBRIDGE - United Steelworkers' (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Monday that members of USW Local 2894 have ratified a new, three-year agreement with Tenneco Canada Inc. at its Walker Exhaust facility in Cambridge, ON.

"This is an agreement that provides stability in a sector that is under attack during this economic crisis," said Fraser. "Our union has shown that unions and companies can work toward commitments that preserve jobs and benefits."

The agreement will end in 2012 with pension and wage increases. A $2,000 increase in the workers' early retirement allowance will take effect in the first year, along with improvements to employees' ability to bank time on all overtime hours worked for an option to be compensated with time off if they wish. Severance pay has also been increased.

"This is a long-time employer in the Cambridge area," said USW Staff Representative Mary Simms. "We intend to keep it that way for many years to come."

Tenneco is a $6.2-billion global manufacturing company with headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois and about 21,000 employees worldwide. It is one of the world's largest manufacturers of emission control and ride control products.