CAMBRIDGE - United Steelworkers' (USW) Ontario/Atlantic Director Wayne Fraser announced Friday that members of USW Local 4610 at the Cambridge plant of one of world's largest snack food makers have ratified new collective agreements with Frito Lay Canada.

The agreements remain in effect until January 2012. One covers drivers and the other applies to workers in the plant. Both provide wage increases, along with equity adjustments for some plant job classifications. The deal also improves working conditions and maintains benefits.

Frito Lay drivers will receive lump-sum payments of $1,500 in each of the first two years and a 2.5-per-cent wage increase in the third year. In the plant, basic hourly wage increases will be 2.5 per cent in the first year and three per cent in each of the next two years.

The company has also agreed to a joint Labour Relations Committee intended to provide a forum for the company and union to exchange information, views and advice on workplace issues.

"Frito Lay Canada is part of Pepsico Inc.,one of the world's largest consumer products companies and our members are proud of their contribution to its enduring success," said Fraser. "We are pleased in this time of recession and plant closures to be able to reach a satisfactory agreement with the local management and we hope that Steelworkers continue to provide Canadian consumers with quality products for many years to come."

The Cambridge plant makes such well known snacks as Doritos, Ruffles, Lay's Chips, Tostitos, Chee-tos, Fritos corn chips, and Miss Vickie's Chips. About 450 plant and transport workers are included in the new agreements.