|
|
|
Locals
175 & 633 In The News
There are currently no items in this section.
|
Three-year deal for Fergus nursing home workers
The 70-member bargaining unit at Caressant Care Nursing Home in Fergus had the opportunity to vote on a negotiated three-year settlement at a meeting held on July 29, 2009. The ratified deal includes the following:
- Wages improve by 1 per cent in both the first and second year, and by 2.5 per cent in the third year of the contract term.
- Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) may advance on the wage grid based on related experience and a new position of Restorative Care has been added.
- The company will contribute to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) in the first and second year of the contract with a 1 per cent contribution in the first year.
- Contributions to the workers’ dental plan increase by 4 cents per hour.
- Part-time become eligible for vacation after 1450 hours, reduced from the previous 1500.
- Union representation improves to include four stewards, up from three, and a labour management commtittee has been established.
- Health and safety language improves to include protocol for working short-handed, risk assessment, workplace violence and emergency contacts.
- Other language has been added regarding shift trades and giveaways as well as improved bereavement entitlement, vision coverage and uniform allowance.
Union Negotiating Committee: Jenn Clark, Michelle Mercer-Pyke, Chris McDougall, Wendy Lee and Union Rep Wendy Absolom.
BACK TO TOP
|
Maple Leaf workers approve of new deal
On July 25, 2009, 70 members at Maple Leaf Consumer Foods Distribution Centre ratified their new three-year collective agreement. Workers will benefit from the following improvements:
- Active workers will receive a lump sum payment of $500 effective the date of ratification. Wages increase 30 cents an hour on July 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011.
- In addition to pension contributions, the employer will contribute 31 cents an hour to the Stabilization Fund, up from 10 cents.
- The employer’s dental plan contribution increases to 38 cents, while vision care increases to $190 as of January 1, 2010.
- Effective January 1, 2010 workers receive a maximum of $150 for physiotherapy per year as well as $150 for massage therapy treatment.
- Improved Health and Safety language ensures a workers right to refuse dangerous work.
Union Negotiating Committee: Peter Acker, Carlton Jackson, Maryann Sheremet and Union Rep Matt Davenport.
BACK TO TOP
|
Super 8 members approve contract
On July 21, 2009, housekeeping staff at the Super 8 Motel in Guelph secured their new 3-year collective agreement. Improvements to the wage schedule will increase workers pay by 75 cents over the term of the agreement.
BACK TO TOP
|
Charges laid against Bunge Canada
Last summer, a member of Local 175 was killed in a workplace accident at Bunge Canada in Hamilton. In May 2009, the Ministry of Labour laid charges against the employer for that accident.
The seven charges, laid under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act, include four for failing to ensure a fall arrest system was in place and failing to provide sufficient training to the worker in the use of a fall arrest system. Three other charges deal with proper handling of soybean meal and the work platform. Each charge, if convicted, carries a maximum fine of $500,000.
The member died after falling 10 metres from a platform while working with a hopper of soymeal. While trying to unblock the hopper, the soymeal released quickly and caused the member to lose his balance, falling over the guard rail on the platform.
The facility, responsible for processing soybeans and canola seeds, employs approximately 80 members. Bunge made its first court appearance in late May.
BACK TO TOP
|
Weekend vote for Weetabix workers
One hundred fifty-five members of Local 175 who work at Weetabix of Canada in Cobourg have a new collective agreement that will take them through the next three years. The deal, ratified on July 19, 2009, secures a number of improvements including:
- Wages increase by 2 per cent in the second year and another 2 per cent in the third year.
- The night shift premium increases by 16 cents per hour.
- Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) Stabilization Fund will be established at 65 cents per hour effective August 2009, which is in addition to the regular contributions to the pension plan.
- Chiropractic coverage improves to $30 per visit, up from $25, and increase to the boot allowance provides $150 per year, up from $145.
- Vacation entitlement improves to provide a third week of paid vacation one year earlier than the previous schedule.
- In addition, Family Day is now recognized as a paid holiday.
- Language improvements ensure that no outside contractors will perform bargaining unit work if those contractors cause a reduction in work hours, layoffs or prevent recall, or loss of any overtime hours for the bargaining unit.
- Effective the second year of the contract, the company will provide two $25,000 retirement allowances with two more available in the third year.
- Workers will be eligible to contribute to the employer pension plan effective year one.
- Languages establishes that as of the first year, any employee laid off for two shifts or fewer in a week, who also work three full shifts in that same week, shall have their pension plan contributions topped up to the equivalent of 40 hours for that week.
- The employer will no longer employ part-time workers and employees to be laid off will be given one day’s notice for each year of service, not to exceed 10 days, which is an improvement from the previous five.
- Company contributions to the Local 175 Training & Education Fund increase to 4 cents per hour per worker, up from 2 cents per hour, by the third year of the contract.
Union Negotiating Committee: Jeremy Benns, Kevin Brown and Union Rep Chris Fuller.
BACK TO TOP
|
Three-year deal for health care providers at Listowel nursing home
On July 15, 2009, the members working at Caressant Care Nursing Home in Listowel ratified a new collective agreement that will cover the next three years. The 50 workers, who provide a range of health and personal care services, secured the following improvements:
- Full and part-time wages increase by 1 per cent as of June 1, 2009, 1 per cent in 2010 and 2.5 per cent in 2011.
- Registered Nurses (RNs) receive wage increases that reflect industry standards in Ontario and in addition, RNs and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) receive a higher start rate based on recent and related experience.
- The company will contribute 20 cents per hour toward the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) Stabilization Fund. This amount will increase to 40 cents per hour effective June 1, 2010.
- Uniform allowance increases to $10.25 per month for full-time and $7 per month for part-time.
- The gas allowance improves to provide compensation of 30 cents per kilometre.
- Company contributions to the workers’ dental plan increase to 36 cents per hour, up from 34 cents, following ratification. This rate increases by 1 cent per hour in 2010 and another 1 cent per hour on June 1, 2011.
- Bereavement leave language improves to include common law spouses and same-sex partners under leave of five days, which is improved from four days.
Union Negotiating Committee: Diane Ballantyne, Joanne Consedine, Karen Cullen, Deb Kraemer, Ellen Weber and Union Rep Roy Reed.
BACK TO TOP
|
S. Gumperts workers achieve three-year deal
The 27 members working at S. Gumperts of Canada in Mississauga achieved a new three-year deal at a meeting held July 12, 2009.
- All rates and classifications receive an increase of 35 cents per hour in each year of the contract term.
- Paid sick days increase to seven days per year, up from six, with a ‘buy-out’ of unused sick days at 100 per cent.
- Workers with 25 years of service or more receive six weeks paid vacation and Family Day is now recognized as a statutory holiday.
- The boot allowance increases to $125 per year.
- Important language has been added that provides transfer of the collective agreement to a new location should the existing operations be moved or transferred.
- Language improvements cover no contracting out, the use of part-time and agency employees and an updated ‘no discrimination’ policy.
- New language addresses pay equity, the UFCW Leukemia Charity Fund and occupational health and safety.
- The sunset clause has been reduced to six months and leaves of absence increases to 60 days.
Union Negotiating Committee: Jenetta Brown, Arwin Lapuz and Union Rep Anthony DiMaio.
BACK TO TOP
|
Workers at Maple Leaf Poultry approve improvements in new contract
The 190 members working at Maple Leaf Poultry in Brampton secured a new three-year deal at a meeting held June 27, 2009.
- All active employees as of the date of ratification receive a lump sum payment of $700. Subsequent increases include 35 cents per hour for production employees and 50 cents per hour for skilled trades on June 1, 2010. In 2011, production employees receive an increase of 40 cents per hour and skilled trades receive 50 cents per hour.
- The Lead Hand Maintenance A/AA classification receives an additional increase of 25 cents per hour in both the second and third year of the contract term.
- The shift premium for Live Hang increases by 20 cents per hour.
- Effective June 1, 2010, workers designated as the TSSA Chief Engineer receive a shift premium of 50 cents per hour for regular hours so worked.
- Company contributions to the workers’ dental plan improve to 38 cents per hour effective ratification.
- Vision care coverage increases to $185 as of June 1, 2010 and $200 effective June 1 , 2011.
- The tool allowance improves to $225 per year in the second year and $250 per year in the third year of the deal.
- Union representation improves to provide four stewards, up from the previous three.
Union Negotiating Committee: Emma Aspilla, George Heelis, Natalie Nicholas, Sylvie Pascoa (Chief Steward), Servicing Rep Sam Caetano and Regional Director Luc Lacelle.
BACK TO TOP
|
Holiday Inn workers ratify
The housekeeping staff at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Guelph achieved a three-year collective agreement at a meeting held July 4, 2009.
Workers receive wage increases totaling $3.70 per hour over the duration of the contract. Family Day is now recognized as a paid holiday.
Union Negotiating Committee: Amanda Phillips and Union Rep Angus Locke.
BACK TO TOP
|
|
|
|
|
