Maker’s Pride Members Ratify

Maker’s Pride members achieve wage and benefit gains

The 300 members of UFCW Locals 175 & 633 at Maker’s Pride in Kitchener secured a new collective agreement at a recent ratification vote. This three-year agreement includes wage and other improvements along with precedent-setting increases to wages and the members’ vision and paramedical coverage.

Wages increase across-the-board by $1 per hour in year one, $0.75 in year two, and another $0.75 in year three. New premiums of $2 per hour will be paid to employees assigned as SIG Operator and Oven Captain. In addition, all employees will receive a lump sum payment of $300 in March 2027.

Members benefit from further improvements to paid breaks, now 20 minutes instead of 15, as well as up to six weeks’ paid vacation per year.

Previously, members had combined eye exam and prescription eyewear coverage of $150. Now, members receive $250 toward prescription eyewear, and all reasonable and customary charges for eye exams will be covered. In addition, the employer will pay for prescription safety glasses for employees classified as Maintenance, Sanitation, and Fork Lift Operators. Further benefit improvements now provide $1,000 combined paramedical coverage per year, up from $400. In addition, employer contributions to the UFCW dental plan improve to $0.52 per hour, up from $0.47, to fund continued coverage for the members.

The Union Negotiating Committee achieved a number of language improvements throughout this ratified agreement as well. This includes:

• Language that ceased benefit coverage at 65 has been deleted.
• Payroll errors will be corrected within 14 days.
• Members may request single-day vacations as outlined in the agreement.
• The employer will provide 48 hours advance notice of overtime.
• The sunset clause has been reduced to 12 months, instead of 24 months.

Union Negotiating Committee: Brandy Boshart, Shirley Closs, Jitender Nair, Cherry Walker, and Union Representative Fred Teeple.

Catch up on all the negotiation highlights from across the province here.

See more negotiation updates from the industrial food sector, including beverage production.

Find more features of UFCW Locals 175 & 633 members at work.

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