Almonte Country Haven members achieve new scheduling language and more in new agreement
May 11, 2017
On May 10, 2017, the 44 full-time and 26 part-time health care providers at Almonte Country Haven achieved a two-year collective agreement.
Members at this long-term care home successfully achieved new scheduling language. Senior employees now receive shift-time preference. In addition, full-time employees can choose whether to work 7, 8, 9, or 10 shifts bi-weekly. Part-time members achieved increased hours of up to 59 hours bi-weekly, which will begin four months after ratification. Shift selection preference begins immediately.
Wages improve across-the-board by 1.4% in the first year and 1.5% in the second year. Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) receive an additional adjustment of 5 cents per hour, and Maintenance receives adjustments of 25 cents per hour, in both years. A new weekend premium of 5 cents per hour will be paid in the first year and this amount increases to 10 cents per hour in year two.
A new uniform allowance of $50 for part-time and $100 for full-time will be paid annually. The employer’s contributions to the Members’ health and welfare plan increase by .5% in 2017, and another .5% in 2019. In addition, the employer will contribute 2 cents per hour more toward dental coverage premiums.
Effective in 2018, members with 23 years of service, instead of the previous 25 required, will be entitled to six weeks’ paid vacation.
Those with 25 years, down from 28, will receive seven weeks’ paid vacation. Part-time can now have their accrued vacation paid out over two weeks, and any full-time employees with more than four weeks of entitlement can opt to have one of those weeks paid out.
Union Negotiating Committee: Kathy Fassbender, Donna Taylor, Cheryl Thompson, Servicing Rep Jacques Niquet, and Union Rep Shannon Epp.
Read more Negotiation Updates from the Local 175 HOPE Sector! What’s HOPE? It stands for Health, Office & Professional Employees.
In health care facilities, it is the front-line workers who shoulder the responsibility in caring for patients. Find out why Health Care workers benefit from belonging to our Union!