Canadian Linen members achieve 3-year agreement
April 16, 2019
Seventy members of UFCW Local 175 employed at Canadian Linen in Kingston and Ottawa secured a new agreement recently.
Employees will see raises of between 55 cents and 66 cents per hour, depending on classification, effective as of ratification. In year two, all rates will go up by 1.5% and in year three all rates will increase by 2%.
In addition to rate increases, members will receive a lump sum payment effective ratification. Part-time and full-time employees with less than 12 months of service will receive $200. Employees classified as General will get $525, and Classified workers receive $675.
As of July 1, 2019, members will benefit from the addition of massage therapy to their health and welfare benefits. Vision coverage improves to $200 per 24-month period. Dental coverage will align with a one-year lag on the current Ontario Dental Association (ODA) fee. The employer’s contribution rate to the workers’ benefit plan increases to $257 per month per employee. The boot allowance improves to $125 per year as well.
The Union negotiating committee secured the renewal of language that pays all current employees an additional day’s wages in the week in which their birthday falls for each year of the agreement. Additionally. language establishes paid time to provide union orientation to new members and a sunset clause has been added for discipline.
The 65 full-time and 5 part-time workers ratified their new agreement on April 11 and 12, 2019.
Union Negotiating Committee: Jorge Garcia, Stacey Hanson, Charlottee Teepell, and Union Reps Paul Hardwick and Sandra Proulx.
We featured a member, Balbir Dhami, from Canadian Linen in our retirees’ profile not too long ago! If you’re retiring, make sure to let your Union Rep know!