Caressant Care members in Harriston ratify
January 15, 2020
The 106 unionized employees at Caressant Care in Harriston have ratified their first agreement as members of UFCW Local 175.
The employees at Caressant Care sought out and joined our Local Union last June. In this three-year contract, they achieved a number of improvements to their working conditions.
Wages improve by 1.5% in each year of the agreement term. The first increase will be paid retroactively for all hours worked since April 30, 2019.
In addition, employees in some classifications will receive adjustments effective the date of ratification on top of the rate increases. Personal Support Workers (PSWs), Health Care Aides (HCAs) and Nurses Aides (NAs) will get a rate increase of 25 cents per hour. Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) receive an increase of 50 cents per hour. Employees classified as Dietary, Housekeeping, Activities, and Ward Clerk will receive an adjustment of 15 cents per hour, plus another 10 cents per hour in the second year of the contract term. Lastly, employees in the RPN Registration classification will see an additional $125 added to their end rate. Employees also benefit from increases to the weekend shift premium.
The Union Negotiating Committee at Caressant Care was able to maintain the current matching pension contributions of 4% employer and 4% employee. Vision care improves to provide $325 in coverage as of the date of ratification. This amount increases to $350 in the second year of the agreement term.
Language improvements address scheduling flexibility, overtime on an employee’s weekend off, bereavement entitlement, and maternity leave top-up.
The members now benefit from a new Service Recognition Award. Employees who complete 8000-15,999 hours receive a lump sum payment of $250. Those who have worked 16,000+ hours get a $500 lump sum.
The membership at Caressant Care in Harriston ratified their new agreement on January 9, 2020.
Union Negotiating Committee: Janice Beyersbergen, Linda Brubacher, Carol Troughton, and Union Rep Lee Johnson-Koehn.
Curious about what health care workers can negotiate for when they’re part of a Union? Check out some of the recently ratified UFCW 175 collective agreements in the industry to compare.
Learn more about why health care workers join our Union.
Catch up on negotiation highlights from other UFCW Locals 175 & 633 agreements across all sectors.