Flemingdon Health Centre frontline community care workers ratify
June 22, 2023
The 84 members of UFCW Local 175 at Flemingdon Health Centre ratified a first renewal agreement on June 15, 2023.
With the solidarity of the membership, who were prepared to strike, and the assistance of a Conciliation Officer, the parties reached a deal in the late hours of June 14. The resulting agreement contains a number of improvements to both compensation and language, and paves the way for future bargaining in the community care sector.
Members at Flemingdon Health Centre will receive increases of 2% in each year of the agreement. In addition, Medical Secretaries will receive a special wage adjustment of 30 cents per hour for each year of the agreement prior to the application of any general wage increase. In the first pay period of August 2023, each active employee will receive a lump sum payment of $1,000 prorated to full-time equivalent with a minimum payment of $250. Members also receive an increase of $100 each to their professional development funds, and the employer agrees to contribute $300 per year toward the UFCW Local 175 Training & Education Fund.
Language improvements include:
- The increase of banked time limits to 35 hours instead of 28 hours;
- Continuity of seniority and service for contract employees with less than a 30-day break in service between contracts, and;
- Five Health & Safety Committee members instead of the previous three.
Members also benefit from an additional float day in each 2023 and 2024, and the continuation of the hybrid work model for the remainder of the collective agreement. Other improvements address bereavement provisions which now include chosen family and step-parents, the addition of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and WSIB coverage. In addition, the parties agree to discuss the introduction of Team Leads at the next labour-management committee meeting.
The 84 members of UFCW Local 175 are frontline health care workers providing care and services to some of the most vulnerable people in those communities.
These members work in various positions throughout the facilities including Nurse Practitioners, Data Management and IT, Counsellors, Registered Nurses, Chiropodists, Social Workers, Dietitians, Administrative Support, Physiotherapists, and Outreach Workers.
Union Negotiating Committee: Bill Bitaxis, Jane Chadwick, Niki Hinds. Union Representative: Casey Magee.
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!