Flemingdon Health Centre members secure first contract
February 20, 2019
Members at Flemingdon Health Centre in Toronto have ratified their first collective agreement.
The parties reached the agreement after more than 45 days of bargaining over the last year and a half. This included conciliation to issue a No Board report, and to assist in the last days of negotiations.
The Union negotiating committee worked hard to achieve a contract that is consistent with other long-service, mature collective agreements in the Community Health sector. The three-year term for members at Flemingdon Health Centre contains language to bring the employees closer to the Ministry of Health wage guidelines, with the understanding that as new funding becomes available, it will be applied to raise wages even further. Additional language defines the employment status of the workers clearly, which will limit the employer’s use of contract workers. Plus, the committee bargained to move from a group RRSP to the Health Care of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP).
Members on an unpaid leave will continue to have their benefits provided for by the employer up to six months, based on their years of service. Paid leaves written into the contract include:
- jury duty,
- bereavement,
- merit days based on service,
- family health days,
- sick days,
- two float days, and;
- employer-paid Long-Term Disability (LTD).
A new prepaid leave plan allows employees to bank 20% of their annual income for four years, which they can use to take the fifth year off on a leave of absence.
Important language secured in the agreement addresses layoff and recall, health and safety, harassment, and discrimination. Now, the employees benefit from a grievance procedure as well. Employees will receive $900 per year toward professional development costs. Lastly, the employer will pay for 50% of the cost to print collective agreement books for the members, and will contribute $250 per year to the UFCW Local 175 Training & Education Fund.
The 90 members secured this first contract at a ratification vote, which took place on January 20, 2019. Workers at Flemingdon provide community health care services at three locations in Toronto.
Union Negotiating Committee: Bill Bitaxis, Darryl Gershater, Daniella Moss, Union Rep Casey Magee, and Region 2 Director, John DiNardo.
Read more about what other Health Care members at UFCW Local 175 have achieved in their agreements. Plus, more and more health care workers are joining our Union! Find out why and learn about the victories at Waterford Retirement Residence, Villa Retirement Lodge, the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture.
Looking to bring the Union benefit to your workplace?
Have a confidential chat with one of our Organizers! You can reach them at 1-800-565-8329, at organizing@ufcw175.com, or find out more about what it means to Join a Union here.