Food Basics members ratify negotiated settlement
March 27, 2019
Please be advised that the Members of UFCW Local 175 working at Food Basics have voted in favour of the negotiated settlement at meetings held March 24 through March 26, 2019.
On behalf of your Union Negotiating Committee, thank you for your solidarity, patience, and support.
Information below added March 29, 2019:
At meetings held March 24 through March 26, 2019, members at Food Basics ratified a collective agreement which covers more than 6,500 members working at 103 stores in Ontario.
As the parties neared the end of bargaining in early March, the Union and employer met with a Ministry of Labour (MOL) Conciliation Officer. The negotiated settlement presented to the membership was reached at 5 a.m. on March 14, 2019.
Full-time employees will receive a lump sum payment of $1,500 effective as of ratification, plus increases in each year of the agreement. The first raise of 40 cents per hour will take effect in August 2019. Subsequent increases include 40 cents per hour in August 2020, 35 cents per hour in August 2021, and another 35 cents per hour in August 2022.
Part-time employees who have worked more than 6,501 hours receive a $500 lump sum payment. Those with between 3,901 and 6,500 hours receive $300. Rates for part-timers also increase. A new wage grid will ensure that those rates increase at the same rate as minimum wage.
In terms of health and welfare benefits, full and part-time employees will receive a drug card to be used at any pharmacy. The members also benefit from improvements to their optical, dental, and short-term disability coverage, as well as improved provisions for protective footwear.
Language negotiated into this agreement provides Union Stewards with 15 minutes of paid time to meet with new members. Other language improvements bring the contract in line with current legislation and the Human Rights Code, plus gender-neutral language will be used throughout.
Thank you to the Union Negotiating Committee for your time, effort, and dedication to the bargaining process.
The Members of the Negotiating Committee:
- Sandra Brix,
- Pam Edwards,
- Zisis Griziotis,
- Patti Hamilton,
- Raymond Houle,
- Steve Hutton,
- Angela Hway,
- Dave Koutis, and;
- Jeff Little.
Union Staff on the Negotiating Committee:
- Union Servicing Reps Tim Kelly, Sabrina Qadir, and Arlene Robertson,
- Region 4 Director Chris Fuller,
- Executive Assistant Sylvia Groom, and;
- UFCW Local 175 President Shawn Haggerty.