Members at five OMNI Health Care facilities ratify unified agreement
October 30, 2019
At votes held October 9 and 10, health care workers at several long-term care homes owned by OMNI Health Care ratified a new three-year collective agreement.
The members of UFCW Local 175 at Almonte Country Haven, Kentwood Park, Maplewood, Rosebridge Manor, and Westlake Terrace voted to amend the scope of their existing agreements to include the bargaining unit at Almonte Country Haven and all be covered by one agreement going forward.
The Union Negotiating Committee requested conciliation assistance to address adjustments for Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Personal Support Workers (PSWs). The committee achieved an adjustment for the employees at Almonte Country Haven, which is currently 50 cents per hour behind the rate at the other four homes.
In addition, the committee achieved an increase of 1.5% in each year of the agreement for all employees. Given the current political climate and uncertainty of funding for long-term care in Ontario, this wage increase is a good gain.
Additional language provides wage adjustments for Registered Nurses (RNs) at Maplewood. Employees benefit from start time shift preference. They may also bank up to three days of overtime to take in-lieu during the year. Plus, those employees with more than three weeks of vacation entitlement may opt to forfeit their vacation for pay out of those weeks beyond three.
The weekend shift premium increases to 20 cents per hour. This is an improvement of 10 cents per hour for the members at Almonte, and an increase of 5 cents per hour for members at the other four facilities.
New language addresses discrimination, harassment, and bullying in the workplace. In addition, Stewards will now qualify for a paid leave of absence to attend a Union conference.
Other improvements provide increased bereavement entitlement. Plus, members at OMNI Health Care get a new paid day off if/when a spouse gives birth to a child or for the adoption of a child.
Lastly, the employer will increase its contributions to the UFCW Local 175 Training & Education Fund by $100, to a rate of $500 per year.
Union Negotiating Committee:
- Stacey Abbass
- Anna Baldasti
- Richard Barr
- Debbie Boal
- Sue Courtney
- Nicole Lafee
- Linda May
- Sarah Montgomery
- Jessica Valleau
- Karen Vaughan
- Union Reps Shannon Epp, Dean McLaren, Jacques Niquet, and Joe Tenn.
Read more Negotiation Updates from the Local 175 HOPE Sector! What’s HOPE? It stands for Health, Office & Professional Employees.
In all types of health care facilities, it is the front-line workers who shoulder the most responsibility in providing care to patients. Find out why Health Care workers benefit from belonging to our Union!
You can also read updates from across all the sectors where members of the Local Union work.