Members at two Cappola Foods facilities ratify their FIRST collective agreement!

At meetings held June 16 and 17, the members at two Cappola Foods locations, which are owned by Maple Leaf, ratified their FIRST collective agreement.

Pictured from left to right are Union Rep John DiNardo, Marlon Cabuyadao (Lepage), Thierry Montcheau (Cartwright), Alda Duarte (Cartwright), Daneta Brown (Lepage), and Henry Robinson (Lepage)

The deal, reached after 24 hours of negotiations, covers 105 full-time workers who joined UFCW Local 175 in 2016. This includes 70 employees at LePage Court and 35 at the Cartwright location. The two plants run separate and distinct operations and have no crossover of employees.

The two negotiating committees participated in simultaneous bargaining to achieve a single contract for both facilities with some adjustments between the two, and both groups were pleased with the deal reached with the employer.

The negotiating committees focused on achieving paid overtime after 40 hours, which is an improvement over the previous practice of paying only after 44 hours. They were successful at that endeavour. In addition, the committee achieved having time off due to bereavement and vacation count as hours worked for the purpose of overtime. Employees will continue to receive two consecutive days off from work per week.

Wages increase by 30 cents per hour retroactive for hours worked since January 1, 2017.

Subsequent increases total $1.45 per hour over the term of the contract plus a signing bonus of $150. Additional language provides for a Maintenance wage survey annually starting November 2017. This will assess wages of the same trades in the area and adjust ticketed trades wages to current market conditions if there is a difference of more than 5%. Overall, wages will range at the end the term of the agreement from in excess of $18 for general labour up to in excess of $20 for skilled labour.

The Afternoon shift premium increases to 45 cents per hour, up from 40, for all hours worked if the majority of those hours fall between 3:30 p.m. and midnight. Lead Hands receive a shift premium of $1 per hour. The Maintenance allowance for tools and boots is $200 per year.

Members secured a Defined Contribution pension plan: the employer will match employee contributions up to 2% of that employee’s annual wages.

The employees’ benefit plan will be 100% employer-paid. Plus, the plan will extend to eligible dependents terminating at age 70 or at early retirement. That plan provides for prescription drug reimbursement at 90%, no annual deductible, with a $3000 annual maximum. Coverage for Paramedical Practitioners will be reimbursed up to $400 per year and includes: acupuncture, physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropody, podiatry, chiropractic, naturopathy, osteopathy, speech therapy, and psychologist services.

The dental plan will provide 80% reimbursement based on the current dental fee guide with a $1,500 maximum per year. Vision care coverage is $200 per 24-month period and that will increase to $225 no later than January 1, 2018. Life Insurance provides coverage of $30,000, which will increase to $35,000 no later than January 1, 2018 as well.

Language secured in the contract provides for three Stewards and time for those Stewards to introduce new hires to the Union and their collective agreement. Other language addresses Joint Labour Management meetings, a three-step grievance procedure, job postings, promotion by seniority, and Religious Observances. Employees receive a floater holiday in addition to 10 Statutory Holidays, and up to five weeks’ vacation paid at 10% depending on length of service.

LePage Court Union Negotiating Committee: Daneta Brown, Marlon Cabuyadao, and Henry Robinson.
Cartwright Union Negotiating Committee: Alda Duarte and Theirry Montcheau.
Chief Negotiator: Union Rep John DiNardo.

Catch up on all the negotiation highlights from across the province here.

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