Members covered by YIG Northern Master agreement ratify with strike deadline approaching

The 770 Local 175 members employed by Your Independent Grocer in Sudbury and Muskoka areas (Chris’, Gagnon’s, Paquette’s, Rehan’s and Terry’s YIG) ratified a new five-year agreement on December 10, 2021 while in a legal strike position with the deadline impending.

Members will see wage increases as follows:  Full-time – $.30 in Years 1 and 2 and $.40 in Years 3, 4 & 5. Part-time – $.25 in Years 1 & 2, $.30 in Year 3, $.35 in Year 4 and $.40 in Year 5, all retroactive to the date of expiry.

There will be an increase to the premium for an employee assigned to lock up the store from $.50 to $.75/hr and the Department Manager relief pay will increase from $15 per week to $1.00/hr if a member spends more than 3 days in the role.

We are happy to report we were able to secure a new RRSP lump sum contribution of $400 per year for full time members that will be funded 100% by the employer. This hard-won gain was achieved after many years of bargaining.

Employer contributions to the health and welfare plan will increase in years 2024 and 2025. This contribution will move from $.60 to $.62 per hour for full-time and from $.50 to $.52 per hour for part-time over the two-year period. The Employee contribution rate will remain unchanged.

Union negotiating committee: Paul Brown (Terry’s), Paula Castilloux (Paquette’s), Mike McGuire (Chris’), Brenda Oldfield (Gagnon’s) and Lorne Romanko (Rehan’s). Exec. Asst Chris Fuller, Director Sandra Ashcroft and Union Rep Derek Jokhu.

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

Have you moved? Update your address with us.

Read the most recent issue of Checkout online, or find issues going back 20 years!