Metro Beechwood ratifies

Metro Beechwood ratifies wage increase and sick days for part-time workers

The membership at Metro Beechwood in Ottawa ratified a four-year agreement on January 25, 2024.

Wage increases for full time members hired prior to October 1, 2016 are: effective December 1, 2023 – $1.00, December 1, 2024 – $0.80, December 1, 2025 – $0.80, December 1, 2026 – $0.70. The full-time meat cutter wage grid will be reduced 36 months to reach end rate down from 48 months.

Full time hired prior to November 1, 2016 will receive a lump sum payment of $600 on December 1, 2023 and another $500 every December 1^st each year of the agreement.

Full-time hired after October 1, 2016 will be integrated into the new wage scale at end rate with an initial increase of $2.59-$3.09 and end rate increases on December 1, 2024 – $0.70, December 1, 2025 – $.55, December 1, 2026 – $0.55. The second tier of the wage scale is eliminated and Minimum wage plus scales are added for new full-time hired in progression.

Part-time increases are minimum wage plus grids with end rate hour maximums reduced to 5201 hours from 6500 hours to minimum wage plus $1.90 by the end of the four years. Part-time will slot in on the grid according to their hours, and wages are retroactive to the expiry December 1, 2023.

Part-time hired prior to December 31, 2020 will receive lump sum payments on December 1, 2023 – $400, December 1, 2024 – $400, December 1, 2025 – $400, and December 1, 2026 – $400.

Part-time hired after December 31, 2020 will receive a $75.00 lump sum payment four weeks after date of ratification.

The student wage grid will be reduced from 2601 hours to 1301 hours.

The night shift premium will increase to $1.10/hour and applicable to those that work after 9 pm.

Other language and monetary improvements include:

• Part-time sick leave achieved for those that average 22 hour per week each year. Effective January 1, 2025 – 16 hours and January 1, 2026 – 24 hours.
• Vision care allowance increased to $300 for full-time.
• Introduced new Assistant Department manager wage scales that allow for an additional increase of $.50/hour.
• Introduction of cross training language to allow part-time employees to increase their hours by working in another department.
• Safety Boot Allowance increases to $150/year with the option of $75 every six months for full-time and for part-time $150 every two years with the option of $75/year.

Union negotiating committee: Micheline St-Amour, Kevin Carrier, Marilyn Grummisch and Bill Woolridge. Union representatives: Shannon Epp and Damian Hulshof.

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

Read about UFCW Locals 175 & 633 members at work.

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