Metro Kanata members ratify wage increases, paid sick days and language improvements

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October 20, 2023

Retail grocery members at Metro Kanata in Ottawa ratified a four-year agreement on October 13, 2023.

Wage increases

Full-Time

Negotiating committee members stand together holding a copy of the collective agreement. Left to Right: Steve Leonard, Laurie Mang.

Full-time who are at or over end rates at date of ratification:

$1.00/hour August 2023 retroactive to August 20, 2023
$0.80/hour August 2024
$0.60/hour August 2025
$0.55/hour August 2026.

Full-time employees moving through the wage grid will move to the new MW + grid effective date of ratification.

Part-time

Part-time at end rate:

MW +$1.60 at date of ratification
MW + $1.70 August 2024,
MW + $1.80 August 2025
MW + $1.90 August 2026

Part-time with 3900 or more hours worked will receive $250.00 less statutory deductions on August 21, 2023, August 21, 2024, August 21, 2025 and August 21, 2026.

Night crew

The night crew premium will Increase from $0.95 to $1.10 and will be applicable to all employees scheduled after 9:00 p.m. There will be an increase to Lead Hand, Express/Courtesy and U-Scan premium from $0.60 to $0.75 per hour. There will be the addition of a new wage rate for Assistant Department manager replacing a department manager for more than four weeks. The part-time Meat Cutter wage grid has been reduced to 24 months to reach end rates.

Other improvements include:

There will be an increase to the Short-term disability payment for full-time from the current $500.00 to $595.00 per week.

Vision benefit increased to $250.00 for glasses and $50.00 for eye exam.
Safety boot allowance increased to $125.00 annually for full-time and $125.00 every two years for part-time.
Increased bereavement leave for immediate family to five paid days for full-time and part-time if they are scheduled to work.
Reduced the requirement to achieve four weeks of vacation to ten years of service down from 12 plus years.
Paid sick leave for part-time employees who average 22 hours per week from January 1st – Dec 31st each year shall receive effective January 1, 2024 – 8 hours of paid sick leave, January 1, 2025 – 16 hours of paid sick leave and January 1, 2026 – 24 hours of paid sick leave. Any unused sick leave will be paid to employee on or before December 1^st of the current year on a separate cheque.
The negotiation committee will be provided a paid day, at the employees’ regular hourly rate to review the proposal document in advance of bargaining, to attend ratification meetings and review the final collective agreement before printing.
Increase the employer contribution to the UFCW Training and Education Fund to $650.00 per year.
Increase to allotment for uniform allowance. Employer will provide rain gear, proper gloves and winter jackets for cart retrieval and waterproof over-boot or rubber boots for the meat department. Provision for mats at U-Scan, meat department and cash to be replaced when needed.
Improved job posting language – once a position is posted it shall be deemed that the employer intends to replace such position.
A Letter of Understanding for The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which provides for an annual paid floater day for both full and part-time.