New contract amalgamates four agreements

New contract amalgamates four agreements into one to secure wage increases, benefit coverage for part-time workers and more bargaining power for members.

The retail grocery workers at Jones’ ValuMart, Collins’ ValuMart, Deans’ ValuMart, and Lavish’s Your Independent Grocer in Northeastern Ontario ratified a five-year agreement.

The end rate for full-time employees at all stores will be: Date of ratification – $19.75, February 2026 – $20.25, February 2027 – $21.00, February 2028 – $21.70 February 2029 – $22.40, and December 2029 – $22.75.

Full-time employees that are above the new end rates will receive increases of: Date of ratification – $1.00, February 2026 – $0.50, February 2027 – $0.50, February 2028 – $0.45, February 2029 – $0.40, and December 2029 – $0.35.  

Meat Cutter end rates will be: Date of ratification – $22.25, February 2026 – $22.75, February 2027 – $23.50, February 2028 – $24.20, February 2029 – $24.90, and December 2029 – $25.25.

Part-time end rates increase to Minimum Wage plus $1.00.

There are also new end rates for any Manager or Department Head in the Bargaining Unit.

In this round of bargaining, we were successful in achieving benefit coverage for part-time workers.  Single coverage will be paid by the employee at 20% and dependent coverage at 50%. To maintain eligibility, employees must work an average of 520 hours every six months.

Language improvements include:

• All full-time employees have one floater day, at all locations.
• Night shift premium increased to 80 cents per hour.
• Boot allowance increased to $100 from $75.
• Bereavement improvements for all employees to five days for immediate family and three days for extended family.

The merger of these four stores into one agreement will provide more bargaining power for the membership going forward, while providing improvements for all members and no concessions.

Union representatives: Jeff Barry and Michael Bernier.

Read grocery retail sector posts including negotiation highlights.

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