Oak Pharmacy members achieve wage increases and language improvements in new contract
May 29, 2023
The members employed in six locations of Metro Ontario Pharmacies Limited (Oak Pharmacy) across the province ratified a four-year agreement on May 7, 2023.
Members will see wage improvements for full-time workers of $1.00/hour at date of ratification, retroactive to expiry, and in then in September of each year of the contract thereafter $0.75/hr.
The part-time new wage grid hours are reduced from the previous 6501 to reach top rate of minimum wage + $0.70/hour to 4501 hours to reach top rate of minimum wage + $1.45 on ratification and then September 2023: minimum wage + $2.00, September 2024: minimum wage + $2.20, and September 2025: minimum wage + $2.25.
There is also a new part-time wage grid for Pharmacy Assistants of: 4501 hours top rate with minimum wage + $3.00 September 2023, minimum wage + $3.20 September 2024 and minimum wage + $3.25 September 2025.
Benefits will be available to both full and part-time members if they work beyond age 65, and vision allowance improves from $250 to $300.
Other language improvements include:
- Leave of absence for students attending post secondary education to ensure they will not lose seniority.
- Bereavement leave is applicable for part-time workers after the completion of their probation period, formerly 12 months was required for eligibility.
- New Letter of Agreement: part-time pharmacy clerks advancing to new wage classification of part-time Pharmacy Assistants will be moved by seniority.
- The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is now recognized for both full and part-time.
- Part-time have achieved a sick leave plan for eligible employees of up to 24 hours of sick leave annually.
- Full-time have achieved one new Personal Emergency Leave Day in addition to their sick days and a long service leave day already in the contract.
Union negotiator: Director, John DiNardo.
Catch up on all the negotiation highlights from across the province here.
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