Lactalis Canada members ratify significant wage improvements

Back to Blog

December 19, 2023

Lactalis Canada Inc. members in Sudbury ratified a five-year agreement on November 28, 2023 which includes wage improvements for all workers (Part-time worker wages are the same as full-time wages).

Lactalis negotiating committee members sit at the bargaining table during negotiations.
  • Year 1 – 3.5%
  • Years 2 & 3 – 2.5%
  • Years 4 & 5 – 3.5%

This will result in an increase of $4.85 for Production 1 and $4.79 for Production 2 workers.

Members will also receive a signing bonus of $500 at ratification.

Pension contributions will be increased $1.00 per month per year throughout the contract.  January 1, 2024, the Company will amend the future service pension plan, to provide an employee at the normal retirement age of 65 a service-related pension benefit of $87.00 per month per year. Then, going forward in 2025 – $88.00, 2026 – $89.00, 2027 – $90.00 and 2028 – $91.00 for employees hired before January 1, 2015.

Benefit improvements include:

  • Life insurance increase of $2000 per year throughout the contract.
  • Dental plan increases to current Ontario Dental Association fee schedule.
  • Dental benefit increases by $100 per year throughout the contract.
  • Vision care provides maximum benefit of $300 up from $275, and $100 for eye exam every 24 months.
  • Update Chiropractic benefit to Paramedical benefit of $500 up from $275 which now includes x-rays, physiotherapists, and massage therapists.
  • LTD benefit up to 66% from 60% and an increase to the cap by $150 per contract year, an important and long-awaited improvement for these members.

Language improvements include:

  • Boot allowance increases from $250 to $275 and now includes insoles. Beginning January 2026, the boot allowance increases to $300, including insoles.
  • Increases in bereavement leave for brother, sister, mother and father in-law, and grandchildren to five working days off. Grandparents, brother/sister-in-law added to three working days off.
  • Probation period reduced from 75 days to 480 hours worked with reviews approximately every 160 hours.

Union negotiating committee: Marc Frappier, Robert Gaudreau and Steven Gervais. Union representatives: Jeff Barry and Michael Bernier.


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!

Share