The Carriage House members ratify

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July 12, 2019

Employees at The Carriage House retirement care home in Oshawa ratified a new agreement recently.

During bargaining, the Union sought the assistance of a Ministry of Labour Conciliation Officer to bring the employer, which had attempted to delay bargaining, back to the table. The agreement achieved by the Union negotiation committee includes raises, a new retirement savings program, enhanced vacation, and more for the employees at The Carriage House.

The Union Negotiating Committee achieved improved vacation language as well. Not only does the maximum entitlement increase to six weeks paid at 12%, but employs may also carry over one week of vacation to the following year.

Employees at The Carriage House will see raises of 3% in year one, 2% in year two, and another 2% in year three.

In addition, a new premium of 50 cents per hour will apply for time spent training another employee. The Union’s committee also bargained for a new position, Dining Room Coordinator, to be included in the wage grid for the bargaining unit.

Other financial improvements include:

  • A new shoe allowance of $25 for part-time employees;
  • A 100% uniform allowance to a maximum of $250, and;
  • Improved vision care coverage of $300, up from $250, per contract term.

Plus, a new Registered Retirement Savings Program (RRSP) provides employees the ability to contribute 1% of their earnings, to a maximum of $500, per year.

Paid bereavement leave improves to provide five days’ leave instead of the previous three days. Other contract improvements for The Carriage House employees include;

  • Additional holidays;
  • An increased number of members for the negotiating committee, and;
  • the contract now contains gender neutral language throughout.

Lastly, the employer will increase its contribution to the UFCW Local 175 Training & Education fund to $350 per year­­, up from $300.

Members ratified the three-year agreement on July 10, 2019.

Union Negotiating Committee: Monica Nickerson, Janet Nyenhuis, and Union Rep Christina Mayberry.


Find out why Health Care workers benefit from belonging to our Union!

Read more negotiation updates from the Health Care sector at UFCW Locals 175 & 633! Or you can read updates from across all the sectors where members of the Local Union work.

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