Transcare members ratify 3-year agreement
October 30, 2018
The Unionized employees at Transcare Community Support Services in Scarborough achieved a new three-year collective agreement recently.
Over nine days of negotiations, the parties met to bargain through a number of items the membership at Transcare wanted to deal with. One major achievement is that employees received an increase to their Travel Subsidy. This subsidy provides employees with additional money for the purchase of fuel or a transit pass. Previously, part-time employees didn’t receive the Travel Subsidy. Now, they receive $25 per month. Full-time employees receive $50 per month, up from $40.
Ten part-time Personal Support Workers (PSWs), employed as of ratification, will receive full-time positions based on seniority. The company will fill these positions by December 31, 2018.
A new wage scale at Transcare provides an across-the-board increase of 1% in the first year. End rates improve by 1% in the second and third year as well. The first increase of 1% provides retroactive pay, in the form of a lump sum, for hours worked since the expiry of the previous contract.
The overnight care premium increases by 20 cents per hour 55 cents per hour by the end of the contract term. In addition, members benefit from improved mileage payments when they use their personal vehicle for employer business. Also, the parties agreed to meet to review Pay Equity and obligations under the Employment Standards Act (ESA).
The employer will contribute $750, up from $500, toward the UFCW Local 175 Training & Education Fund. Lastly, employees can now save one day of bereavement leave to attend a delayed funeral or spring interment.
UFCW Local 175 represents the 200 Transcare health care professionals, who provide community support and home services for people needing assistance because of an illness, disability, age-related functional limitations, or convalescence.
Union Negotiating Committee: Maxine Dunn, Dawn Grant, Kareena Lynch, and Union Rep Orsola Augurusa.
More Health Care negotiation updates:
https://ufcw175.com/2018/10/24/paramed-nurses-achieve-first-agreement/
https://ufcw175.com/2018/09/27/lakeside-retirement-secure-contract/