Union members at the Trenton MFRC ratify
December 20, 2018
Union members at the Trenton Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) ratified a new agreement recently.
The Union negotiating committee and employer reached the four-year agreement after meeting in conciliation to deal with wage increases. For the past number of years, the members at MFRC Trenton received only mostly lump sum payments, but not rate increases. As a result of conciliation and the hard work of the Union negotiating committee, the ratified deal includes an initial increase of 2%, which is retroactive to April 1, 2018. Subsequently, members will receive 1% in year two, 1% in year three, and 1.5% in the fourth year. In addition, the employer will increase its pension contributions by .5% in the third year.
Members benefit from improved language surrounding shift cancellations. If the employer cancels a scheduled shift with less than 48 hours’ notice, the employee will receive four hours’ pay.
Employees may use their Discretionary Paid Leave time in two-hour increments. The members also benefit from having 10 Personal Emergency Leave (PEL) days per year secured in their agreement language. Plus, the employer cannot require a doctor’s note for those 10 days.
Other language improvements ensure that a part-time employee working in excess of 12 consecutive weeks at full-time hours will create a full-time job. Lastly, the scope of the agreement will now extend to any new sites in the area.
Approximately 72 full and part-time employees make up the bargaining unit. Members ratified the new agreement at meetings held on December 18 and 19, 2018.
Union Negotiating Committee: Liz Nicholas, Debbie Van Ooyen, and Union Rep Paul Hardwick.
Read more about other agreements ratified recently by Members of UFCW Locals 175 & 633.