Ventura Foods members ratify improved wage grid and more

The 199 members of UFCW Local 175 who work at Ventura Foods in Etobicoke have ratified a new three-year collective agreement.

One of the major concerns in this round of bargaining for our Ventura Foods members was the wage grid and its language. The Union Negotiating Committee made it a top priority and successfully achieved an improved grid that will ensure members get to top rate faster with increases effective the date of hire each year, not to exceed a 12-month wait. In addition, a new Sunset Clause of 24 months has been achieved for discipline as outlined in the agreement.

Wages for the members improve by 4% in year one, 2.5% in year two, and another 2.5% in year three. Over the life of the collective agreement, this will amount to rate increases between $1.87 and $4.35 per hour depending on classification. The improved wage grid also now requires less time, 12 months instead of 36 months, to achieve top rate. This means that 52 employees will receive an immediate increase of between $2.34 and $4.48 per hour. By the end of 2026, another 28 employees will jump to top rate as well.

Other monetary improvements provide $50 per paramedical visit, up from $25, an a boot allowance of $175, up from $150. Additional language ensures that premiums for Afternoon and Night shifts are paid for all hours so worked by those employees.

Union Negotiating Committee: Karran Ramoutar, Beven Sullivan, and Union Representative Melody Slattery.

Sign up to receive email news from your Union.