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Collective Agreements

Wage increases secure in new Amity Goodwill contract

A majority of members at Amity Goodwill in Hamilton voted in favour of a three-year collective agreement on August 23, 2004. Highlights include:

• Wage increases totalling 95 cents per hour over the term of the agreement.

• Pension contributions from the company increase and the company will now participate in the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP).

• Workers classified as Trucker Helpers and Truckers receive an increased bonus.

• Increased optical and dental contributions resulting in improved coverage.

• Improved language ensuring members works no more than two evenings per week and two Saturdays per month.

• Improved dues language and entitlement to confirmation of the amount of sick time banked.

Union Negotiating Committee: Rob Dolan, Janet Hamilton, Dorothy Passmore, Bill Smith and Union Rep Chris Fuller.

Bunzl Canada workers vote in favour of three-year contract

Members at Bunzl Canada in Oakville achieved the following contract highlights in a ratification vote held August 29, 2004:

• All classifications receive wage increases totalling 8.25 per cent over the course of the agreement.

• Each member of the bargaining unit receives a signing bonus of $1,000.

• Increased employer contributions to the worker’s pension plan resulting in an improved retirement benefit.

• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance maximum increases significantly to $50,000, up from $10,000.

• Employer contributions to the UFCW Trusteed Dental Plan provide improved coverage, which now covers orthodontics up to $2,000 per eligible person.

• Increased safety footwear allowance of $125 per year, up from $75.

• Improved vacation entitlement relative to years of service.

• Improved language regarding seniority, vacation and health and welfare.

Union Negotiating Committee: Wayne McLean, Ed Thompson, Union Rep Joe DeMelo and Central West Regional Director Harry Sutton.

Four-year contract for Canada Malting workers

On August 4, 2004, members at Canada Malting Company Ltd., in Thunder Bay, voted in favour of a new collective agreement. Contract highlights include:

• Wage increases totalling $2.40 per hour over the course of the agreement with the first raise (75 cents per hour) retroactive to April 1, 2004.

• Eyeglass coverage increases to $300, up from $225, per 24-month period.

• Important language improvements protecting the workers’ interests in the event of job loss as a result of technological change or plant closing.

• Language improvements regarding severance packages for those affected by downsizing.

• Improved language regarding call-ins, vacation scheduling and overtime.

Union Negotiating Committee: Shawn Boyce, Jason Dyck, Dale Simon and North West Regional Director Shawn Haggerty.

Sixty-six members at the Caressant Care Nursing facility in Fergus, achieved a new three-year collective agreement on August 11, 2004. Discussions on several matters took place through a Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act (HLDAA) hearing. The following highlights reflect previously agreed to matters as well as the arbitrator’s decision:

• Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) receive wage increase totalling 7 per cent over the course of the agreement plus an additional 52 cents per hour in pay equity adjustments. They also receive a total of $1 per hour in additional increments. These increases total $2.95 more per hour.

• All other classifications receive raises of 7 per cent over the course of the agreement plus an additional 52 cents per hour in pay equity adjustments. Increases total between $1.81 and $1.90 more per hour.

• All initial wage increases are retroactive to May 1, 2003.

• Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) increase in each year of the contract to provide improved retirement benefit payments.

• Each year of the contract, employer contributions increase to the UFCW Trusteed Dental Plan resulting in improved coverage for workers.

• Vision care coverage increases to $150 per 24-month period.

• Workers receive an additional floating holiday.

• Improved vacation entitlement of six weeks at 12 per cent pay for those with more than 20 years service with the company.

• Improved language regarding steward representation, shift-filling and call-ins and floating holidays.

Union Negotiating Committee: Christine Baumber, Georgina Broeckel, Chris McDougall and Union Rep Rick Wauhkonen.

Grandview Lodge workers achieve contract improvements

Members at Grandview Lodge in Dunnville ratified a new three-year collective agreement on August 3, 2004. The vote follows negotiations that took place between October 2003 and July 2004 and two mediation sessions in the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act (HLDAA) process.

Improvements to the contract include:

• Wage increases totalling 8.75 per cent over the course of the agreement.

• Early retirement benefits.

• Vacation entitlement increases of four weeks for those with eight years of service, five weeks for those with 13 years of service and six weeks for workers with 21 years service.

• Specific time period for payout of vacation pay for part-time workers and a uniform allowance.

• Improved call-in, seniority and vacation language.

Union Negotiating Committee: Sandy Cook, Judy Hare, Ingrid Houser, Kathy Sitter, Cheryl Staats, Wayne Swartz and Union Rep Chris Fuller.

Toronto area Hertz workers end 23-day strike

On August 7, 2004, members at 16 Hertz Canada locations across the Greater Toronto Area ratified a three-year collective agreement that brought an end to a 23-day strike. Highlights of the new collective agreement include:

• Wage increases totalling $2.10 per hour over the course of the agreement with the first raise retroactive to July 1, 2004.

• Improved vacation entitlement of five weeks at 10 per cent pay for workers with 18 years of service or more.

• In addition there is an increased number of people permitted on vacation at any one time during peak periods.

• Vision care coverage increases to $225.

• A new shoe allowance for all employees as well as an increased uniform cleaning allowance.

• Generally improved contract language.

Union Negotiating Committee: Elmi Dini, Ahmed Hussein, Lily Tan, and Union Reps Jehan Ahamed and Larry Bain.

Loeb workers in Ottawa ratify new contract

Members at the Loeb Hazeldean grocery store in Ottawa ratified a new collective agreement on August 30, 2004, that will see them converted to a Super C later this year. Contract highlights include:

• Wage increases totalling $1.40 per hour to the end rates over the term of the agreement with an additional lump sum payment in the first year.

• Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Pension Plan (CCWIPP) increase to 68 cents per hour, up from 65 cents, to provide an improved retirement benefit for the members.

• Dental contributions increase to 31 cents per hour, up from 28 cents.

• New language now gives part-time staff the opportunity to work up to 32 hours per week thereby allowing more part-timers to qualify for group insurance coverage (22 hours per week required).

Union Negotiating Committee: Sue Lamothe, Ralf Schacknat, Union Rep Simon Baker and Eastern Regional Director Dan Lacroix.

Norseman Plastics workers secure new contract

On August 29, 2004, members at the Norseman Plastics facility in Toronto ratified a three-year collective agreement. Contract highlights include:

• General wage increases of $1 per hour over the course of the agreement. The first increase is retroactive to April 1, 2004.

• Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) increase to provide an improved retirement benefit for members.

• Monthly company contributions to the workers’ Health & Welfare Fund increase to $119, an increase of $26 per month.

• Safety shoe allowance increases to $90 per year.

• Language improvements ensure layoffs are made in reverse order of seniority by shift and that overtime is shared among workers as equitably as possible and layoffs

• There is also improved language regarding leaves of absence and vacation carry-over.

Union Negotiating Committee: Dansukh Ghandi, Raghbir Singh, Dhirajlal Vegda and Union Rep Paul Jokhu.

Three-year contract for Rainy Lake Hotel staff

Members at the Rainy Lake Hotel in Fort Frances secured a three-year collective agreement at a ratification vote held August 18, 2004. Highlights include:

• Workers classified as Schedule ‘A’ and ‘B’ receive wage increases totalling 70 cents per hour over the course of the agreement.

• Contributions to the UFCW Dental Plan (Southern Ontario) increase to provide improved coverage for the workers.

• New vacation language, which comes into effect in the second year of the agreement, entitles workers with 20 years of service to six weeks of vacation with pay or 12 per cent of their annual earnings – whichever is greater.

• Workers receive one floater holiday per year effective April 1, 2005.

• Improved language regarding Union rights, dues remittance,

Union Negotiating Committee: Rita Katama, Theresa Robinson and North West Regional Director Shawn Haggerty.

On August 24, 2004, members at Sudbury’s Ramada Inn voted in favour of a three-year agreement, which included the following highlights:

• Wage increases of 2 per cent in each year of the agreement and increases to the hourly shift premiums as well.

• Workers receive two floating holidays per year in addition to regular statutory holidays.

• There are improvements to bereavement leave, the number of uniforms for each member, time available for filing grievances and hours of work language.

• In addition, the employer agrees to supply parking for all workers.

Union Negotiating Committee: Elaine Conley, Richard Linekar, Linda Teskey and Union Rep Tim Deelstra.

Westfort Foods workers ratify new contract

At a ratification meeting held August 9, 2004, members at Westfort Foods Inc. in Thunder Bay voted in favour of a new three-year collective agreement. Contract highlights include:

• Across-the-board wage increases for all scales totalling 65 cents per hour.

• Part-time workers with 10 or more years of continuous service receive vacation pay at 8 per cent of their annual earnings.

• Eye glass and contact lens coverage of $200 per two-year period.

• Safety shoe allowance of $50 per year.

• Improved language regarding seniority and call-ins.

Union Negotiating Committee: Kelly Rowell, Marjorie Olynic and Union Rep Colby Flank.

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