Contents

Collective Agreements

Dollar Thrifty workers ratify three-year deal

Members at three Dollar Thrifty Automotive locations in the Greater Toronto Area ratified a new collective agreement on September 14, 2004. Highlights include:

• Wage increases of 50 cents per hour in each year of the agreement.

• Signing bonuses of $125 for full-time and $75 for part-time workers.

• Shift premium increases to $1.00 per hour, up from 50 cents, and Lead Hands now receive a premium of $1.50 per hour.

• An increased boot allowance now includes all classifications.

• Improved language throughout the agreement.

Union Negotiating Committee: Gerry Armstrong, Ahmed Kulmie, Lee Peachey, and Union Reps Jehan Ahamed and Larry Bain.

Three-year contract for Lanning Headwear workers

Members at Lanning Headwear in Belleville ratified a new collective agreement on September 1, 2004. Highlights of the contract include:

• Wage increases of up to 6 per cent over the course of the agreement.

• Increased company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) resulting in an improved retirement benefit for members.

• Increased contributions to the UFCW Benefit Trust Fund.

• Improved vacation entitlement of five weeks, up from four, for workers with 25 years of service or more.

• Workers receive paid vacation accrued without penalty upon termination.

• Important new language regarding Emergency Leave: Workers may use 10 days for personal or family-related emergencies.

Union Negotiating Committee: Judy Maybee, Oscar Vesterfelt and Union Rep Marilyn Lang.

Midtown Meats strike ends with ratification of first collective agreement

Workers at Wellington’s Midtown Meats ended an 11-week strike by voting in favour of the latest company offer for a first collective agreement. At a ratification meeting held September 26, 2004, the approximately 210 workers at the pork processing facility secured:

• Wages schedules and increases of 25 cents per hour effective the date of the collective agreement and 30 cents per hour on their anniversary date.

• Those hired before January 1, 2000, will receive their increases on January 1 of each year, which will be treated as their anniversary date.

• Workers also receive 30 cents more per hour in the second, third and fourth year of the contract term.

• Hourly premiums of $1 for workers assigned as Production Co-ordinators and 35 cents for those assigned as Team Leaders.

• Language assuring the application of the collective agreement to any work and workers moved from the Wellington facility to the Canadian Blast Freezer facility in Trenton.

• General contract language establishing policy and guidelines for the workplace with regard to seniority, health and safety, grievance and arbitration and other items.

• On July 1, 2004 – after five days of negotiations, three of which took place with a province-appointed conciliator – the Union and company reached agreement on all issues except wages, a wage grid and transfer rights. Subsequently, the company backtracked, withdrawing what it had agreed to earlier and the members voted for strike action.

Wellington is located south of Belleville.

Union Negotiating Committee: Dennis Manlow, W.J. McGriffen, Jason Pede and Union Rep Luc Lacelle.

St. Peter's Day Care workers reach agreement on new contract

Local 175 members at St. Peter’s Day Care in Hamilton ratified a new two-year collective agreement on September 14, 2004. Highlights include:

• Wage increases of up to 70 cents per hour over the term of the agreement.

• Increased company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) resulting in improved member retirement benefits for future credited service.

• Increased shift premium for management relief.

• Improved vacation selection process.

• Language improvements regarding dues remittance.

• Increase company contributions to the Training & Education Fund.

Union Negotiating Committee: Josie Lane, Julie-Anne Spence and Union Rep Chris Fuller.

Three-year agreement for staff at Union Pro Sportswear

Members at Toronto’s Union Pro Sports Wear ratified a three-year collective agreement on September 15, 2004. Highlights include:

• Wage increases for all workers of 3 per cent in each year of the agreement.

• Health & Welfare contributions increase to 3 per cent per year.

• New language covering arbitration time limits and dues remittance.

Union Negotiator: Union Rep Paul Jokhu.