Contents

Collective Agreements

First contract for Aviscar workers in Ottawa

Approximately 50 recently unionized workers at Aviscar in Ottawa ratified their first collective agreement on May 16, 2005. The three-year contract includes:

• Wage increases for workers at the end rate of their progression grid totalling 11.25 per cent over the three-year term.

• Significant increases to all progression rates.

• Inclusion of the workers’ health and welfare coverage in the collective agreement.

• Part-time workers can now accrue vacation pay toward taking a paid vacation at a later date.

• Important grievance language giving workers the ability to fight for their rights in the workplace.

• Seniority language recognizing length of service for job postings, vacation selection and layoffs/recall.

• Clauses covering hours of work and overtime.

• Important No Harassment/Abuse language protecting the workers and ensuring each is treated with dignity and respect.

Union Negotiating Committee: Said Roble, Omar Salad and Union Rep Simon Baker.

Canadian Linen workers ratify new contract

On May 4, 2005, approximately 60 workers at the Canadian Linen facility in Ottawa secured a new four-year collective agreement.

• Full-time workers receive pay increases totalling 10.5 per cent over the term of the contract in addition to an $800 lump sum payment.

• Part-time receive a $400 lump sum payment and wage increases of 25 cents per hour in each year of the agreement.

• Shift premiums for workers assigned to Counting In or as Lead Hand increase by 10 cents per hour over the term of the contract.

• Company contributions for the workers’ health and welfare benefits increase to $150, up from $127.50, to maintain current benefit levels.

• Pension contributions increase by 16 cents per hour over the term of the collective agreement.

• A part-time applicant to a full-time position will receive a two-week familiarization period.

• New language increases bereavement leave entitlement to 4 days, up from 3, in the event a workers’ father-in-law, mother-in-law or grandchild dies.

Union Negotiating Committee: Mireille Habre, Germaine Renaud, Union Rep Paul Hardwick and former Union Rep Luc Lacelle.

Executive Car Wash workers ratify three-year contract

On May 17, 2005, approximately 20 Local 175 members at Executive Car Wash in Mississauga secured a three-year collective agreement, which includes the following highlights:

• Wage increases of 20 cents per hour in each year covered by the contract term for all existing employees.

• Full-time signing bonus of $150 and part-time bonus of $75.

• Increased vision care coverage of $115 every 2 years.

• Increased safety shoe allowance of $80.

• Full-time workers receive eight paid sick days per year.

• Improved language regarding discrimination in the workplace and grievance & arbitration procedures.

Union Negotiating Committee: Percy Dumaguin and Union Rep Linval Dixon.

North American Lumber workers unanimously ratify new contract

Local 175 members at North American Lumber in Fort Frances voted in favour of a new two-year contract on May 15, 2005. Highlights include:

• Across-the-board wage increases of 2.5 per cent in the first year, retroactive to April 1, 2005, and 2 per cent in the second year.

• Dental plan contribution increases to 28 cents per hour in the first year and 30 cents in the final year.

• Company will contribute up to 4 per cent toward the workers’ RRSP pension.

• A new Safety boot allowance of $75 for all employees.

• The addition of one floater holiday for full-time workers with 24 months continuous service and three floating holidays for full-time workers with 10 years of service.

Union Negotiating Committee: Tracy Groves, Lisa Peake and Union Rep Colby Flank.

New contract for workers at Cornwall's Prince Foods

After turning down a previous offer from the company, approximately 257 workers at Cornwall’s Prince Foods facility secured a new four-year collective agreement at a ratification meeting held May 28, 2005. Contract highlights include:

• Entry level wage increases include the following:

  • $1 per hour for production workers, non-ticketed journeyman and ticketed journeyman.

  • $1.35 per hour for shipping/receiving and;

  • $3 per hour for electricians and refrigeration journeymen.

• End rate increases over a four-year period include:

  • $2.10 per hour for production workers.

  • $2.50 per hour for ticketed journeymen.

  • $2.65 per hour for shipping/receiving and;

  • $2.70 per hour for non-ticketed journeymen.

• Shift premiums increase to $1 per hour for all hours worked on Saturday and Sunday.

• Evening and night shift premiums increase by 5 cents per hour each year

• Workers employed as of March 18, 2005, receive a $200 signing bonus upon ratification and a $400 bonus on the third anniversary of the agreement.

• Ticketed Journeymen will receive an additional ticket shift premium of 50 cents per hour if they hold a ticket other than for Millwright, Refrigeration or Electrician and the company requires the worker to use this ticket to perform their duties.

• Employer contributions to the workers’ dental plan increases by 20 per cent.

• Improved safety boot allowance of $100 for all workers past their probationary period and $200 for workers classified as leader, combo/walkie operator, receiving/shipping and maintenance.

• A tool allowance of $100 for maintenance workers.

• Improved vacation entitlement including:

• Workers with one year of service as of May 28 receive one paid floating holiday during year of the agreement and each worker receives two floating holidays in the fourth year of this agreement.

• Those with four, but less than five, years of service receive a 2 per cent increase in vacation pay and now receive three weeks vacation.

• Workers with more than five years service receive increased vacation pay to 6.5 per cent.

• New language providing a ‘no harassment’ policy and recognizing a labour management committee and the duties of the Union Safety Committee.

• New letters of agreement establish policy for internal transfers, an attendance bonus and arbitration filing.

• Improved language regarding seniority, bereavement leave, hours of work, overtime, recall, transfer to other shifts and layoffs.

Union Negotiating Committee: Mary Brisbois, John O’Keefe, Gilles Grenier and Union Rep Daniel Mercier.

Southampton Flour Milling workers ratify new contract

Local 175 members at the Southampton Flour Milling facility ratified a new three-year collective agreement at a vote held May 25, 2005. Contract highlights include:

• Across-the-board wage increases of 35 cents per hour in each of the three years covered by the term of the contract.

• Company contribution to the workers pension plan increase in each year of the agreement.

• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) each increase to $30,000 to provide workers with improved coverage.

• Increased prescription drug coverage totalling $500 per year by the end of the contract term.

• The workers’ vision care pays $75 toward one eye exam per two-year period.

• Increased contributions to the workers dental plan.

• Improved safety shoe allowance of $140, up from $130 and $70, up from $60, to purchase work clothing.

Union Negotiating Committee: Lloyd Ens and Union Rep Angus Locke.

Members at Sun Valley Foods in London ratified a four-year contract on May 15, 2005. Highlights of the new contract include:

• Wage increases totalling $1.65 per hour over the course of the contract term.

• Maintenance workers receive an additional increase of 50 cents per hour in the first year of the agreement.

• Pension contribution increases totalling 30 cents more per hour by the end of the fourth year.

• All workers with five or more years of seniority receive one additional floater day for a total of three per year.

• Life Insurance for a worker’s spouse increases to $10,000, up from $5,000, and for dependants it increases to $5,000, up from $2,500.

• Company contributions of 1 cent per hour per worker to the Local’s Training & Education Fund.

• Improved bereavement leave language providing three days leave.

• Cross training language for both regular and overtime work.

Union Negotiating Committee: Edward Amaral, Larry Douglas, Mark Ennett, Vicki Kelly, Paul Manning, Betty Pardy (Local 175 Recorder), Mike Tielemans and Union Rep Kevin Dowling.

On May 15, 2005, approximately 55 members at Super C Rockland secured their first collective agreement. Highlights of that contract include:

• Full and part-time workers at the end rate of the progression grid receive increases of 30 cents per hour per year for the first three years of the agreement and 35 cents per hour per year for the last three years of the agreement.

• In addition, the starting rate will increase by over $6 per hour over the course of the contract term.

• Lead hand receives a shift premium of 75 cents per hour and the night shift premium is 95 cents per hour.

• Workers scheduled to relieve a higher rated position receive a $40 weekly premium or $8 per day.

• A worker relieving a Department Manager receives a weekly premium of $60 or $12 per day.

• Health and Welfare coverage including paid sick leave, life insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), short and long-term disability (full-time only), extended health care and an employee assistance program.

• The health and welfare program also includes dental coverage. Contributions to this plan increase in each year of the agreement to reach 31 cents per hour by the final year of the contract term.

• The company agrees to contribute to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) starting May 8, 2008.

• The workers’ vision care plan (full-time only) provides $150 of coverage per 24-month period.

• Health and Safety Committee procedures and responsibilities in the workplace.

• Contract language establishes seniority, hours of work, overtime, vacation entitlement, leaves of absence and provides a grievance and arbitration process for members of the bargaining unit.

Union Negotiating Committee: Denis Proulx, Kim Trites, Union Rep Daniel Mercier and Eastern Regional Director Dan Lacroix.

Bakery workers ratify new agreement

On May 7, 2005, members at Weston Bakeries Limited in Cobourg voted in favour of a new collective agreement.

Highlights include hourly wage increases of $1.50 to $2.90 over the term of the contract. Permanent full-time employees are paid a $1,000 signing bonus on ratification, with seasonal full-timers receiving $500. New health & welfare coverage includes dental, drug, vision, paramedical, hospital and supplementary health care, as well as insurance – life, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) and long-term disability. Seasonal workers, with five years continuous service, also receive coverage.

• The company agrees to cover 100 per cent of the cost of one pair of safety footwear, per year, and arrange a footwear provider.

• A second pair may also be provided to full-timers, if requested and deemed necessary by the Joint Health & Safety Committee..

• The number of members allowed on the Negotiating Committee increases to three bargaining unit members.

• Significant new language includes improvements to job postings and “no harassment/no violence” clauses.

• Stronger language allows for shift preference by seniority, in certain situations.

• There are increases to bereavement leave.

• Vacation eligibility increases to 5 weeks with 17 years of service.

• Workers at the plant make fruit cakes and muffins.

Union Negotiating Committee: Tim Hill, Lynn Jillings and Union Rep Chris Fuller.

Two-year contract at Grenon's YIG secures monetary gains for full and part-time workers

Approximately 110 members at Grenon’s YIG in Rockland secured a new two-year collective agreement at a ratification vote held May 18, 2005. Highlights of the contract include:

• Retroactive wage increases (to September 17, 2004) of 30 cents per hour for all full and part-time at the end rate or above the wage progression.

• Full and part-time at the end rate or above wage progressions receive 35 cents more per hour as of September 17, 2005.

• Part-time workers with more than 2,601 hours of work receive a lump sum payment of $150 upon ratification. Those with fewer than 2,601 receive a $50 lump sum payment.

• In addition, those part-time with more that 2,601 hours as of September 17, 2005, receive a lump sum of $50 on that date, $50 on January 17, 2006 and another $50 on May 17, 2006.

• Part-time workers receive vacation pay twice per year.

• Increased boot allowance of $35.

• Workers may retain one bereavement day for internment.

• The company must train part-time workers prior to training new hires.

Union Negotiating Committee: Carmen Faubert, Veronique Fortin, Union Rep Daniel Mercier and Central East Regional Director (former Union Rep) Luc Lacelle.

Retail grocery workers at Hendrik’s YIG in Perth ratified a two-year collective agreement at a vote held May 1, 2005. Highlights include:

• Wage increases of 65 cents per hour to all full and part-time end rate employees, over the course of the contract.

• Wage increase of 40 cents per hour for all part-time workers on progression, over the term of the agreement.

• Lump sum payments totalling $250 to all part-time workers on progression.

• Contributions of 60 cents per hour to a group RRSP for all full-time workers.

Union Negotiating Committee: Bob Kelly, Don Portwine, Union Rep Simon Baker and Central East Regional Director Luc Lacelle.