Canada Safeway workers in North West Ontario reach new agreement

Over 300 workers at Canada Safeway stores in North West Ontario secured a new collective agreement at ratification meetings held June 5, 6 and 7, 2005. The new contract covers Locals 175 & 633 bargaining unit members at Safeway locations in Dryden, Fort Frances and Kenora.

Highlights of the four-year contract include:

• Workers receive lump sum payments based on hours worked (for part-time, these lump sums will be based on average hours worked in the previous 12 weeks) of between $200 and $750.

• All bargaining unit members who are over scaled Tier 1 workers receive an increase of 25 cents per hour on their Tier 1 rate of pay in the first, second and fourth year of the agreement.

• Night Stocking shift premium increases to 75 cents per hour, up from 50 cents.

• The company will continue to contribute to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP).

• The company will make contributions to the UFCW Dental Plan for each hour worked per employee.

• Improved language covering seniority, Tier 1 and Tier 2 hours, uniforms and job classifications as well as general clarifications throughout.

Union Negotiating Committee: Dan Belluz (Fort Frances), Lisa Leef (Kenora), Brian Livingston (Dryden), Jillian Lowe (Kenora), Michelene McKinnon (Fort Frances), Donna Pihulak ((Dryden), Union Rep David Noonan and North West Regional Director (and Executive Assistant) Shawn Haggerty.

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Local 175 members at Compass Group Canada (Beaver) Ltd. at George Brown College ratified a new three-year collective agreement on June 3, 2005. Highlights for the foodservice workers include:

• Workers received a 5.5% wage increase over the term of the agreement

• The employer will contribute 1 per cent of a worker’s weekly earnings to an RRSP plan.

• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage each increase to $15,000, up from $10,000.

• Workers now participate in a 50/50 co-pay dental plan.

• Workers with 20 years service are entitled to five weeks paid vacation.

• Improved language covering steward representation, subsidized food consumption and sick leave.

Union Negotiating Committee: Karen Lam and Union Rep Linval Dixon.

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On June 4, 2005, the approximately 100-member bargaining unit at Cuddy Foods in London secured a new four-year collective agreement, which includes the following highlights:

Wages increase as follows:

$1.30 per hour to Groups 1, 2 & 3 over the term of the agreement with the first raise retroactive to June 2, 2005.

$1.70 per hour to Groups 4 & 5 over the term of the agreement with the first raise retroactive to June 2, 2005.

Increased starting rate.

Pension contributions to CCWIPP increase to 80 cents per hour by the end of the contract term.

Increased Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage to $50,000 per worker.

Spousal life insurance increases to $7,500, up from $5,000, and workers’ children are now covered for $5,000, up from $2,500.

Bereavement leave entitlement increases to three days, up from one, in the event a sister- or brother-in-law or son- or daughter-in-law dies.

Improved language regarding negotiating and health and safety committees, steward representation, grievance filing, hours of work and overtime, seniority, layoffs and recall, and job postings.

Union Negotiating Committee: Bob Geromette, Gord Gripp, John Keys, Gary Wightman and Union Rep Kevin Dowling.

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Hurley Corporation workers secure new three-year agreement

Local 175 members, who work as cleaning service workers with Hurley Corporation at George Brown College, ratified a new collective agreement at a vote held June 22, 2005.

Contract highlights include:

• Across-the-board wage increases of 25 cents per hour in each year of the agreement with the first raise retroactive to May 1, 2005.

• Members of the bargaining unit receive a $75 signing bonus upon ratification.

• Those workers with five years service receive three weeks vacation or six per cent of their annual earnings.

• Workers with 10 years service are entitled to four weeks vacation or eight per cent pay.

• Dental contributions increase to 30 cents per hour.

Union Negotiator: Union Rep Linval Dixon.

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Imperial Parking workers secure improvements in new contract

Members at Imperial Parking Canada Corporation ratified a new three-year agreement on June 21, 2005. Highlights include:

• Workers at the top rate of progression receive a 3 per cent increase in each year of the agreement.

• Attendants (and Customer Service Representatives), maintenance and valet staff in the progression grid receive an immediate increase of between 54 cents and 73 cents per hour.

• A Patroller Bonus Incentive Plan will be rolled into the hourly wages providing an increase of $1.25 per hour immediately for Patrollers at top rate.

• Two new classifications now exist, Loading Dock Attendant and Customer Service Representatives, which will create new jobs.

• Night shift premiums increase by 5 cents per hour to 80 cents.

• Maintenance and Flagger classifications to be paid the same as Attendants.

• A 5-cent per-hour cleaning allowance will be paid to all workers.

• All workers required to wear safety shoes will receive an improved safety shoe allowance of $90, up from $75, per year.

• Unused sick days now paid out at 100 per cent, up from 50 per cent.

• Stewards will be properly compensated while conducting Union business.

• Definitions of full and part-time hours now included in the contract.

• Part-time workers completing more that 24 hours per week, for 12 consecutive weeks, will be moved to full-time.

• Bumping rights improvements.

• In a layoff situation, the employer cannot use part-time workers or a combination of part-time workers ‘back-to-back’ to avoid creating full-time shifts.

• Language improvements covering seniority, bereavement leave, video surveillance, uniforms, job postings and health and safety.

Union Negotiating Committee: Daud Hassan, Ali Mal, Ahmed Mohamoud, Alex Ng, Asgar Savani and Union Rep John DiFalco.

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Loeb St. Laurent workers negotiate wage and benefit improvements

On June 13, 2005, members at Ottawa’s Loeb St. Laurent grocery store ratified a new three-year collective agreement.

• Full-time and part-time workers receive increases to the end rates of 30 cents per hour, retroactive to May 1, 2005, with additional increases of 35 cents per hour in 2006, and another 35 cents per hour in 2007.

• Red-circled workers receive lump sum payments of $900 in the first year, $950 in the second year and $950 in the final year of the agreement.

• Those workers scheduled on a “Courtesy Cash” shift receive a shift premium of 75 cents per hour.

• As of July 1, 2005, the workers will receive a new Benefit Plan.

• The company will contribute 65 cents per hour for all full and part-time workers to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP).

• The company agrees to post all part-time job openings on the designated bulletin board.

Union Negotiating Committee: Oscar Arrieta, Gaetan Quesnel, Union Rep Daniel Mercier and Eastern Regional Director Dan Lacroix.

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Retail grocery workers at McDanial's YIG ratify new contract

Approximately 100 members at McDaniel’s YIG in Ottawa ratified a new collective agreement on June 5, 2005. The contract, which is retroactive to June 1, 2004, includes the following highlights:

• Full-time wage adjustments totalling $1,250.

• A wage increase of 50 cents per hour to part-time end rates.

• Part-time workers receive the following wage adjustments:

• Workers above the end rate receive $575

• Workers with 2,601 – 5,850 hours receive $300

• Workers with less than 2,601 hours receive $150

• Workers at top rate receive $150

• The night crew shift premium increases to 90 cents per hour.

• Front End Coordinator shift premium increases to 75 cents per hour.

• The boot allowance increases to $100 for full-time workers and $45 for part-time.

• Improved contract language covers time limit extensions, bereavement leave, job classification, guaranteed employment for 12 full-time workers and voluntary recognition of the collective agreement should the existing store close and a new YIG opens in Nepean.

Union Negotiating Committee: Danny Ewing, Frank Lepore, Union Rep Paul Hardwick and Central East Regional Director Luc Lacelle.

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Effective June 1, 2005, the following monetary improvements will occur as a result of your collective agreement:

• Wages increase by 2.5 per cent, with an additional 25 cents per hour for RPNs.

• Company dental plan contributions increase 2.5 per cent to 29 cents per hour.

• Company pension contributions (CCWIPP) increase 2.5 per cent to 60 cents per hour.

• Plus, there is an additional paid day off or “Floater” day.

Effective June 26, 2005, the following monetary improvements will occur as a result of your collective agreement:

• Top rates increase by 30 cents per hour.

• Progression rates increase by 20 cents per hour.

• Full-time workers are now entitled to hearing aid coverage of $500 every 60 months.

• Part-time workers with 12 months service and who average 22 hours per week, also receive the hearing aid benefit.

Effective June 1, 2005, the following monetary improvements will occur as a result of your collective agreement:

• Wage increases of 35 cents per hour for those workers at top rate or those hired before 2003.

• Same increase for end rates but move on the grid.

• The worker’s health and welfare is now a Company plan.

• Top rates for both full and part-time increase by 30 cents per hour.

Reminders:

• Early Start Up premium is 35 cents per hour.

• Cash Office premium is 20 cents per hour.

• Relief Pay premium is $1 per hour.

• Workers with 15 years of service or more receive four weeks vacation.

• Full-time workers now entitled to family health and welfare coverage.

• Your Collective Agreement includes language regarding weekends off.

• Wages increase as follows:

  • 35 cents per hour for Early Childhood Educators (ECEs)

  • 30 cents per hour for Non- Early Childhood Educators (Non ECEs)

  • 30 cents per hour for Cooks

  • 25 cents per hour for Cleaners

  • 25 cents per hour for Part-Time Supply workers

• Company pension contributions increase (on May 29, 2005) to 70 cents per hour.

• Additionally, the Relieving Lock-Up rate continues at $6.50 (from the ratification date).

• Full and part-time end rates increase by 35 cents per hour.

• Part-time workers on the progression grid receive an increase of 25 cents per hour.

• All part-time progression workers on the payroll as of May 1, 2005 receive a $75 lump sum payment on June 21, 2005 and again on December 1, 2005.

• Pension contributions are 60 cents per hour toward the group RRSP plan.

Again this year, our local union members contributed an astounding amount – $250,000 to fund research to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. The 2005 total for UFCW members across Canada totalled $908,000.

Thank you to everyone who donated! All funds are donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC) which was formerly the Leukemia Research Fund of Canada. The LLSC is a registered Canadian charity which allocates money for cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services.

The following offer was presented by the Company to the members of the Locals 175, 633, 1000A and 1977 negotiating committees. Your committees unanimously deemed this offer to be insufficient and turned it down.

This is for information purposes only and is the content of the offer that was missed by those members who could not attend an information meeting held last weekend.

Please note that this same offer was presented to each bargaining unit's committee. Also remember that your current collective agreement remains in full force until its expiry date in 2006.

Download the Offer in PDF format. You will require Adobe Acrobat.

The Union Negotiating Committee, comprised of UFCW Locals 175, 633, 1000A and 1977 representatives, met in negotiations with the employer on:

May 9 - 13
May 15-20
May 29 - June 2, 2005

Your committee, which represents over 30,000 members, determined unanimously that the employer’s offer of settlement was not sufficient and would therefore not recommend the proposed settlement for ratification by the membership.

“The committees from each of the Local Unions worked very hard to reach an agreeable settlement,” says Local 175 President Wayne Hanley. “Each of your committee representatives should be commended for their dedication. Though a settlement wasn’t reached, their input and efforts are invaluable.”

Your committees have scheduled membership meetings at which your representatives will provide you with a detailed explanation of the negotiations. Similarly, Locals 1000A and 1977 will hold meetings for their membership as well.

Please attend your regional meeting and remember that your current collective agreement remains in effect until its expiry date. Locals 175 & 633 membership meetings dates are scheduled as follows:

“The unity with which the Local Unions approached these negotiations and the unanimous decision that the employer’s offer was not sufficient, sends a strong message to the company – we will not accept an inadequate settlement for our members,” says Hanley.

Locals 175 & 633 members participated in Day of Mourning ceremonies across Ontario, on April 28, 2005, to remember those who suffered workplace illness, injury or death.

To find out more about what you can do to make your workplace safer and healthier, refer to page 18 in the April 2005 issue of Checkout or click here for a PDF version.

Ted Dawes, a Local 175 member at Minute Maid in Peterborough, spent the May long weekend on the roof of Morello's Your Independent Grocer (YIG). This is the 4th annual Ted on the Roof and this year Ted raised $10,500 for leukemia research.

Ted climbed on to the roof – with the help of local firefighters – on Friday, May 20 at 4 p.m. and came down on Sunday, May 22 at 2 p.m. The Peterborough Fire Department was on hand for Ted's stint on the roof and when he climbed back down.

The fundraising for this event included an extensive campaign of radio interviews, posters, newspaper coverage and TV interviews. This year, Ted and his many generous supporters raised $10,500 – the largest amount ever. The last three years raised $17,500.

The community support was unprecedented and talk has already started about next year's 5th Annual Ted on the Roof. Thank you to everyone who donated and came out to see Ted over the weekend.