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Foodland workers ratify three-year deal
On September 11, 2006, the approximately 20-member Local 175 bargaining unit at Atikokan Foodland secured a three-year agreement, which includes the following highlights:
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Wages increase by 55 cents per hour over the three years covered by the contract term.
Part-time employees are guaranteed a minimum of 12 hours per week. The pay out for unused sick days increases to 65 per cent of their value, up from 50 per cent. Dental contributions increase by 1 cent per hour in the third year of the contract. Pension contributions increase to 90 cents, up from 80 cents, in the third year of the agreement. Both full and part-time workers benefit from Leaves of Absence language.
Union Negotiating Committee: Donna Caul, Marlene Hagen and Union Rep David Noonan.
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Dresden workers approve new early contract
The approximately 550 unionized workers at Dresden Industrial Stratford have secured a new five-year collective agreement. The contract, ratified on September 14, 2006, brings an early end to the previous contract and, pending OLRB approval, includes the following:
All wage rates increase by 3 per cent effective January 15 of each year, with the first increase retroactive to January 15, 2006. Also, workers receive a $200 lump sum as of the date of ratification. Millwrights’ wages increase to the level of Electrician and Tool & Die over the term of the contract. Shift premiums improve to 70 cents per hour, up from 60 cents, for 2nd shift and $1.25 per hour, up from $1, for the Lead Hand premium. Annual tool allowance improves each year of the agreement term: from $450, effective the date of ratification, to $550 per year by January 1, 2010. The safety boot allowance increases to $175 per year, up from $150. Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) increase each year of the contract to reach a contribution level of $1.15 per hour by August 10, 2010. Contributions to the UFCW Dental plan increase to 32 cents per hour. Life Insurance and AD&D coverage increase to $35,000 each, up from $30,000. The company will pay $50 toward a vision test every two years. Workers also receive improved eye glass coverage of $250 per 24-month period, up from $200, and prescription safety glass coverage of $325 per two-year period, up from $300. Workers receive $100 per year toward massage therapy, $100 each year toward chiropractic coverage and $450 per two-year period for hearing aids. The benefit plan now includes ambulance and paramedic services. Vacation entitlement now provides five weeks at 11 per cent of earnings after 16 years of service. Bereavement leave of five days is now also applicable for the death of a parent, step-parent, spouse, child, step-child and sibling. Language stating when bereavement days must be taken has been removed from the contract. Laid off workers may continue their benefits by paying their own premium after three months and up to the length of their recall. New language provides for more union stewards and a union office. The bargaining unit can now send two delegates to union conventions, up from one, and the negotiating committee increases to five members, up from four. Improved language covers job transfer by seniority, job posting including Lead Hand positions, pay equity, leaves of absence, grievance procedure, the geographic scope of bargaining rights, time limits, negotiating rates for new job classifications, and offering apprenticeship programs to union members first before hiring from outside the bargaining unit.
The Union and company await approval of the new contract by the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB), which has to approve the early termination of any collective agreement in the province in order for the new one to become effective.
Union Negotiating Committee: Cliff Hounsell, Roy Maynard, Rick Saunders, Mary Thammavongsa, Union Reps Angus Locke and Richard Wauhkonen and South West Director Ray Bromley.
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Motts workers secure better wages
At a ratification vote held September 12, 2006, Local 175 members at Mott’s Beverages (Cadbury) in St. Catharines secured a new three-year collective agreement. Workers benefit from a wage increase of 3 per cent in each year of the agreement.
Union Negotiating Committee: Ted Nicholls, Don Presley and Union Rep Kelly Tosato.
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Members at Travelodge ratify new contract
On September 22, 2006, the Local 175 bargaining unit at the Travelodge in Ingersoll approved a 18-month collective agreement.
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Workers receive a lump sum payment of $250 following ratification and another $150 on December 1, 2006 – contract to expire on April 30, 2007.
Workers receive a shoe allowance of $60. Improved language covers scheduling by seniority.
Union Negotiating Committee: Dorothy Eisen, Jennifer Ferrow and Union Rep Wendy Absolom.
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Part-time workers at Weetabix reclassified to full-time
A ratification vote, held September 20, 2006, for the 12 part-time workers at Weetabix in Cobourg sees those members reclassified to full-time status.
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Workers receive a $100 lump sum payment.
In addition to reclassifying the part-time workers to full-time status, the company guarantees that they will not use part-time employees for the duration of the current full-time agreement (August 1, 2006 to July 31, 2009). At renewal of the full-time agreement, the company agrees to take appropriate steps to terminate the part-time agreement and have all workers represented by the full-time agreement.
Union Negotiating Committee: Ken Barlow, Kevin Brown, Keneena Hearns and Union Rep Chris Fuller.
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Anniversary Updates
For
more information on your collective agreement please
contact your Union Representative.
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Bunzl Canada
Effective September 1, 2006, the following monetary improvements occur as a result of your collective agreement:
Wages increase across-the-board by 3 per cent. Shift premiums increase to 85 cents per hour for Second and Third Shift, and workers assigned as Lead Hand receive an additional $2 per hour above their regular rate. Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) increase to 88 cents per hour. Dental contributions increase to 30 cents per hour.
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Caressant Care Nursing Home
As a result of your recent ratification, the following monetary changes will take place:
Fergus
A 2.5 per cent increase retroactive to May 1, 2006. Weekend shift premiums increase to 15 cents per hour. Pension contributions increase by 5 cents per hour to 69 cents per hour. Dental contributions increase by 1 cent per hour. Vision care coverage increases to $200 per 24-month period, inclusive of an eye examination. Uniform allowance increases to $9.50 per month for full-time and $6.50 per month for part-time.
Listowel
A 2.5 per cent increase retroactive to June 1, 2006. Registered Nurses (RNs) receive ONA rates effective January 1, 2007 (raise that is effective for July 1, 2006). Weekend shift premiums are 15 cents per hour. Dental contributions increase by 1 cent to 32 cents per hour. Vision care coverage increases to $200 every 24 months – inclusive of an eye exam. Uniform allowance increases to $10 per month for full-time and $6.75 per month for part-time.
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CFSU Trenton - NPF Employees
Effective September 2, 2006, the following monetary improvement occurs as a result of your collective agreement:
- The 12-month, 18-month, 24-month and 36-month progression rates increase by 2.5 per cent per hour to start and end of probation progression.
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Good Humor – Breyers
Effective September 1, 2006 (unless otherwise noted), the following monetary improvements occur as a result of your collective agreement:
General wages increase by 3 per cent. Production Operators (As & Bs) receive 5 cents per hour in addition to the general increase. Physiotherapy coverage increases to $500 per year. Vision care coverage improves to $200. Vacation entitlement increases to six weeks for those with 25 years of seniority or more. Pension contributions increase to $46 for Future Service effective August 31, 2006.
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Loeb March Road
The following changes are scheduled to take place as a result of your collective agreement:
Effective September 3, 2006, full and part-time end rates increase by 35 cents per hour. Progression rates for both full and part-time workers increase by 20 cents per hour. Workers who were full-time as of March 12, 2006, now receive six sick days per year.
Reminder:
Vision care coverage is $200 per 24-month period. The company contributes 65 cents per hour toward the Pension Plan. The company contributes 32 cents per hour toward the Dental Plan.
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Loeb Merivale
Effective September 24, 2006, the following monetary improvements will occur as a result of your collective agreement:
Part-time and Full-time end rates increase by 30 cents per hour. Progression rates increase by 10 cents per hour. Company contributions to the pension plan increase to 30 cents per hour worked for all employees. Company contributions to the dental plan increase to 31 cents per hour, up from 29 cents.
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Minute Maid
Effective September 1, 2006, the following monetary improvements occur as a result of your collective agreement:
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All rates and classification receive an increase of 70 cents per hour, of which 5 cents goes to pay for previous service pension.
The company will contribute 74 cents per hour to the pension plan for all employees plus an additional 10 cents per hour toward the previous service pension.
Reminder: Wages for temporary workers with one year seniority is at par with full-time. Those working the night shift receive a premium of $1 per hour. There is a new LTD plan, Orthodontic coverage is $2,000, Chiropractic coverage is $600, Hearing Aid coverage is $700, vision care is $250 and temporary workers now receive sick days. -
There is new vacation language for temporary workers.
The Freezer wear allowance is $125 and the safety footwear allowance is $125.
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Pepsi Bottling - Hamilton
Effective September 1, 2006, the following monetary improvements will occur as a result of your collective agreement:
Wages increase by 60 cents per hour. Pension contributions increase to 83 cents per hour as of January 1, 2006.
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Locals
175 & 633 In The News
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Local wins increases for students at Hendrik's YIG
Article posted on: September 21, 2006
After Local 175 filed a grievance, an arbitrator ordered a retail employer to increase the wage rate for “student” workers. The employer also had to pay approximately $4,000 in back wages to 13 specified present and past bargaining unit employees.
The employer had signed a union contract agreeing to increases in the wage grid, if required by changes to Ontario’s minimum wage. On February 1, 2005, the government increased the minimum hourly wage to $7.45 for adults and $6.95 for students. The employer then decided to pay only the student rate to employees who were less than 18 years of age. It effectively changed the part-time pay rates to a two-tiered structure, without advising the Union. As soon as the Union learned about the practice, it immediately filed a grievance and successfully secured the negotiated pay increase for the youngest members.
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Kraft workers gain an extra $17,622.36
Article posted on: September 20, 2006
A group of workers at Kraft were very happy to receive an extra $17,622.36 in overtime payments after Local 175 filed a grievance seeking compensation for them.
The employer failed to pay overtime to these workers, classified as process equipment cleaners (PECs), for work performed on Saturdays. It tried to argue that the wording in the collective agreement mandated overtime payments for production employees only.
The arbitrator held in favour of the Union when he ruled that the PECs were entitled to overtime pay for Saturday work. The employer was directed to pay the affected employees overtime for hours past hours worked on Saturdays. The employer will also be required to pay overtime in the future.
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Members win compensation after improper discipline
Article posted on: September 18, 2006
On August 16, 2006, an arbitrator ordered the new owner of Travelodge in Ingersoll to reimburse two members for improperly disciplining them, without the benefit of a meeting with a union steward present.
The first member had been terminated and then rehired, eight weeks later on April 9, 2006. The arbitrator awarded her to be re-instated without loss of seniority and to be compensated for all lost wages. The second member was also compensated for the three hours pay she had been docked, after the employer alleged improper conduct and poor work performance.
The arbitrator said the employer had violated the collective agreement by not having a union steward present at the disciplinary meetings. In addition to the monetary compensation, he ordered the workers’ records be amended to remove the termination and written warnings.
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Peterborough Light the Night raises $40,000
Article posted on: September 12, 2006
With the final tally still to come in, it seems that this year’s Light the Night walk in Peterborough was just as successful as last year’s event. Despite threatening looking weather, the skies cleared in time for participants to enjoy the walk and raise more than $40,000 in the process.
Cancer survivors carry illuminated white balloons while their supporters carry red balloons. Locals 175 & 633 members, from workplaces such as Minute Maid, Westons’ Bakery and Pharma Plus, turned up to show their support.
Light the Night walks, held all over the country at different time, create awareness of blood cancers and help raise funds for research at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.
Toronto will hold a Light the Night walk on October 5, 2006. For more information contact Jerry Clifford at 1-800-565-8329.
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Labour Day is September 4 - a message from President Hanley
Article posted on: August 29, 2006
While I know many see Labour Day as a great long weekend to end the summer – and it is – we must also remember to recognize the years of hard work and sacrifice it has taken to get what we have today.
Labour Day should remind us to be thankful for the things we have as workers in this country. Pay, benefits, health & safety and many other working conditions are better than ever – but we still have a lot of work to do.
Take the opportunity to march in solidarity this Labour Day with your union brother and sisters to remind others that we will continue to strive on to better the lives of every worker and their families.
I encourage everyone to attend Labour Day activities in their community on September 4, 2006. Many parades, barbecues and other events are planned. You can check our Web site event listings for event locations or check with your local District Labour Council.
I hope everyone had a great summer and I look forward to seeing many of you celebrating this year’s Labour Day. Have a great Labour Day Weekend.
Yours in Solidarity,
Wayne Hanley
President
Local 175 UFCW Canada
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