Locals 175 & 633 In The News

Collective Agreements

Anniversary Updates

New members at Allan Candy achieve first contract

The 192 new Local 175 members at the Allan Candy Company in Hamilton secured their first collective agreement at a meeting held July 28, 2007. Highlights of the two-year contract include:

• Workers receive a signing bonus of $250 in addition to end rate wage increases of 10 cents per hour effective January 1, 2008 and another 30 cents per hour in the second year based on the performance of the plant.

• The company will contribute to the UFCW Trusteed Dental plan and the UFCW Benefit Trust Fund health and welfare plan.

• Workers will participate in the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) to which the company will contribute at a rate of 60 cents per hour on behalf of each worker who has completed their probationary period.

• Enhanced provisions include two new sick days per contract year and severance to a maximum of 35 weeks.

• Contract language establishes a grievance procedure to protect the members and the provisions of their agreement.

• In addition to standard contract language, other provisions include health and safety language, layoff and recall steps, job posting procedure, leaves of absence and hours of work.

Union Negotiating Committee: Octavio Costa, Rafaelle Iannone, Mario Milazzo, Union Rep Paul Jokhu and Central West Director Harry Sutton.

Bracebridge retirement care workers ratify

The 23 members of the Local 175 bargaining unit at Bracebridge Villa Retirement Lodge achieved a new three-year contract at a meeting held July 15, 2007. Highlights of the new agreement include:

• Wages increase for all classifications by 25 cents per hour, retroactive to May 22, 2007, and by 30 cents per hour in both the second and third year of the contract term.

• Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) receive an additional adjustment of 25 cents per hour effective August 1, 2007.

• Company contributions to the dental plan increase by a total of 4 cents per hour over the course of the agreement.

• The company will contribute an additional 5 cents per hour to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) over the three-year term.

• Group insurance premium payments increase to 8.3 per cent for the employer with workers contributing 2.7 per cent.

• Improved language covers schedule posting and part-time vacation entitlement while new language protects the bargaining unit members from layoff or a reduction in hours as a result of contracting out.

Union Negotiating Committee: Jennifer Slavin, Angela Weese and Union Rep Rob Nicholas.

Ingersoll Comfort Inn workers achieve new three-year contract

Local 175 members working at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Ingersoll voted to ratify a new three-year deal at a meeting held July 3, 2007. Workers benefit from the following improvements:

• Wages increase by 2.5 per cent retroactive to May 1, 2007, 3 per cent effective May 1, 2008 and 3.5 per cent on May 1, 2009.

• Workers receive improvements to incentive pay. 

• Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) increase by a total of 10 cents per hour over the duration of the contract.

• New language clarifies health and safety rights and responsibilities for the employer and workers.

Union Negotiating Committee: Linda Laroque, Jennifer Ferrow and Union Rep Wendy Absolom.

Grandview Lodge members ratify contracts

The approximately 120 Local 175 members working at Grandview Lodge in Dunnville have ratified new contracts that will provide them with financial and other improvements.

• Improvements for the full and part-time Service Workers, ratified on June 14, 2007, by Health Care Aides and other workers covered by this new three-year contract, include:

• Across-the-board wage increases provide a total increase of 8.95 per cent with the first increase retroactive to September 26, 2006.

• On-call maintenance workers receive $10 per day for carrying a pager as assigned.

• The weekend premium increases to 35 cents per hour worked.

• Improved language covers scheduling, grievance procedure and provides more workers, with 30 years of service or more, with seven weeks vacation.

• Vision care coverage increase to $200 per 24-month period effective January 1, 2008.

• Eligible workers receive $150 per year toward the purchase of uniforms.

• Eligible maintenance workers receive $150 per year for safety footwear.

• The company will contribute lump sum payments of $300 in each year of the contract term toward the Training & Education Fund.

• Improved calculation for part-time employees’ vacation weeks, which increases opportunities for more vacation time and earnings.

The Registered Nurses two-year contract, ratified July 6, 2007, includes:

• Wages increase in the first year by up to $1.10 per hour and in the second year by up to $2.29 per hour.

• The afternoon shift premium increases to $1.30 per hour, up from $1 and those working the night shift receive an hourly premium of $1.55, up from $1.25.

• The weekend shift premium also increases to $1.70 per hour, up from $1.35.

• Vision care coverage improves to $200 per 24-month period.

• Improved language addresses grievance procedures, seniority and bereavement leave.

• Agreed to language also includes improved rights and responsibilities for the workers’ Joint Health & Safety Committee concerning violence, needlestick injuries and Musculoskeletal injury prevention and control.

Union Negotiating Committee for Service Workers: Sandy Cook, Ingrid Finch, Jim Fleming, Judy Hare, Kathy Robins, Kathy Sitter and Union Rep Matt Davenport. For the Registered Nurses the committee consisted of Cathy Hill and Union Rep Matt Davenport.

Local 175 members at Maple Leaf Distribution Centre secure improvements

On July 7, 2007, a majority of the 58-member bargaining unit working at the Maple Leaf Distribution Centre in Burlington voted in favour of a two-year contract securing monetary gains and language improvements.

• All rates and classification receive increases of 35 cents per hour effective July 1, 2007 and again on July 1, 2008.

• Workers receive an additional ratification bonus of $500 upon ratification.

• The vision care maximum increases to $170, up from $150, on October 1, 2007.

• Company contributions to the dental plan increase to 31 cents per hour as of July 1, 2007 and 32 cents per hour in 2008.

• Effective October 1, 2007, Life Insurance and AD&D coverage each improve to $35,000 and the prescription drug maximum is now $4,000, up from $3,000.

• The workers’ boot allowance increases to $115 per year.

• New language addresses the hiring of students during the summer months and the provision of an enhanced severance package, in excess of that provided by the Employment Standards Act, should the facility close, at which time the employer also agrees to participate in the Locals 175 & 633 Labour Adjustment Program.

Union Negotiating Committee: Linda Lee, Brian Ogilvie, Maryann Sheremet and Union Rep Matt Davenport.

Members at Norseman Plastics vote in favour of new deal

The approximately 160 members at the Norseman Plastics facility in Etobicoke have a new collective agreement, which the bargaining unit ratified at a meeting held July 8, 2007.

• Wages increase by 30 cents per hour retroactive to April 1, 2007, by 35 cents per hour in the second year and by 40 cents per hour in the third year of the contract term.

• New language ensures steward representation at disciplinary meetings.

• Company contributions to the Local 175 Training & Education Fund increase to $225 per month.

• The employer will increase its contributions to the health and welfare plan to reach $146 per month by the end of the contract, up from $119 at the end of the previous agreement.

• Workers benefit from a new second break.

• The safety shoe allowance increases to $100, up from $90.

Union Negotiating Committee: Kuldeep Singh Heera, Dansukh Ghandi, Bharti Sharma and Union Rep Paul Jokhu.

Outdoor Outfits members vote in favour contract offer

On July 11, 2007, Local 175 members at Outdoor Outfits ratified a new collective agreement with a three-year term.

• Wages increase by 20 cents per hour over the duration of the contract.

• Sick benefits and vision care coverage increase by 10 per cent each.

Union Negotiator: Union Rep Paul Jokhu.