Locals 175 & 633 In The News

Collective Agreements

Anniversary Updates

Avis workers ratify contract

More than 175 unionized workers at four Avis locations in Toronto, including Pearson Airport, secured a new three-year collective agreement at a meeting held Wednesday, September 12, 2007.

• Wages increase by between $1.50 and $1.55 per hour over the duration of the contract. In addition, employees receive a signing bonus of $150 for full-time and $75 for part-time workers.

• Those scheduled to work with the majority of hours after 10 p.m. receive a shift premium of 25 cents for all hours worked.

• Members benefit from new language providing them with two floater holidays per calendar year to take for the observance of religious holidays not provided for under the Employment Standards Act.

• Improved vacation language allows more employees to take vacation days at one time and those with 18 years of continuous service with the company receive five weeks vacation paid at 10 per cent or their regular weekly wage, whichever is greater.

• Job posting language now states that bargaining unit vacancies will be posted for a minimum of seven days. The company also agrees to hire one new full-time ‘shuttler’ in each of the three years covered by the contract.

• New language provides workers with the ability to switch their shifts up to five times per month.

• Part-time workers receive a uniform allowance of $48.

• Counter Service Reps receive a dry cleaning allowance of $45 per month with no receipt necessary.

• The company will contribute $1,500 in each year of the contract toward the Local 175 Training & Education Fund.

Union Negotiating Committee: Brian Grummett, Yonis Jama, Tony Lee, Haile Muhammad, Union Representative Jehan Ahamed and Central East Director Luc Lacelle.

More than 800 members at The Barn ratify new contract

More than 800 members working at The Barn locations in Dundas, Hamilton and Oakville achieved a new four-year collective agreement at meetings held September 16, 2007. The negotiating committee, who met in nine bargaining sessions with the company over the past six months, secured the following improvements:

• Full and part-time workers at the end rates receive wage increases totalling $1.15 per hour over the duration of the contract with the first increase retroactive to September 24, 2006.

• All full-time workers receive a signing bonus of $300 following ratification and an additional $200 in both the second and third year of the contract.

• Part-time members with three years of service as of ratification receive a bonus prorated based on regular hours worked during the year prior to the bonus’ effective date.

• Workers scheduled on the night shift receive a premium of $1 per hour, up from 80 cents.

• Those assigned to be ‘in charge’ for more than four hour between 8 a.m. and midnight, receive a shift premium of $2 per hour.

• Part-time workers assigned as Head Cashier receive a premium of 50 cents per hour and eligible part-time staff now have 100 per cent prescription drug coverage to an annual maximum of $1,000.

• Eligible employees receive improved vision care coverage of $200, up from $125.

• In the event a store closes and is not replaced, full and part-time members receive severance pay of one week paid at two times the employee’s regular weekly rate for each year of service to a maximum of 26 weeks.

• The company will contribute a lump sum payment of $300,000 toward the workers' pension plan on each of October 1, 2007, January 1, 2008, January 1, 2009 and January 1, 2010.

Union Negotiating Committee: Bill Adair, Cindy Chick, Louise McGilton, Nancy McKay, Union Rep Sylvia Groom and South Central Regional Director & Executive Assistant Jim Hastings.

Bluewater grocery workers negotiate new deal

The 80-member retail food bargaining unit at Bluewater Foodland in Corunna approved a new collective agreement with a three-year term. Part-time and full-time workers benefit from the following improvements:

• Full-time end rates increase by 30 cents per hour in each year of the collective agreement.

• There is a new part time wage scale with 25 cents per hour added to the end rate in each year.

• The company rate of contribution toward the dental plan increases to 32 cents per hour, up from 30 cents.

• Language improvements address pay equity, health and safety, student leave of absence and making up sick time.

Union Negotiating Committee: Judy Mess, Annie Shilson, Debbie Taylor and Union Rep Kevin Dowling.

New members at Breakaway facility approve 1st deal

Newly organized Local 175 members at the Breakaway Focus Young Adult Addiction Services in Toronto voted to ratify their first collective agreement at a meeting held September 21, 2007.

In addition to standard contract language establishing seniority, steward representation and other provisions, the seven members of the bargaining unit benefit from the following improvements:

• The employer agrees to request additional funding from the Ministry of Health to reduce or eliminate the disparity in wages among the members of the bargaining unit performing the same job tasks as members at the Breakaway Satellite facility.

• In addition, full-time workers receive a signing bonus of at least $750 and part-time members receive $375.

• The employer will contribute $400 toward the Local 175 Training & Education Fund.

• Other language establishes a clear ‘no discrimination’ policy as well as grievance and arbitration procedure.

Union Negotiating Committee: Gayla Forer, Bo Yih Thom and Union Rep Fernando Reis.

Budgetcar workers ratify

The approximately 40-member bargaining unit working at two Budgetcar locations at Pearson Airport achieved a new three-year contract. The workers ratified the contract, which contains wage and other improvements, at a meeting held September 13, 2007.

• Wages increase for Counter Service Reps (CSR) and Rapid Return Agents (RRA) by a total of $1.60 per hour over the three-year term.

• Members benefit from new language providing them with two floater holidays per calendar year to take for the observance of religious holidays not provided for under the Employment Standards Act.

• Workers benefit from a superior health and welfare plan for which the cost-share is paid 80 per cent by the company and 20 per cent by the workers. Improvements provide workers with one year of service with 10 sick days per year with any unused days paid out at 150 per cent of their current wage rate. Vision care coverage for prescription eyewear or contact lenses is now $225 per family member per 24-month period instead of the previous $150 for just the employee.

• To recompense for the new co-pay plan, the employer will provide each CSR and RRA a monthly dry cleaning allowance of $45, with no receipt necessary.

• Full-time eligible employees receive $80 per year for safety footwear and part-time receive $48.

• Workers will be permitted five shift changes per month.

Union Negotiating Committee: Abdi Khayre, Salin Prasad, Union Rep Jehan Ahamed and Central East Director Luc Lacelle.

Contract improvements for Bunzl Canada workers

On September 16, 2007, members at Bunzl Canada in Oakville ratified a new collective agreement with a three-year term. The approximately 30-member bargaining unit benefit from the following improvements:

• Wages increase by 3 per cent in each year of the contract term.

• A new letter of agreement provides for additional compensation of $1,000 for workers who volunteer for overtime.

• All workers receive a signing bonus of $500.

• Drivers receive lodging and a $100 overnight allowance should they be forced to layover unexpectedly.

• Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) increase by a total of 21 cents per hour over the duration of the agreement.

• Vision care coverage improves to $250 per two-year period.

• Company contributions to the dental plan increase by 1 cent per hour in each year.

• Safety shoe allowance increases to $150 per year.

• The company agrees to improved health and safety language including the monitoring of the temperature of the warehouse in accordance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act.

• Other language improvements address grievance procedures, a workplace joint health and safety committee, and hours of work and overtime.

Union Negotiating Committee: Wayne McLean, Ken Sneek, Union Rep Joe DeMelo and Central West Regional Director Harry Sutton.

First contract for Cadillac Fairview workers

On September 7, 2007, new members at the Cadillac Fairview Corporation in Toronto, voted to ratify their first collective agreement. In addition to standard contract language, the three-year deal brings a number of improvements for the previously non-unionized workers. The negotiated terms include:

• All workers receive wage increases of 3 per cent in each year of the collective agreement with the first increase effective March 1, 2008.

• In addition, all bargaining unit members receive a signing bonus in the form of a $250 gift certificate from Cadillac Fairview.

• Based on their years of service with the company, workers are eligible for up to six weeks vacation per year at 12 per cent pay.

• General languages establishes steward representation, grievance and arbitration procedures, seniority and health and safety provisions.

Bargaining unit members at the two Bloor Street office buildings work in security and building maintenance positions.

Union Negotiating Committee: Omar Nesbeth, Ronald Vengie Fabre and Central West Regional Director Harry Sutton.

Cargill Foods workers ratify three-year deal

Following nine days of negotiations, the approximately 690 members of Local 633 working at Cargill Foods in Rexdale approved a new collective agreement that will cover the next three years.

The contract, which was unanimously recommended by the bargaining unit’s negotiating committee, included the following improvements:

• Wages increase by between 20 cents and 55 cents per hour correlated to the workers’ job level.

• Workers performing Production Tote Off/Heavy Lifting receive a new shift premium of 50 cents per hour.

• Company contributions to the workers' pension plan improve.

• Short Term Disability benefits increase by 22 per cent for non-maintenance workers and by 50 per cent for maintenance employees.

• Members benefit from increases to the boot allowance and meal allowance.

• Important new language provides assurance of full-time status for all full-time employees as of September 21, 2007. This assurance applies to all departments now where previously maintenance, supply and services workers had not been included.

• Scheduling language now states that no employee, other than maintenance continental shift workers, shall be scheduled on both Saturday and Sunday as part of their regular workweek.

• Additionally, no worker – other than the maintenance continental shift workers – shall be scheduled to work more than 10 hours per day as part of their regular workday.

• Other language improvements address seniority, vacation requests, benefits, an increased number of plant stewards and also an increase in the number of negotiating committee members.

Union Negotiating Committee: Olive Burke, Tapan Dave, Ralph Hogan, Eugene Jurewicz, Adebayo Mufutau, Tony Nigro, Mireku Obeng and Union Rep Anthony DiMaio.

Good Humour-Breyers members ratify three-year deal

Approximately 320 Local 175 members working at the Good Humour-Breyers facility in Simcoe, voted in favour of the new three-year collective agreement negotiated by their committee. The contract, ratified on September 10, 2007, includes the following improvements:

• Workers at the 12-month rate receive a general increase totalling 8.5 per cent over the course of the contract term.

• Pension contributions for future service increase by $2 per month in each year of the contract to reach a rate of $52 per month by August 2010.

• Life Insurance coverage increases to $20,000.

• Massage therapy and chiropractic coverage is now $300, up from $200.

• Effective upon ratification, the workers’ vision care coverage increases to $275 per 24-month period. This coverage increases to $350 effective September 1, 2009.

• Company contributions to the dental plan increase to 31 cents per hour upon ratification and to 32 cents per hour on September 1, 2008.

• The safety shoe allowance increases to $140.

Union Negotiating Committee: Dan Antal, Debbie Churcher, Jeff Crowley, Tim Dedrick, Shirley Evans, Paul Sheppard and Union Reps Tim Deelstra and Rick Hogue.

Impact Cleaning workers achieve improvements

On September 21, 2007, members at Impact Cleaning, working on St. Clair Avenue West in Toronto, ratified the three-year contract negotiated by the bargaining unit committee. This new agreement includes the following improvements:

• Wages increase by a total of 75 cents per hour over the duration of the contract.

• Company contributions toward the UFCW Benefit Trust Fund, which provides health and welfare coverage for members, increase by a total of 30 cents per hour over the course of the agreement bringing the contribution rate to $1 per hour.

• The company will contribute $300 toward the UFCW Training & Education Fund.

Union Negotiating Committee: Catherine Medeiros and Union Rep Joe DeMelo.

Oxford Lodge members ratify deal

On September 27, 2007, the approximately 20-member bargaining unit at Oxford Lodge in Guelph achieved a new one-year collective agreement, which includes the following improvements:

• Wages improve by a total of 2.6 per cent over the life of the agreement.

Union Negotiating Committee: Doreen Mammolite, Annette Prentice and Union Rep Angus Locke.

Pizza Pizza workers achieve better compensation in new contract

Local 175 members working as Pizza Pizza order line operators ratified a new three-year collective agreement on September 11, 2007.

• Wages increase by $1.10 per hour over the three-year contract duration.

• Members can make up to an additional 50 cents (on average) per hour from improved ‘error free calls’ compensation, effective in the second year of the contract.

Union Negotiating Committee: Sophie Kurek, Zoe Leandro and Union Rep Paul Jokhu.

Union Pro members ratify

The 15-member bargaining unit at Union Pro Sportswear secured a new three-year contract at a vote held September 20, 2007.

• Wages increase by a total of 5.5 per cent over the term of the contract.

• Company contributions to the workers’ health and welfare plan increase to $170 per month by the final year of the contract.

Union Negotiator: Union Rep Paul Jokhu.

Waterloo Textiles workers vote ‘yes’ to new deal

The more than 40 Local 175 members working at Waterloo Textiles in Cambridge achieved a new two-year contract. The vote, held September 22, 2007, secured the following improvements to the collective agreement:

• Wages increase across-the-board by a total of 4 per cent over the two-year term. In addition, workers receive a Christmas bonus of $100, up from $75.

• Shift premiums improve to 30 cents per hour, up from 25 cents, for 2nd shift; 35 cents per hour, up from 30 cents, for 3rd shift; and 40 cents per hour, up from 30 cents, improves the training premium.

• Workers receive improved sickness and accident benefits of $275 per week, up from $250, and life insurance coverage increases by $6,000 to $28,000.

• Improved vacation entitlement provides five weeks after 17 years of service instead of the previous 18 years required.

• Bereavement leave improves to five paid days, up from four, for the death of a spouse, parent or child and leaves of absence rights increase to one year, up from 6 months.

• Workers also benefit from an improved sunset clause of 15 months, down from the previous 18 months.

Union Negotiating Committee: Sally Machado, David Osment and Union Rep Richard Wauhkonen.