Locals 175 & 633 In The News

Collective Agreements

Anniversary Updates

Birchwood Terrace members achieve contract

The 70 health care members working at Birchwood Terrace in Kenora received an arbitration decision regarding their collective agreement, which covers the term of June 2004 through to June 2006.

The decision, reached following several Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act (HLDAA) hearings and a mediation session where the parties were unable to agree upon a suitable contract, provides retroactive wage increases and other improvements.

• All classifications receive across-the-board wage increases of 4 per cent effective June 22, 2004, 3 per cent as of June 22, 2005, 2 per cent effective January 1, 2006 and another 2 per cent retroactive to June 1, 2006. These increases include pay equity amounts.

• Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) in the bargaining unit receive an additional increase of 30 cents per hour effective June 1, 2006.

• Company contributions to the workers’ dental plan increase to 28 cents per hour effective November 1, 2007.

• Language improvements allow employees to reschedule vacation or holidays in the event of the death of a member.

Still outstanding issues, to be dealt with in the next round of negotiations, are company pension contributions and full-time shift scheduling.

Union Negotiating Committee: Charito Drinkwalter, Coreena Zurkan and Union Rep David Noonan.

Brown Shoe members secure wage and other improvements

On October 2, 2007, members at Brown Shoe Company in Perth voted to ratify a new three-year collective agreement. The approximately 23 members of the bargaining unit achieved the following improvements:

• All rates receive wage increases totalling $1 per hour over the duration of the contract. In addition, a new wage scale provides for shorter progression to the top rate.

• Workers benefit from both a dental plan and health and welfare plan that are now 100 per cent funded by the company, instead of the previous 80/20 co-pay for each.

• The company will match employee contributions to their RRSP to a maximum of 25 cents per hour and the Life Insurance plan premium is now 100 per cent paid by the employer.

• Workers with 12 years of service or more receive a fourth week of vacation per year.

• New language incorporates ‘respect in the workplace’ language into the agreement as well as provisions for the union to seek alternative benefits for the membership.

Union Negotiating Committee: Bill Ballantyne, Margaret Kerr and Union Rep Simon Baker.

Busch’s Auto Supply workers vote in favour of new contract

On October 22, 2007, Local 175 members working at Busch’s Auto Supply in Fort Frances achieved a new three-year contract. The contract includes:

• Across-the-board wage increases totalling 5 per cent over the term of the contract.

• Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) increase.

• Provisions now include prescription safety eyewear every three years.

• Language improves to include Civic Holiday as a statutory holiday.

• Other language improvements address work tasks, supplied coveralls and equipment work.

Union Negotiating Committee: Robert Guertin, Howard Struve and Union Rep David Noonan.

Three-year contract at Carriage House

On October 24, 2007, the 26-member bargaining unit at The Carriage House nursing home facility in Oshawa approved a three-year collective agreement, which secures the following improvements:

• Rates increase by up to 2.5 per cent retroactive to December 11, 2006, with subsequent increases of up to 2.5 per cent in the second year and 2.75 per cent in the third year of the contract term.

• Company contributions toward the dental plan increase by 1 cent per hour effective December 11, 2007 and again on December 11, 2008.

• New language provides for a labour/management committee and workers now receive their birthday off from work with pay calculated as laid out in the contract.

• Full-time workers with more than six sick days left at the end of the calendar year receive pay of $65 per unused day up to four.

• New employees will receive at least two shifts of orientation.

• Bereavement leave language improves to be more inclusive with the addition of grandchildren, common-law and same-sex spouses and nieces and nephews.

Union Negotiating Committee: Mark Chynoweth, Margaret Michael, Union Representative Mona Bailey and Central East Regional Director Luc Lacelle.

Compass Group workers at Sunnybrook ratify

Local 175 members working with Compass Group restaurant services at Sunnybrook Hospital approved a new three-year collective agreement at a meeting held October 1, 2007. The approximately 65 members of the bargaining unit secure the following improvements:

• Wages increase by 35 cents per hour in the first and second year and 30 cents per hour in the third year. The first increase is retroactive to July 3, 2007.

• Vision care coverage improves to $250 per 24-month period for both employees and dependents, up from the previous $200.

• Workers receive $50 toward eye examinations for each employee and dependent every 24-months, up from the previous $35.

• Part-time employees are now covered by this collective agreement.

• Bereavement leave entitlement improves to four days for the death of a parent, spouse or child.

• Other improvements include new sunset clause language, better Union representation language and all shifts in the unit will now be scheduled by seniority.

Union Negotiating Committee: Yogendra Patel and Union Reps Mona Bailey and Judith Burch.

Hertz Canada members approve new contract

Local 175 members working at Hertz Canada locations across the GTA, including Pearson International Airport, ratified a new collective agreement on October 4, 2007. The 120-member bargaining unit, which includes the service centre, achieved a three-year contract that will bring wage increases and other improvements.

• The wage rates for Counter Service Reps (CSRs), Service Agents and Hand Held agents increase by up to $1.55 per hour. All workers receive eligible pay increases retroactive to the date of the previous contract’s expiry.

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

• Workers benefits from fixed dates for shift bids and full recognition for overall company seniority.

• New language establishes provisions on emergency leave that the employer agrees to recognize.

Union Negotiating Committee: Ahmed Hussein, Kapilan Savarimuthu, Ruddy Velupillai and Union Rep Jehan Ahamed.

Holiday Inn Select members vote in favour of new contract

Local 175 members working at the Holiday Inn Select in Windsor achieved a new three-year collective agreement at a meeting held October 10, 2007. The more than 60 members of the bargaining unit secure the following improvements:

• Full-time workers receive a lump sum payment of $500 and part-time members receive $250.

• Wages increase across-the-board by 2.5 per cent in both the second and third year of the contract term.

• Workers receive a premium of 75 cents per hour for all hours worked on Night Audit, Front Desk, Housekeeping and Porter between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

• Life Insurance coverage is equivalent to one year’s salary for the worker, $5,000 for spouse and $2,500 for each child. AD&D coverage is also equivalent to one year’s salary.

• Other health and welfare benefits include 90 per cent prescription drug coverage, $350 per year toward paramedical services, vision care coverage including one eye exam and $200 per 24-month period, $10,000 per year for nursing care and improved dental coverage.

• In each year covered by the contract, the company will contribute $300 per full-time employee participating in an RRSP to that RRSP.

• Improved language addresses grievance procedures and union representation.

• Maintenance and Porter positions added to top 50 per cent of employees who are allowed to bid by seniority for shifts, schedules, and days off.

• Any employee who is assigned to clean up after someone who has been sick will receive a $5 premium.

Union Negotiating Committee: Mike Collins, Steve Belanger, Shane Dupuis and Union Rep Julie Johnston.

Lanning Headwear workers ratify

The Local 175 bargaining unit at Lanning Headwear in Belleville achieved a new collective agreement that will cover the workers until July 2010. The contract, ratified at a meeting held October 11, 2007, includes:

• Wage increases of 25 cents per hour over the term of the agreement.

• The employer will contribute an additional 15 cents per hour over the term of the contract toward the workers’ pension plan.

• The employer will pay both the employees’ and employer’s health and welfare premium increases for the next three years.

Union Negotiating Committee: Betty Cassibo, Thuy Nguyen and Union Rep Marilyn Lang.

Loeb Beechwood workers achieve wage and benefit improvements

On October 28, 2007, the approximately 80 retail grocery members working at Loeb Beechwood in Ottawa secured a new collective agreement. The contract includes wage and benefit improvements including the following:

• Full and part-time end rates increase by a total of $2 per hour over the duration of the contract.

• In addition, full-time workers receive a signing bonus of $400. Part-time receive $300 for seven or more years of service, $200 for between two and seven years of service and $100 for less than two years of service.

• Full-time workers receive improved sick leave of 48 hours per year, up from 40 hours, effective January 1, 2008.

• Vision care coverage increases to $200 per 24-month period, up from $150.

• Specialist coverage is now $400, up from $300, for both full and part-time.

• Company contributions to the workers’ pension plan increase by a total of 20 cents per hour over the course of the contract.

• New language addresses changes in minimum wage with respect to wage progression.

Union Negotiating Committee: Suzanne Parent, Sasha Ryan, Union Rep Jacques Niquet and Eastern Regional Director Dan Lacroix.

Local 175 members ratify new three-year contract

At a ratification meeting held October 28, 2007, Local 175 members working at Quality Meat Packers and Toronto Abattoirs secured a new collective agreement. The more than 500-member bargaining unit secures a number of improvements in the three-year contract including:

• Wages increase by 35 cents per hour in each year of the contract term.

• Members receive a signing bonus of $250 paid following ratification and another $250 paid in January 2009.

• Company contributions to the pension plan increase by 10 cents per hour over the duration of the agreement.

• The employer’s dental plan contribution rate increases to 32 cents per hour, up from 30 cents, over the course of the contract.

• The Good Attendance bonus for eligible employees is $900 per year.

• Tool allowance for Maintenance Groups 7 & 11 increases to $200, up from $180, and all other maintenance classifications receive $110, up from $100.

• Vision care coverage increases to $170, up from $140 and both life insurance and AD&D coverage increase to $35,000.

• The employer’s contributions toward the Leukemia Fund increase to $1,000 in each year of the contract term.

• Improved language addresses wage classifications and team leaders while new language covers pay corrections and the union negotiating committee.

Union Negotiating Committee: John Caldeira, Nuno Fleming, Ying Jie Yang, Frank Menezes, Joe Silva, Union Representative Dan Serbin and Central West Regional Director Harry Sutton.