Locals 175 & 633 In The News

Collective Agreements

Anniversary Updates

ABC Electro Powdercoating members ratify three-year contract

Local 175 members working at the ABC Electro Powdercoating facility in Port Hope approved a new collective agreement at a meeting held November 14, 2008.

• Wages increase by a total of 60 cents per hour over the course of the contract term.

• Eye glass coverage increase to $175 per two-year period, up from $125 and the employer will now pay for eye examinations.

• The allowance for safety boots improves to $90 per year, up from the previous $80.

Union Negotiating Committee: Leisa Suddard, Elizabeth Yeldon-Hutt and Union Rep Chris Fuller.

Goodwill workers ratify two-year contract

On November 26, 2007, Local 175 members working at Goodwill (Amity Group) locations in Ancaster, Hamilton and Waterdown ratified a two-year collective agreement. The 30-member bargaining unit achieved the following improvements:

• Wages increase by 15 cents per year in each year of the contract.

• Company contributions to the workers’ pension plan increase by 5 cents per hour effective January 1, 2008.

• Vision care coverage is now $185 every 24 months and the company hourly contributions to the workers’ dental plan increase by 2 cents over the course of the agreement to reach a rate of 32 cents per hour.

• Each employee receives a floating holiday in December.

• Improved language addresses health and safety, tow motor and cashier training and transfers.

Union Negotiating Committee: James Alexander, Brenda Biggs, Pat Duggan, Dorothy Passmore, Debbie Wedge and Union Rep Matt Davenport.

Food service workers achieve three-year deal

At a meeting held November 5, 2007, Local 175 members working at Canada Catering Company, formerly Lewisfoods, in Burlington secured a three-year contract that will bring

• Wages increase by 30 cents per hour in each of the three years covered by the contract term. The first increase is retroactive to July 1, 2007.

• Workers receive a signing bonus of $50 each.

• Those workers assigned to cook receive a shift premium of 25 cents per hour.

• The Company will contribute to the UFCW Benefit Trust Fund, which provides health and welfare coverage for the members.

• Company contributions to the workers dental plan increase to 32 cents per hour, up from 30 cents.

• The employer will provide three sets of uniforms to each worker every two years.

• Language improvements address temporary employees, refreshment snacks and grievance procedure.

Union Negotiating Committee: Catherine Hammond and Union Rep Matt Davenport.

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.

11-week strike ends with a new contract for Dollar Thrifty workers

The 61 unionized workers at the Dollar Thrifty Pearson Airport Terminal One facility ended their 11-week strike after ratifying a negotiated settlement on November 9, 2007.

Workers achieved more substantial wage increases and a number of other improvements over the last company offer, which was turned down by a vote of 90 per cent prior to beginning legal strike action on September 2.

“These men and women were committed to this strike action,” says President Wayne Hanley. “Their perseverance won out. Their new contract better reflects their hard work and better protects their interests.”

Wages increase by between $2.50 and $3.10 per hour correlated to job classifications, which include Rental Service Agents, Cleaners and Drivers. In addition, there is a new handheld premium of $1 per hour for workers assigned to carry an electronic check in/check out device.

Workers maintain the right to grieve with respect to the incentive plan – a right that the employer tried to take away previously – and benefit from strong language on drivers being asked to clean. The members also gain religious holiday rights with an extra floater holiday. Bereavement leave entitlement increases to five days, up from the previous three. There is new shift bid language and a new sunset clause removes discipline after 24 months.

Health and welfare benefits remain status quo as in the previous contract despite the employer trying to have workers pay for their own Long Term Disability premiums. Vision care coverage, however, improves to $175 per year, up from $100 every two years. Enhanced sick pay language provides workers with unused sick day pay out at a rate of up to 200 per cent.

Additionally, workers maintain their shoe allowance of $80 per year, which the employer was also trying to eliminate.

Union Negotiating Committee: Linden Wright, Lee Peachey, Larry Hopkinson, Dayib Abdiraman, Union Rep Jehan Ahamed and Regional Director Luc Lacelle.

Machine shop members ratify wage and benefit improvements

The approximately 20 members of the Local 175 bargaining unit at E&E Seegmiller in Kitchener secured a new three-year contract at a meeting held November 12, 2007. The machine shop workers benefit from the following improvements:

• Wages increase by a total of $2.10 per hour over the duration of the contract. In addition, each employee receives a signing bonus of $150.

• The safety shoe allowance improves to $145 per year, up from $130.

• Life insurance and AD&D coverage each improve to $40,000, up from $36,000.

• Long-term disability coverage increases to $1,600 per week, up from $1,500 as of ratification. This amount increases to $1,700 in year two and $1,800 in the final year of the contract term.

• Vision care coverage includes improved coverage of $125 for frames, up from the previous $110.

• Improved vacation entitlement provides five weeks after 21 years of service.

• Bereavement entitlement is now five days for the death of a spouse or child and four days for the death of a workers’ parent.

• The company agrees to contribute $1,000 to the union’s charity of choice.

Union Negotiating Committee: Mike Burgess, Robert Siopiolosz and Union Rep Richard Wauhkonen.

Imperial Parking members ratify three-year deal

The 116 members working at Imperial Parking in Ottawa ratified a new collective agreement on November 11, 2007. The negotiating committee achieved the following improvements in the new three-year contract:

• Over the three-year term, wages increase by up to 19 per cent for Cashiers and up to 22 per cent for Shuttle Bus Drivers. In addition, workers benefit from an increased night premium.

• Workers receive major benefit improvements with a new Trusteed Benefit Plan, which will be offered to full-time workers at a very low cost.

• Vacation pay is now included in accrual for vacation.

• Language improvements address union representation, lay-off and job postings as well as health and safety including frequent mandatory air quality testing.

Union Negotiating Committee: Jama Dahir Abdi, Ali Ali Mohamed, Dennis Wood and Union Rep Simon Baker.

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.

Pharmacy technicians secure three-year contract

Local 175 members at 12 Oak Pharmacies locations achieved a new three-year collective agreement at a meeting held Sunday, November 25, 2007. The more than 60 members of the bargaining unit, who work as pharmacy technicians in A&P-owned stores, secured

• Full and part-time end rates increase by 25 cents per hour, retroactive to September 24, 2006, 25 cents per hour retroactive to September 23, 2007 and 25 cents per hour effective on each of September 21, 2008 and September 20, 2009.

• Full-time workers receive a wage adjustment of $8 per week effective January 11, 2009 and another $8 per week as of January 10, 2010.

• Company contributions to the workers’ dental plan increase by two cents per hour effective January 1, 2008.

• Vision care coverage increases to $200 per 24-month period for both full and part-time workers.

• Bereavement leave language improves to include step-parents and step-children as part of a member’s immediate family.

• New language addresses evening shift scheduling and filling full-time positions.

Union Negotiating Committee: Valerie Wiermeir, South Central Regional Director Sylvia Groom and Executive Assistant Jim Hastings.

New members negotiate first collective agreement

The 16-member bargaining unit working at eight Parkway Parking locations in Toronto ratified their first collective agreement. The three-year contract, approved at a November 8 meeting, includes a number of improvements for the newly organized workers.

• Wages increase by a minimum of 3 per cent in each year of the contract term. Red circled workers receive a 3 per cent lump sum paid bi-weekly.

• There is a new night shift premium of 50 cents per hour for hours worked between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and a training premium of 50 cents per hour.

• The contract includes 11 paid holidays per year including two religious float holidays for all employees.

• The company will pay 100 per cent of the premiums for the workers’ health and welfare benefits including dental, prescription drug card and vision care. In addition, new language provides for continued company-paid coverage during certain leaves of absence or layoffs.

• Members of the bargaining unit receive $75 per year toward the purchase of safety shoes.

• Each worker is entitled to five days of Paid Absence Time (PAT) per year with the unused time paid out at 100 per cent at the end of the contract year.

• A new provision addresses no part-time ‘back-to-back’ in order to protect full-time jobs at the facilities.

• Workers benefit from improved language regarding job postings, uniforms, leaves of absence, hours of work and overtime, vacation and bereavement leave.

• In addition to establishing seniority, other language provides shift preference based on seniority and senior employees will now have first right to voluntarily leave with an enhanced severance package before a junior employee is laid off. Those who voluntarily leave or are laid off receive company paid benefits for one year after the date of severance.

• New provisions address a number of workplace issues including steward representation, grievance and arbitration language, bumping rights, paid lunch periods, guaranteed call-in and reporting pay and annual contributions to the Local 175 Training & Education fund made by the company.

Union Negotiating Committee: Fikru Habtemariam, Asnake Seifu and Union Rep John DiFalco.

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.

Hotel workers at the Sudbury Radisson vote in favour of deal

The approximately 30 Local 175 members working at the Sudbury Radisson hotel ratified a new three-year collective agreement on November 6, 2007. Members of the bargaining unit achieved the following improvements:

• All wage classifications receive wage increases of between 2.75 and 4.5 per cent retroactive to August 20, 2007, with subsequent increases of 3 per cent in both the second and third year covered by the contract term.

• Those workers with 18 years of service or more are entitled to five weeks vacation paid at 10 per cent.

• Improved language addresses steward representation, uniforms and bereavement leave.

• Other language states the union and company will meet in further discussion in order to improve the health and welfare benefits plan in which the members participate.

Union Negotiating Committee: Elaine Conley, Tammy LeClair, Richard Linekar, Racheal Strosouseand and Union Rep Dave White.