Locals 175 & 633 In The News

Collective Agreements

Anniversary Updates

Three-year deal for Ottawa Avis workers

The 87-member bargaining unit at Avis Rent-A-Car in Ottawa secured a new three-year contract at a ratification meeting held June 11, 2008. Improvements to the collective agreement include:

• All workers above the wage scale receive increases of 3 per cent in the first year, 3.5 per cent in the second year and another 3.5 per cent in the third year of the contract.

• Workers benefit from a new condensed wage scale, which allows for significant wage increases for all progression employees, as well as an increase number of full-time positions.

• New language recognizes Family Day as a statutory holiday and a personal day is added for full-time workers with five years of service. In addition, bargaining unit workers can now pick up additional contract work by seniority.

• Bereavement leave now includes aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

• Other improvements address shift bid notice and a new safety boot allowance for utility agents.

Union Negotiating Committee: Abdiaziz Abati, Francine Berube, Walter Dubinski, Jennifer Roper and Union Rep Simon Baker.

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Nursing home members secure new three-year contract

The 46 bargaining unit members working at Broadview Nursing Centre in Smiths Falls achieved a new contract at a meeting held June 11, 2008. The collective agreement includes the following highlights:

• Wages increases by 2.75 per cent in each year of the contract.

• Company contributions to the dental plan increase by 1 cent per hour effective April 3, 2009, and by another 1 cent per hour should the plan require it.

• Contributions to the employer group insurance increase over the term of the contract to 7.75 per cent, up from 7 per cent, of gross insured monthly earnings.

• Language improvements address layoffs, overtime provisions, in-service training payment, Christmas vacation scheduling and uniform allowance.

• The company will contribute $250 toward the UFCW Training & Education Fund.

Union Negotiating Committee: Janet Byers, Norma Jean Wright and Union Rep Paul Hardwick.

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Food Basics workers have new deal

The more than 6,000 members working at Food Basics locations across the province secured a new collective agreement that will be in effect until March 31, 2012. Members voted on the negotiated settlement at meetings held Sunday, June 8, 2008. Contract highlights include:

• The full-time end rate increases as follows:

  • 40¢ per hour effective (the date of ratification)

  • 20¢ per hour effective March 31, 2009

  • 25¢ per hour effective March 31,2010

  • 25¢ per hour effective March 31, 2011

• Part-time workers at the end rate receive the following wage increases:

  • 35¢ per hour effective (the date of ratification)

  • 15¢ per hour effective March 31, 2009

  • 20¢ per hour effective March 31, 2010

  • 20¢ per hour effective March 31, 2011

• Workers receive retroactive pay of 25 cents per hour for hours worked between June 24, 2007 and the date of ratification and there are also increases to the progression rates.

• Night shift premium increases from 55 cents per hour to 75 cents per hour for both part-time and full-time.

• Shift premium for Department Head Relief increases to $2 per hour, up from $1. For part-time workers, this premium increases to $1 per hour, up from 50 cents.

• Part-time workers assigned, in the absence of the bookkeeper, the responsibilities of office duties will be paid a premium of 50 cents for all hours worked.

• Vision care coverage increases to $175 per 2-year period, up from $125, for both full-time and part-time.

• The company will contribute toward the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) Stabilization Fund in the amounts of 5 cents per hour in the first year, 10 cents per hour in the second year, 15 cents per hour in the third year and 20 cents per hour in the last year of the contract term.

• Family Day is now recognized as a statutory holiday.

• Employer contributions to the workers’ dental plan increase by 2 cents per hour, at the call of the trustees.

Union Negotiating Committee: Richard Ambrusch, Shelley Dowrie, Bill Harrison, Brian Lewis, Jeff Little, Leslie Litwiller, David Rebelo, Chris Sheridan, Chris Tsotsos, South Central Director Sylvia Groom, Executive Assistant Jim Hastings and Local 175 President Shawn Haggerty.

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Katoen Natie workers ratify contract

Members working at the Katoen Natie Canada warehouse in Mississauga achieved a new one-year collective agreement at a ratification meeting held June 12, 2008. The contract includes the following improvements:

• All current employees receive an increase of 25 cents per hour plus a $200 signing bonus. In addition, Production Operators receive a wage adjustment of 10 cents per hour.

• Should the employer hire any person above the start rate, all employees below that rate will have their pay increased to match the new hire.

• A new job classification, Production Lead Hand, receives a shift premium of $1 per hour.

• Weekly Indemnity Pay maximum increases to $600 per week, up from $500.

• Language regarding severance pay improves to provide those with 10 years of service or more two weeks pay for each complete or partial year of service after nine complete years to a maximum of 26 weeks.

• The company will contribute 12 cents per hour on behalf of the workers toward the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) Stabilization Fund.

• Vision care coverage increases to $250, up from $150.

• Family Day is now recognized as a statutory holiday in the contract.

• Bereavement leave entitlement now includes step-parents under four days’ leave, and aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews under leave for the day of the funeral.

• New language provides a seven-minute grace period when punching in or when punching out for their shift.

• Language improvements ensure that the current health and welfare benefit levels, as well as the current pay equity plan, will be maintained without reduction for the duration of the contract.

• Additional language allows workers to voluntarily retire and receive the severance as outlined in the new contract. Should the current location close and relocate within Mississauga, the Union will retain recognition as the bargaining representative and workers displaced by the closure will have the opportunity to transfer to the new location in order of seniority.

Union Negotiating Committee: Sandro DeCecco, Fraser Wright and Union Rep Rob Nicholas.

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Markey members ratify new deal

Members working at Markey Funeral Home in Hamilton achieved a new collective agreement at a meeting held June 2, 2008. The two-year contract includes the following highlights:

• Wages increase across-the-board by 3.5 per cent as of the date of ratification and by 4 per cent effective January 1, 2009.

• Workers also receive a signing bonus of $1,000.

• Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) increase by 5 cents per hour effective the date of ratification and by another 5 cents per hour effective January 1, 2009, bringing the rate of contribution to $1.30 per hour.

• In addition, the company will contribute 5 cents per hour, effective the date of ratification, toward the CCWIPP Stabilization Fund. This amount increases to 10 cents per hour effective January 1, 2009.

• Employer contributions to the workers’ dental plan increase to 33 cents per hour, up from 32 cents, effective November 30, 2009.

• New language ensures there will be no loss of hours for full-time bargaining unit employees as a result of non-bargaining unit personnel performing their work.

Union Negotiating Committee: Robert Lambier, Ian McKechnie and Union Rep Sam Caetano.

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Pharma Plus workers across the province have new three-year deal

Following a number of negotiation and conciliation meetings, more than 2,000 Pharma Plus workers across the province had the opportunity to vote on a new three-year contract agreed upon between the Union and the company. The ratified collective agreement, which applies to 144 stores in Ontario, includes the following highlights:

• All full and part-time employees receive a minimum increase of 30 cents per hour retroactive for hours worked to January 5, 2008. Subsequent increases are 30 cents per hour effective January 5, 2009 and another 30 cents per hour as of January 5, 2010.

• The top rate for Certified Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Technicians increases by 50 cents per hour retroactive to January 5, 2008.

• Shift premiums increase as follows:

  • The premium for a worker assigned as ‘In Charge’ in the absence of a store manager, increases to $2.50 per hour, up from $2, when that worker fills the position for a day or more.

  • A worker assigned as ‘In Charge’ for store closing receives a premium of $1.50 per hour, up from $1, for four hours. Those scheduled to open as ‘In Charge’ receive the same premium for three hours.

• Vision care coverage increases to $300 every two years, up from $250.

• Company contributions to the UFCW Trusteed Dental Plan increase to 31 cents per hour effective February 6, 2008.

• The company will contribute toward the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) Stabilization Fund on behalf of the members in the amount of 5 cents per hour effective ratification, 10 cents per hour as of January 1, 2009 and 20 cents per hour January 1, 2010.

• Language improvements address protection for bargaining unit members from losing hours as a result of increased assistant store managers, severance pay and a guarantee of the number of stores that will continue to operate during the life of this collective agreement.

• The new contract recognizes Family Day as a statutory holiday

Union Negotiating Committee: Karen Heffernan, Alison O’Brien, Shelly Ortepi, Gail Richter, Sue Schouten, Brenda Stokes, Kathy Wyatt, Union Reps Sam Caetano, Emmanuelle Lopez and Jacques Niquet, Regional Directors Paul Jokhu and Luc Lacelle, as well as Executive Assistant Harry Sutton and Local 175 President Shawn Haggerty.

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Flour mill workers vote on three-year deal

Local 175 members working at Southampton Flour Milling met on June 16, 2008 to vote on the new three-year contract negotiated. Highlights of the new deal include:

• Wages increase across-the-board by 45 cents per hour in the first year, 40 cents per hour in the second year and 40 cents per hour in the third year of the contract.

• Shift premiums increase to 45 cents per hour, up from 35 cents, for hours worked after 3 p.m., and the night shift premium, applicable to hours worked between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., is $1 per hour.

• The Supervisor Relief premium increases to 95 cents per hour, up from 85 cents.

• Company contributions to the workers’ dental plan increase by a total of three cents per hour over the duration of the contract.

• Vision care coverage increases to $225 per 24-month period effective August 1, 2008. This amount increases to $250 effective August 1, 2010. In addition, the coverage for eye exams increases to $100, up from $75.

• Drug Plan coverage increases to a maximum of $550 per year effective August 1, 2008, $600 per year as of August 3, 2009 and $650 per year effective August 2, 2010.

• Company contributions toward the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) increase by a total of 3 cents per hour over the duration of the deal. In addition, the company agrees to put 3 cents per hour worked toward the CCWIPP Stabilization Fund on behalf of each worker for the years covered by the contract term.

• Workers receive a newly combined safety shoe and clothing allowance of $250 per year.

• Improved language covers health and safety and workplace injuries, the addition of statutory holidays declared by the Federal government.

Union Negotiating Committee: Lloyd Ens and Union Rep Roy Reed.

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