Locals 175 & 633 In The News

Collective Agreements

Anniversary Updates

Downtown Toronto Compass Group workers have new contract

The approximately 30-member bargaining unit working for Compass Group on Wellesley Street in Toronto achieved a new collective agreement at a meeting held October 29, 2008. Wage increases and other improvements are among the highlights of the three-year contract:

• Wages increase by 25 cents per hour in the first year and 30 cents in each the second and third year of the contract term.

• Workers assigned as Lead Hand receive an hourly shift premium of 25 cents for hours so worked.

• An employee assigned to a higher paying job for more than three hours will receive the higher rate of pay for all hours worked as such.

• Family Day and Civic Holiday have been added as Statutory Holidays.

• Members are now entitled to one day’s bereavement leave for the death of an aunt, uncle, sibling in-law or a spouse’s grandparent.

Union Negotiating Committee: Bill Alexander and Union Rep Linval Dixon.                                  

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New agreement ratified by members at Delrose Retirement Residence

Retirement care workers at Delrose Retirement Residence in Delhi achieved a new three-year collective agreement that secures the following improvements for the approximately 25-member bargaining unit:

• Wages increase across the board by 2 per cent for all wages and classifications in each year of the contract term with the first increase retroactive to August 1, 2008.

• Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Personal Support Workers (PSWs) receive an additional wage adjustment of 19 cents per hour effective August 1, 2008.

• In addition to regular contributions toward the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) the employer will contribute 4 cents per hour toward the CCWIPP Stabilization Fund on behalf of the members at Delrose effective August 1, 2008. This amount increases to 8 cents in the second year and 12 cents per hour in the third year of the agreement.

• Company contributions toward the UFCW Trusteed Dental Plan increase by 2 cents per hour in each year of the contract term.

• Improved language for bereavement leave that will cover call-in shifts in addition to scheduled shifts.

• Members may now use their sick leave for the purpose of attending a medical appointment and other improved language addresses seniority and job postings.

• New language addresses the transfer of seniority for part-time workers who take a full-time position and vice versa.

Union Negotiating Committee: Lynn Richmond, Diana Welsby and Union Rep Tim Deelstra.

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Homewood Health Centre workers meet to vote on new contract

On October 2, 2008, the more than 230-member bargaining unit at Homewood Health Centre in Guelph achieved a new three-year collective agreement. Highlights of the contract, which covers full and part-time health care staff and switchboard workers, include:

• Wages increase by 2.75 per cent retroactive to July 17, 2008 with subsequent increases of 2.75 per cent in the second year and 3 per cent in the third year of the term.

• Workers classified as Pharmacy Technicians, Security Officers and Horticulturists receive a wage adjustment of $1 per hour prior to the 2.75 per cent increase and a further 50 cents per hour in the second year prior to the annual increase.

• Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) receive an additional one-time wage adjustment of 30 cents per hour prior to the 2.75 per cent increase.

• Shift premiums increase by 15 cents per hour, to 90 cents, effective July 2009 and to $1 per hour as of July 2010. Standby pay increases as well.

• Meal vouchers increase to $6 when eligible.

• Vacation entitlement improves to a maximum of six weeks paid leave after 22 years of service effective 2010.

• Workers will now be reimbursed up to $75 per 24-month period for eye exams, exclusive of the $200 vision benefit.

• The company will increase its contributions to the workers’ dental plan to a rate of 36 cents per hour.

• Four-hour shifts have been re-introduced for RPNs scheduled in HADS and switchboard hours needed for vacation entitlement are reduced from 2080 hours to 1500.

• Safety footwear allowance increases and can be banked.

• Other language improvements address workplace accommodation, vacation requests and vacation rescheduling if interrupted by bereavement.

Union Negotiating Committee: Cathy Arnold, Anne Billings, Art Casselman, Deb Gaca, Jim Galatianos, Rose Hill, Dao Huynh, Rose Leal and Union Rep Wendy Absolom.

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Ratification at Imperial Parking Canada Corporation 

On Wednesday October 29, 2008 the approximately 140-member bargaining unit at Imperial Parking (Impark) approved a new three-year collective agreement including the following highlights:

• Wages increase by 12.4 per cent over the three-year term.

• Important new language expands the Scope and Recognition clause securing a wider area in which new lots are to be covered under this Collective Agreement providing the opportunity for membership growth.

• Amounts paid by the Employer to the Health and Welfare Plan increase and improvements in coverage include improved Optical coverage and new coverage for eye exams.

• Important new language provides for improved vacation scheduling, Family Day is recognized as a Statutory Holiday as is any other holiday proclaimed by any level of Government.

• Important new language provides for an enhanced severance package in the event of an organizational downsizing or any reduction of employees.

• Other improvements include: job posting language, paid lunches, increased training premiums, meal allowance, Patroller Statutory Holiday Pay issues, Patrollers working on inclement weather days, uniform choices

• New language covers the establishment of new jobs or classifications, pay days and pay statements, and covering pay while working in a higher or lower classification.

• Language providing for an increase in the payment to the Education and Training Fund.

The Union Negotiating Committee included Ahmed Mohamoud, Ali Mal, Daud Hassan and Union Representative John Di Falco.

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Quality Market workers ratify

More than 90 workers at two Quality Market locations in Thunder Bay secured a new three-year collective agreement at a meeting held October 5, 2008. Improvements include:

• Wage increases of 32 cents per hour in each year of the contract term.

• Improve vacation language, employee discounts on groceries and increases to the pension.

• Family Day is now recognized as a paid Statutory Holiday.

Union Negotiating Committee: Joseph MacDonnell, Mike Woodbeck and Union Rep Colby Flank.

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Workers at Fort Erie grocer ratify new agreement

The approximately 80-member bargaining unit at Sobey’s Fort Erie, operating as a Foodland, achieved a new three-year contract that includes numerous improvements. The ratification vote held October 14, 2008, secured the following:

• All part-time workers at or above the current 48-month rate receive a lump sum payment of $300 effective the date of ratification, and subsequent lump sum payments of $100 on March 31 of each year covered by the contract term.

• Workers scheduled between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. receive an improved shift premium of 25 cents per hour.

• Family Day is recognized as a Statutory Holiday.

• Improved language addresses stewards, vacation entitlement and the workweek for part-time employees.

Union Negotiating Committee: Jason Drew and Union Representatives Sam Caetano and Kelly Tosato.

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Three-year deal for retirement care workers

The 29 members at the Stone Lodge retirement facility in Guelph have a new three-year collective agreement, ratified on October 30, 2008, which includes the following improvements:

• Wages increase across-the-board by 2.65 per cent effective October 1, 2008. Subsequent increases are 1.25 per cent October 1, 2009, 1.25 per cent March 1, 2010, another 1.25 per cent on October 1, 2010 and 1.25 per cent March 1, 2011.

• Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) receive additional wage adjustments of 50 cents per hour in each year of the contract. These increases will be applied prior to the percentage increase.

• Workers classified as R/A and Cooks receive wage adjustments of 10 cents per hour, in the first and second year of the agreement term, prior to the general percentage increase.

• Bereavement leave improves to provide four days paid leave, up from three, for the death of an immediate family member. Effective October 1, 2010, this entitlement increases to five days paid leave.

• Workers receive payment of 25 per cent of their unused sick days each year.

• Company contributions to the dental plan increase to 32 cents per hour, up from 29 cents, in the first year, 34 cents per hour in the second year and 35 cents per hour in the final year.

Union Negotiating Committee: Jean Morgan, Cheryl Raymond, Beth Wagner and Union Rep Angus Locke.

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Ratification at Vera M. Davis Centre

On Wednesday October 1, 2008, the approximately 70-member Bargaining Unit at the Vera M. Davis Centre in Bolton approved a new two-year collective agreement including the following highlights:

• Wages increase of 3 per cent in each year of the contract. The average increase for those at top rate is $1.25 per hour over the life of the two-year collective agreement.

• Shift premium increases by between 30 and 80 cents per hour and a new weekend premium of 30 cents per hour was established, retroactive to June 26, 2008, which increases to 50 cents per hour on April 2, 2009.

• Important new language provides policy on the payment of wages during outbreaks.

• Benefit Improvements include increased Life Insurance, improved Short Term Disability coverage, a new Long Term Disability plan, substantial Dental Plan coverage amount increases, Vision Care amount improvements including eye exams, Hearing Aid amount increases and new Paramedical Practitioner coverage.

• Important new language provides for a partial “top up” of pay for employees on Pregnancy or Parental Leave.

• Important new language improves scheduling of regular shifts for part-time employees to assist staff with work/life balance while assisting the employer with operations and resident care.

• Important new language provides for a paid day off for a worker to attend his/her own Canadian Citizenship Ceremony on a scheduled day of work, and time off without loss of pay to attend to religious observance obligations that conflict with regularly scheduled hours of work in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code.

• Language improvements include the Union Representative’s access to the Employer’s premises, vacations, bereavement leave, scheduling during long weekends and the Christmas and New Year holidays, and the filling of job vacancies.

• Language and benefit coverage improvements for those workers beyond age 70 and early retirement benefits for those between the ages of 55 and 65 years of age. 

The Union Negotiating Committee included Jane Busby, Sinceray McCabe, Don King and Union Representative John DiFalco.

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