Locals 175 & 633 In The News

ATU bargaining unit secures new agreement

On November 27, 2008, the bargaining unit working at the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Canadian Council in Rexdale voted on a negotiating settlement.

• Wages increase by 3 per cent in each year of the collective agreement.

• Family Day is added as a Statutory Holiday.

• Bereavement leave entitlement improves to provide five days paid leave for the death of an immediate family member.

Union Negotiating Committee: Cyndi Ribble and Union Rep Linval Dixon.

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Bearskin Lake Airlines workers achieve new contract

The more than 20 members working at Bearskin Lake Airlines in Thunder Bay secured a new three-year collective agreement at a meeting held November 30, 2008.

• Wages increase by 31 cents per hour in the first year and 32 cents per hour in both the second and third years of the contract term.

• Both full and part-time workers can bank overtime up to 64 hours for full-time and 43 hours for part-time.

• Full-time workers can now bank up to four days of sick leave and part-time can bank up to two days sick leave.

• Contributions to the workers’ pension plan increase to 4 per cent.

• Improved language addresses stewards, arbitration, seniority and call-in procedures.

• New language provides for a joint labour/management committee.

Union Negotiating Committee: Amy Graham, Maria Pedulla, Union Representative Dean McLaren and Executive Assistant/North West Director Harry Sutton.

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New members at Benlan ratify first contract

Following several months of negotiations for a first contract, new Local 175 members working at Benlan have secured their first collective agreement.

At ratification meetings held December 8 and 9, 2009, the more than 200 workers at the Oakville facility, who manufacture, assemble and package medical instruments and associated products, achieved a three-year deal. In addition to standard contract language and provisions, the bargaining unit benefits from the following highlights:

• Wages increase by between 3.15 and 3.4 per cent in the first year and by between 2.35 and 2.5 per cent in the subsequent years covered by the contract term.

• In addition, each employee receives a signing bonus of $750.

• The weekend shift premium improves.

• Workers have new vision care coverage and the dental plan is enhanced including basic, major and orthodontic coverage.

• The contract includes procedure for job posting, call-ins, overtime and leaves of absence.

• Language includes protection of existing practices including paid breaks and other language establishes a grievance procedure, seniority and provisions for workplace committees.

Union Negotiating Committee: Salvacion Castillo, Stanley David, Victoria Moreno, Servicing Rep Sam Caetano and Union Reps Linval Dixon and Fernando Reis.

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Cargill transportation workers vote on negotiated contract

The approximately 47-member bargaining unit at Cargill Transportation Division in Guelph, secured a new collective agreement at a vote held December 7, 2008. Contract improvements include:

• Workers classified as Drivers, Shunt Drivers, Wash Bay and Yard Person receive wage increases totalling $1.20 per hour over the duration of the agreement term.

• Mechanics receive wage increases totalling $1.80 per hour over the course of the contract.

• The Mechanics’ tool allowance improves to $450 per year with carryover of unused portion into the next year and they now receive an on-call allowance of $50 per week.

• Drivers receive an increase of 1 cent per mile following ratification with a subsequent increase of 1 cent per mile effective January 2, 2011. In addition, new provisions provide Highway Drivers with pay during a breakdown.

• Bereavement entitlement improves to four days paid leave for the death of an immediate family member.

• Workers receive benefit improvements for massage therapy, long and short-term disability, dental and orthodontics.

• Company contributions to the workers’ pension plan increase over the duration of the deal.

• Health and dental benefits will be provided up to one month following layoff.

• The boot allowance increases to $150 per year and Mechanics, Shunt Drivers, Yard Persons and Wash Bay Person receive paid lunches.

• Important language establishes that union membership is a condition of employment.

• New language addresses discrimination policy and other language improvements address steward representation, layoff, scheduling and grievance procedure.

Union Negotiating Committee: Jackson Rawn, Scott Spears, Pete Thompson and Union Rep Mike Duden.

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Members at Loeb Elmvale Acres approve new deal

The 65 members working at the Loeb Elmvale Acres store in Ottawa achieved a new collective agreement at a November 30th ratification meeting. Highlights of the new contract are:

• Full-time and part-time end rate wages increase by a total of $2.10 per hour over the duration of the contract.

• Vision care coverage increases to a maximum of $200 per 24-month period.

• Sick leave increases to 48 hours, up from the previous maximum of 40 hours, and hearing aids are now covered to a maximum of $500 per 60-month period.

• Company contributions to the workers’ pension plan increase to 85 cents per hour.

• New language recognizes Family Day as a Statutory Holiday and workers can now use their vacation weeks as individual days.

• Bereavement leave increases for the death of an immediate family member.

• New members receive scheduled paid time to meet with their Union Steward and review the collective agreement.

• Other improvement include an increased safety shoe allowance, increased supervisor pay and scheduling Sunday to Sunday, instead of the previous Sunday to Saturday.

Union Negotiating Committee: Elliott Berman, Roxana Lopez, Errol Pearl, Servicing Rep Jacques Niquet and Union Rep Simon Baker.

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New contract secured at Loeb Fallingbrook vote

The approximately 91 workers at the Loeb Fallingbrook store in Orleans secured a new collective agreement at a meeting held December 2, 2008. Members of the bargaining unit benefit from the following improvements:

• Full-time and part-time end rates increase by a total of $1.95 per hour with significant increases to both progression rate scales as well.

• Additionally, new language has been added to address minimum wage for part-time new hires.

• Vision care coverage increases to $200 per 24-month period and sick leave increases to 48 hours, up from the previous 40 hour maximum.

• Company contributions to the workers’ pension plan more than double, to a rate of 65 cents per hour, up from the previous 30 cents, and dental contributions increase to 34 cents per hour, up from 31.

• New language recognizes Family Day as a Statutory Holiday with additional new language to automatically recognize any newly proclaimed holiday.

• Workers can now use their vacation weeks as individual days.

• New language provides improved bereavement leave of 5 days, up from 3, for the death of an immediate family member.

• Other language improvements provide new hires with scheduled paid time to meet with their Union Steward to review their collective agreement, an improved safety shoe allowance of $85, up from $55, and scheduling will be done Sunday to Sunday rather than the previous Sunday to Saturday.

Union Negotiating Committee: Laurie Burke, Josée Christoff, Aaron Holmes, Kevin Whitford, Servicing Rep Jacques Niquet and Union Rep Simon Baker.

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Maple Lynn Foods members meet to ratify

The 56 members of the Local 175 bargaining unit at Maple Lynn Foods in Strathroy achieved a new three-year collective agreement at a ratification meeting held December 6, 2008.

• Wages increase by a total of $1.10 per hour over the duration of the contract.

• Afternoon shift premium increases to 45 cents per hour, up from 35 cents, and the night shift premium is now 80 cents per hour, up from the previous 75 cents.

• The safety boot allowance increases to $190 per year, up from $175.

• New language establishes that the company will reimburse employees up to $50 for a doctor’s note related to short/long-term disability claims that is requested by the insurer.

• Bereavement leave improves to include step-grandparent.

• Members with 20 years of service or more receive one week’s pay as a long service award in each year of the contract.

• Language improvements cover job postings and the protection of bargaining unit work.

Union Negotiating Committee: John Aszalos, David Buis, Jeff Eberle, Teri-Lynn Petrie and Union Rep Kevin Dowling.

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Contract for Norcard Packaging workers

Workers at Norcard Packaging in London achieved a new three-year collective agreement recently. The November 28 vote secured the following improvements for the members of the bargaining unit:

• Wages increase for the Qualified Rate by between $2.66 and $3.85 per hour, based on classification, over the course of the agreement.

• Workers also receive a $100 signing bonus.

Union Negotiating Committee: Nicole Gould and Union Rep Kevin Dowling.

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Burlington Price Chopper workers ratify contract

On December 7, 2008, members at the Brant Street Price Chopper in Burlington achieved a new collective agreement. The 37-member bargaining unit secures the following in the three-year deal:

• Wages increase by a total of 80 cents per hour for full-time workers over the term of the contract.

• Part-time wages increase by 30 cents per hour in each year of the contract.

• Company contributions to the workers’ dental plan increase to 32 cents per hour effective January 1, 2010.

• Family Day is now a Statutory Holiday in the agreement language.

• Language improvements address scheduling and overtime.

Union Negotiating Committee: Al Castiglione, Tammy Thompson, Servicing Rep Sam Caetano and Union Rep Dan Serbin.

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Nursing home workers ratify one-year deal

On December 11, 2008, Local 175 members working at The Richmond nursing home in Belleville voted on a new one-year collective agreement. The successful ratification includes the following improvements for the 28-member bargaining unit:

• All rates and classifications increase by 1 per cent.

• Company contributions to the workers’ pension plan increase over the next three years by 15 cents per hour.

• Improved language establishes that members with four or more weeks of vacation entitlement may take one of those weeks as individual days.

• Other language improvements provide for the start of bereavement leave upon notification of death.

Union Negotiating Committee: Kerri Kelly, Sherry Langabeer, Kelly Trumble and Union Rep Marilyn Lang.

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Sensient Flavors workers vote on new deal

Local 175 members working at the Sensient Flavors facility in Tara met at a ratification meeting held December 14, 2008 to ratify a new three-year collective agreement. Highlights include:

• Wages increase by 3 per cent in each year covered by the collective agreement term.

• Night shift premium increases to 85 cents per hour, up from 80 cents, and the training allowance is now $2 per hour, up from $1.

• Improved language addresses benefit eligibility, health and safety and bereavement leave now includes step-children and step-parents.

Union Negotiating Committee: Floyd Hill, Paul Rody and Union Rep Roy Reed.

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Front desk workers at Guelph Super 8 ratify

Local 175 members working at the Front Desk at the Guelph Super 8 Motel achieved a new three-year collective agreement at a meeting held December 10, 2008. Highlights include:

• The end rate increases by 97 cents per hour over the three-year contract with improvements to progression rates as well.

• Workers will receive Family Day as a Statutory Holiday.

Union Negotiating Committee: Brittney Wilson and Union Rep Angus Locke.

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