Wage improvements for Havelock Foodland workers

The 29 members working at the Foodland in Havelock had the opportunity to vote on a new three-year contract at a meeting held February 22, 2010. The ratified deal includes the following:

• Department Heads receive wage increases totaling $2.50 per hour over the term of the contract.
• Full-time members receive $1.50 per hour in increases over the three-year duration and the part-time top rate improves to $11 per hour, over the course of the contract, up from the previous $9.65.
• The premium for Assistant Head Cashier increases to $20 per week, up from $15.

Union Negotiating Committee: Michele Ellis, Maureen Vincent and Union Rep Chris Fuller.

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Lunar New Year Celebration 2010

View photos from the event here.

Three hundred members, staff and their families came out to celebrate this year’s annual Lunar New Year party held at the Locals 175 & 633 head office in Mississauga. Everyone enjoyed great food and prizes and a spectacular lion dance, led by Sammy Cheung, a unionized worker at Thistle Printing. The Lion Dance is said to keep away all bad and evil things.

Members from a number of workplace in the including Cargill, Burnbrae Farms, Maple Lodge Farms, Extendicare, Holiday Inn, Avon Sportswear, Wings, Grand River Foods, Erin Mills Lodge, Mobile Climate Control, Quality Knitting and Coleman Care Centre. President Shawn Haggerty, Secretary-Treasurer Teresa Magee, Executive Assistants Ray Bromly and Harry Sutton and many more staff also attended the event.

February 14, 2010 was the official start to the Lunar New Year, which is the year of the Tiger.

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Maple Leaf workers in Burlington achieve new contract

On February 11, 2010, the more than 1,100 members working at Maple Leaf Consumer Foods in Burlington secured a new four-year collective agreement, which includes the following:

• All active employees receive a wage adjustment lump sum of $550 following ratification with subsequent increases to all classifications of 30 cents per hour in year two, 35 cents per hour in year three and 40 cents per hour in the fourth year.
• Company contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) Stabilization Fund increase to 40 cents per hour, up from 10 cents.
• The employees will now participate in a dental plan through the company’s benefits.
• The company will maintain the current level of health and welfare benefits with no cost increase to the workers for the duration of the contract.
• Vision care coverage improves to $190 per 24-month period effective April 2011, and to $200 effective April 2012.
• The workers’ annual boot allowance increases to $90, up from $80, in the first year, to $95 in the second year and $100 in the third year.
• Improved language addresses seniority and  vacancies.

Union Negotiating Committee: Gord Cutts, Lionel MacEachern, Alan Reston, Fred Teeple, Conrad Villeneuve, Union Rep Joe DeMelo and Central West Director Luc Lacelle.

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Members at Richelieu Hosiery vote in favour of 3-year contract

Local 175 members working at Richelieu Hosiery in Cornwall met on February 9, 2010 to vote on a negotiated settlement that will take them through the next three years. The approximately 30 member-bargaining unit achieved the following:

• Wages increase by 3 per cent in year one, 2 per cent in year two and an additional 2 per cent in year 3 of the contract.
• Motorized Lifting Device Operators will receive an hourly premium of 50 cents.
• Family Day has been added as a paid holiday with additional language to recognize any future paid holidays declared by the federal or provincial government.
• Those with 10 years’ service now qualify for four weeks vacation, instead of the previous 11 years required. Additionally, those with 15 years’ service now receive five weeks vacation at 10 per cent pay. Worker entitled to four or more weeks of vacation will be able to use up to one week as individual days.
• Workers benefit from improved language regarding grievance procedure and steward representation.
• Stewards will receive 30 minutes paid time to hold an introductory meeting with each new employee.
• New language limits the employer’s right to request documentation for absences of less than three consecutive day, or missing fewer than 12 events in a 12-month period.

Union Negotiating Committee: Rick Brimm, Elizabeth Deschamps and Union Rep Daniel Mercier.

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Scarborough Price Chopper members ratify new deal

The 50 retail grocery workers at Brimley Price Chopper in Scarborough have a new collective agreement that will cover the next three years. Members met on February 7, 2010 to vote on the new deal, which includes:

• The part-time end rate increases by 75 cents per hour to reflect the new minimum wage as of March 31, 2010. For those employees above the wage grid, full-time will receive lump sum payments of $125 and part-time will receive $75, in January and July of each contract year, beginning with the date of ratification.
• Family Day has been added as a paid holiday.
• The company will direct a portion of its 65 cents per hour Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) contribution to the CCWIPP Stabilization Fund.
• Dental contributions increase to 38 cents per hour over the course of the contract.
• The company will make one-time contributions of $250 to both the Local 175 Training & Education Fund and the UFCW Leukemia Fund.

Union Negotiating Committee: Frank Spinelli and Union Rep Angela Mattioli.

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Wage improvements among highlights of ratified by Aramark contract

On February 2, 2010, members working with Aramark Leisureworld in Orillia voted in favour of a new collective agreement. The 30 members of the bargaining unit benefit from the following in the three-year deal:

• Wages increase in the first year by 65 cents per hour for full-time dietary aides, 67 cents per hour for part-time aides, 65 cents per hour for full-time cooks and $3.57 per hour for part-time cooks.
• Subsequent wage increases are 30 cents per hour in both the second and third year of the contract for all classifications.
• The senior cook on shift will receive a premium of $1 per hour for hours worked in charge when management is not in the building.
• Both part and full-time are eligible to join the Group RRSP plan and contribute up to 1 per cent of their base wages per pay. For full-time workers who participate, the company will contribute 1.5 per cent of the worker’s base wage as well.
• Workers receive a safety footwear allowance of $40 per 12-month period.
• The company will contribute $300 toward the Local 175 Training & Education Fund.
• Family Day is added as a paid holiday.
• New language provides for 100% paid certification training for those on employed as of January 1, 2010 and 50% paid training for those still without certification as of February 1, 2011.
• New provisions establish a pay equity committee, provide for a grievance and arbitration procedure and improve bereavement leave entitlement.

Union Negotiating Committee: Sue Bowell, Kelly Lambe and Union Rep Emmanuelle Lopez.

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Members at Scarborough Price Chopper approve three-year deal

On January 31, 2010, the bargaining unit at Gerrard Street Price Chopper in Scarborough achieved a new three-year collective agreement, which provides the following improvements for the approximately 90 members:

• Workers receive lump sum payments of $175 for full-time and $100 for part-time in both January and July of each year covered by the contract term.
• The employer will allocate a portion of its regular Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) contributions to the CCWIPP Stabilization Fund for the duration of the deal.
• Dental plan contributions increase to 32 cents per hour effective ratification and increase to 38 cents per hour in January 2011.
• Vision care coverage increases to $150 per 24-month period for both full and part-time workers.
• Family Day in now included as a paid holiday for those workers employed as of the date of ratification.

Union Negotiating Committee: Ursula Elliot, Mac Jackson and Union Rep Angela Mattioli.

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Wage and other improvements for Hallmark Housekeeping members

The Hallmark Housekeeping bargaining unit members at Scotia Plaza have secured a new three-year collective agreement. The January 30 ratification achieves the following improvements:

• Wages increase by 30 cents per hour in each year of the contract with the first increase retroactive to January 4, 2010.
• Workers who post into the Night Shift Lead Hand position will receive a premium of $1 per hour for hours so worked.
• The company will increase its contributions to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP) to a rate of 30 cents per hour in 2010, 35 cents per hour in 2011 and 40 cents per hour in 2012. In addition, the employer will contribute 10 cents per hour to the CCWIPP Stabilization Fund.
• Company contributions to the dental plan increase to 35 cents per hour effective ratification.
• The employer’s contribution rate to the workers’ health plan increase to $112 per month in January 2011 and $122 per month in the third year of the contract term.
• Family Day is now included in the contract as a paid holiday.
• The company will contribute $325 per year toward the Local 175 Training & Education Fund.
• Improved language allows for an additional steward, enhanced health and safety provisions and the addition of a floater day.

Union Negotiating Committee: Javier Castillo, Lynn Harrich and Union Rep Emmanuelle Lopez.

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