Retroactive wage increases, higher pension contributions in contract: UFCW
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 175 and 633 members at the Trenton Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) in Trenton, Ont., ratified a new agreement on Dec. 18 and 19.
The union negotiating committee and employer reached the four-year agreement after meeting in conciliation to deal with wage increases. For the past number of years, the workers at MFRC Trenton received only mostly lump-sum payments, but not rate increases, said the union.
As a result of conciliation and the hard work of the union negotiating committee, the ratified deal includes an initial increase of two per cent, which is retroactive to April 1, 2018. Subsequently, members will receive one per cent in year two, one per cent in year three, and 1.5 per cent in the fourth year. In addition, the employer will increase its pension contributions by 0.5 per cent in the third year, according to UFCW.
Members will benefit from improved language surrounding shift cancellations. If the employer cancels a scheduled shift with less than 48 hours’ notice, the employee will receive four hours’ pay, said the union.
Employees may use their discretionary paid-leave time in two-hour increments. The workers will also benefit from having 10 personal emergency leave (PEL) days per year secured in their agreement language. Plus, the employer cannot require a doctor’s note for those 10 days, according to UFCW.
Other language improvements ensure that a part-time employee working in excess of 12 consecutive weeks at full-time hours will create a full-time job. Lastly, the scope of the agreement will now extend to any new sites in the area, said the union.
About 72 employees make up the bargaining unit.
