Ottawa (156 custodians) and the Labourers International Union of North America (LiUNA), Local 527
Renewal agreement: Effective March 1, 2021 to Feb. 28, 2024. Ratified in July 2021. Signed on Aug. 31, 2021.
Wage adjustments:
Effective March 1, 2021: 3.5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2022: 2.5%
Effective Jan. 1, 2023: 2.4%
Paid holidays: 10 days. For any Monday holiday, third-shift employees will get Sunday off as holiday.
Vacations with pay: 2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 5 years, 4 weeks after 10 years, 5 weeks after 20 years. Employees with 5 years of seniority may request unpaid leave of 5 days to be taken in conjunction with vacation time to be used exclusively for international travel — granted at employer’s discretion — no more than once every other year.
Overtime: Time and one-half for all hours worked in excess of 8 in 1 day and 44 in 1 week. Employees working on holidays can choose to be paid time and one-half or take another day off. If employer cannot give employee 1 day off within 2 weeks preceding or following holiday, employee will be paid double time.
Medical benefits: Employer pays 60% of cost, employee pays 40% of extended medical benefits.
Dental: Employer pays 60% of cost, employee pays 40% of dental benefits.
Sick leave: 5 days per year. Employees who don’t use sick leave will be paid for 2 days each year on Dec. 31. No carryover.
AD&D: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of $10,000.
Life insurance: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of $10,000.
Bereavement leave: 3 paid days for death of spouse, child, parent, sibling, parent-in-law, sibling-in-law, grandparent. Up to 7 additional days where necessary because of distance.
Probationary period: 450 hours worked.
Safety shoes: Employees who occupy lead titles receive 1 pair of safety boots every 2 years.
Uniforms/clothing: Employer provides uniform (2 shirts and 2 pairs of pants) to all employees after their probation period. Uniform pants for night shift are optional. Employer provides boots and rain suits when employees are required to work in garage under wet conditions.
Sample rates of hourly pay (current, after increase):
Custodian: $16.20 rising in 2 steps to $17
Lead-hand: $17.20 rising in 2 steps to $18
Editor’s notes: Shift change: If employer changes employee’s shift, it must provide 5 working days’ notice. Attendance recognition: Employees who attend work for 130 consecutive scheduled shifts receive attendance recognition bonus equal to average daily hours worked times wage rate, and for every 130 consecutive scheduled shifts thereafter, maximum 2 days’ pay in any 12-month period.
