Waterloo, Ontario | (484 maintenance and food service employees) and Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 79
Renewal agreement: May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2027.
Wage adjustments:
2024: 3.2%
2025: 3.5%
2026: 3.3%
Shift premium: 5 per cent per hour for any employee requested to perform the duties of the Chief Engineer. 15 per cent per hour for Group Leader or Shift Engineer. $1.35 per hour on any shift which starts between 3 p.m. and 9:59 p.m., except for 12-hour shifts. $1.40 per hour on any shift which starts between 10 p.m. and 4:59 a.m., and any 12-hour shift which starts between 6:30 p.m. and 4:59 p.m. Central Plant shift work personnel receive an addition 0.5 times the straight time rate for weekend shifts.
Paid holidays: 10 days plus 2 to 4 days in order to provide 6 consecutive paid holidays during the Christmas period. Dec. 24th will be a paid holiday in years when the 2 to 4 extra days don’t provide time off on that date.
Vacations with pay: 1/12 times 15 times months worked to start, 3 weeks after 1 year, 4 weeks after 4 years, 4 weeks plus 1 day after 10 years, 4 weeks plus 2 days after 12 years, 4 weeks plus 3 days after 14 years, 4 weeks plus 4 days after 16 years, 5 weeks after 18 years, 5 weeks plus 1 day after 19 years, 5 weeks plus 2 days after 22 years, 5 weeks plus 3 days after 25 years, 5 weeks plus 4 days after 27 years, 6 weeks after 30 years.
Overtime: 1.75 times regular rate for all hours worked beyond normal daily or weekly hours. Double time for working on a paid holiday.
Meal allowance: $25 for emergency overtime where 4 hours or more are worked.
Medical Benefits: Employer pays 80% of premiums for Extended Health Care Plan
Dental: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of 95% of basic and comprehensive basic services, 50% for major services, 50% for orthodontic.
Long-term disability: Employee pays 100% of premium for plan.
Life insurance: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage equal to 1 times base annual salary.
Pension: University pension plan is integrated with the Canada Pension Plan with cost shared by employer and employees.
Bereavement leave: 4 paid weeks for death of spouse/partner, child, or step-child. 1 paid week for death of parent or sibling.
Sick leave: Absence due to illness beyond 5 days requires advising supervisor of approximate date of return and disability management team of health status, and providing medical documentation.
Seniority – recall rights: 12 months.
Probationary period: 12 months for positions requiring certifications and professional credentials, 6 months for all other positions.
Discipline: Sunset clause is 24 months.
Severance: ESA minimums for less than 1 year of services, 1 month for 1 year of service, increases by 0.5 months for every year of service up to 12 months for 22 or more years of service.
Safety shoes: Food services employees: $125 for the purchase of up to 2 pairs of non-slip shoes per year. $235 per year for up to 2 pairs of work boots where required to wear them. Plant operations employees: $235 for up to 2 pairs of green-patch work boots per year, or $350 every 2 years.
Uniforms/clothing: $250 every 2 years for CSA-approved prescription safety eyewear, where required by the nature of the job. Food services employees: 5 pieces of clothing for each new hire and 3 pieces per year thereafter. Plant operations: 1 3-in-1 jacket, or 1 winter and 1 spring jacket, at least 5 sets of pants and shirts (2 sets for temporary employees).
Sample rates of pay:
Custodian 1: $25.56 (2024) rising in 2 steps to $27.42 (2026).
Groundsperson: $25.94 (2024) rising in 2 steps to $27.83 (2026).
Equipment operator: $28.55 (2024) rising in 2 steps to $30.51 (2026).
Stationary Engineer 4th class/mechanic II/building serviceperson II/building operator I: $32.39 (2024) rising in 2 steps to $34.61 (2026).
Refrigeration mechanic/mechanic I/electrician: $40.23 (2024) rising in 2 steps to $43.53 (2026).
Machinist/millwright: $41.08 (2024) rising in 2 steps to $44.44 (2026).
Food services support: $19 (2024) rising in 2 steps to $20.31 (2026).
Salesperson/assistant baker/catering event person: $24.41 (2024) rising in 2 steps to $28.46 (2026).
Cook/baker/stores handler: $28.18 (2024) rising in 2 steps to $30.12 (2026).
Click here to view the original collective agreement.
