Sarnia, Ont. (164 social services employees) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 4370
Renewal agreement: Effective April 1, 2020 to Mar. 31, 2023. Ratified on May 21, 2021. Signed on May 21, 2021.
Wage adjustments:
Effective April 1, 2020: 1%
Effective April 1, 2021: 1%
Effective April 1, 2022: 1%
Shift premium: 5% of regular straight-time rate for hours between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. for such hours required to be awake.
Paid holidays: 12 days including 1 floating day.
Vacations with pay: Up to 10 days to start, 15 days after 1 year, 20 days after 5 years, 25 days after 10 years.
Overtime: Time and one-half for hours in excess of 44 per week and all hours on public holiday.
Medical benefits: Employer pays 100% of premiums for health care provider’s policy with drug plan.
Dental: Employer pays 100% of premiums for basic dental plan.
Vision: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of $225 for glasses and $50 for eye exam every 24 months.
Sick leave: 5.77% of compensated earnings, up to 840 hours. May be used for appointments for medical or dental care when such appointment cannot be scheduled during non-working hours.
LTD: Employer pays full cost of benefits for LTD insurance to commence on ninetieth consecutive day of disability for up to 15 years but not beyond sixty-fifth birthday.
Pension: Multi-Sector Pension Plan (MSPP). Each employee contributes 2.75% of applicable wages and employer contributes amount equal to 3.5% of employee’s applicable wages.
Bereavement leave: 4 paid days plus balance of lost scheduled work hours on date of death, for death of spouse, child, sibling, parent, parent-in-law, stepchild, stepparent. 2 paid days for death of grandparent, grandchild, niece, nephew. Maximum 1 paid day for death of another relative, 8 hours per calendar year for death of friend.
Seniority – recall rights: 12 months for layoffs; 120 calendar days for part-time casual or part-time respite employee who has not worked for employer for 120 calendar days.
Probationary period: 6 calendar months. If probationary employee hasn’t completed 416 hours of work within first 6 months, then probationary status will continue until 416 hours of work are completed.
Discipline: Sunset clause is 21 months for copies of any written disciplinary action.
Safety shoes: $100 every 2 years for employees required to wear safety boots as condition of employment.
Mileage: $0.47 per kilometre for use of personal vehicle for employer’s official business.
Sample rates of hourly pay (current minimum/maximum, after 1% increase):
Vocational instructor/primary support counsellor/employment support counsellor/life skills support counsellor: $20.49/$23.38 rising 1 step to $20.70/$23.62
Assistant support counsellor/night awake counsellor/night sleep counsellor, respite support counsellor/weekend support counsellor/casual support counsellor/individual support employee employer directed: $19.19/21.83 rising 1 step to $19.39/$22.05
Shop helper: $17.14/$19.38 rising 1 step to $17.32/$19.58
Industrial sewer: $16.35/$18.41 rising 1 step to $16.52/$18.60
Night sleep rate: $14.29 rising 1 step to $14.44 (or minimum wage if greater)
Individual support employees family directed: $18.40 rising 1 step to $18.59
Editor’s notes: Weekends: In program areas which operate on other than standard Monday-Friday work week, employer will endeavour to achieve and maintain scheduling objectives of 2 weekends off per month for full-time regular employees, 4 weekends off during each 6-week schedule for housing support full-time regular employees, 3 weekends off every 6 weeks for full-time night awake and full-time night sleep employees, 2 weekends off every 4 weeks for respite employees, 1 weekend off every 6 weeks for full-time weekend employees and part-time regular employees. Meal costs: Employer will reimburse employee for meal costs incurred while providing services for clients, provided employer has approved: $10 for breakfast, $13 for lunch, $21 for supper.
