Elmira, Ont. (158 residential care support workers) and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), Local 253
Renewal agreement: Effective April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2023. Ratified on March 2, 2021. Signed on Sept. 10, 2021.
Wage adjustments:
Effective April 1, 2020: 1%
Effective April 1, 2021: 1%
Effective April 1, 2022: 1%
Paid holidays: 13 days including 3 floater days and civic holiday for full-time employees. 10 days for part-time and casual employees plus 1 to 4 floater days, depending on service time. When full-time employee is scheduled to work on paid holiday, employee will have option of: being paid straight-time for hours and have 1 lieu day or being paid public holiday pay plus premium pay for each hour worked.
Vacations with pay: 15 days to start, 20 days after 6 years, 25 days after 12 years, 30 days after 16 years. 1-time addition of 1 day in 25th year. 1-time addition of 2 days in 30th year.
Overtime: Time and one-half for hours worked beyond 176 in 4-week period for full-time employees. Can be banked as straight time from 160 to 176 hours and time and one-half above 176; time and one-half for hours worked beyond 44 in 1 workweek for part-time or casual employees.
Meal allowance: $10 for breakfast, $15 for lunch, $25 for supper with submission of expense sheet.
Medical benefits: Employer pays 100% of premiums for extended health benefits including prescription drugs, convalescent care, special ambulance attendance, private duty nursing, speech aids, hearing aids.
Dental: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage in accordance with ODA fee with $25 single/$50 family deductible, up to $1,500 per year for basic coverage. 50% reimbursement up to $1,000 for orthodontics.
Vision: Employer pays 100% of premiums for $250 per person (increases to $300 on April 1, 2022) in any 24-month period and $100 for eye exam.
Paramedical: Employer pays 100% of premiums for orthopaedic shoes and supplies up to $250 per year, paramedical specialists (speech therapist, massage therapist, psychologist or social worker, chiropractor (1 X-ray exam per benefit year), osteopath (1 X-ray exam per benefit year), chiropodist/podiatrist (1 X-ray exam per benefit year), physiotherapist (no annual maximum), acupuncturist, naturopath) up to $500 per year.
Weekly indemnity: Employer pays full premiums for 66 2/3% of basic weekly earnings up to $489 per week for greater of EI maximum or 17 weeks. Elimination period of 1 day for bodily injury or 8th day of sickness.
Sick leave: 12 paid days per year for full-time employees. Up to 10 can be carried over (previously 6). 1 paid day per year for part-time employees with 5,500 hours of service.
LTD: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage after 17 uninterrupted weeks of disability. 60% of pre-disability earnings less direct income benefits up to $2,500 per month. Maximum amount 85% of net pre-disability earnings, including LTD benefits and other sources of income.
AD&D: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of $10,000 reduced to half at age 65.
Life insurance: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of annual earnings rounded to next highest $1,000, maximum of $50,000.
Pension: Employer contributes 1.5% of employee’s annual salary towards RRSP contribution plan. Employee must match or voluntarily exceed employer contribution.
Bereavement leave: Full-time employees: 5 working days for death of parent, sibling, child, current spouse, stepchild, stepparent, stepsibling. 3 working days for death of grandparent, grandchild, current parent-in-law, sibling-in-law, child-in-law, ward, guardian. 1 working day for death of any other relative or close friend. Additional unpaid time off may be requested. Up to 2 days can be banked to be used within 6 months for burial or memorial service. Part-time/casual employees: 3 working days for death of parent, sibling, spouse, child.
Seniority – recall rights: 24 months for layoffs.
Probationary period: 3 months or 540 hours worked.
Discipline: Sunset clause is 24 months for discipline notices.
Mileage: Employees required to use personal vehicle for employer business receive $0.44 per kilometre for any travel in excess of 100 kilometres for single trip.
Sample rates of hourly pay (current start/year 3, after 1% increase):
Part-time/casual support workers: $18.94/$20.22 rising 1 step to $19.13/$20.41
Overnight sleep attendant: $15.41 rising 1 step to $15.56
Direct support staff/overnight wake attendant, maintenance: $21.47/$22.94 rising 1 step to $21.69/$23.16
Primary support staff: $22.74/$24.34 rising 1 step to $22.97/$24.57
Lump sum signing bonus: $50 less deductions for all employees who are employed on ratification date of March 2, 2021.
