UPS workers ratify 5-year agreement; Cannabis workers join UFCW
GM workers ratify new contract
TORONTO — Unifor members at General Motors in St. Catharines, Oshawa and Woodstock, all in Ontario, voted 85 per cent to ratify a new three-year collective agreement on Nov. 9 that includes significant investments, job security and economic gains.
“This contract solidifies and boldly builds on GM’s Canadian footprint, with a $1.3-billion investment that brings 1,700 jobs to Oshawa plus more than $109 million to in-source new transmission work for the Corvette and support continued V8 engine production in St. Catharines,” says Jerry Dias, Unifor national president. “Jobs at all three Canadian sites are secure for the life of this agreement, including at the Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre, which will also see upgrades.”
The new agreement follows a pattern-setting deal first reached with Ford that includes five per cent increases to hourly rates, a $7,250 productivity and quality bonus, a total of $4,000 in inflation-protection bonuses, improved benefits, shift premiums, and restoration of the 20 per cent wage differential for skilled trades, says the union.
In addition to several other gains in benefits, Unifor and GM also agreed to create an anti-racism action plan, establish a new racial justice advocate in the workplace, and the company will also provide up to 10 paid days of domestic violence leave, says Unifor.
UPS workers ratify 5-year agreement
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — A new five-year collective agreement between UPS Canada in Mississauga, Ont. and the Canada Council of Teamsters was ratified on Nov. 6.
“This agreement provides continued stability to both our employees and customers for the next five years,” says Dominic Porporino, president of UPS Canada. “At a time when so many Canadians are relying on supply chains for essential goods, ratification shows our employees’ commitment to continue to serve our customers, and rewards them with enhancements to their compensation and benefits.”
The new contract provides wage increases, along with enhancements to the company funded DB pension plan, says UPS.
The deal covers more than 9,000 employees throughout Canada, says UPS.
Cannabis workers join UFCW
OTTAWA — Cannabis workers at the Superette Wellington retail dispensary in Ottawa are the newest members of United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW), Local 1006A after voting to join the union on Nov. 6.
In an online vote conducted by the Ontario Labour Relations Board, the 25 employees at Superette voted overwhelmingly for union representation, says UFCW.
“These workers showed great courage and unity in their campaign for union representation,” says Lesley Prince, UFCW 1006A organizing director. “Workers shouldn’t be left behind in the highly profitable cannabis sector.”
3-year deal at Magellan ratified
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Local 1922 ratified a new collective agreement at Magellan Aerospace Limited in Mississauga, Ont. on Nov. 3.
“While negotiating via unfamiliar platforms [Zoom], their efforts brought increases to wages for each year of the agreement, improvements to life insurance, accidental death and disability and weekly indemnity top-ups. They did this while maintaining health benefits and their pension, which the committee knew was a priority for our members,” says Kim Valliere, IAM directing business representative.
