Blaisdale Montessori workers strike; Metro Mérite workers sign contract
Dominion workers ratify contract
ST. JOHN’S — Dominion workers ratified a new collective agreement on Nov. 13, ending a 12-week-long strike action at stores across Newfoundland and Labrador.
“These workers were the first to undertake meaningful strike action to draw attention to a business model in Canadian retail that fails workers,” says Jerry Dias, Unifor national president. “While improvements were obtained, we know there is still more work to do at Dominion and the other grocery giants in this country to address wages and precarious work and Unifor will persevere in that effort.”
The new four-year contract, back-dated to October 2019, covers more than 1,400 employees at 11 Dominion locations in Newfoundland and Labrador, says the union.
Blaisdale Montessori workers strike
PICKERING, Ont. — Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 5257 members at Blaisdale Montessori School — with seven campuses throughout Oshawa, Ajax, Pickering, and Bowmanville, in Ontario — went on strike on Nov. 16.
“Teachers and support staff at Blaisdale Montessori School are disappointed that the employer would not bring forward a fair contract after months of negotiations and several strike deadline extensions,” says Sara Lorne, CUPE, Local 5257 president. “More than 55 per cent of workers at Blaisdale Montessori School earn minimum wage and the employer refuses to offer any wage improvements for the first two years of the agreement.”
The workers — who have been without a contract since Aug. 31, 2019 — voted overwhelmingly to commence job action following a series of unsuccessful contract negotiation meetings with the employer, says the union.
“Our goal is to minimize service disruption and keep kids in class so that parents can focus on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Lorne.
In the current round of negotiations, the union is aiming to make gains for the large cohort of staff who currently earn minimum wage and keep annual wage improvements in line with the cost of living, says CUPE.
Metro Mérite workers sign contract
MONTREAL – After a difficult bargaining process requiring about 30 meetings, hundreds of United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW), Local 501 members working at the Metro Mérite warehouse in the Rivière-des-Prairies area of Montreal achieved a new union contract on Nov. 16.
The four-year, retroactive collective agreement provides wage increases of 3.5 per cent for 2019 and two per cent for 2020, 2021, and 2022, offered to all staff working as order handlers, forklift operators and loading and receiving employees, says UFCW.
All employees will receive a signing bonus of $500 for regular employees, and $0.25 per hour worked in the 52 weeks prior to the signing of the collective agreement, for part-time and casual employees, says the union.
The employer will also be creating 10 new regular night shift relief warehouse attendant positions, and the employer will participate in labour relations committee meetings on a monthly basis, says UFCW.
There will also be a voluntary termination of employment programs between Feb. 14, 2021 and March 11, 2023, for maximum of 16 regular employees. The program will consist of $1,000 per year of seniority for the first 15 years and $1,300 for each additional year of seniority. As well, a lump sum payment equivalent to four weeks’ salary will be offered, says the union.
Part-time employees can now receive a second pair of safety boots, says UFCW.
