Niagara Falls Bridge Commission

Renewal agreement: Effective Nov. 1, 2018 to Oct. 31, 2022. Signed on March 25, 2019.

Shift premium: $1 per hour for weekday afternoon shift (starting at 2 p.m. or later but prior to 10 p.m.). $1.25 per hour for weekday mid shift (starting at 10 p.m. or later but prior to 6 a.m.). $1 per hour for weekend day shift (starting at 6 a.m. or later but prior to 2 p.m.). $1.50 per hour for weekend afternoon shift (starting at 2 p.m. or later but prior to 10 p.m.). $1.75 per hour for weekend mid shift (starting at 10 p.m. or later but prior to 6 a.m.). $1.25 per hour when bridge attendants, plaza associates work as acting toll captains. $2.50 per hour for tier 1, bridge attendants, part-time employees in maintenance department, who work under span of one or other of employer’s bridges or while working in bucket of utility truck on light standards only.

Paid holidays: Tier 1 employees: 2 days, plus 5 vacation days in lieu of 5 other holidays. Additional 7 days will be included in first pay after Dec. 1, for all tier 1 employees, who have been actively at work and on payroll as tier 1 employees for 10 months or more. Bridge attendants: 9 days.

Vacations with pay: Tier 1 employees: 2 weeks (6.67 hours per month) after 1 year, 3 weeks (10 hours per month) after 5 years, 4 weeks (13.33 hours per month) after 10 years, 5 weeks (16.67 hours per month) after 15 years, 6 weeks (20 hours per month) after 20 years, 7 weeks (23.33 hours per month) after 30 years. Bridge attendants: 2weeks plus 2 days (8 hours per month) after 1 year, 3 weeks plus 2 days (11.33 hours per month) after 5 years, 3 weeks plus 3days (12 hours per month) after 7 years, 3 weeks plus 4 days (12.67 hours per month) after 9 years, 4 weeks (13.33 hours per month) after 11 years, 5 weeks plus 1 day (17.33 hours per month) after 15 years, 4 weeks plus 1 day (14 hours per month) after 13 years, 5 weeks plus 1 day (17.33 hours per month) after 25 years.

Overtime: Paid at time and one-half or (at employee’s option) paid as 4 hours’ regular pay with 8 hours as compensatory time off. Banked time maximum 64 hours for tier 1 employees; 48hours for bridge attendants.

Meal allowance: $11.50 for employee working more than 10 consecutive hours other than on shift switch.

Medical benefits: Employer pays 100% of premiums for Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Employer pays 100% of premiums for extended health care or equivalent plan.

Dental: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of basic preventative, minor restorative coverage. 50% coverage, lifetime maximum $1,000 for each eligible family member for orthodontics. Tier 1, bridge attendant employees will receive caps and crowns coverage at 50%, maximum $1,500 per year. Coverage for children up to 25 years old for orthodontics.

Vision: $350 every 2 years.

Weekly indemnity: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of 50% of normal weekly earnings for maximum 26 weeks.

STD: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of 30% of normal weekly earnings, until 65 or retirement or 26-week maximum if earlier.

LTD: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of 50% of normal weekly earnings, maximum $3,000 per month, until 64 or retirement or 26-week maximum if earlier.

Life insurance: Employer pays 100% of premiums for coverage of 1.5 times annual salary for tier 1, bridge attendants, part-time employees.

Pension: N.F.B.C. Adjusted Compensation Plan (pension plan).

Bereavement leave: 5 days for death of spouse, parent, child. 3 days for death in immediate family (brother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, employee’s grandmother, employee’s grandfather, grandchild, stepchildren, stepparents, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, any other relative residing in employee’s residence at date of death). 1 day for death of brother-in-law, sister-in-law.

Seniority – recall rights: 24 months for tier 1 employees; 12 consecutive months for bridge attendants.

Call-in pay: Minimum 4 hours’ pay at regular hourly rate or time and one-half regular straight-time hourly rate for all time actually worked, whichever is greater, for tier 1 employees, bridge attendants.

Probationary period: 90 days; 6 months for janitor handypersons; 12 months for maintenance technicians, bridge attendants.

Discipline: Sunset clause is 2 years.

Uniforms/clothing: $350 per year uniform clothing voucher for toll department (tier 1) employees; $500 per year uniform clothing voucher for maintenance department (tier 1) employees (must include purchase of safety shoes); $600 per year uniform clothing voucher for plaza associates, bridge attendants, part-time employees after 1 year of seniority ($500 after 6 years of seniority) and must include purchase of safety shoes. New hires: Employer will provide start-up kit including 2 toll shirts, 2 pairs of toll pants, 2 pairs of maintenance pants, 3 maintenance shirts, 1 winter coat, $100 voucher (previously $200) for approved uniform clothing or to be used towards CSA-approved green patch safety footwear. Additional $300 (previously $350) will be provided to purchase approved uniform items after probation has been served. For first 2 years of contract (2018 and 2019), bridge attendants with 6 or more years of service will receive additional $100 per year on voucher.

Sample rates of hourly pay (current, after increase):

Tier 1

Toll captain: $32.43 rising 3steps to $34.08

Toll-collector (full-time): $30.50 rising 3 steps to $32.15

Traffic director (full-time): $29.51 rising 3 steps to $31.16

Maintenance technician (full-time): $30.50 rising 3 steps to $32.15

Janitor/handyperson (full-time): $29.51 rising 3 steps to $31.16

Plaza associate: $24.15 rising 3steps to $25.80

Bridge attendants

Bridge attendant: $21.80 rising 3 steps to $23.45

Part-time employee: $21.80 rising 3 steps to $23.45

Editor’s notes: NEXUS card: Employer will reimburse cost of NEXUS card for union stewards upon submission of requirement documentation. Free days: 10 free days per year for tier 1 employees (1 day per month worked up to Nov. 1 for those employed less than 1 year); 5 free days per year for bridge attendants (3 hours and 20 minutes per month worked up to Nov. 1 for those employed less than 1 year). Licensing: Employer will pay maximum $100 for tier 1, bridge attendants, part-time employees who obtain DZ licence and existing employees who renew DZ licences. Gym membership: Tier 1, tier 2 employees will be reimbursed 50%, maximum $200 per year, for membership fees.