FreshCo workers in Oshawa, Ont., ratify agreement

Wage increases, lump-sum payments part of deal: UFCW

FreshCo workers in Oshawa, Ont., ratify agreement
The 38 bargaining unit members at the retail grocery store include four full-time and 34 part-time employees. GOOGLE STREET VIEW

Members of United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) Canada, Local 175 working at the Simcoe and Byng FreshCo in Oshawa, Ont., ratified a new collective agreement on Nov. 11.

The contract includes new language that provides stewards with paid-time to meet with new members. This ensures that all new members of the bargaining unit learn about their union and the provisions of their agreement as soon as possible after starting. In addition, other language provides for a new department-head position with a separate wage grid. This new language will mean the addition of two new full-time positions as well, said the union.

A new wage scale includes minimum-wage-plus language. This ensures that hourly rates stay ahead of any announced changes to minimum wage. The part-time top rate receives minimum wage plus $1.40 per hour. This represents a $1, or 1.5 per cent, increase for part-time workers. Initial increases include retroactive pay for full-time employees for hours worked since January 2017. Part-time employees will get a lump sum between $100 and $375 depending on their date of hire. Other monetary improvements include premium increases for cash office, which pays 80 cents per hour up from 40 cents, and department head relief of $1 per hour, according to UFCW.

Workers benefit from improved vision-care coverage of $200, up from $125, and increases to the dental plan contributions over the last three years of the agreement, said the union.

The 38 bargaining unit members at the retail grocery store include four full-time and 34 part-time employees.

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