Four-year deal includes mandatory mediation process: Union
United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW) Local 401 members working at Gate Gourmet at the Edmonton International Airport overwhelmingly ratified a new collective agreement July 28.
The Gate Gourmet members work at one of the world's largest airline catering and food service providers, supplying meals and logistics for airlines such as Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing and United Airlines, as well as a number of restaurants at the Edmonton Airport, said the union.
Highlights of the new four-year deal include greater union security, better seniority protections, and improved privacy provisions for medical information. The contract also includes improvements to the meal allowance and enhanced grievance, leave of absence and health and safety language, according to UFCW.
The negotiating committee was also able to secure better dignity and respect language for employees, as well as a new, mandatory mediation process to resolve issues between workers and management.
As per the new contract, members will receive wage increases totaling 10 per cent over the contract's duration, retroactive to July 2016. Workers will also receive increases to bereavement leave and pay, improved sick pay, increased dental contributions, an increased boot allowance and increases to employer-paid RRSP contributions, said the union.
