Saputo Dairy Products

Saskatoon, Sask. (200 plant and maintenance employees) and Teamsters Canada

Renewal agreement: Effective April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2019. Signed on Dec. 1, 2015.

Wage adjustments:
Effective April 2016: 2%
Effective April 2017: 2%
Effective April 2018: 2%

Paid holidays:  11 days. Time and one-half for time worked on statutory holidays.

Vacations with pay: One and one-quarter days for each full month of employment to start until Jan. 1 after date of hire, 120 hours after one year of service, 160 hours after 8 years, 200 hours after 15 years and 240 hours after 25 years.

Overtime: Time and one-half for the first 2 hours worked in excess of normally scheduled hours, and double time for hours worked thereafter.

Dental: 100% for basic services, 60% major restorative, 50% orthodontics (18 and under, annual maximum $1,750 per person).

Vision: $200 every 24 months for glasses and contacts. Eye exam covered separately under plan.

Paramedical: 100% coverage, $25 annual deductible.

Weekly indemnity: 66 2/3 % of gross weekly salary.

Sick leave: 54 hours per year. Unused sick leave at the end of the year will be paid at the regular rate of pay.

LTD: 66 2/3 % of gross monthly salary up to $2,500 per month.

AD&D: $45,000 for each employee.

Life insurance: $45,000 for each employee.

Pension: The employer will contribute an amount equal to 8% of the earnings of each employee who has worked at least 1 year with the employer to the Teamsters/RWDSU General Workers Union Pension Plan.

Bereavement leave: 3 paid days and 2 unpaid days (if requested) in the event of the death of a member of employee’s immediate family (including in-laws).

Seniority – recall rights: 60 days

Call-in pay: Minimum 3 hours of overtime at overtime rates of pay.

Severance: In the event of an amalgamation, permanent closure of a plant or department, or automation causing loss of jobs, employees who have 5 years of service will be paid 2 weeks’ pay for each year of service to a maximum of 20 years of service. Senior employees affected by the same may voluntarily terminate their employment and received 1 week’s pay for each year of service, to a maximum of 20 years' service.

Safety shoes: $145 per year or $290 every 2 years.

Uniforms/clothing: Employer supplies uniforms for shipping department: 3 pairs of trousers, 4 shirts, 2 windbreakers, 1 winter cap and 1 summer cap (where requested) every 2 years. Employer supplies all work clothing (T-shirts, overalls, coveralls, trousers for plant employees; parkas, mitts, boots for cold storage work) for all employees requiring them. Employer responsible for laundering/dry cleaning all work clothing.

Sample rates of pay (current):
Office, general plant help: $18.38 per hour, rising in 3 steps to $25.13
Cottage cheesemaker, machine operator, case wash: $18.98, rising in 3 steps to $25.99
CIP wash-up, bulk tank unloader/washer, shipper: $19.41, rising in 3 steps to $26.64
Laboratory technician, cheese process operator, evaporator/dryer operator, pasteurizer, lead cooler/fridge person: $20.07, rising in 3 steps to $27.62
Laboratory relief, plant relief: $20.30, rising in 3 steps to $27.96
Electrician, millwright/industrial engineer, engineer: $36.02
Head engineer, two ticket maintenance: $37.22

Editor’s notes:  Special leave: Special leaves of absence may be granted for educational purposes, personal and compassionate reasons, extra time off with vacations, or official union business.

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