Agreement reached with no concessions: UFCW
On Jan. 6, more than 100 employees at Larabie’s Your Independent Grocer (YIG) in Kapuskasing, Ont., who belong to the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW), Local 175, signed a new collective agreement.
Full-time employees will receive a lump-sum payment of $500 and a rate increase of $0.25 per hour. Rates for full-time will increase by another $1 per hour over the contract term, plus two more $500 lump sums will be paid out as well. Part-time workers will have a new wage grid that maintains a gap ahead of minimum wage, said the union.
In addition, part-time receive the greater of a $250 lump sum or a $0.25-per-hour increase. Department managers receive an adjustment of $1.25 per hour to help bring their rates in line with all department managers. In addition, the agreement adds department-manager positions to the night shift, said UFCW.
Employees may now carry over their annual footwear allowance, which is $85 per year, to the following year to a maximum of $125. Part-time employees now receive the boot allowance as well. The employer will contribute $150 toward the printing of the members’ collective agreement books, plus $300 to the Local 175 Training and Education Fund, said the union.
Current entitled members retain a paid floater day, double time pay for working a statutory holiday, and optional Sunday work. Plus, the members achieved improved language regarding vacations that will clarify entitlements and process. In addition, the contract contains provisions for a joint labour-management committee, said UFCW.
