Canadian Labour Reporter

2 Canadian HR Reporter, a HAB Press business 2020 UFCW gains wage hike from Loblaw TORONTO — A $2-per-hour wage increase for front-line Loblaw employees across the country was announced by the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) Canada on March 21. The wage increase is in the process of being implemented and will be applied to the hourly rates of both full-time and part- time workers at all Loblaw stores and associated banners, says the union. "The commitment shown by UFCW Canada members to their communities as front-line workers to provide safe, high quality food and essential goods throughout this situation has been truly amazing," says Paul Meinema, UFCW Canada na- tional president. The union welcomed initia- tives by Sobeys and other retail- ers to install plexiglass barriers in its stores, as announced earlier this week, says UFCW. CUPE Manitoba calls for hazard pay WINNIPEG — Manitoba's largest union is calling on the provincial government to imple- ment a hazard-pay program for front-line workers who work in close contact with communi- ties, individuals and worksites at higher risk of COVID-19. "Front-line public and non- profit sector workers are being asked to work in environments that put them at higher risk of contact with COVID-19," says Abe Araya, president of the Ca- nadian Union of Public Employ- ees (CUPE) Manitoba in a letter to the Premier. On March 22, Sobeys launched the "Hero Pay Program" to rec- ognize the value of the front-line grocery store workers at Sobeys, Safeway and other private sector grocery stores. Sobeys "Hero Pay Program" offers an additional $2 per hour on hours worked over 20 hours a week, and a $50-per-week bonus for all workers, says the union. USW contributes $220,000 to food banks TORONTO — The Steelworkers Humanity Fund will contribute $220,000 to 112 food banks and community food centres in 2020. "The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic disruption will affect the most vulnerable and poorest in our communi- ties in every part of Canada and we must collectively take steps to ensure they are supported," says Ken Neumann, president of the Steelworkers Human- ity Fund and Canadian national director for the United Steel- workers (USW). The immediate contribution of the SHF will be in addition to the annual contributions the SHF makes in November of each year in communities where members of the United Steelworkers live and work. Co-op workers ratify mediators' deal REGINA — Unifor, Local 594 members voted 98 per cent in favour on March 23 of the rec- ommendations made by a Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers, the government-appointed media- tors asked to help end the 109- day lockout at the Co-op refinery in Regina. "Premier Scott Moe appointed Ready and Rogers to resolve this dispute. They did their part. The union has now accepted the rec- ommendations. The only thing standing in the way of an end to this lockout is an employer that demands new concessions to this day," says Jerry Dias, Unifor na- tional president. Ready and Rogers tabled eight recommendations on March 19, that included changes to the refinery workers' pension plan, which Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) says were needed. The mediators' terms would have saved the employer millions of dollars, as workers would have contributed up to eight per cent to their pensions, in addition to other major concessions the company had been seeking, says the union. LABOUR BRIEFS GET LISTED IN THE HR VENDORS GUIDE Visit hrreporter.com/hr-vendors-guide HR Professional Development Description: Faccaerio. Name volore pre et atur. 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