Canadian Labour Reporter

Revera employees sign contract MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW), Local 401 members working at Re- vera Meadowlands Retirement Residence in Medicine Hat, Alta. achieved a new collective on Sept. 7. "All of these employees worked so hard taking care of Medicine Hat's most vulnerable citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they continue to keep the residents healthy and safe," says Ricardo de Menezes, UFCW, Lo- cal 401 southern director. Some of the highlights of the new three-year collective agree- ment include a two-per-cent raise every year (as well as an ad- ditional $1 in year one and $0.50 in year two, $0.50 in year three), a two-per-cent wage increase for licensed practical nurses, vision- care benefits and a lifting of the cap of the number of shop stew- ards allowed in the home, says the union. Winnipeg health staff vote to strike WINNIPEG — Health-care support staff in Manitoba voted 97 per cent in favour of strike ac- tion on Aug. 25. "Health-care support staff have endured so much with so little support, and it's clear that they are ready to strike if need- ed," says Shannon McAteer, the Canadian Union of Public Em- ployees (CUPE) health-care co- ordinator. "Right now, Manitoba has 18,000 health-care support staff who are exhausted and who feel disrespected by the government, despite being lauded as heroes," says Debbie Boissonneault, CUPE, Local 204 president. "This is both an overwhelming mandate, and a scathing review of government's inability to rec- ognize health-care workers." Gerdau workers ratify deal SELKIRK, Man. — Employ- ees represented by the United Steelworkers (USW), Local 8740 ratified a tentative agreement reached with Gerdau Manitoba Metallics Raw Materials in Sel- kirk, Man., on Aug. 24. The workers had been working without a contract since the pre- vious collective agreement ex- pired on June 30, says the union. The new five-year agreement was accepted by 77 per cent of the members voting at a meet- ing on Aug. 24. The agreement gives the membership their best increases in wages, benefits and pensions in decades, says USW. "We managed to get a fair and balanced final offer from the em- ployer that represented needed increases that worked for our membership," says Andrew Hendricks, USW, Local 8740 Subscribe to Canada's indispensable guide to human resources management since 1987 president. The union's bargaining com- mittee achieved changes in preventing contracting out, maintaining shift schedules, bereavement leave, job post- ings, benefit increases in vision care, insurance and prescription drugs, along with adding orth- odontic coverage for the first time, says the union. Toronto Garda employees deal finalized TORONTO — The Interna- tional Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) received the arbitrated settle- ment to finalize the year-long negotiations with GardaWorld for pre-board screeners at To- ronto Pearson International Air- port and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on Aug. 31. "When we started out negoti- ations, it was at the height of the pandemic, prior to vaccinations being readily available and with the industry in turmoil," says Keith Aiken, IAM air transpor- tation coordinator for Canada. "Bargaining through this pan- demic has been very difficult as air transportation has been dev- astated by COVID-19." As part of the three-year col- lective bargaining agreement, the union was able to attain improved layoff and recall lan- guage, improved shift-trade language, an increase to pension contributions and an increase to the compensation package total- ling 7.1 per cent, says IAM. www.hrreporter.com/subscribe FORMERLY CLV REPORTS Serving labour relations professionals since 1956 www.hrreporter.com/labour Subscription rate: $599 per year Customer Service subscriptions@kmimedia.ca President Tim Duce Editor/Supervisor Sarah Dobson | (416) 644-8740 Ext. 330 sarah.dobson@keymedia.com News Editor John Dujay | (416) 644-8740 Ext. 321 john.dujay@keymedia.com Employment Law Editor Jeffrey R. Smith | (416) 644 8740 Ext. 319 jeffrey.r.smith@keymedia.com Business Development Manager Fred Crossley | (416) 644-8740 Ext. 236 fred.crossley@keymedia.com NAUK Subscriptions Coordinator Donnabel Reyes | (416) 644-8740 Ext. 243 donnabel.reyes@keymedia.com ©Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd. All rights reserved. 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