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Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2018
Canadian
Blood Services
workers reach
tentative deal
TORONTO — The bargaining
team for more than 850 Canadi-
an Blood Services (CBS) support
workers — represented by the
Ontario Public Service Employ-
ees Union (OPSEU) — reached a
tentative settlement on March 1.
The workers have been with-
out a collective agreement since
their last contract expired on
March 31, 2017, said the union.
The deal comes in the wake
of a previous tentative deal that
members turned down. Under
that agreement, contract dis-
putes would have been settled
through interest arbitration, ac-
cording to OPSEU.
"The members spoke loudly
and clearly," said Jennifer John-
son, bargaining team chair.
"We've made substantial gains,
which build on all the gains made
in the previous settlement. In
terms of wages, workers will see
increases of 1.75 per cent in each
year of the contract. In addition,
drivers will receive a $1 hourly
increase, even as an evaluation
of their position will continue."
CBS will hire five full-time do-
nor care associates for the Local
5103 area — one that is particu-
larly lacking in full-time staff,
said Johnson.
Workers
at Agropur
in Winnipeg
ratify deal
WINNIPEG — United Food
and Commercial Workers Cana-
da (UFCW), Local 832 members
working at Agropur in Winnipeg
ratified a new five-year collective
agreement on Feb. 23 that pro-
vides wage increases and benefit
improvements.
As part of the new contract,
members will see their wages
increase by 9.5 per cent, with
the first increment retroactive
to July 16, 2016. Workers in the
dual-ticket maintenance clas-
sification will receive $2.55 per
hour more over the life of the
agreement, said the union.
Other monetary gains include
better dental benefits and up-
grades to the health and welfare
plan. The new agreement also
contains improvements to be-
reavement leave and the meal
allowance, according to UFCW.
The Agropur employees pro-
duce Lucerne milk and cream
products for Safeway, Sobeys
and Tim Hortons locations.
Unifor urges
Nova Scotia to
pass domestic
violence leave
HALIFAX — Unifor is urging all
members of the Nova Scotia leg-
islature to pass an NDP private
member's bill that will ensure
paid leave for victims of domes-
tic violence.
"Unifor has made protected
leave for victims of domestic vi-
olence a priority at many collec-
tive bargaining tables and in our
political activism work across
the country," said Lana Payne,
Atlantic regional director.
According to a study done by
Western University researchers
in London, Ont., 80 per cent of
domestic violence victims report
that their work performance was
negatively affected. Absentee-
ism and poor work performance
can leave victims vulnerable to
discipline and even job loss, said
the union.
Paid domestic violence leave
gives employees job protection
and financial support to seek
lives free of violence, it said.
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LABOUR LENS
Union workers wave ags during the 89th anniversary of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in
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