Canadian Labour Reporter

2 Canadian HR Reporter, a HAB Press business 2020 Agropur workers in Nova Scotia sign new deal BEDFORD, N.S. — Members of Unifor, Local 40-N at Agro- pur Dairy Cooperative in Bed- ford, N.S., ratified a collective agreement on Feb. 20 following a round of bargaining the mem- bers viewed as respectful and collaborative. "It's encouraging to see an em- ployer develop a good relation- ship with its workers and treat bargaining as a way to improve the workplace, keep workers happy and safe, and make their business a place where people want to work," says Jerry Dias, Unifor national president. The four-year deal was rati- fied at 89 per cent and sees wage increases totalling nearly 10 per cent over the life of the agree- ment, says CUPE. Members secured improve- ments to scheduling practices, earlier qualification for the top vacation tier, enhancements to pension-bridging funds, in- creases to uniform allowances, and paid education leave, says the union. The agreement also includes five days of paid domestic vio- lence leave, which is two more days than what is offered under legislation in Nova Scotia, says Unifor. The agreement covers 150 employees who work as delivery truck drivers, mechanics, labo- ratory technicians, electricians, power engineers, production and shipping workers. "Our committee heard prob- lems and concerns from the membership and came into bar- gaining to find solutions. I want to thank the whole bargaining committee for their hard work and congratulate them on a solid outcome," says Doug Gray, Unifor, Local 40-N president. Saint-Côme municipal workers sign agreement SAINT-CÔME, Que. — About 20 employees of the Munici- pality of Saint-Côme in Que- bec signed their new collective agreement on Feb. 18. The five-year contract calls for wage hikes of 2.5 per cent in 2019 and increases equal to two per cent in subsequent years or to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) if the latter exceeds two per cent, whichever is greater, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The parties also agreed on the establishment of a member- funded pension plan, the intro- duction of a summer schedule for the public works depart- ment, and the addition of a statutory holiday and a day of personal leave for everyone, ac- cording to CUPE. In addition, the municipality will be providing union mem- bers with their working clothes from now on, says the union. In June, union members reject- ed the employer's final and com- prehensive offer, says the union. The situation subsequently deteriorated to the point that the bargaining committee was given a mandate in September 2019 to exercise pressure tactics up to and including strike ac- tion, says CUPE. Unanimous support for new Gedco contract BRANTFORD, Ont. — Em- ployees of Brantford, Ont.-based Gedco Excavating voted unani- mously on Feb. 12 to accept a set- tlement for a renewed collective agreement negotiated by their union, Construction Workers Union, CLAC Local 6. The three-year contract pro- vides employees with several monetary improvements, in- cluding annual wage increases of 2.25 per cent over the term, pen- sion contributions increased to $4.10 per hour, and a new bonus system with a value of up to two per cent, says the union. In addition, the settlement provides an improved policy for paid overtime and premiums, 1.5 times the rate of all-night work and Saturday work and an annual boot allowance, says CLAC. "We are pleased to deliver a fair and positive settlement for our members," says Roger Groo- tenboer, CLAC representative. "It is good to see our members rewarded along with the growth of Gedco." 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