Canadian Labour Reporter

Premier employees sign first agreement OSHAWA, Ont. — Unifor, Local 222 members at Premier Imple- mentation Solutions ratified their first collective agreement on Oct. 21 by 96 per cent. The three-year agreement cov- ers 200 members at the Fresh Del Monte facility in Oshawa, Ont. which processes fresh-cut fruit and vegetables for distribution across Ontario and Quebec. The workers voted to join Uni- for in February following a certifi- cation vote ordered by the labour board because of the company's actions, says the union. "In addition to significant wage gains, this first collective agree- ment addresses historic issues and solidifies workers' rights in key areas including scheduling and discipline procedures," says Deb Tveit, Unifor assistant to the national president. Highlights of the new collec- tive agreement include a total wage increase of 9.54 per cent over the lifetime of the agree- ment; shift scheduling by senior- ity; new guaranteed break times; minimum start rates in all clas- sifications; minimum reporting and call-in pay of four hours; overtime offered by seniority; an excess hours agreement which allows for voluntary overtime, not forced; all current and prior discipline removed from all em- ployee records; harassment and discrimination protection; and joint investigations when neces- sary, says Unifor. CUPE files 55 grievances against health authorities WINNIPEG — Many front-line health care support staff in Mani- toba are still fighting for adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep themselves and the people they care for safe, argues their union. "Hospitals, long-term care homes, and home care employ- ers are inconsistent in the provi- sion of adequate PPE to support staff on the front line in the fight against COVID-19," says Debbie Boissonneault, president of Ca- nadian Union of Public Employ- ees (CUPE) 204, representing 14,500 health care support staff within the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) and Shared Health in Manitoba. "We are hearing from support staff across the city who are being denied or having to argue for pro- tective equipment." On Oct. 19, CUPE, 204 filed policy grievances at 55 health- care facilities across the WRHA and Shared Health, citing the inconsistent provision of N95 masks to support staff working with COVID-19-positive pa- tients, residents, or clients. In some cases, face shields are no longer being provided, says the union. While health officials cite that N95s will only be given in circumstances where aerosol transmission of the virus could be present, health care support staff work closest with patients and residents, including bathing, feeding, and cleaning them, and that safety should be automatic, says CUPE. Grievances include Middle- church Home of Winnipeg, Mi- sericordia Health Centre, and Golden West Centennial Lodge, all of which declared outbreaks of COVID-19 recently, says the union. Vicwest employees join USW STRATFORD, Ont. – Manu- facturing workers at Vicwest Building Products in Stratford, Ont., joined the United Steel- workers (USW) union on Oct. 20. After organizing to form a union, the Vicwest employees held a secret-ballot vote super- vised by the Ontario Labour Re- lations Board and they voted in favour of joining the USW, says the union. The Vicwest workers manu- facture steel roofing and clad- ding for commercial, residential and agricultural use. Concerns raised by workers include wage rates, pay inequity among employees, transparency in job postings, unjust discipline and dismissals, disrespect in the workplace and health and safety issues, says USW. Next steps for the workers will include electing a bargaining committee that will negotiate their first collective agreement, says the union. GET LISTED IN THE HR VENDORS GUIDE Visit hrreporter.com/hr-vendors-guide HR Professional Development Description: Faccaerio. Name volore pre et atur. Cerumqui consedi seraectis eos magnisi nvenihi lliquist qui accum de pres experis testior eperest que ventust qui re volorum quatat. Ed et aut aut harunt aut fugitata iur. Cerumqui consedi seraectis eos magnisi nvenihi lliquist qui accum de pres experis testior eperest volorum quatat. Training and Development Description: Faccaerio. Name volore pre et atur. Cerumqui consedi seraectis eos magnisi nvenihi lliquist qui accum de pres experis testior eperest que ventust qui re volorum quatat. 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