Canadian Labour Reporter

MEC workers achieve new contract VANCOUVER – United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Local 1518 members at Mountain Equipment Com- pany (MEC) locations in Van- couver and Victoria ratified a new collective agreement on Nov. 8 with an 98-per-cent ap- proval that will raise wages, in- troduce new classifications and wage scales while guaranteeing more full-time positions. Members of the bargaining committee secured wage in- creases of eight per cent and nine per cent for clerks, improved wale scale and classifications for bike mechanic, visual merchan- diser, inventory specialist and daily stock specialist. The new contract also guarantees full- time employment, says UFCW. First contract at Vesuvius Canada WELLAND, Ont. — Workers at Vesuvius Canada in Welland, Ont. — who had been on strike since Nov. 1 — secured their first contract as 90 per cent of the members of Teamsters, Lo- cal 879 ratified the agreement on Nov. 7. Highlights of the contract include a $2-per-hour wage in- crease, a second-year bonus and the elimination of mandatory overtime, says the union. "These workers went on strike because the employer's offers were clearly inadequate," says François Laporte, Team- sters Canada president. "They stood together and finally ob- tained a collective agreement that met their expectations." After a week on the picket line, a tentative deal was reached on Nov. 5, says Teamsters. BCGEU members ratify new LifeLabs deal BURNABY, B.C. — A majority of the 1,550 LifeLabs workers — represented by the B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) — voted on Nov. 4 in favour of ratifying their collective agree- ment with their employer after reaching a tentative agreement on Oct. 24. The new three-year agree- ment is effective April 1, and it runs until March 31, 2024. "After so many months of hard work in negotiations we are pleased to see members ratify a deal that values and re- spects their expertise, their con- tributions during the pandemic and their goal to better serve the public," says Stephanie Smith, BCGEU president. Highlights from the agree- ment include wage improve- The most reliable source of news and insights for Canada's labour professionals www.hrreporter.com/labour/news ments averaging increases of 12 per cent over three years which also includes a $1,250 signing bonus for all active employees to be paid out within 30 days of ratification, says BCGEU. The employees also received an improved indexed pension plan, increases to extended health coverage, improvements to sick-leave entitlement and health and safety policies as well as stronger workload language to deal with under-staffing is- sues, says the union. The collective agreement covers members at 94 LifeLabs locations across B.C. working as couriers, phlebotomists, tech- nical assistants, technologist and information specialists. Agreement reached at Sandy Bay First Nation MARIUS, Man. — Members of the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Na- tion in Marius, Man., who are represented by the Manitoba Government and General Em- ployees' Union (MGEU), Local 354 ratified a new collective agreement on Oct. 28. Highlights of the new deal in- clude a wage increase (with an ability to discuss future wage increases based on incoming funding) and new agreement articles covering term employ- ees and layoff and recall poli- cies, says the union. 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KEY MEDIA and the KEY MEDIA logo are trademarks of Key Media IP Limited, and used under license by Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd.. CANADIAN LABOUR REPORTER is a trademark of Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd.. e publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. If legal or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. e analysis contained herein represents the opinion of the authors and should in no way be construed as being either official or unofficial policy of any governmental body. ISSN 0045-5113 Publications Registration 2089 Canadian Labour Reporter is part of the Canadian HR Reporter group of publications. Visit www.hrreporter. com for more information. 2 LABOUR BRIEFS Canadian HR Reporter, a Key Media Canada (HR) Ltd. business 2021

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