Teamsters
call for
investigation
at Humber
River Hospital
TORONTO — The Teamsters
Canada union is calling for an
investigation into alleged health
and safety issues at the new
Humber River Hospital in To-
ronto.
Teamsters Canada Local 419
represents about 900 workers at
the hospital.
Since its opening in October,
the union's members have docu-
mented alleged health and safety
issues such as the failure to use
proper disinfectants in rooms
and public spaces.
According to the union,
members have reported issues
including a lack of proper clean-
ing products, the use of cleaning
products not approved for use
in hospitals and non-bargaining
unit members performing tasks
for which they have not received
health and safety training.
The union is calling on the
government to open an investi-
gation into these allegations and
resolve the issues.
"Mismanagement is a threat
to the health and safety of pa-
tients and workers," said Tim
Oribine, union representative
at Teamsters Canada Local 419.
"Our members are very con-
cerned and seriously question
management's decision-making
process."
UFCW
employees
ratify deal
with Valu-Mart
GORE BAY, Ont. — United
Food and Commercial Workers
(UFCW) Local 175 recently rati-
fied a new collective agreement
with Valu-Mart in Gore Bay,
Ont.
Valu-Mart — a Loblaws-
owned grocery store chain —
has more than 70 supermarkets
located throughout rural On-
tario.
The new deal includes wage
increases of $1.25 per hour for
the duration of the agreement.
The first increase will be retro-
active for hours worked since
the expiry of the parties' previ-
ous contract.
Additionally, the agreement
also includes a new minimum
wage grid for part-time employ-
ees.
According to the union, the
new grid will ensure that em-
ployees in progress receive an
hourly rate above any adjust-
ments made to minimum wage
by the provincial government.
An improvement was made
to Valu-Mart workers' boot al-
lowance, increasing from $50 to
$100.
Full-time employees will also
receive an additional floater
holiday.
LABOUR BRIEFS
2
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