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Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2017
Canna Clinic
staff vote to
join Unifor
TORONTO — Workers at
Canna Clinic in Toronto voted
to join Unifor May 17, making
them what is believed to be the
first medical marijuana workers
in Canada to unionize, said the
union.
"This is a fast-growing indus-
try, and with the advent of legal-
ization, it is important that the
workers have a voice and repre-
sentation as the sector evolves
over the coming years," said Jerry
Dias, Unifor president.
In all, 40 employees at the clin-
ic's Broadview Avenue location
are now members of Unifor. The
union will begin to negotiate a
first contract, said Unifor.
Safety and staff training are
among the main concerns for
the workers, according to John
Aman, Unifor organizing direc-
tor.
"These workers turned to Uni-
for because they want to build
careers in the industry, which is
expected to grow rapidly with
legalization next year, and are
seeking help for fair working
conditions."
Canna has five other clin-
ics in Toronto, as well as one in
Vancouver. The workers include
reception, production and pack-
aging and retail staff, as well as
supervisors, said the union.
Unifor reaches
deal with
Imperial Oil
NANTICOKE, Ont. — The
Unifor bargaining committee
representing 169 workers at the
Nanticoke Imperial Oil facility
in Nanticoke, Ont., reached a
tentative collective agreement
with the employer May 16.
"I'm very proud of the skill
shown by the bargaining team
to get us a fair deal that match-
es the pattern Unifor set in the
industry," said Dan Valente,
Unifor national representative.
Unifor bargained a pattern
agreement for the energy and
chemical sector in 2016.
The Nanticoke agreement
will be consistent with the gains
made in the pattern agreement,
said the union.
The local's membership will
vote on the tentative agree-
ment on May 18.
The current collective agree-
ment expired more than one
year ago and bargaining has
been periodic since March
2016.
Local 900 represents em-
ployees working in operations,
laboratory, maintenance in-
strumentation and electrical.
Garda Security
workers ratify
agreement
THUNDER BAY, Ont. — As
part of new contract, United
Food and Commercial Work-
ers Canada (UFCW) members
will receive both lump-sum
payments and rate increases
over the term of the collective
agreement, according to the
union.
This includes rate increases
totalling 5.75 per cent, premi-
ums equivalent to $1.10 per
hour added to the existing ba-
sic rates of pay and lump sums
totalling $1,400 for full-time
workers and $700 for part-time
members, said UFCW.
Effective April 1, 2018, Gar-
da workers will also receive a
short-term disability plan that
is added to their health and
welfare coverage.
As well, the employer will
now contribute $50 toward the
cost of the required medical ex-
amination for employees, said
the union.
Photo:
Alkis
(Reuters)
LABOUR LENS
Greek police of cers shout slogans and hold ares during a demonstration of uniformed of cers marking a
24-hour general strike against the latest round of austerity in Athens, on May 17.
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