2
Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2018
County
workers
deliver
strike vote
BARRIE, Ont. — Members of
Ontario Public Service Employ-
ees Union (OPSEU), Local 328
— which represents 22 superin-
tendents and housing clerks in
the Social Housing Department
of Simcoe County in Ontario —
handed their bargaining team a
strike mandate on Jan. 5.
The workers have been with-
out a contract since Dec. 31.
Since then, negotiations have
stalled on the question of remu-
neration and internal wage par-
ity, according to bargaining team
chair Mary Ellen Kelloway.
"While we agreed on a num-
ber of matters, such as benefits,
we couldn't reach an agreement
on wage hikes," said Kelloway.
"The employer is offering in-
creases that are below the rate of
inflation; we'd be taking a wage
cut."
The County of Simcoe owns
more than 1,300 housing units
for seniors, families and indi-
viduals. The OPSEU members
in the social housing department
have a variety of responsibilities,
from information collecting and
administrative support, to main-
tenance including electrical,
plumbing and grounds mainte-
nance, said the union.
New contract
for workers at
Estérel Resort
ESTÉREL, Que. — Employees
at the Estérel Resort in the Lau-
rentians region of Quebec rati-
fied a new collective agreement
on Jan. 4.
The new contract provides
wage increases of $1 to $1.75
per hour — depending on se-
niority — for the first year of the
agreement. There will also be in-
creases of three per cent in 2018,
2019, and 2020 and a four per
cent wage increase in 2021.
As well, employees — who are
represented by United Food and
Commercial Workers Canada
(UFCW), Local 501 — will now
be paid overtime if they work
a sixth or seventh consecutive
day in any week, regardless of
the number of hours worked.
Banquet and dining room wait
staff will receive tip increases on
group events, said the union.
"The outcome of these nego-
tiations shows how well Local
501 members are able to build
on past successes, as this agree-
ment goes a long way toward
improving working conditions
and job security for members,"
said Alain Lachaîne, president of
UFCW Canada, Local 501.
Counselling
centre workers
achieve new
agreement
SUDBURY, Ont. — Employees
at the Sudbury Counselling Cen-
tre in Ontario — who are mem-
bers of United Steelworkers
(USW) Local 2020 — ended 10
weeks on the picket line with the
ratification of a new three-year
collective agreement on Dec. 20.
"These 12 women can go back
to work in January with their
heads held high," said Lynne
Descary, USW staff representa-
tive. "The employer could see
they were standing strong and
not backing down. They were
having fun on the picket line
(and) singing Christmas carols
as the weather got colder."
The new three-year deal in-
cludes two per cent annual wage
increases, said the union.
Members of Local 2020 rati-
fied the agreement on Dec. 21,
according to the USW.
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Photo:
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LABOUR LENS
A man walks past a notice board informing passengers of a strike by members of the National Union of
Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union at London Bridge railway station in London, on Jan. 8.
