We are pleased to announce that your strong strike mandate gave your bargaining committee the leverage we needed to conclude a tentative agreement.

As you all know, this was a very challenging round of bargaining. Your employer tabled a number of concessionary proposals and a very low wage proposal, including re-proposing a lump sum for year one multiple times. This resulted in us taking a strike vote on May 16th, where 71% of the membership came out and voted 100% in favour of strike action. When we met with your employer yesterday, we were able to leverage that strong strike result into successfully countering the employer's low wage proposals and securing a fair and reasonable deal for you.

The highlights of the tentative agreement are as follows:

· Four year agreement through to July 31, 2023

· Wage increases as follows:

• May 1, 2019 – 2.0% (retroactive)
• May 1, 2020 – 2.0%
• May 1, 2021 – 2.0%
• May 1, 2022 – 1.0%
• Nov 1, 2022 – 1.0%

· Modest improvement to eyeglasses, to $300 per year (from $250) – effective May 1, 2019

· Increase to travel leave for medical/dental care – to $450 (from $350)

· Reimbursement of 50% of the cost of any medical documentation required by the employer

· Option for one-time payout of archived vacation

· Auxiliary employees to receive 75₵ per working hour in lieu of health and welfare benefits (up from 70₵)

· Adjustment to vacation scheduling dates

· Minor language improvements to human rights code grounds, union meetings

· Modest improvement to Occupational First Aid Certificate compensation

· Language adjustments to compassionate care leave and maternity/parental leave

The employer also committed to circulating a notice to all members detailing the existing policy and complaint procedures re: respectful workplace and bullying and harassment.

Your bargaining committee unanimously supports this tentative agreement, and we look forward to meeting with you to discuss it with you and answer your questions. Details of the tentative agreement will be available to members prior to voting.

Ratification Meeting:

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Boardrooms A and B

The bargaining committee faced a lot of challenges this round, and everyone who participated in the process worked really hard to get a fair and reasonable contract. We look forward to seeing you at the ratification meeting, and we hope that you will vote YES to accept.

In solidarity

Your Bargaining Committee:

Robin Anderson, Janine Roth and Paul Staples
Earl Moloney, Staff Representative

Download PDF of notice here 

UWU/MoveUP