Moose Jaw Co-operative Association

From Negotiations report December, 2007

Following nearly a year of negotiations, the members at the Moose Jaw Co-op ratified a new four year Collective Agreement at meetings held on August 8 and 9, 2007.

• The first year of the Agreement provides full retroactive pay to August 13, 2006, and all employees will receive between 2% and 2.5% wage increases; in year two and three employees receive between 2.5% and 3.25% wage increases.

• Many of the starting rates of pay increased significantly to address recruitment issues and increases to the Saskatchewan minimum wage.

• The shift premium for all employees who work evenings increases to 70¢ per hour effective August 2008.

• The minimum shift provision will expand from three to four hours for all employees except those in the cafeteria and gas bars. 

• Employees will now receive credit for their partial years of employment when crossing over to the next vacation entitlement. For example, if an employee has half a year of service on the common vacation anniversary date of May 1, when moving from three weeks to four weeks of vacation, that employee gets credit for an additional 2.5 days of vacation, where previously the employee received no credit. 

• Members will now receive an additional 1% of their wages added to their pension plan, an increase of approximately 20% in contributions. Employees match the employer contribution (effective August 2008).

• There are a number of improvements in contract language, including rest period language for part-time employees, the addition of Family Day to the list of holidays, and some other housekeeping changes.

 This employer had originally been asking for significant concessions in the Agreement, however, the committee and membership stood firm and accepted NO rollbacks.

 

The Negotiating Committee consisted of Heather Heaney, Derek Ross, Sherry Ross, Dan Noble, Brenda Clarke, and alternate member Maggie Clemenshaw, assisted by Collective Bargaining Representative Don Logan and President Paul Meinema.

From Negotiations report August, 2007

We last met with this employer on June 15, 19 and 20, 2007, with a Conciliation Officer involved at the employer’s request. While progress was made, the employer tabled an inferior wage offer. The members voted on the offer on July 8, 2007, and rejected it by a significant margin. The next meetings are set for September 4 and 5, 2007.

 

These members have been working with an expired contract since August 2006. The employer had originally demanded significant concessions to the Agreement.

From Negotiations report May, 2007

Although this employer has pared down its original demands for rollbacks, several issues remain unresolved including job posting rights, further management exclusions, and wage progressions.  Further bargaining was set for April 19 and 20, 2007.

From Negotiations report January, 2007

Three meeting dates have been held so far, and we have set February 8 and 9, 2007 as further dates. While the employer has pared down its demand for rollbacks, several issues remain unresolved. The employer is attempting to weaken language and rates of pay, however, the union remains optimistic that improvements to their position are forthcoming.

From Negotiations report November, 2006

Further bargaining dates are set for December 11 and 12, 2006.

From Negotiations report October, 2006

Proposals for this unit have been approved by the membership and the committee elected.  The recent settlement with Saskatoon Co-operative Association should assist these members in their negotiations.

 

The first meeting dates are set for October 27, 2006.

From Negotiations report August, 2006

This unit’s Agreement expires in August and notice to bargain has been served on the employer.  A meeting was held on July 9, 2006, where members finalized proposals and selected a Negotiating Committee.