New Food Classics, Saskatoon

From Negotiations report December, 2007

 

On September 28, 2007, the members at New Food Classics ratified a new four-year Collective Agreement. 

• There will be immediate wage increases of $1.00 to $2.52 per hour in the first year, 2.5 to 3% wage increases in the second year, and across the board wage increases in the third and fourth years of the Agreement.  

• The scale progression for Production Worker 1 employees to reach their top rate is now 2,000 hours (formerly 4,000 hours) and Batchers will be paid as Production Worker 2 employees, which will provide significant wage increases to members performing these duties. 

• Maintenance employees possessing dual tickets will receive an additional 75¢ per hour; those possessing three tickets will receive an additional $1.25 per hour. 

• Shift premiums will take effect from 6:00 pm (a two hour improvement), increasing to 40¢ on January 1, 2008, and 50¢ on January 1, 2010. 

• Other improvements were made to the job posting and temporary transfer language, encouraging the promotion of employees into higher rated job classifications by seniority, and allowing them to move into higher paying vacancies, even if they have just posted into a position. 

• All job postings will be posted for nine calendar days. 

• Forklift training will be offered to employees on an annual basis, on company time, by seniority. 

• A Labour-Management Committee will meet six times per year.

• Members now have union representation in any interview that could lead to discipline, as well as when any discipline (including verbal reprimands) are issued. 

• The probationary period has been reduced from 640 hours to 520 hours. 

• Vacation entitlement improves to four weeks after nine years, and employees will be paid their vacation pay in equal increments. 

• Family Day and any other holiday recognized by the provincial or federal government will now be recognized in the Collective Agreement. 

• Should the employer require an employee to provide a medical certificate, the cost of such will be reimbursed up to $15.00.  

• All meal breaks and rest periods are to be uninterrupted.

Congratulations to these members on their new Collective Agreement. The Bargaining Committee members were Dwayne Olafson, Jeremy Hiebert, Corey Samuel, and Ryan MacEwan, assisted by President Paul Meinema, Secretary Treasurer Norm Neault, and Representative Darren Kurmey.