The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Extra Foods employees across Manitoba have overwhelmingly accepted a new four-year contract that their union calls "one of the best collective agreements in Western Canada." United Food and Commercial Workers Local 832 members on Sunday voted 82 per cent in favour of the deal, which contains improvements to wages, scheduling, and workplace safety. "This agreement contains something for each and every member," said union president Robert Ziegler in a statement. "This was not an easy contract to negotiate but we were determined to get substantial improvements as called for by our members. We believe we achieved that." Retroactive to April 4, the new contract applies to the roughly 3,100 workers at all Extra Foods and Great Canadian Superstore locations across the province. Most starting pay rates will increase by an average of $1 per hour over the life of the deal, including an 18 per cent raise for courtesy clerks. Virtually all employees, except those at the starting wage, will receive a signing bonus of between $200 and $750 based on the number of hours they averaged during the last calendar year. There are also wage adjustments for some classifications, including pharmacy technicians, who will now earn a top rate of $15.90 per hour. Workers' premiums will go up with new premiums created under the contract, and Westfair Foods, which owns the Extra Foods chain, will increase its contributions to the union dental and pension plans. Effective September 1, all part-time union workers will be eligible for the union benefit package that includes programs for sick pay, and prescription drug and vision care. The union promised in a press release that "all union workers will see substantial improvements in scheduling," and that call-ins for extra shifts will be done according to seniority. The union also secured changes it had sought to the declaration of availability system. In addition, Westfair has agreed to create 30 new, full-time jobs for union workers at Extra Foods and Superstore locations in Manitoba by no later than August 1. Safety and health improvements include the purchase of cushioning mats for every store, to be used primarily by cashiers. The contract will remain in effect until September 30, 2008. The union and Westfair, based in Calgary, reached a tentative agreement on April 3, capping a week of marathon talks. The union had voted in favour of strike action if they did not like the company's offer.
