First Contract for Maple Leaf Members!

November 17, 2017, was a very exciting day for the Maple Leaf Foods bargaining committee members and Local 56 representatives as union members accepted the new collective agreement. We had begun contract negotiations over the summer, after the employees of Maple Leaf in Edmonton chose CLAC over UFCW. 

We had a very good experience as a bargaining committee working with CLAC and management. This was Maple Leaf’s first time dealing with a modern union such as CLAC, instead of a traditional union. On the first day of negotiations, our Local 56 representatives shared their thoughts on problem solving and interest-based bargaining with management, and we found that our management also believes in bargaining for mutual gain. 

In today’s competitive environment, the traditional adversarial union-management relationship needs to be replaced by a more collaborative approach to problem solving, known as interest-based bargaining, or mutual gain bargaining. This can benefit both parties by allowing companies to remain competitive and the union to remain relevant.

The bargaining committee members and CLAC representatives were able to achieve increased stability, skills upgrading, better benefits, a good pension plan, more guaranteed hours, wage increases, and much more. At the same time, management got more flexibility, which can help them to grow their business. 

We believe the company and employees will grow together in the right direction in the future. This is a win-win situation and choosing CLAC was a very good decision.

Contract Highlights

• 3-year contract 
• Improved language regarding job postings, layoffs, seniority, and general holidays
• Membership in the CLAC Service Benefits Plan, with long term disability coverage
• Opportunity to participate in the CLAC Pension Plan in 2018 
• Top-rated employees in all classifications receive a 50¢ increase in 2017, 45¢ in 2018, and 45¢ in 2019 
• Mid-grid employees receive increases of 35¢ in 2017, 30¢ in 2018, and 33¢  in 2019
• The start rate and wage grid were adjusted to reflect increases to minimum wage in 2018

“It was a good set of negotiations,” says Melanie St. Andrews, CLAC representative. “Throughout, we kept our focus on improving and protecting the collective agreement in the areas of job security, income stability, and plant seniority.”