Friday, December 6, 2019

Ontario Healthcare Ratifications

Winter 2020 newsletter

Chartwell Orchards Retirement Residence
Local 302 members employed by this retirement home in Vineland voted overwhelmingly in favour of ratifying their first collective agreement under new owner Chartwell. The 3-year agreement provides members with 6% wage increases, an additional wage bump for starting PSWs during probation, a weekend premium, and increases to vision benefits.

Maple City Residence Ltd.
Local 303 members employed by this retirement home in Chatham unanimously ratified a 3-year agreement providing them with wage increases of 6% over the term. In addition, it provides improvements to health benefits coverage, pension contributions, the weekend premium, and starting wage rates. Employees will also now benefit from a uniform allowance as well as improvements to contract language. Maple City Residence is a 52-bed assisted living facility in Chatham owned by Comfort of Living.

Revera Charlotte Villa Retirement Residence
Local 305 members employed by Charlotte Villa, in Brantford, unanimously ratified a new 4-year collective agreement. The new contract provides the 40 members with a 2%/yr. wage increase over the term. A key feature of the agreement is a change in definition for part-time employees from 45 hours to 30 hours worked biweekly. A large number of casual employees will be reclassified as a result, entitling them to pension, benefits, vacation pay, sick time, and more.

“Since we became the union at Charlotte Villa, we’ve been proposing changes to the definition of a part-time employee,” says Susan Siemens, Cambridge Member Centre regional director. “Relying on a predominantly casual workforce is an unsustainable staffing model. We’re thankful that Revera was a willing partner in that conversation during this round of bargaining, and we’re proud of the improvements we achieved for many of our members who can now access many benefits they couldn’t before.”

Strathcona Long Term Care
Local 304 members employed by this retirement home in Mount Forest overwhelmingly ratified a new 3-year agreement providing them with wage increases of 1.5%/yr. over the term, improvements to the vacation grid, a 25¢/hr. night-shift premium, and a 5¢/hr. weekend premium increase. For the first time, employees will have access to paramedical coverage for physiotherapy, chiropractic services, and massage therapy starting January 2021. The benefit covers up to $250/yr./practitioner. Local 304 has represented Strathcona employees for 35 years.

Ontario Healthcare Ratifications

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