Strathcona Long Term Care Employees Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract

Mount Forest, ON—Employees of Strathcona Long Term Care retirement home overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year collective agreement providing them with wage increases and other improvements.

The employees are represented by Health Care and Service Workers Union, CLAC Local 304. The local has represented the employees for 35 years.

The new contract includes wage increases of 1.5 percent per year over the term as well as improvements to the vacation grid, a night-shift premium of 25 cents per hour, and a 5 cents per hour increase to the weekend premium. 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 per practitioner per year.

“This bargaining unit has a long history of coming to a negotiated settlement, and this round was no different,” says Rob Cleveland, CLAC representative. “Our members on the bargaining committee did an outstanding job in representing their peers for better wages and benefits, as well as furthering the hopes of building a better and stronger workplace community.”