Tranquility Place Employees Unanimously Ratify Contract Providing Annual Wage Increases

Brantford, ON—The 56 employees of Tranquility Place, a retirement home in Brantford, unanimously ratified a three-year collective agreement providing them with annual wage increases and other improvements.

The employees, who work as resident attendants, RPNs, dietary and housekeeping staff, laundry aides, and cooks, are represented by Grand River Valley Health Care Workers Union, CLAC Local 305. The union has represented them since August 1992.

The new contract provides two percent per year wage increases over the term along with increases to weekend and night-shift premiums. Part-time employees in-lieu-of-benefits premium was increased to 8.5 percent. Also, the 15-year step increase was reduced to 2 years resulting in a 5 percent increase for more than half of employees. Life insurance pay out was increased by $5,000 and vision coverage increased to $350.

“Our biggest win was a negotiated agreement that sees the majority of members receiving an immediate five percent increase,” says Sonya Dean, CLAC representative. “Restructuring the grid has been a priority of the membership for the last few rounds of bargaining.”