Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Village on the Thames Service Employees Unanimously Ratify Three-Year Contract

Chatham, ON—Service employees of Village on the Thames, a retirement home in Chatham, Ontario, unanimously ratified a three-year collective agreement providing them with annual wage increases and many other improvements.

The employees are represented by Southwestern Ontario Healthcare and Service Workers Union, CLAC Local 303. The union has represented them since 2011.

The new contract provides a 3.5 percent wage increase in the first year of the agreement. Three percent annual increases were negotiated for the remaining two years. In addition, the life insurance/AD&D payout increases from $20,000 to $30,000, vision coverage increases from $225 to $300 every two years, and the part-time in-lieu-of-benefits premium increases from 50 to 60 cents per hour. The shift premium increases from 30 to 40 cents per hour and a new 10-cent-per-hour weekend premium was negotiated. The new agreement also includes two new statutory holidays and improved contract language regarding temporary vacancies, job postings, and vacation usage.

“The unanimous support at ratification is a great testament to the work of the parties to reach a good voluntary settlement and of the ongoing positive labour relationship,” says Ryan Griffioen, CLAC representative. “We hope that the improvements to the collective agreement will help in the attraction and retention of good staff.”

Village on the Thames employs 25 Local 303 members working as unregulated care providers, PSWs, healthcare aides, cooks, dietary aides, and housekeeping and laundry staff.

Village on the Thames Service Employees Unanimously Ratify Three-Year Contract

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