UFCW Canada Eastern Provinces Council Local 864 members working at Andritz Fabrics and Rolls have come to terms on a new four-year collective agreement bringing in several monetary gains, including wage increases, additional vacation time and improved working standards.
One of the largest gains will see the membership receive a 13.1 per cent compound wage increase over 4 years, including 5 per cent in year 1 and 2.5 per cent each year after.
Stronger wage reopener language was also implemented in the event of inflation above the wage increase.
Another massive win came following a decrease in necessary time for vacation entitlement, resulting in a quarter of the membership receiving an additional week of vacation in the first year.
Other monetary gains include an increase to pay parity for those working in specific departments, or anyone working in departments outside of their job classification, as well as wage premiums for workers capable of working in 2 or more departments.
In addition, restrictions were tightened on temporary assignments of job classifications to keep workers from being exploited.
A commitment from the company was also made to provide necessary equipment and tools and increases to allowances for non-provided equipment and tools.
Pension contributions were also raised to a maximum of 5 per cent, up from 4 per cent.
In order to explain all the gains made in this contract, time was added to the steward orientation to ensure an understanding of the union governance and the collective agreement.
The four-year contact is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2024, and will run until October 2028.
