There is no feeling quite like securing your first union contract.
This is the feeling currently being shared by 19 Membertou Public Works staff after ratifying their first collective agreement, ensuring wage increases, paid holidays and job protection.
The contract will give our members a lump sum increase of $5.50 to $11 per hour, depending on job classification, with a 3.25% increase in the second and third years of the contract.
Any members called into work on an off day will now also be required to be paid out a minimum of four hours straight time or 1.5 times actual time worked.
Overtime hours will also be paid out at 1.5 times following 40 hours worked, with protections surrounding those hours.
Protections include scheduling between April 1 to Nov. 11 to be Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day, and Nov. 12 to March 31 in a 24-hour daily work cycle, protected by 40 hours dispersed over 7 days a week.
These changes help members create a healthier work life balance while also ensuring all related work is completed in a timely manner.
Workers will also be supplied with safety clothing and footwear, and any damaged or worn-out clothing or footwear shall be returned to the employer for replacement.
Any employees in the mechanical department maintaining their own tools shall also be entitled to $800 per year for replacements and repairs.
These changes remove the burden on employees to pay for their work and put more money into the pockets of workers.
In terms of paid time off, employees won up to 16 paid holidays, 10 paid sick days – with the option to care over any five unused days year-to-year, five days for family-related leave, up to five days bereavement, as well as a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 25 vacation days.
At the time of certification, no employees will suffer from a loss of hours due to contracting out workers, and all seasonal employees were made permanent full-time staff.
Other improvements include a pension plan to be matched by the employer, a group medical plan at 50 per cent, and all job postings to be posted for a minimum of seven days before posting externally.
