Over 11,000 members at 63 Zehrs and Loblaws GFS and Real Canadian Superstores ratify substantial improvements in new agreement

Background

The Union had filed grievances with the employer to protect members' rights with regard to how changes in Bill 148, introduced in 2017, affected the agreement in terms of minimum wage and Paid Emergency Leave days. As a result, rates of pay increased for part-time end-rated employees at RCSS and GFS stores.

At the same time, UFCW Local 1006A pursued similar grievances to the arbitration stage. As the parties moved slowly through arbitration, and with some direction from the arbitrator, UFCW 1006A agreed to begin talks with the employer to amend their agreement. Ultimately, Loblaws and Local 1006A reached an agreement which their members ratified in November 2019.

The employer then approached our Local Union to discuss amendments to the existing agreement, which was set to expire on July 1, 2021. The Union made the decision, which your Loblaw Union Executive Board endorsed, to go ahead with similar discussions to achieve good improvements for the membership. A posting went to all affected stores in November notifying members of these talks.

The Union met with the employer over a number of days in the last several months and came to a recommended settlement.

The Loblaw Union Executive Board reviewed and endorsed the agreement. Because of these early talks, the Union was able to secure millions of dollars in improvements that go beyond what was provided for in the existing agreement. In addition, the Union achieved further improvements for members that will roll out over the three-year extension. The new agreement now expires on July 1, 2024.

With more than $15 million in improvements over and above the existing agreement, the deal for GFS and RCSS members achieved good wage increases, job assurance for all full-time workers, and a significantly shorter time frame for current and future part-time employees to reach top rate.

Part-Time Improvements

RCSS/GFS part-time employees hired prior to June 12, 1994 will receive raises totalling $2.10/hour over the term of the agreement.

- An increase of 65 cents/hour as of ratification paid retroactively for all hours worked since November 3, 2019;

- 22 cents/hour paid retroactively for hours worked from January 1, 2018 and November 2, 2019;

- An increase of 30 cents/hour as of June 28, 2020; then increases of 35 cents in 2021; 40 cents in 2022; and, 40 cents in 2023.

RCSS/GFS part-time employees hired prior to July 9, 2015 who are at the end rate will receive raises totalling $1.85/hour over the term of the agreement.

- An increase of 40 cents/hour as of ratification paid retroactively for all hours worked since November 3, 2019;

- 22 cents/hour paid retroactively for hours worked from January 1, 2018 and November 2, 2019;

- An increase of 30 cents/hour as of June 28, 2020; then increases of 35 cents in 2021; 40 cents in 2022; and, 40 cents in 2023.

RCSS/GFS part-time employees hired after July 9, 2015 will move to a significantly improved new wage grid. To reach top rate now, employees require only 4501 hours instead of the 6501 hours needed before, meaning it will take a lot less time for part-time employees to reach end rate.

- Employees currently between 4501 and 6500 hours will move to the top of the wage grid and see immediate increases of between $1.25 and $1.75/hour. Plus, that increase will be paid retroactively for hours worked since November 3, 2019.

- Employees with less than 4501 hours will be mapped onto the new grid where all rates stay ahead of minimum wage. Initial increases will be between 5 and 90 cents/hour. Those increases will apply retroactively for hours worked since November 3, 2019.

- This group of employees benefit from reduced time needed to qualify for top rate going forward as well as the larger amounts of money available at each level. Once reached, these employees will see an hourly rate of minimum wage plus $2.25.

GFS part-time employees who Maintain Economics will receive a total wage increase over the term of the agreement of $1.45 per hour.

- An increase of 30 cents as of June 28, 2020;

- 22 cents/hour paid retroactively for hours worked between January 1, 2018 and November 2, 2019;

- Subsequent increases over the remaining term of the agreement will be 35 cents in 2021; 40 cents in 2022; and, 40 cents in 2023.

Part-time employees hired prior to July 9, 2015 who are at or above top rate will benefit from an additional protection: Should the Ontario government increase minimum wage in excess of negotiated wage increases, the employer will add the difference to the employees’ rate.

Part-time employees may now opt to receive cross-training within their store. This is strictly voluntary and those who participate will receive cross-training in accordance with seniority. This provision gives employees the opportunity to gain hours and build skills in other departments for future full-time job postings.

In addition, part-timers may also achieve more hours going forward through the Shift Marketplace App, scheduled to roll out in late 2020/ early 2021. Through this app, employees will see if the employer has more hours than employees available to fill shifts across stores in their area. Employees with the skill and ability can pick up those shifts on a first-come first-serve basis.

The employer will also work toward enabling their systems and procedures to allow part-time employees to gain additional hours by being hired at two corporate stores. This will allow those workers to access more work and proceed through the progression grid faster as well.

Full-time Improvements

The full-time wage grid contains significant improvements overall. For example: The 12-month Clerk rate went from $15/hour to $19/hour. That’s equal to $160 more per week for full-time clerks who have reached the 12-month rate.

- All full-time employees will get a lump sum signing bonus of $1,000 as of ratification.

- Unionized Department Managers receive the following:

» 65 cents/hour on June 28, 2020;

» Further increases totalling $1.45/hour over the remaining agreement term.

- Full-time employees receive a total of $1.60/hour over the life of the agreement. This is the largest rate increase over the shortest amount of time in the last 15 years for these members:

» 40 cents/hour on June 28, 2020.

» Further increases totalling $1.20/hour over the remaining term of the agreement.

The Union secured personal job assurance for all full-time employees on the payroll as of ratification. This protects another 339 full-time employees in addition to the 1491 protected by previous agreements. In total, this agreement extends job protection to a total of 1830 full-time employees.

Full-time employees as of the date of ratification may now opt to be scheduled in more than one department on a voluntary basis. These shifts will be identified and offered by the employer to the members who opt-in. This provision gives employees the opportunity to expand their skill set and successfully qualify for various job postings in the future.