Directions Newsletter Vol. I No. 9
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Engineered standards are a part of working life for many UFCW Canada members. Employers in many sectors, especially in warehouses, have bought into this trend of measuring workers’ movements in both time and motion, and then having supposed “experts” decide how a job will be done, and how much time will be allocated to it. There’s nothing new about time-and-motion or efficiency studies. Especially in industries where piecework has been the norm, both the employer’s engineers and the union’s engineers study how work is performed. The employer’s engineers examine procedures in order to maximize profit, while the union’s experts work on behalf of members to ensure that standards are set and enforced fairly. However, the current trend in engineered standards is setting dangerous precedents. An army of engineers has invaded warehouses across the country where UFCW Canada members are employed, and they are creating hopelessly unrealistic “standards” for members to try to follow. And if they can’t keep up, the consequences can be extreme – penalties, job loss, or even crippling injury. As UFCW Canada Local 1000A President Kevin Corporon recently pointed out, “While management may have the right to run the workplace, the union has the right and obligation to grieve their actions when they hurt workers or violate their rights.” The local grieved on behalf of warehouse workers at National Grocers and the intolerances of its “Workplace Management System”, or WMS. The result is a negotiated process for resolving problems, including the removal of previous discipline, back pay, interim reduced standards, joint ergonomics committees, independent ergonomist and engineering assessments, and comprehensive training in engineered standards for two union representatives so they can effectively monitor changes by company engineers. This is an important step forward. There is no doubt that improperly engineered standards are intolerable, and UFCW Canada will continue to fight on behalf of our members. UFCW Canada Local 393W members at Coca-Cola in Weston ON (Toronto) ended a three-week strike on August 8 with the ratification of a new contract. The 93 members gained improvements in wages, pensions, and life insurance, as well as in safety-shoe and tool allowances. They also won an extra paid holiday, new language regarding temporary hires, a new training initiative, and improved severance language. There is also a guarantee that 90% of workers will not be laid off during the agreement, provided they meet specific training and other criteria. More: Paul Magee, UFCW Canada national office Settlement at London cafeteria UFCW Canada Local 175 members in the Walfoods cafeteria at a GM Diesel plant in London ON ratified a new collective agreement on August 4. The 12 members won a wage increase of 30-cents retroactive to last May, plus additional raises of 35-cents in each of years two and three of the contract. Other gains include stronger language for grievance procedures and seniority, as well as increases in the employer contribution to dental, vision, and life insurance plans. More: Bob Linton, Kevin Shimmin, UFCW Canada Locals 175 and 633, www.ufcw175.com UFCW Canada Local 503 members at an IGA store in St-Apollinaire QC ended their two-week strike on August 2 with a new agreement. The 30 members gained wage increases of 3-8%, as well as a new UFCW Canada dental plan and improvements to the group insurance plan. More: Murielle Desjardins, UFCW Canada Local 503, www.tuac503.org UFCW Canada Local 175 members at Cancoil in Kingston ON ratified a new contract on August 12 which gives the 110 air-conditioning workers a wage increase of 55-cents over three years plus improved language. More: Bob Linton, Kevin Shimmin, UFCW Canada Locals 175 and 633, www.ufcw175.com Safeway Manitoba goes counter-ready About 180 UFCW Canada Local 832 members’ jobs are at stake as Canada Safeway has announced plans to begin contracting out the meat department work of meat cutters, meat wrappers, and department managers as of November 4, eventually eliminating in-store meat departments. A new Canada West Foods plant in St. Boniface MB (Winnipeg) will take on the work. Canada West also has plants in Innisfail AB and Chilliwack BC. Local 832 has announced it will not only seek to improve job-security provisions already in place for meat department members, but will also seek recognition for the eventual 170 workers to take over the work at Canada West. More: Don Keith, UFCW Local 832, www.ufcw832.com Superstore settles in Thunder Bay UFCW Canada Local 1000A members at The Real Canadian Superstore in Thunder Bay ON have ratified a new three-year agreement contract. In addition to various language improvements, the agreement provides the 260 workers with wage increases and major improvements to the progression. Full-time workers receive an added 50-cents in the first year, 25-cents in the third, with a lump-sum of $2,000 in the second. For part-time, wages go up 50-cents in the first and 25-cents in the second, with lump-sums contingent on hours worked in the third. In addition, progression rates are increased at all levels by as much as $1.00 per hour. More: Dan Gilbert, UFCW Canada Local 1000A UFCW Canada Local 864 members at the Serca Food Services warehouse in Lakeside NS – a division of food-retailing giant Sobey’s – signed a new agreement in late June providing them with annual increases of 2.5-3.5% in addition to a $100 signing bonus. There are also major improvements in benefits and training allowances, as well as in seniority and overtime provisions. More: Mark Dobson, UFCW Canada, Bedford NS Despite almost eight months of tense negotiations and a mid-May strike mandate, UFCW Canada Local 832 members at D. Cohn Trans Canada succeeded in ratifying a new agreement on July 18 that will see them through major workplace transitions. The key issue for the 60 fur workers was the company’s desire to switch from piecework rates to hourly wages. The employer’s original proposal would have meant reduced earnings for many workers, and lowered company contributions to the pension and benefits plans. While the new agreement makes the transition from piecework to wages, it will increase everyone’s income and provide a substantial retroactive payment to last December 1. There are also improvements in vacations and increased contributions to the employer-paid pension and benefits. Finally, the contract sets the standard workweek at 40 hours and restricts hiring until existing employees, based on seniority, are working 40 hours. More: Don Keith, UFCW Canada Local 832, www.ufcw832.com UFCW Canada has voiced its concern over the treatment of UFWA members trying to negotiate in California and Oregon at Pict-sweet Mushrooms. Major investor AERGON USA has been the subject of a letter-writing campaign, and UFCW Canada Director Michael Fraser has sent his message in support of the workers to the company’s CEO, Donald Shepard. “This is a campaign about the basic dignity of workers,” Fraser says. “We know first-hand what workers in the agricultural sector undergo, especially when their rights are denied. I urge all UFCW Canada locals to add their voice of support.” More: Bryan Neath, UFCW Canada national office, or Stan Raper, UFWA, 416.444.9209 The following change to the UFCW Canada national staff has been announced since the last report: Hired: David Hann, national representative, Atlantic provinces (effective August 19) Facts on File: Engineered standards
Sources: UFCW Canada Local 1000A, Applied Ergonomics magazine, NIOSH |