Saint-Narcisse, Quebec – December 5, 2016 — UFCW Canada Local 500 members working at the Sealy Canada mattress manufacturing plant in Saint-Narcisse, Quebec have ratified a new collective agreement. The ratification is conditional on a change to the insurance policy that provides long-term salary insurance to members. Under the new contract, the union will become a co-holder of the insurance policy.

As part of the new agreement, the Sealy members will receive a signing bonus of $150. Workers who earn incentive pay will receive increases of $0.15 per hour in December 2016 and $0.25 per hour in 2017 and 2018. Other workers will receive an extra $0.30 per hour in December 2016 and $0.35 per hour in 2017 and 2018.

Additional highlights of the contract include:

• Loaders will go from Class 1 to Class 3 employees;

• Members will enjoy better terms for vacation selection;

• The employer’s contribution to the UFCW dental care plan will rise from $0.17 to $0.18 per hour worked;

• The safety shoe allowance will rise from $100 to $115 over the course of the agreement; and 

• The night bonus will increase.

“We are delighted that this collective agreement has been ratified,” says Antonio Filato, the President of UFCW Canada Local 500. “I would like to congratulate the bargaining committee, who worked so hard to improve the members’ working conditions, even though the economic climate is rather difficult right now,” he adds.