Duncan, B.C. – September 6, 2017 – UFCW Canada Local 1518 members working at Buckerfield's in Duncan, British Columbia have overwhelmingly ratified a new collective agreement that brings wage increases, improved benefits, and more.

Founded in 1919, Buckerfield's is a retailer that sells a wide variety of home and garden, animal, pet, and farm items. The Duncan, B.C. location is the chain's only unionized store.

The new two-year deal contains a living wage scale – the first of its kind for UFCW Local 1518. Wages are determined by a regional calculation that assesses the amount of money a family of four needs to earn to meet their expenses. The living wage includes costs such as rent and groceries, as well as items like extended health care and two weeks' savings for each adult.

"It's extraordinary for an employer to research the living wage for their community and voluntarily rename the wage scale in the collective agreement as the 'living wage schedule'," says UFCW 1518 Director Kim Balmer. "In addition to a living wage scale, there are comprehensive health and welfare benefits, and the well-funded UFCW pension plan. For a small employer, it's unquestionably a good contract," Brother Balmer adds.

The bargaining committee consisted of UFCW Local 1518 member Rhonda Shrieber, Union Representative Kerry Brewster, and Director Kim Balmer.

UFCW Canada Local 1518 represents over 20,000 members working in a diverse range of industries, including retail food and industrial food processing, community health, seasonal agriculture, and professional services. To learn more about UFCW Local 1518, click here.