Kitchener and Cambridge, Ont. – October 26, 2018 – UFCW Canada Local 175 members working at Paramed Home Health Care have achieved their first collective agreement.

The three-year contract covers 90 full-time and 82 part-time Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) at two Paramed locations in Kitchener and Cambridge, Ontario.

Among the improvements to the working conditions, the employees will benefit from scheduling based on seniority. As well, the members now have a grievance and arbitration procedure to enforce their rights and the provisions of their agreement.

RPNs will receive an initial wage increase of up to 70 cents per hour. Raises for RPNs will total up to $2.10 per hour over the duration of the contract. RNs will receive up to $1.10 per hour initially, and up to $3.30 per hour over the term of the deal.

Employees will also benefit from improved vacation entitlement of up to five weeks, which will be paid at 10 percent.

In addition, the nurses at Paramed can choose between three health care benefit plans.

The Local Union would like to congratulate members at Paramed on achieving their first agreement. Special thanks goes out to the members of the Union Negotiating Committee, which included Debbie Charon, Ashley Haelzle, Tracey Killingbeck, Glenda McKenzie, and UFCW 175 Union Representative Steve Springall.

UFCW Canada Locals 175 & 633 represent more than 70,000 hard-working Ontarians in almost every sector of the economy. To learn more about UFCW 175 & 633, visit their website.