Montreal – September 5, 2013 – Food processing members in Montreal are celebrating the ratification of a new union contract that ensures a higher standard of living for employees and their families.

The new collective agreement between 130 UFCW Canada Local 500 members and their employer, Spécialités Prodal (1975) Inc., includes increases for all wage rates, allowing for general annual increases and indexed increases according to seniority. The new pay scale makes it possible for workers progressing through the wage grid to get two increases per year.

In addition to the wage increases, a daily bumping procedure has been added so that workers running out of work on a production line can work on another line at the plant for the rest of the day as long as they have the required seniority and can immediately perform the work.

Here are a few of the other improvements to the new union contract:

• Increase of all existing premiums (evening shift, night shift, lead hand 1, washer, etc.)

• New premium for trainer, lead hand 2 and shunt driver moving trucks on company premises

• New meal premium or the equivalent of one hour’s pay at time and a half for workers who are required to stay beyond a 9½ hour work shift to finish a production run or clean the equipment at the employer’s request

• Integration of four positions in a higher classification

• Addition of a fifth week of vacation for workers with 15 years of continuous service

• Vacation pay in lieu of vacation leave for workers with 7 and 12 years of continuous service

• Increased short-term disability benefits

• Increased employer’s contribution to group RRSP

• Improvement of numerous non-monetary clauses

“The workers at this food processing plant have every reason to be proud of the outcome of these negotiations which were conducted in a spirit of openness and cooperation. Furthermore, this agreement helps to strengthen 130 quality jobs while maintaining decent working conditions in the Bellechasse area,” says Local 500 President Antonio Filato.