Montreal – February 1, 2014 – UFCW Canada Local 1991P members working at the Résidence Nouvelle-Acadie retirement residence in the Montérégie region of Quebec have overwhelmingly ratified a first collective agreement.

The new three-year collective agreement runs until 2016. In addition to an immediate 9.16% salary increase, the CBA provides a 2.5% yearly increase for the term of the agreement, as well as a lump sum amount of up to 5% of the employee’s applicable wage rate, times the number of hours worked in the previous year.

Negotiations also resulted in the introduction of a special maternity leave if there is a risk of miscarriage or a health risk to the mother-to-be or the fetus which requires a medical leave. Moreover, employees who must appear in court before an administrative tribunal, or as part of an investigation of a work injury case, or an event which occurred at work or which involved the employer, are to be reimbursed by the employer for lost wages and expenses incurred in connection with their court appearance, except in a case where the employee faces criminal charges.

Other highlights of the agreement include:

• Addition of evening and night shift premiums;
• Addition of two floating holidays and one sick day;
• A third week of vacation for employees having four years of continuous service;
• Six days of union leave per year paid by the employer;
• Withdrawal of disciplinary measures after nine months;
• One hour of prep time before health and safety committee meetings.

“I wish to congratulate the members of the bargaining committee consisting of chief steward Mary-Pier Ducharme, union steward Kelly Joncas, and Local 1991P negotiator Sébastien Ricard for their excellent work. This first collective agreement with UFCW Canada improves wages and working conditions for the new union members at Résidence Nouvelle-Acadie,” said Mario Maisonneuve, president of UFCW Canada Local 1991P.