Montreal – May 21, 2014 – UFCW Canada Local 500 (TUAC 500) members at Maxi Gatineau have achieved a new collective agreement. The new contract runs until August 30, 2020.

With respect to wage improvements, members who have worked at least 500 hours who were at the top of the wage scale receive a 2% wage increase. The wage scale for the general help category has been completely redefined, and any members in this category who temporarily works at a higher classification will be entitled to an hourly $0.75 bonus for every hour that is worked.

Enhanced benefits are include an increase in the employer’s contribution to the Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan (CCWIPP), from $0.55 for every hour worked by each employee, to $0.75 for the entire duration of the new collective agreement. With the recent merger of Local 486 with Local 500, the new collective agreement will also requires the employer to contribute $0.05 for every hour worked by each employee to the Fonds d’éducation des TUAC 500 (‘‘UFCW Canada Local 500 education fund’’). As for the probationary period, it has been reduced to 400 hours worked instead of 500.

The wage and benefits improvements were achieved without any concessions in exchange. Members will continue to receive night shift premiums, assistant manager premiums,and supervisor premiums; as well as their statutory holidays, and notices for regular employees who wish to become part-time employees.

‘‘We are proud of the fact that UFCW Canada members who used to be represented by Local 486 in the Outaouais Region have now achieved their first collective agreement as Local 500 members," says UFCW Canada Local 500 President Antonio Filato. The bargaining team did an excellent job on behalf of the new members. Through strategic collective bargaining, we were able to protect our members' jobs and also improve their working conditions.