Springhill Farms UFCW Canada Local 832 members ratify new agreement

Members will see wage increases, pension stabilization
and protection for foreign workers

WINNIPEG, MAN. - Feb. 9/2010 -  UFCW local 832 members working at Springhill Farms in Neepawa, Manitoba have ratified a new five-year agreement that will see stabilization to their pension plan, increases to their wages, shift premiums, and important language for members working under the Foreign Worker Nominee Program.

Of the 500 members working at Springhill Farms, over 400 of them voted infavour of the new five- year agreement by 79 per cent.

"This is a strong contract for our members at Springhill Farms. We were able to negotiate the necessary money to help stabilize their pension, making sure they had wage increases in every year of the collective agreement. The members at Springhill Farms will remain the highest paid packinghouse workers in the province," stated UFCW Canada Local 832 Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Traeger.

Members under the 'Foreign Worker Nominee Program' now have contract language that states the company will now be responsible for processing all the necessary paperwork, provide translators whenever required by foreign workers and pay for the translation of the contract if there are more than 100 members whose first language is not English.

An expedited arbitration process has also been introduced for members under the 'Foreign Worker Program' if they have been terminated. These members will be allowed to stay in the province until the arbitrator's award is received. This is the second time that the union has been successful in negotiating this clause which has been garnering attention across Canada as an important piece of contract language to protect foreign workers.

Along with language improvements to the collective agreement, the company agreed to meet with the union to look at reclassification of the work that is being performed at Springhill Farms. This reclassification process will see further wage increases once completed.

All members will see wage increases of $1.30 to $2.10 over the life of the agreement along with increases to shift premiums, tool and boot allowance.

UFCW Canada Local 832 is Manitoba's largest private sector union representing over 15,000 people across the province.