Houston Rexall Drugs members ratify new contract (updated)

[img_assist|nid=3035|title=|desc=Dawn Hall (l) and Rosann Pedersen (r) of Rexall Drugs with UFCW 1518 Secretary Treasurer Frank Pozzobon.|link=none|align=right|width=240|height=153]

UFCW 1518 members employed at Rexall Drugs in Houston, B.C., today voted Sunday to accept terms for settlement of a new Collective Agreement.

The union's members established substantial improvements to wages, benefits, and contract language throughout the contract.

Highlights of the new 3-year agreement include:

• Wage increases of 3 percent each year for all members;
• Full retroactive pay for all members for the period from January 1, 2009 through Sunday after ratification of the new contract (September 20, 2009)
• Improvements to vacation language that will allow more members to receive full-time vacation rates -- a good improvement for all members.
• New vacation scheduling language that eliminates blackout periods for the month of November. Should vacation time become available between December 1st and 26th, it will be made available to members by seniority.
• Increase in premium for Cash Office to .70 cents per hour;
• Increase in premium for key holder to $1.00 per hour;
• Sick day accumulated for every 280 hours worked;
• Start rate goes to $10.20 an hour with wage scale to $16.02 per hour;
• Merchandise Clerks and Pharmacy Assistants wage range goes from $11.91 to $18.16 per hour.

The new contract is a three-year deal that will expires December 31, 2011.

"The Negotiating Committee did a very good job, and these are solid gains for our members in Houston," said Ivan Limpright, President of UFCW 1518. "With all the doom and gloom out there, it's good to see quality improvements to the contract for the members at Rexall in Houston. Congratulations to all involved on a job well done."

The Union Negotiating Committee is Dawn Hall and Rosann Pedersen, assisted by Frank Pozzobon, Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW 1518.