Penticton Members Win Improvements at Cherry Park Retirement Residence

UFCW 1518 members employed at Cherry Park Retirement Residence in Penticton voted to accept terms for a new collective agreement at a union meeting on April 3.

Cherry Park members had previously given their Union Negotiating Committee a 100% strike vote when negotiations became bogged down, and correspondingly voted 100% in favour of accepting the terms and ratify the new Collective Agreement.

“This is a very good agreement for our members at Cherry Park with substantial improvements, and I want to congratulate the members for what they’ve accomplished,” said Ivan Limpright, President of UFCW 1518.

“These improvements came about because the members at Cherry Park were willing to back their negotiating committee with a strong strike vote, and that was a key to getting the employer to agree to the contract improvements established in this deal,” he said.

Highlights of the 3-year agreement include: 

• wage increases for all members of 3.5% in the first year (retroactive to Aug. 1, 2009), 3.5% on Aug. 1, 2010, and 3.75% Aug. 1, 2011; 
• Cherry Park members will now belong to the UFCW Pension Plan, with the employer contributing 3% of earnings as of August 2010 and 3.5% in August 2011;
• Benefit qualifier reduced from 28 hours per week to 24 hours; 
• Clothing allowance of $ 50.00 per year; 
• Increase to vision allowance from $200 - $300; 
• An extra week of vacation after twelve years of service; 
• In addition to 10 stat holidays members currently receive, full time employees will receive an additional float holiday; 
• Employer will start making contributions to the UFCW education fund; 
• Sick leave benefit increase, and sick pay will now be shown on pay stubs; 
• New language guaranteeing minimum 4 hours pay;  
• New language for “Requested time off”;
• Pay for mandatory staff meetings; 
• “No harassment” language established; 
• Joint Labour Management committee to be established; 
• Employer withdrew their request to exclude cooks position from bargaining unit - cooks position will remain in the bargaining unit.

The Union Negotiating Committee is Donna Tremblay (Union Representative) and Marie Mackey.