Gatineau, Que. – July 28, 2018 – UFCW Local 500 members working at Maxi Vanier in Gatineau, Quebec have recently achieved a new collective agreement that brings wage increases, changes to contract language and more.

The agreement runs to 2025 and covers over 60 workers at the supermarket. Members will receive a 2% increase across the board. As well, the employer has agreed to start contributing to the QFL Solidarity Fund in 2020.

Other improvements to the collective agreement include:

• The creation of six new regular positions;

• night premiums raised to $0.95/hour; increasing to $1/hour in June 2019;

• four more hours of casual leave in 2020, 2022, 2025 and 2025, for a total of 56 hours;

• the introduction of a letter of intent to protect student workers who cannot work the minimum number of hours.

The bargaining process was a positive one as both the union and employer focused on solutions. Antonio Filato, President of UFCW 500, stressed the hard work and professionalism of the representatives on both sides during the bargaining sessions.