Montreal – October 23, 2015 – UFCW Local 501 members at Alimentation Gauthier et Frères enr., an IGA grocery store in Grand-Mère, have overwhelmingly ratified a new collective agreement.

In addition to preserving all the terms of the previous contract, the more than 100 members who work in at the grocery store will receive a 14% wage increase throughout the term of the agreement. Regular workers will get two consecutive weekend days off every three weeks, and unused floating days will be convertible into cash. As well, the night premium will rise from $0.90 to $1.00 per hour and the premium for the manager’s assistant will go from $1.00 to $1.25 per hour in 2018. The new contract runs until 2022.

Among many other improvements, the members also achieved the following:

• a premium of $40 per week for acting managers;
• five weeks of vacation at 10% after 17 years instead of 18;
• an additional day for compassionate leave;
• an allowance of $85 instead of $75 for safety shoes, which will increase to $100 in 2020.

Furthermore, starting January 1, 2018, the 725-hour level in the current pay scale will fall to 700 hours for the first eight levels.

“We are very happy with this new agreement for our members in the Mauricie region,” says UFCW Local 501 President Alain Lachaîne. “They will retain their quality jobs and get better conditions, working in an atmosphere where their rights are respected, and their quality of life on the job is guaranteed. Congratulations!”