Quebec City - July 5, 2017 – Members of UFCW Local 501 at the Bagel Maguire commercial bakery in Quebec City have overwhelmingly ratified a new collective agreement.

Members achieved wage increases ranging from 4% to 10%, with two increases each year giving workers at least 3% per year, thereby eliminating hourly progressions. They will no longer have their seniority calculated on the basis of accumulated hours. Instead, going forward, seniority will be based on the date of hire. Furthermore, job postings will now include positions of all types. Members also gained improvements on several other fronts, including:

• reduction in the length of the amnesty period, from 12 months to 9 months;

• enhancement of job security language;

• implementation of a time bank;

• addition of a fourth week of vacation for employees with 10 or more years of seniority;

• an annual allowance of $75 for the purchase of work boots;

• implementation of a group insurance plan with cost-sharing;

• employer contribution of $0.18 per hour worked, per employee, to the UFCW Quebec Trusteed Dental Plan.

“This new labour contract enables unionized employees to improve their work conditions. Once again, the bargaining committee has demonstrated our commitment to defending the quality of our members’ jobs!” says Daniel Nadeau, Local 501 Director for Eastern Quebec.