Chicoutimi, Que. – January 29, 2018 – UFCW Canada Local 501 members working at Rona in Chicoutimi, Quebec have recently achieved a new collective agreement.

The new five-year agreement covers over 90 workers at the hardware store located in Quebec’s Saguenay region. Workers will receive an 8.75% increase in wages throughout the contract’s duration. As well, maintenance workers at the top of the wage scale will also receive a 0.5% lump sum.

The contract also provides the following benefits:

• Improvements to statutory holidays and floating holidays, including an additional half-day;

• Language improvements regarding sick leave days;

• Improved night shift premium of $0.25/hour;

• Guaranteed minimum number of positions for regular employees, including the addition of eight new positions;

• The addition of a fifth week of vacation after 20 years of seniority.

“The bargaining committee members have to be commended for their excellent work at the bargaining table,” says Daniel Nadeau, Local 501 Director for Eastern Quebec. “The signing of this union contract shows our commitment to advocate firmly for the interests of workers in the retail sector and to help them improve their working conditions.”