Saint-Léonard, Que. – May 7, 2018 – UFCW Canada Local 500 members working at Longue Pointe Chrysler in Saint-Léonard, Quebec have ratified their first collective agreement. 

As part of the new contract, the dozen office workers are now members of the UFCW Quebec Dental Plan, and the employer will reimburse 80 percent of eligible dental costs. With respect to wages, the new agreement provides annual increases of 1.25 to 2 percent depending on job classification and seniority, as well as a retroactive increase that means wages will rise by a total of 3.25 to 7.96 percent over the term of the contract.

Other highlights of the agreement include:

• Work schedules will range between 24 to 40 hours per week, depending on the department;

• Workers can now exchange shifts within a department;

• Members can take a fifth week of vacation at 10 percent of the reference year earnings after 20 years of service; and this percentage rises to 11 percent after 25 years of service;

• Workers will receive vacation pay equal to what they would have received during the reference year if they were not on leave for maternity, disability, or illness; and

• Members will have 48 more hours of personal leave for full-time employees working 5 days a week, and 40 more hours for full-time employees working 4 days a week.

“I would like to congratulate the members at Longue Pointe Chysler on achieving their first contract,” says Antonio Filato, the President of UFCW Canada Local 500. “The new agreement provides stability and improved working conditions for members and we are very happy with the outcome of these negotiations,” he adds.