Share
The 239 members of Local 414 have ratified a new three-year agreement with their foodservice employer Dexterra at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for fighting for a fair contract for our hospitality members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“We know a lot of our hard-working members in this industry struggle with affordability. Having an additional wage provision in the contract that addresses that adds an extra layer of protection for them.”
The new contract will expire Sept. 30, 2027.
The biggest gains of this new collective agreement include general wage increases and the maintenance of language that protects lower wage earners.
“Minimum wage plus” language means that members automatically receive an increase equal to any increase in the provincial minimum wage.
Local 414 President Gord Currie said keeping minimum wage plus language was a major challenge during these negotiations as the employer wanted to eliminate it, arguing workers would potentially receive two wage increases per year.
On Oct. 1, 2024 – the minimum wage was raised by 65 cents, so the members received a 40-cent negotiated increase, plus the 65-cent minimum wage raise, for a total of $1.05 for the first six months alone. Workers will receive another increase of 50 cents in March 2025 and further additional increases in years two and three.
“The gains made here at the bargaining table will definitely help bring a little more improved quality of life to the workers and their families,” said Currie.
The bargaining committee also successfully negotiated overtime eligibility at 40 hours instead of 44 hours.
The new contract boosts paramedical, with a flex plan, allowing members to allocate monies between the categories of chiropractor, massage and physiotherapy.
There are increases to co-pay for benefits, an extra paid sick day, reduced timeline for vacation, as well as four hours’ pay if the employer provides members with less than 24 hours’ notice of cancellation or change to schedule.
Unifor members in this unit work as general help, bakers and cooks in shipping and receiving and catering.
