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Members of Unifor Local 636 at Woodingford Lodge have ratified a new three-year collective agreement that delivers wage increases, benefit improvements and long-awaited scheduling changes aimed at improving work-life balance for workers.
“The quality of care residents receive is directly connected to the quality of working conditions for the people providing that care,” said Lana Payne. “This agreement recognizes that reality by improving wages, benefits and scheduling practices that help recruit and retain skilled workers.”
The agreement covers a wide range of workers at Woodingford Lodge's long term care homes in Woodstock, Ingersoll and Tillsonburg. The new contract runs from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028.
"Long-term care workers deserve fair compensation, quality benefits and schedules that allow them to balance the demands of work and family life," said Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi. "This agreement delivers meaningful gains while supporting the stability and consistency that residents, families and caregivers rely on every day."
The agreement includes wage increases of 3% in each year of the contract, retroactive to January 1, 2026, along with improvements to vision care, mental health coverage, chiropractic and massage benefits, hearing aid coverage, orthodontics and other health benefits. The agreement also includes increases to shift premiums, uniform allowances and paid education leave funding.
A key achievement of bargaining was the development of a new scheduling model that provides greater consistency for full-time and part-time employees, establishes clearer processes for requesting time off, and creates more predictable schedules across departments.
"Our bargaining committee was focused on addressing members' priorities, particularly the need for a fairer and more predictable scheduling system," said Unifor Local 636 President Brent Thompson. “We're proud to have achieved a new scheduling model alongside strong wage and benefit improvements that will make a real difference for our members."
The bargaining unit includes personal support workers, personal support worker aides, registered practical nurses, recreation aides and recreation helpers, food service workers, cooks, housekeeping and laundry aides, lead hands, maintenance workers, maintenance lead hands, and specialized nursing positions including IPAC, RAI and Transitions RPNs.
Unifor represents more than 35,000 health care and social services workers across Canada, including those in hospitals, long-term care, retirement homes, home care and community services.
