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The new three-year agreement includes significant improvements to wages, benefits including vacation, health and safety language, a new grievance procedure, paid education leave, and new Women’s Advocate and Racial Justice Advocate positions.
“I’m incredibly proud of our members at Goodwill who ratified a strong first collective agreement,” says Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Workers at Goodwill are a force to be reckoned with. They joined Unifor for better pay, benefits, and to work together to address outstanding workplace issues like health and safety—and with the power of their union, they’ve done just that.”
The new agreement expires in September 2027.
“Through the hard work and dedication of the bargaining committee, we have negotiated an incredibly strong first contract that would normally take successive rounds of bargaining to achieve—Unifor Local 302 members at Goodwill have won job security, health and safety protections, increased wages, and improved language and securities,” says Unifor Local 302 Vice President Mary Rymal. “
The local union notes that this first round of negotiations was particularly unique as the employer is relatively new to negotiating with a labour union.
“Having a contract in writing between Unifor and Goodwill marks the start of an exciting new chapter for me and my colleagues. The union drive and then bargaining wasn’t without its challenges—but we all worked together, organized our workplace, and now we know we’ll never have to face these challenges alone. Our newfound unity and resulting contract are a testament that we are truly stronger together,” says Jeremy McNaughton, Goodwill worker and local bargaining unit chair.
Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.