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Workers at VPC in Toronto have ratified a new three-year collective agreement.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee,” sad Unifor National President Lana Payne. “This contract addresses gains in wages and pensions that will help create more stability for the lives of our members.”
Unifor Local 112, which represents 86 full-time members at VPC and 20 members on layoff, work as forklift operators, electricians, mechanics, general labour, press operators and in maintenance. The company makes Endy and Casper bed-in-a-box foam mattresses.
The new agreement includes a 12.5% wage increase over the life of the contract, with $1.10 raise in the first year, 80 cents in year two and 70 cents in year three.
Members will also receive 10 cents a year extra into the pension fund.
As part of negotiations, 18 retirement packages were offered to members 65 and older, which gives incentive for retirement to those members, creating opportunity for recall and potential new hires.
The biggest challenges during bargaining were that the company was hit with higher rent cost and the potential of tariffs with the incoming Donald Trump administration, as VPC does 65% of its business with the United States.
The new agreement will expire Nov. 7, 2027, with pay retroactive to November 2024.
"The committee was able to fight off all proposed concessions which included mandatory overtime and still come out with improvements on wages, pension and benefits," said Local 112 President John Turner.
