General Manufacturing

The 55 members of Unifor Local 197, working at Jubilant Draximage in Montreal, accepted the tentative agreement recommended by the negotiating committee at a meeting held last week.

"The negotiation process was long, but the outcome is more than positive,” said Hugues Perreault, Unifor Quebec National Representative. “I would like to acknowledge the exemplary work of the union committee and the rigor they demonstrated throughout this round of negotiations.”

The eight members of Unifor Local 591G at Shorewood Packaging have struck a new four-year deal with their Scarborough, Ont. employer.

“The members who work at this shipping location should be proud of the big gains made in this agreement,” Burke Moffat, President of Local 591G.

“This was a strong agreement that would not have been possible without the ground support from members who attended meetings and made their voices heard along with the hard work and commitment of the bargaining committee.”

The 200 Unifor members at Post Foods in Niagara Falls, Ont. voted 84% in favour of a new three-year agreement on Jan. 14, 2023.

Key victories include a 12% wage increase over three years, with 6% in the first year, and 3% in the second and third year. Members have improved working conditions and work practices, including addressing unscheduled overtime procedure and new language where the company must fist contact the union prior to contracting out work.

Workers at Unifor Local 6006 won a number of significant gains with a new three-year contract with Commercial Bakeries Corp. in Toronto.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for negotiating a strong deal for Local 6006 members,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The biggest challenge was the difference in priorities between the committee and the company. The strength and solidarity of the union is what made it possible for workers’ needs to be addressed.”

Wages, an RRSP match program and improved benefits were among the gains in the latest contract from food services company, Aramark Canada Ltd., which was ratified by Unifor members on Oct. 22, 2022.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for negotiating the best deal for their members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The bargaining committee fought for our members tooth-and-nail down to the wire and were able to avoid a strike.”