The union representing nearly 125 workers at Community Living Dryden-Sioux Lookout in Ontario have ratified new three-year collective agreements that include pension and benefits gains.
The agreements include the implementation of the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology’s DBplus pension plan beginning in 2026. In addition, vision coverage will increase from $100 to $200 for part-time employees and from $300 to $400 for full-time employees, and eye exam coverage will go from $50 to $100. Heath-care spending accounts will increase from $350 to $450 for part-time workers and $500 to $600 for full-time workers.
Employees will also see wage increases totalling $2.10 per hour over the life of the contract and a signing bonus of up to $1,500 for full-time workers. Top wage rates will reach $37.95 by Sept. 1, 2027.
Read: Unifor, General Dynamics agreement includes pension, benefit gains
In other news, the union representing 174 workers at pharmaceutical firm Catalent in Strathroy, Ont. have ratified a new three-year collective agreement that includes benefits and pension gains.
The agreement includes an increase in vision coverage from $375 to $450 every 24 months. Coverage for physiotherapy, psychologists and psychotherapists is being added at $500 each and orthodontics coverage is increasing from $1,800 to a $2,500 maximum.
In addition, the employer’s monthly top-up for employees who qualify for long-term disability will increase from $250 to $350. Employees who have worked 21 years or longer will receive additional vacation days, and there will be wage increases of $2 in the first year and $1 in the second and third year.
In the third year of the agreement, employees will have the option of contributing up to four per cent to their defined contribution pension plan, an increase from 3.5 per cent, which the employer will match.
Read: GM, Unifor agreement includes transition to CAAT DBplus pension plan, benefits gains