The union representing more than 700 employees at Grand River Transit in Waterloo, Ont. has ratified a three-year collective agreement that includes benefits gains.

The agreement between Unifor and the transit company includes enhanced paramedical coverage, from $1,000 to $2,000 per employee per year, which covers chiropractors, naturopaths and acupuncturists. It also includes coverage for psychologists and psychotherapists, with the annual amount increased by $500 to a total of $1,000 per employee, as well as additional days for bereavement leave. Workers will receive a total wage increase of 11 per cent over the three-year term as well.

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In other news, the union representing more than 600 workers at seatbelt manufacturer TRQSS Inc. in Windsor, Ont. has ratified the employees’ first contract.

The agreement includes an additional annual paid holiday, three personal paid days off each year for all employees and company-paid prescription safety eye wear. The full cost of personal protective equipment will now be covered by the employer and workers will also receive a nine per cent wage increase, including an immediate four per cent rise.

“I am proud of TRQSS members and strongly believe this first agreement is a massive first step in the right direction,” said Dave Cassidy, Unifor Local 444 president, in a press release. “I would say the most crucial gain of this contract is that workers at this plant are no longer fighting for any single issue on their own.”

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