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Proposed deal includes long list of contract improvements
Ottawa (22 Nov. 2007) - The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) has negotiated a tentative agreement on behalf of casino employees at Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa.
Note: Ratification of the agreement was confirmed on Nov. 29.
The proposed agreement, retroactive to April 1 and running until March 31, 2009, includes the following:
- Effective immediately, and retroactive to April 1, 40 cents an hour is added to the existing job rate. This will mean a start rate of $15.36, $17.28 after 1,040 hours and $19.20 after 2,080 hours.
- Continuation of current language providing for the same incentive payments and hourly increases at the level paid to non-union employees on April 1, 2008.
- Incentive payment owed for fiscal 2006-07 will be paid.
- EMR Premium of $1 per hour for employees with certification and doing EMR duties.
- Limitation on the number of dual rate supervisors, equal to 15% of the bargaining unit work force numbers.
- Creation of employee advisory meetings to facilitate discussions between management and union on operational issues.
- Modification of grievance procedure to confirm that the union steward and OPSEU staff will have a role and voice in presenting grievances on behalf of members.
- Modifications to shift scheduling provisions to address various demands, including part-time scheduled days off, employee contact when schedules are changed or shifts become available, the use of adjustments, distribution of overtime and posting of draft schedules.
- Letter of understanding concerning scheduling and creation of committee to meet with management to address complexities, impacts and ways to adopt static or rotational 8-10 hour shifts while eliminating 12-hour shifts.
- Letter of intent concerning part-time scheduling.
- New provision for return to same rate of pay after recall.
- Improvements to bereavement, pregnancy-parental and personal leaves.
- Improvements to vacation leave and scheduling/picks.
- Two new religious holiday days: paid for full-time and unpaid for part-time.
- Improvements in dental, vision care, drug and health benefits; exploration of benefits of OPSEU Joint Trusteed Benefit Fund.
- Increase in safety footwear allowance to $110.
- New provision for payment where lunch is interrupted by employer.
- Commitment to adding Family Day to holiday list if Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) adopts it.
A ratification vote is scheduled Nov. 27. NUPGE