Members at CMS Gas Bars ratify a new contract
CMS Gas Bar members have voted 72% in favour of the company offer, thereby ratifying a new contract. The new contract will see members receiving a 20% wage increase over the next 2 years.
“I did not recommend this offer and, frankly, I see it as a mixed bag. Certainly, it is encouraging to see wage increases of 10% coming in for our members,” said UFCW Local 401 President Thomas Hesse. “Everyone is struggling with the affordability crisis right now and a wage increase of 20% over two years will help even if it does not go far enough.”
“Ultimately, the members decided that this offer was good enough to accept and I respect their decision,” continued Hesse. Members will also receive improvements around:
- Union representation
- Probationary period language
- Increase to Management Relief Premium
- Increase to Bereavement Leave
- Improvements to cold weather clothing language, anti-fatigue mats language, heating in gas bars, customer abuse language, and sick notes language
- New Transfer language
- New Employee Rights Language
“We are happy to see CMS Gas Bar members getting some of the recognition they deserve for their hard work.” said Executive Director for UFCW Local 401 Chris O’Halloran. “When members are facing the rising cost of living that we are currently seeing, every improvement we can win for them helps and they deserve all the fight we have to offer.”
“Our members need to know they are part of a fighting union,” added Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart. “We’ll keep pushing to get our members every win we can during this affordability crisis. 10% increases are a starting point in bargaining. But whether they are the ending point and good enough to settle a deal is up to the members to decide, and we’ll have their back on that decision.”
Members should expect to receive their retroactive pay and wage increase for the October 10, 2024, pay period.
Questions about the new contract can be directed to Sandy Harmeson at sharmeson@ufcw401.ab.ca, Abdi Guled at aguled@ufcw401.ab.ca, or Chris O’Halloran at cohalloran@ufcw401.ab.ca.
Posted on: September 14,2024