Richardson Oilseed: Improved Offer
Following the 80% rejection of the companies last offer, Richardson Oilseed has enhanced its offer of settlement. The negotiating committee fully endorses this contract offer.
Late in the day, Friday, January 21, 2022, your Union made a counter settlement offer. This proposal moved money the Company had intended to be in the later years of the contract into the retro period. As you will see in the offer (linked here), the Company has moved some money around and increased the overall monetary settlement.
“By moving the money earlier in the contract, the negotiating committee was able to put more money in the membership pockets sooner,” said Chris O’Halloran, Executive Director. “We had heard that the membership wanted to see 3% raises, and the company had offered them, but we wanted the money earlier in the CBA.”
The Companies offer of settlement included the rights and contract language improvements previously negotiated and presented to the membership. The Company has offered an additional 1.75% increase in the first three years of the contract (the retroactive period) and an additional year at 2.5% at the end of the contract. Here are the changes to the wage offer:
| Year of CBA | First Offer of Settlement | Second Offer of Settlement | Increase |
| Sept 1, 2019 | 2% | 2.25% | 0.25% |
| Sept 1, 2020 | 2% | 2.75% | 0.75% |
| Sept 1, 2021 | 2.25% | 3% | 0.75% |
| Sept 1, 2022 | 2.5% | 2.5% | Same |
| Sept 1, 2023 | 2.5% | 2.5% | Same |
| Sept 1, 2024 | 2.5% | 2.5% | An additional year in this second offer |
The Company shifted the pension increase to the end of the contract and is now staggering the increase to the Shift Premium at article 18 (a) as follows:
- September 1, 2022, increase to $0.95
- September 1, 2023, increase to $1.00
- September 1, 2024, increase to $1.05
“We were also able to negotiate an improvement for the members progressing from Operator 6 through 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 up to Operator 5,” continued O’Halloran. “This is an important improvement that will allow members to move up pay classification automatically to start and faster throughout.”
You can view the complete offer of settlement at the link above.
The membership will vote to accept or reject the Company’s offer the same way they did previously.
Step One
In-person vote February 1, 2022, from 7 am to 7 pm at the Holiday Inn Express, 217 41st Street SE, Lethbridge.
Step Two
Online February 2, 2022, from 12:01am to 11:59pm. You will receive an email to the email the Union has on file. Please let Bill know if you need to update your email bbennett@ufcw401.ab.ca.
Count
The votes will be counted on February 3, 2022, at the Union office.
The question on the ballot will be:
- I accept the Company offer
- I reject the Company offer
If the offer is rejected, we will proceed with the next steps towards a strike vote.
If you have any questions, you can contact Bill at 403-793-5991 or Chris at 587-999-6448.
We will also be holding a Zoom ratification meeting 7 pm, Thursday, January 28, 2022, to review the company offer and answer questions.
In Solidarity,
Your UFCW Local 401 Negotiations Committee
Posted on: January 25,2022