Trophy Foods: Recommended Settlement Vote

Following the rejection of the Company’s final offer in January, your Union Negotiating Committee held discussions with the membership and conducted a survey to determine the views of the membership prior to taking any further steps in the bargaining process.

With the rejection of the final offer, the next step in the legal process is normally to make an application to the government to hold a strike vote and to begin preparations for a potential labour dispute.

Following the recommendation of the Mediator, your Union Negotiating Committee agreed to return to the bargaining table with the understanding that if we were able to get the Company to improve their offer, that it would be brought back to the membership for your consideration, but if the Company was unwilling to improve their offer, that we would be taking the appropriate steps to hold a strike vote.

On Apil 24, 2024, the parties resumed mediation. Through some difficult discussions with the government appointed Mediator, the Company made the decision to improve their offer in two ways.

• The 4% increase, originally meant to take effect on the date of ratification, would now be retroactive to March 1, 2024.
• Employees who have been with the Company for 10 years or more would receive an additional $500 lump sum payment.

The Mediator reviewed these improvements, along with the previous offer, and wrote his recommendations of settlement which included all terms and conditions from the previous offer being added to the current offer. This means that nothing has been removed from the previous offer.

While these improvements do not address every issue that was raised by the membership, it does represent an improvement, and as such we will be bringing it back to you for your consideration.

Here are some of the highlights:

• 4-year agreement expiring in February 2027
• Lump payments for 2023 of $2,500 and $3,000, depending on seniority, which equates to an average of 6.5%
• 8.6% increases to wages over the next 3 years (4% in 2024 retro to March 1, 2.4% in 2025 and 2.2% in 2026)
• Increased shift premiums (Afternoon shift – $0.60, Nights – $0.90)
• Increased vision care
• Introduction of massage benefits
• Increased boot allowance
• Increased tool allowance
• Improved health and safety language

While your Union Negotiating Committee understands that the expectations of the membership are high, we felt that it was important to bring the Mediator’s Recommended Settlement back to the membership for you to vote on. There are a number of improvements and additions to the contract that if accepted, would provide additional benefits and wages to employees right away.

If the membership chooses to reject the Mediator’s Recommended Settlement, your Union Negotiating Committee will have no choice but to hold a strike vote in the weeks to follow and a labour dispute would be a real possibility.

Please note the following dates and times for information meetings and voting times.

Question and answer meetings will be held at the Glenmore Inn and Convention Centre (1000 Glenmore Court SE) on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 11:00am.

In-person voting will be held at the plant on Monday, May 6, 2024, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm and again from 9:00pm to 9:30pm.

Online voting (for those unable to vote in person) will be conducted between 8:30am and 3:00pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

Please note, the Union utilizes an independent voting company to conduct the online votes and they require a valid email address to send a ballot and password too. If you are unsure if the Union has your correct email address, please contact the Union office to update your contact information.

This choice is an important one, and we encourage everyone to review the information and to vote.

UFCW 401’s Bargaining Committee: Devin Yeager (Lead Negotiator), Alain Mendoza (Union Representative), Teresa Ludwig (Union Representative), Danny Bloemendaal, Efenito Toledo, and Mario Tulagan

Click here to view a printable document that includes the Mediator’s Recommended Settlement.

Posted on: April 25,2024