Agreement Reached to End Strike at Highbury Canco in Leamington
On March 7, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 175 reported that workers at Highbury Canco, a food processing and co-packing operation in Leamington which used to be owned by Heinz, ratified a new three-year collective agreement, ending a 23-day strike. UFCW represents the 430 workers employed at the plant who produce sauces, soups, beans, vinegar and other products and then packs them for large food monopolies like Heinz, Pepsi, Tim Hortons and others to be distributed under their brands. Highbury Canco took over the operation of the plant in 2015 with government support, requiring existing workers to re-apply for their jobs at $9 less per hour. This is the third contract negotiated since Highbury Canco took over ownership.
The new contract includes a flat-rate increase of $2 per hour wage in the first year of the contract and $0.70 per hour wage increase over last two years of the agreement in all job classifications. Maintenance workers will receive a flat-rate $2.50 per hour wage increase in the first year and $0.70 increase over the last two years of the agreement. There will be new shift premiums of $0.40 per hour for the afternoon shift and $0.75 for the midnight shift, wage protection if a worker is moved to a job at a lower classification, and a $450 ratification bonus, in lieu of retroactive pay to December 31, when the contract expired. UFCW also reports the contract includes pandemic language which establishes an additional $2.00 per hour if facility is declared to be under outbreak.
There is a five-minute increases to workers’ breaks and lunches and a boot allowance increase to $150 per year. The employer will increase its contributions by 0.25% to Registered Retirement Savings Plans, and increase long-term disability payments from $812 to $1200 per month. It will also increase its contribution to the Training and Education Fund annually from $1500 to $3000.
With files from UFCW175