NUPGE - Ontario’s liquor board employees have ratified their new collective agreement with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. The bargaining team, representing over 6,000 members, reached the settlement on June 24.
“This agreement protected the livelihoods of our permanent staff and made measurable gains for the majority of our members who are struggling to make ends meet as casuals,” said Bargaining Team Chair Vanda Klumper. “We achieved both of those goals, while at the same time preventing any takeaways from the employer.”
The four-year agreement includes a total wage increase of 7.75 per cent, along with an increase to full-time jobs and marked improvements for fixed term casuals, casual and seasonal employees. Permanent full-time employees also receive increased benefits and improvements to scheduling.
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), says he is pleased that the members have ratified, and praises the bargaining team for all their hard work.
“This campaign was all about good jobs for Ontario,” Thomas said. “Good jobs – not corporate profits – are the bedrock of our economy. This collective agreement goes a long way toward that objective.”
Details of the agreement are available here.