UFCW Eastern Provinces Council Local 1288P members working at Covered Bridge Potato Chips have unanimously voted in favour to ratify a new collective agreement bringing in wage increases, paid sick days and improved cost-sharing for employee health benefits.  

 

The three-year deal contains a total salary increase of $3.30 for all employees across the agreement - with the majority paid out in year one - as well as the implementation of paid sick days, signing bonuses for all employees, as well as dual ticket wage premiums for workers with multiple red-seals. 

 

Any unclaimed sick days can also be rolled over into RRSP’s. 

 

Increases were also made to yearly work boot and clothing allowances, as well as a 15 per cent jump in employer cost sharing of employee health benefits.  

 

Vacation entitlement was also increased to offer longer tenured workers additional weeks off, and changes to bereavement clause to include more paid time off for the loss of a grandparent or grandchild.  

 

This is the fourth contract for this unit since 2016 with the ratification vote held in Woodstock, N.B. on Oct. 30. 

 

A more specific breakdown of contract highlights is as follows:  

 

- Implementation of three total paid sick days with RRSP rollover. 

 

- Increase to employer cost share of employee health benefits.  

 

- Both work boot and clothing allowance raised to $225 each 

 

- Introduction of wage premiums for dual red seal holders 

 

- Additional paid bereavement for loss of grandparent or grandchild 

 

- Signing bonus of $500 for all employees