A first collective agreement has just been signed at Fermes Lufa in Laval.
The United Food and Commercial Workers union, which organized these workers, reports that it took three years to develop this first collective agreement. The fact remains that drafting a first agreement is often a long process.
The union represents between 15 and 25 workers there, depending on the time of year, since the harvesting and replanting stages require more labor.
Workers adopted this first collective agreement by a “very large majority” during an assembly held earlier this month, said the TUAC union, affiliated with the FTQ.
The first collective agreement will be for a period of three years, retroactive to 1er last January. It provides for wage increases that the UFCW estimates at 10 to 21% for its members.
Among other things, greenhouse and harvester assistants will receive a salary ranging from $17 to $24.25 per hour and agronomist assistants from $24.80 to $30.50 per hour. A bonus is also provided upon signing the employment contract.
Asked to comment, Lufa Farms management did not go into detail about salaries. However, she confirmed the conclusion of this first collective agreement. “Yes, we have reached an agreement that provides the best possible working conditions in the greenhouse industry in Quebec, as we continue to build a better food system. »
The UFCW welcomes this. “I welcome this major step forward for the workers of Lufa in Laval. This agreement lays a good foundation for the current unionization campaign targeting all Lufa greenhouses and its distribution center. Together, we are writing the story of progress and justice for greenhouse workers,” commented the president of Local 501, Alain Lachaine.