(Montreal) Due to the shortage of workers, salaries have just risen markedly for union members at Olymel. Other working conditions have also been improved.
Updated yesterday at 3:41 p.m.
The members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (TUAC), affiliated with the FTQ, in the Yamachiche and Saint-Esprit plants, have in fact just endorsed, in respective proportions of 94% and 90, 5% the two agreements in principle that were reached following the reopening of the collective agreements.
The starting salary has thus been increased from $17.35 at Saint-Esprit last May to $20.50 an hour. In Yamachiche, it goes from the $17.85 it was in 2020 to $20.50 per hour.
And after four months, the salary is increased to nearly $23 an hour. Previously, the worker had to wait three years before climbing to the second level.
For those who occupy the position of deboner, the salary even increases to $25.20 per hour.
It is important to note that the minimum wage is currently $13.50 in Quebec.
“On the market, this is the best collective agreement in the slaughtering sector,” says Roxane Larouche, spokesperson for the UFCW union.
She also reports that several bonuses have been increased. The evening premium thus goes from 60 cents to $2 per hour. The trainer premium goes from 75 cents to $1.75 per hour.
Improvements have also been made to the pension plan, as well as to group insurance.
Olymel management has confirmed the significant improvement in working conditions, caused by the difficulties in recruiting workers, in addition to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have effectively raised the working conditions and remuneration, so as to be able to attract employees and retain our employees as well,” explained the head of corporate communications at Olymel, Richard Vigneault.
He pointed out that Olymel is even offering a bonus for doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The large company in the agri-food sector is seeking to recruit no less than 3,000 employees in Canada.