Members of UFCW Local 501 who work at the Avril Distribution Center in the town of Granby in Quebec, Canada, recently ratified a first union contract. Avril is an independent Quebec-based supermarket chain and the workers are employed in the bulk, transport, warehouse and supplies departments; and as buyers; receiving and operations assistants; truck drivers; lift truck operators; production clerks; controllers; coordinators; day laborers; stock keepers; material handlers; pickers; receiving operators; and technicians.
The two-year contract marks a significant step forward for these workers in terms of wages and benefits, consolidating the gains made by the workers and introducing significant improvements to existing working conditions.
The contract provides for an average wage increase of 8 percent, applied retroactively to May 1, 2024, with the introduction of a 36-month progressive salary scale. In addition, wage increases of 2.5 percent went into effect on November 1, 2024, and will go into effect on November 1, 2025, respectively, guaranteeing continued improvement in financial conditions for UFCW Local 501 members.
In addition, employees will benefit from paid sick days, with the allocation of three days in 2024, and the addition of a fourth day in 2025 for those who have accumulated a certain seniority. The preservation of all special working conditions is also central to this agreement.
This first contract reflects the determination of these members and their commitment to establishing a respectful and advantageous working environment for all. “We are proud to see their efforts rewarded,” said UFCW Local 501 Negotiator André Gingras.