The union representing employees of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario has ratified a three-year collective agreement that includes multiple benefits gains, ending a two-week strike.
The agreement includes increases in coverage for mental-health services for up to 90 per cent of the total cost of the prescribed plan of treatment, to a combined annual maximum of $3,000 for permanent full-time employees as well as eligible seasonal and casual employees. Previously, the coverage was $50 per half hour of psychotherapy and testing and $35 for all other purposes.
In addition, casual staff will now be eligible for benefits if they worked 1,000 hours in the previous calendar year, down from 1,300 hours, and have five years of casual seniority.
Read: OPSEU, College Employer Council agreement includes medical cannabis, mental-health coverage
The agreement also includes an eight per cent wage increase over three years, the conversion of 1,000 casual employees to permanent part-time positions and no store closures over the course of the agreement.
In other news, the union representing more than 60 employees at GATX Rail Canada in Red Deer, Alta., has ratified a four-year collective agreement that includes pension and benefits gains.
The agreement includes an increase in the employer contribution for the pension plan, from $2.50 to $2.60, effective Jan. 9, 2027. While employees must join the pension plan, employee contributions are voluntary. In addition, short-term disability benefits will be calculated using 66 per cent of employees’ weekly salaries — which are going up by five per cent in the first year of the contract — plus $65, up from $40. The new contract contains wage increases totaling 14 per cent over the four-year period as well.
Read: Nestlé, Unifor agreement includes pension, benefits gains