The union representing employees at Montreal-based Canadian Aviation Electronics Ltd. has ratified a five-year agreement that includes retirement and benefits gains.

The new agreement includes an early retirement program that allows employees to retire without penalty at the agreed upon time in the second and fourth year, starting at age 58 and meeting the factor of 90 (age plus years of service).

Read: Gesco, Unifor agreement includes retirement, paid leave gains

It also includes three days of domestic violence paid leave and more flexibility when taking personal leave days. Employees will also see salary increases of 6.5 per cent for 2023, four per cent for 2024 and three per cent per year for the following three years.

Unifor also ratified a four-year agreement for employees at Ontario-based paramedic service Ornge. All members and their eligible dependants will now be covered up to a maximum of $5,000 per calendar year — up from $500 — for mental-health treatments provided by a registered psychologist, psychotherapist or social worker.

The agreement also includes increases to annual coverage for chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage therapy ($900, up from $750) and vision care ($400, up from $300).

Read: WestJet, Unifor agreement includes pension, benefits gains

In other news, the Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System is amending its rules to provide paramedics the option of retiring at age 60 without having their pensions reduced.

Since paramedics are designated a public safety occupation under federal law, they’re eligible for earlier retirement options if their pension plan allows it. Before paramedics are able to access these provisions on earlier retirement, they’ll need to negotiate the change through local bargaining with their employers, according to a press release.

“A paramedic’s job takes a heavy toll on their physical and psychological health,” said JP Hornick, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, in the release. “For these workers, retiring early is often a matter of safety as well as fairness. This amendment shouldn’t have taken years, but now that it’s here, paramedics and their unions can move forward and build on this positive change.”

Read: Nav Canada, Unifor reach agreement with early retirement option, pay rise