Ad agency staffers ratify 3-year deal
that brings financial security
Sault
Ste. Marie Typographical Union | CWA
Canada Local 30746
Members of a small bargaining unit
who work at Brooks Marketing Resources in Sault Ste.
Marie have ratified a new three-year collective agreement.
The deal, the third collective agreement for the seven-member
unit, includes improvements to vacations, mileage,
statutory holidays and wages.
Most important, for the first time ever, the company
agreed to establish a dollar-for-dollar matching RSP,
with a maximum contribution of $1,000 per year for
employees with five years seniority, in lieu of a pension
plan.
All but one employee will be able to participate in
that plan before the expiration of the agreement.
The company, a full-service advertising agency with
expertise in lottery, gaming and tourism industries,
does not currently have a pension plan.
“This is a very good agreement for these members
and it finally results in some financial security for
their future,” says Elaine Mills, president of
the Sault Ste. Marie Typographical Union, which also
represents workers at The Sault
Star.
“I think the employer finally understands that
a constant workforce is more beneficial than higher
turnover and these employees wanted something for their
future,” says Mills.
The deal ratified Tuesday provides
annual salary increases of 2.0, 2.5 and 2.5 per cent.
It also nets the employees a fifth week of vacation
after 15 years of service and adds family day to the
10 statutory holidays already listed in the agreement.
Mileage rates have also been increased to 42 cents
per kilometre from the existing 38 cents.
The union successfully resisted
the company’s
demand to reduce sick days to six from nine, says Mills.
The union did agree to a company proposal that requires
employees to submit time sheets on a daily basis, a
practice that has been somewhat ad-hoc in the past.