35 Bee Clean janitors at the Innio Waukesha plant in Welland, Ontario, and the Outlet Collection at Niagara in Niagara-on-the-Lake have joined SEIU Local 2.
“I am happy because we were taken into account,” said Beatriz Guevara, who has worked at Innio for about two years. “We didn’t have any benefits – only vacation days – but now it’s more complete compensation package. We are happy to have the opportunity to work full time, receive benefits, and over the years accumulating seniority.”
The mall workers who were making minimum wage ($17.20 per hour) immediately go up to at least $18.20 and look forward to an additional $1.50 per hour in raises over the next two years. The plant workers were earning higher wages, but no one will see an increase of less than 50 cents per hour. There are higher wages for day porters, lead hands, and working supervisors as well as a midnight shift premium.
Next October, the cleaners will be eligible for medical benefits, including dental coverage for themselves and their dependents.
In the third and last year of the collective agreement, the contributions to the workers pension plan begin.
Workers have also gained a paid personal day immediately, with a second day in year two of the agreement and four in the final year. Other improvements include vacation pay increases with accumulated years of service, paid bereavement leave, and more.
