While CLAC trades down and settles for less, CUPE is leading the way in the Retirement Home Sector. CUPE sets the standard for long term care bargaining, with 3.5% standard wage increases year over year, and benefits that other unions try to match. CUPE is always pushing for real improvements for our members.
Here is a comparison of between the unions at Lynwood Park and Valley Steam Manor. You’ll notice that CUPE outpaces many of CLAC’s
| Benefits | Valley Stream Manor CUPE 4000 |
Lynwood Park
CLAC |
| Certification | 2012-12-17 | 2004-11-17 |
| Expiry | 2026-12-31 | 2026-03-31 |
| Location | Nepean | Nepean |
| Dental | Employer 80% | Employer 60% |
| EHC | 75% full-time, 50% part-time | 90% full-time, 50% part-time |
| Holidays | 10 fixed, 1 float | 10 fixed, 2 floats |
| Life Insurance | $20,000.00 | $30,000.00 |
| Paramedical | $300.00/year/practitioner | Not in C.A. |
| Part-time Benefits | Pro-rata, 4% in lieu, 4 sick days/year | 8% in lieu |
| Pension | NHRIPP (8%) | CLAC (8%) |
| Shift Premium | $0.70/hour (3rd) | $0.50/hour (3rd) |
| Sick Leave | 12 days/year | 12 days/year |
| Uniforms | $130.00/year (all) | $160.00/year full-time,
$100.00/year part-time |
| Vacation | 2 / 1 year, 3 / 4 years,
4 after 10 years, 5 / 15 years, 6 / 25 years |
2 / start, 3 / 3 years,
4 / 9 years, 5 / 15 years, 6 / 20 years |
| Vision | $300.00/24 months | $300.00/24 months |
| Weekend Premium | $0.10/hour | $0.10/hour |
| WSIB Reference | Art. 18.02 | None. Private Insurance.
|
Now let’s compare wages:
| Job Classification | CUPE top rate per hour | CLAC top rate per hour |
| Cook
Cook 2 Dietary Environmental Services Laundry Housekeeping Life Enrichment PSW Reception RPN UCP |
$27.01
N/A $20.41 $26.19 $21.95 $21.95 $23.65 $22.80 $21.95 $34.61 $27.01 |
$26.11
$23.55 $22.13 $24.75 $22.13 $22.13 $22.98 $22.85 $22.13 $29.55 $24.54 |
The CUPE collective agreement at Valley Stream Manor is STRONGER than the CLAC agreement at Lynwood, despite the CUPE local being nearly 10 years younger than the CLAC local.
With CUPE, you pay less and get more, faster.
What about Pensions?
CUPE has the best pensions for Long Term Care Workers
Our members have the benefit of belonging to the Nursing Homes & Related Industries Pension Plan (NHRIPP). This plan leaves workers confident that their retirement is secure. CLAC offers workers a much worse deal, with many weak points in comparison to NHRIPP.
- NHRIPP is trusted by Canada’s leading health care unions. Other professionals in this space agree that it is a safe and robust pension for their workers.
- Targeted Benefit Plans are far superior to “defined contribution plans”, which rely on how well you invest your money. Don’t gamble with your future.
- Risk is far lower with NHRIPP. Your retirement fund shares investment risk with more than 90,000 other plan members. With CLAC, you’re on your own.
- NHRIPP is very large, with an asset base of over $3 billion.