It’s a YES! Indigo Chapters Coquitlam workers have ratified their first collective agreement.

After voting to join UFCW Local 247 last October and the many months of bargaining that followed, members attended ratification meetings on July 22 to vote on accepting the proposed collective agreement.

During the morning and evening meetings, our new members got the opportunity to hear details on what challenges the Bargaining Committee faced, as well as the achievements.

Negotiations were chaired by Director of Bargaining Dean Patriquin, with the support of Union Representative Johnny Khakh, and members Ariel Popil and Alex Johnson.

Some of the highlights include:

• Minimum wage increase protection and annual raises
• Seniority language 
• Scheduling language
• 18 hours of sick pay

“This first contract gives our members at Chapters Coquitlam better working conditions and access to representation that was not available before; a voice in the workplace” said President Goodman. “The bargaining committee did an outstanding job ensuring that the issues that led to this unionization were at the core of every article that was negotiated”

UFCW 247 and the Bargaining Committee appreciates all the support received from the community and from Indigo Chapter workers in Ontario whose workplaces have also recently ratified their very first Collective Agreements.

The term of the two-year agreement is from July 21, 2021 to May 31, 2023.

If you know of workers interested in joining our union, learn about the process and connect with us here.