New benefits now in place for Flour and Feed Mill workers.
The unionized team of the East Caribbean Flour Mill Ltd., (ECFML) will, as of Thursday May 11, receive new benefits under the new workers agreement following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the ECFM and the National Workers Movement (NWM).
This new document, signed at ECGC Headquarters by J. Robert Cato, CEO – East Caribbean Group of Companies, ECGC, NWM General Secretary, Noel Jackson and Labour Commissioner, Racquel Lawrence marks 30 years of Corporate and Trade Union partnership. As a result, the ECFM team now enjoys new benefits such as birthday leave, with an employee being eligible shall be granted leave to celebrate their birthday annually. Paternity leave is another benefit coming onstream becoming eligible for paid paternity leave for a period of three (3) consecutive weeks. The agreement also includes a raise in salaries and wages for the unionized team.
J. Robert Cato, CEO – ECGC, said: “We appreciate the harmonious relationship with the Union over the years and this new agreement is testament to the company continuing to create better working environments, which foster greater productivity and better work-life balance.”
Cato reiterated: “We the company will do whatever we can to ensure our teams are comfortable and empowered, as we strive to continue providing the best quality products for our community.”
Meanwhile, Noel Jackson, General Secretary of the NWM stated: “We are pleased to be here to sign this Collective Agreement, which represents weeks of discussion and negotiations. There is an established Industrial Relations between ECGC and the NWM that would have made it easier to reach this point. The Agreement is for a three-year period, and we look forward to continuing the relationship with ECGC.”
Labour Commissioner Raquel Lawrence congratulated the ECFML and the NWM stating that it is important to uphold the International Labour standard of Freedom of Association, Collective Bargaining, and Industrial Relations. She also mentioned that this is signatory to the United Nations goal of decent work for all employees and sustained and inclusive economic growth which drives progress and improves the standard of living.
Also present at the signing of the new Memorandum were Phyllis James, Head of People & Culture, Carolyn Nelson, People & Culture Business Partner, Jerese Howard, People & Culture Associate, Kenton Small, Chief Delegate and Dwayne Dennie and Kevin Mckie, Union Delegates.
The agreement was implemented from January 2022 and will be active until December 2024. The process of implementing the new agreement was delayed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.