Members of UE Local 203 at City Market/Onion River Co-op in Burlington Vermont, fought for and won a two-year agreement that fixed many wage inequities that had developed under the previous agreement. Average wage before negotiations for the 122 workers in the bargaining unit was $10.88. With no turnover, the average wage at the end of the two-year contract term will be $12.29.

Members attended negotiations, wore stickers and let management and shoppers know about the need to fix the previous pay system, in which some new employees made as much as $1.50 more per hour than more senior employees. Also under the previous system, employees who earned their step increase on their anniversary had to wait until July to see the increase in their pay.

Under the new contract, employees who achieve a anniversary step will receive the pay increase immediately. In the second year of the contract, members will receive a 3.5 percent increase, or the employee’s step, whichever is greater. Members pushed for and won hourly increases in the start rates for the first three pay grades of 25 cents, plus an additional step for employees with four years of service

A number of differentials were also increased including a new 75 cents hourly dishwashing differential, an increase in the third shift differential to 55 cents per hour this year and 65 cents next year, and an increase in the training differential to 75 cents an hour.

Other improvements holiday pay for employees who lose pay when the store is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas and shortened time for disciplinary notices to be considered. Members also kept their fully-paid single coverage health insurance during the two year contract.

The UE Local 203 negotiating committee consisted of local President Andrew Malcovsky, Chief Steward Jessica Morley, Financial Secretary David Anderson, Mary Manghis, Greg Goetch, Travis Tucker, and Travis Jewell. They were assisted by Field Organizer Heather Riemer.