Workers at 15 Wing Moose Jaw reach 3-year agreement with Sodexo

PSAC and UNDE reached an agreement with Sodexo on Wednesday morning. (CTV News/Katy Syrota)

Support workers at Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with Sodexo after two weeks of strike action.

The workers are set to return to work on Thursday morning.

“It is a good day when workers’ rights are respected and members achieve fair wages and benefits,” said Marianne Hladun, regional executive vice-president for the Prairies with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) in an update on Wednesday.

“Credit belongs to the members who stood strong on the picket line and remained united throughout this process.”

The agreement includes a general economic wage increase of 12 per cent over three years, a signing bonus for full-time, part-time and casual employees, a $2 per hour allowance for members training new employees and cutting health benefit premiums from 50 per cent to 25 per cent.

Sodexo is subcontracted through Canadian Forces Base’s (also known as 15 Wing) primary contractor Canadian Aviation Electronics to provide food and janitorial services at 15 Wing.

Its employees are represented by PSAC and the Union of National Defence Employees (UNDE) Local 40807.

“Thank you to my fellow members, our union, and the community on and off the base at 15 Wing for their unwavering support throughout this strike,” said Cheryl Leonardo, president of PSAC/UNDE Local 40807.

“We forced a multinational corporation to listen. We showed that the people doing essential work on military bases deserve fair wages, dignity, and respect. This agreement did not happen because Sodexo suddenly chose fairness; it happened because we stood together and demanded change.”