Workers at leading Canadian express provider Purolator have overwhelmingly approved a newfive-year collective agreement.
The tentative agreement between the company and the Teamsters Union, representing nearly 10,000staff, had already been approved unanimously by the union negotiating committee at the conclusionof contract talks on November 11.
The voting on the new agreement took place electronically from December 2 through to December 8and was ratified overwhelmingly by 92% of the Teamsters’ members working at Purolator locationsthroughout the country.
“We are extremely pleased with the ratification of the agreement between Purolator and theTeamsters’ Union and the strength of the vote”, stated Tom Schmitt, Purolator’s President and CEO.“This long-term agreement demonstrates the strength of our relationship with our unionisedteammates and marks an important step forward for our company and customers.”
Separately, Purolator announced a three-year extension of its partnership with the CanadianFootball League to support the very successful Purolator Tackle Hunger programme, which hasdelivered 4.5 million pounds of food to Canadian food banks since 2003.
At one game in every CFL city each season, fans drop off non-perishable food items or a cashdonation to Purolator employees and food bank volunteers, and receive an opportunity to have theirphoto taken with the Grey Cup. And every time a quarterback is sacked in a CFL regular season game,Purolator donates the equivalent of the quarterback’s weight in food to the local food bank. Fanscan also make donation by mobile phones, and Purolator employees and customers hold their own fooddrives. In 2011, The Purolator Tackle Hunger programme delivered over 800,000 pounds of food whichrepresents a 15% increase from last year.
“This relationship has made it possible for us to help Canadian families in need in thecommunities where we live, work and play. At the same time we have actively involved our customerswhich has enabled us to strengthen our relationships and grow our business,” Schmitt said.
