Unionized workers at Ryder Integrated Logistics’ warehouse in Caledon, Ont., can spend a new $250 uniform allowance on any CSA-approved footwear or winter gear, according to a ruling by an arbitrator.
The dispute between Ryder and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada arose after a $125 annual safety shoe allowance was replaced with a $250 “uniform allowance.”
In the 2023 negotiations, the union sought to increase the existing boot allowance to $250 and introduce a clothing allowance for winter gear. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), signed on June 20, 2023, included these terms, but the specifics of the allowance became a point of contention.
Ryder, known for providing a $125 annual allowance for safety shoes, had agreed during negotiations to increase this to $250, renaming it the “uniform allowance.” However, the company later attempted to restrict the allowance to a list of specific items, a move the union challenged.
Testimonies from both parties’ representatives were examined, focusing on the details of the bargaining session and subsequent communications. The union maintained that the allowance should not be restricted and employees should have the freedom to choose how to spend it, within the realm of safety and appropriateness for warehouse work.
The arbitrator concluded that the union’s interpretation aligns with the negotiation history. The ruling declared that the $250 uniform allowance, replacing the earlier boot allowance, should be available for the purchase of CSA-approved safety footwear or winter gear, including toques, face coverings, gloves, and winter jackets.
This decision, however, also acknowledges the employer’s right to disqualify items from the allowance on safety grounds or if they are not considered winter gear.
For more information, see United Food and Commercial Workers Canada, Local 1006a v Ryder Truck Rental Canada Ltd., 2024 CanLII 3367 (ON LA)
