In the August 2025 Bargaining Update released earlier this month, Alberta’s jobs, economy, trade, and immigration ministry indicated that a new collective agreement for operating engineers had been reached.
Settled on 9 June 2025, the new agreement is between the Construction Labour Relations Alberta and Local 955 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, otherwise known as IUOE.
IUOE 955 was negotiating on behalf of 300 operating engineers employed throughout Alberta.
The new 4-year agreement replaces the previous agreement, which just expired in April 2025, and will expire in April 2029.
Construction workers covered by this new agreement can expect to see 4 wage increases during the life of the contract.
| 22 June 2025 | 3.00% |
| 3 May 2026 | 2.00% |
| 2 May 2027 | 2.00% |
| 7 May 2028 | 3.00% |
That’s a combined total increase of 10% and similar to what CLR gave construction workers around the same time.
Here are some highlights of other changes in the new collective agreement.
National Truth and Reconciliation Day was added to the list of recognized holidays, which is used to determine stat pay. That brings the number of recognized holidays in the collective agreement to 12.
The tool allowance for mechanics has increased from 80¢ per hour worked to $1 per hour worked.
Travel and accommodation allowances have been removed from the collective agreement, which now tells workers to visit clra.org to see the current rates.
The shift differential has increased from $3.50 to $4.00 an hour.
