Earlier this week, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees published an update on their website regarding contract negotiations for workers employed by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission.
The more than 700 workers include information officers, inspectors, investigators, lab technicians, programmers, production analysts, computer operators, research officers, and field technicians, as well as those working in administrative support, finance, maintenance, and operational services workers.
They have been waiting for a new collective agreement for nearly a year and a half, since their previous agreement expired in July 2024.
According to this week’s update, the workers’ bargaining team and the AGLC bargaining team have reached a tentative agreement.
If ratified, the new 4-year agreement, which expires in July 2028, would include a wage increase in each year. The first two increases would be retroactive.
| 1 August 2024 | 3.00% |
| 1 August 2025 | 3.00% |
| 1 August 2026 | 3.00% |
| 1 August 2027 | 3.00% |
This works out to a combined increase of 12% over the life of the contract, or 12.55% if you account for compound increases.
A combined increase of 12% (12.55%) is much better than they received in their last two collective agreements.
| 1 August 2017 | 0.00% |
| 1 August 2018 | 0.00% |
| 1 August 2019 | 1.00% |
| 1 August 2020 | 0.00% |
| 1 August 2021 | 0.00% |
| 1 August 2022 | 0.00% |
| 1 January 2023 | 1.25% |
| 1 September 2023 | 1.50% |
Between August 2016—the last time they got a raise prior to these two contracts—and September 2023, these workers saw their wages increase just 3.75%.
This new raise is more than triple the increase, and it is just one collective agreement, not two.
Now, keep in mind that during the same period, the cost of living in Alberta increased 22.15%, which means their 3.75% wage increase was actually an 18.40% cut in real wages.
A 12% (12.55%) wage increase would fall short of making up for an 18.4% real wage cut. And keep in mind that the 12% (12.55%) combined increase is over 4 years, not all at once, so that increase would have even less of an effect on that real wage cut.
Now, to be fair, this tentative agreement would increase market adjustment increases for a majority of the positions.
| Administrative support 1–5 | 6.00–11.60% |
| Finance 4 | 10.99% |
| Operational services 1–5 | 5.30–6.80% |
| Inspector 1–4 | 3.87–7.63% |
As well, levels 3 and 4 for inspectors will lose their first step and receive a new step 7, which will increase wages for a few more workers.
All of these market adjustments will be on top of the 12% (12.55) all the workers will receive. By the end of the contract, some of the workers should be ahead of the cost of living.
Here are a few other changes proposed and agreed upon in the tentative agreement.
Workers would receive an additional 2% wage increase once they have have been employed with AGLC for 20 years.
Shift differentials, including weekend premiums, would now apply to overtime hours.
The list of paid holidays has been amended to include any holidays proclaimed by the federal or provincial governments, if ratified, which would National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The tentative agreement proposes increasing personal leave from 3 days to 4 days but decreasing family illness leave from 7 days to 6 days.
Workers may need to get a doctor’s note if they are on sick leave for 3 days, if the tentative agreement passes. Currently, it is just 2 days.
Disciplinary records would remain on file for 24 months instead of the current 30 months.
When filing or advancing grievances, timelines no longer include weekends or holidays.
The bargaining team for the workers will hold two information sessions for workers, which will give them the information they need to decide on whether to ratify the tentative agreement.
Both sessions will be online. The first will be tonight at 19:00, and the second will be tomorrow at noon. Workers should receive an email with information on how to connect to the virtual sessions.
Voting on the tentative agreement will begin tomorrow afternoon and close on Monday at 16:00. Workers will vote via electronic ballot, which will be emailed to each worker.
Update (23 December 2025): The workers ratified their collective agreement. Of those eligible to vote, 77% did so. Of those, 74% in favour and 26% against.
