In February, the Mediation Services department of Alberta Jobs, Economy, and Trade published the January 2025 Bargaining Update.
This monthly report provides information about the unionized workforce, primarily in Alberta. In December, Mediation Services received settlement information regarding 28 private sector and 11 public sector bargaining settlements, covering 4,351 and 944 workers respectively.
Among those settlements was a contract for about 75 workers employed by Concorde Baggage Services. This is actually their first collective agreement.
Last year, I wrote an article that discussed the efforts of these workers to unionize.
These workers perform pre-gate customer care ambassador services, including commercial dispatch and assistance with bus and hotel vehicles on airport property for passenger pickup.
They also provide passengers with information on the airport and nearby hotels and transportation, help passengers travelling through the international terminal, and provide in-terminal transportation for passengers needing mobility assistance.
The workers began organizing with the help of Unifor on 18 January 2024 after what Unifor claimed was bullying, favouritism, and disrespect in the workplace, as well as fair compensation and keeping up with the cost of living.
Alberta Labour Relations Board held a certification vote last March, and 85% of the workers who participated in the process voted in favour of joining Unifor, and the board granted them their certificate on 8 March 2024.
Even those Local 2002 filed the certification application, the workers ended up unionizing with Local 4050.
After finally winning the fight to unionize and becoming certified, the workers immediately went to work setting up a bargaining committee to negotiate their first contract.
Negotiating the first contract was pretty quick, with workers ratifying it on 12 August 2024, just 5 months after unionizing.
Workers can expect wage increases in every year of this new contract.
| Upon ratification | 1.00% |
| 1 February 2025 | 3.00% |
| 1 February 2026 | 3.00% |
| 1 February 2027 | 2.50% |
This is a combined increase of 9.5% during the life of the contract, which works out to an average of 2.38% per year.
By the end of the contract, the top rate for Link drivers and commercial dispatch workers will be $27.00, and the top rate for workers at the Information Centre and in passenger processing will be $24.36.
Since this is a first collective agreement, I can’t compare how this one compares to the previous one, so I’m highlighting things I noticed in this contract.
Brand news workers are paid $1 less than the top rates of their position for the first 6 months, when they switch to just 50¢ less. They reach a top rate after they’ve been employed for a year.
All full-time workers who were employed with Concorde at ratification and are still working there when the contract ends in January 2028 will get a $500 retention bonus. Part-time workers will get a $250 bonus under the same conditions. Anyone hired during the life of the contract will also get a retention bonus, but the amount will be prorated, based on their length of employment.
All new workers will get a 30-minute meeting with union representatives for a union orientation meeting within the first 2 weeks of being hired. They will not lose pay for this meeting.
The probationary period for new workers is 3 months.
Full-time workers will be scheduled for 40-hour work weeks (not counting overtime), either in 5 8-hour shifts or 4 10-hour shifts; although other configurations are possible.
Speaking of overtime, workers will get 1.5 times their regular pay rate for all hours worked outside their scheduled hours. This includes all hours worked if they’re called in on a scheduled rest day.
Workers are entitled to 2 paid rest periods of 15 minutes each and 1 30-minute unpaid meal period if they work at least 8 hours in a shift. Those who work between 5 and 8 hours will get 1 paid 15-minute period and 1 unpaid 30-minute meal period.
Annual vacation time will depend on length of service but will be paid out at 2% of regular earnings. Full-time workers will receive vacation pay when they take their vacation, but part-time workers will get their pay on every paycheque.
| 1–5 years of service | 2 weeks |
| 5+ years of service | 3 weeks |
Vacation time can be be banked for up to a year, but any remaining accrued vacation pay will be paid out in the last pay period of the year. Workers must take off at least 1 week when going on vacation.
The collective agreement lists 11 statutory holidays.
- New Year’s Day
- Alberta Family Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- Heritage Day
- Labour Day
- National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
- Thanksgiving Day
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
Bereavement leave is a maximum of 3 days of paid time off, with a potential for an additional 3 unpaid days. It is available in the event of the death of the worker’s spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild (including step and in-law relations). Only 1 day is available for deaths of extended family members.
Citizenship ceremony leave is just half a day.
Here are the lengths of several other leaves each worker is entitled to.
| Compassionate care | 27 weeks |
| Critical illness | 36 weeks |
| Death/disappearance of child | 52 weeks |
| Long-term illness/injury | 16 weeks |
| Domestic violence | 10 days |
| Maternity | 16 weeks |
| Parental | 62 weeks |
| Personal & family responsibility | 5 days |
| Reservist | 20 days |
Workers will receive an annual clothing allowance of $150. Plus, the employer will provide uniforms for the workers.
The will also get a $50 annual cell phone subsidy.
Severance pay is 1 week of pay for every year of service for those working with Concorde for at least a year. It maxes out at 11 weeks though.
Concord will cover 100% of the medical benefits premiums.
Workers will get 3 days of paid medical leave once they’ve been with the employer for 30 days. They’ll gain an extra day for every additional month worked, but medical leave maxes out at 10 days.
