Last month, the Mediation Services department of Alberta Jobs, Economy, and Trade published the March 2025 Bargaining Update.
This monthly report provides information about the unionized workforce, primarily in Alberta. In March, Mediation Services received settlement information regarding 14 private sector and 23 public sector bargaining settlements, covering 1,560 and 12,565 workers respectively.
Among those settlements was a contract for about 15 workers employed by Foothills Steel Foundry.
Based out of Calgary, Foothills Steel Foundry designs and engineers cast wear parts and martensitic high chrome white iron products for the mining industry.
These workers are represented by Local 360 of the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, otherwise known as the United Steelworkers.
They include grinders, drivers, machine operators, burners, crane operators, maintenance workers, machinists, millwrights, welders, and electricians.
This appears to be the first contract these workers have ratified, as Mediation Services has no previous contracts listed, and their wage tables don’t have the employer listed beyond March 2025.
The workers settled their contract last June, but Mediation Services only recently received it.
This new collective agreement brings with it a 2% wage increase retroactive to 15 June 2024 and another 2% wage increase on 15 June 2025.
Here are some highlights from this contract.
Workers are entitled to domestic violence leave; although no length of time was specified in the agreement.
Two workers will be appointed to a safety committee, which considers recommendations for safety practices in the workplace.
Workers who have a valid first aid certificate will receive an extra 60¢ an hour when they are on call during their shift.
The employer will pay 100% of the cost of safety footwear for workers. Coveralls will also be paid for by the employer. Also, workers who normally work outside will be supplied with one winter jacket per year. Welders, burners, and arc air operators will receive a welder’s jacket once every 2 years up to a maximum cost of $85. Finally, mobile equipment operators and maintenance workers will have 100% of the cost covered by the employer for 1 pair of winter boots per year.
Foothills Steel Foundry has agreed to cover 90% of the total cost of the benefits plan for the workers.
The benefits plan includes $40,000 life insurance coverage for each worker, $20,000 for their spouses, and $10,000 for each of their children. It’s similar coverage for accidental death and dismemberment.
The weekly indemnity for short-term disability coverage is 75% of regular wages.
Eye care is $300 for workers and their dependents, although it doesn’t specify if that’s every year or every other year.
Workers and the employer will each contribute at least $270 per month to an employee registered retirement savings plan. As well, workers have the benefit of an enhanced RRSP payable, based on the year’s maximum pensionable earnings, depending on length of employment.
| 0–9 years | 4.00% |
| 10–14 years | 4.25% |
| 15–19 years | 4.50% |
| 20–24 years | 4.75% |
| 25+ years | 5.00% |
Plus, those working with the company for at least 25 years will receive an additional $100 monthly contribution from the employer into their RRSP, which they will have to meet.
Workers will also be entitled to paid vacation, depending on length of employment.
| Length of service | Weeks | % of gross pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 years | 2 weeks | 4.0% |
| 2–3 years | 2 weeks | 5.0% |
| 3–5 years | 3 weeks | 6.0% |
| 5–8 years | 3 weeks | 7.0% |
| 8–10 years | 4 weeks | 8.0% |
| 10–14 years | 4 weeks | 9.0% |
| 14–18 years | 4 weeks | 9.5% |
| 18–20 years | 5 weeks | 10.0% |
| 20–25 years | 5 weeks | 11.0% |
| 25+ years | 6 weeks | 11.0% |
Bereavement leave is 3 days of paid leave for the death of a spouse, child, parent (including inlaws), grandparent, or sibling (including inlaws).
The collective agreement lists 12 paid holidays and 2 half days.
- New Year’s Day
- Family Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Dominion Day
- Civic Holiday
- Labour Day
- Work anniversary
- Thanksgiving
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas
- Boxing Day
- 1/2 day before Christmas
- 1/2 day before New Year’s
Each worker will get a 10-minute coffee breaks in the first half of any shift, but there’s no indication on whether it’s paid.
Call-in pay will be a minimum of 3 hours for workers who are called back into work after their shift ends.
Workers who show up for a scheduled shift but is turned away will receive at least 4 hours of pay for that day, unless they received advanced notice of the shift cancellation at least an hour in advance.
Overtime pay is 1.5 times the regular pay rate for all hours worked immediately following a worker’s regular shift. All hours worked on a Sunday and paid holidays will be paid at double that of the regular pay rate.
Anyone working at least 2 hours of unscheduled overtime will get a $5 meal allowance for every 4 hours of overtime worked. They will be able to eat their meal on company time, which will count as time worked. Anyone whose shift ends after midnight gets a paid 30-minute lunch break.
There is a $2 shift premium for those whose shift started after noon.
A $1 per hour premium will be paid for those assigned to the charge hand position. Lead hand workers will get a 80¢ per hour premium.
Foothills Steel Foundry will supply at no cost to the workers all tools and equipment they need to do their job.
The also have agreed to pay 1¢ per hour per worker into a fund, which will then used to pay for worker education leave, so workers can upgrade their education.
