Last month, Alberta Mediation Services published their May 2026 Bargaining Update.
The monthly report provides information about the unionized workforce, primarily in Alberta.
Information published in this month’s report is based on the details from 27 collective bargaining agreements they received in May. Those agreements collectively covered nearly 4,000 workers, most of which were in the public sector.
The private sector submitted 14 collective agreements for over 1,500 workers, and the public sector submitted 13 agreements for more than 2,400 workers.
One of the public sector agreements was for workers in Drumheller.
Settled on 3 March 2026, the new agreement is between Drumheller & District Seniors Foundation and Local 715 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents about 60 workers who operate 2 of the foundation’s lodges.
The two lodges—Hillview Lodge and Sunshine Lodge—have a combined capacity of 114 units, and one of them is a level 3 facility, which means they provide housing and support for adults and seniors who can’t manage in their own homes.
These workers—which include cooks, kitchen aides, health-care aides, and maintenance workers—had been working on an old contract that had expired at the end of 2025.
According to the May 2026 Bargaining Update, these workers will receive a total increase of 9% over the 3-year term of their contract. Here’s how it breaks down per year.
| 1 January 2026 | 3.00% |
| 1 January 2027 | 3.00% |
| 1 January 2028 | 3.00% |
| 9.00% |
They also received 9% over 3 years in their previous agreement.
Here are some other changes between the previous agreement and the new agreement.
There is no longer a 30-day restriction for Local 715 to inform the employer about changes to officers, shop stewards, or other authorized representatives of the union.
The discrimination clause has changed from this:
The employer and the union agree that there shall be no discrimination, interference, restriction or coercion exercised or practiced with respect to any employees by reason of age, race, creed, colour, national origin, political or religious affiliation, sex or marital status, sexual orientation, place of residence, and handicap, nor by reason of their membership or activity in the union or any provisions covered by the Alberta Human Rights Act except to the extent permitted by law.
to this:
The employer and the union agree that there shall be no discrimination, interference, restriction or coercion exercised or practiced with respect to any employees by reason of race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, nor by reason of their membership or activity in the union.
Under the previous agreement, the Labour Management Committee met 3 times per year. In the new agreement, they have to meet just twice a year.
The following clause was added to the collective agreement:
10.09 Workplace Surveillance
The parties agree that employer surveillance equipment in the workplace will be primarily used for the purposes of ensuring the security of employer assets and employee and resident safety.Surveillance equipment will not be used for regular, ongoing or intermittent monitoring of employees in the workplace.
Workers had to provide 2 hours notice when taking sick leave under the previous collective agreement. Under the new agreement, they must provide at least 1 hour notice for day shifts and 4 hours notice for evening and night shifts.
Pregnancy loss has been added to bereavement leave, which is still just 4 days. As well, workers can now use some of their leave immediately following the death and the remaining leave to attend a funeral at a later date.
The new agreement will expire at the end of 2028.
