Last month, the Mediation Services department of Alberta Jobs, Economy, and Trade published the August 2024 Bargaining Update.
This monthly report provides information about the unionized workforce, primarily in Alberta. In August, Mediation Services received settlement information regarding 28 private sector and 9 public sector bargaining settlements, covering 2,361 and 1,857 workers respectively.
Among those settlements was a contract for 30 workers employed by Saputo Dairy Products at their Edmonton location.
This is actually a brand new contract for these maintenance workers, as they unionized only last year. I wrote an article in May 2023 about their unionization efforts.
The workers are now represented by Local 445 of Unifor, which had already been representing the 265 production workers also employed at this location. The maintenance workers include millwrights, electricians/instrumentation technicians, welders, boiler engineers, stationary engineers, and sanitary maintenance workers.
Based out of Montréal, Saputo produces through their workers a comprehensive array of dairy products under multiple brands.
The new contract was settled in April 2024 and went into effect on 1 May 2024. Mediation Services only recently received the new contract, which is why they’re just now releasing the details.
According to the bargaining update, these workers received wage increases in each year of the new 5-year contract, except the first year. Because it’s a first contract, the first year sets the base rate.
| 1 May 2024 | n/a |
| 1 May 2025 | 3.00% |
| 1 May 2026 | 3.00% |
| 1 May 2027 | 2.00% |
| 1 May 2028 | 2.00% |
That’s a combined 10% over 5 years, or an average of 2% per year.
By the time this contract expires, the hourly wage for these workers will be just shy of $50 an hour, up from the $45 an hour their wages were set to at the start of the contract this year.
Here are some highlights of other changes between the previous contract and the new contract.
Workers who have been with Saputo for a year or more will be entitled to at least 3 weeks of vacation time, although that increases the longer they remain employed at the company.
| After 1 year of service | 3 weeks |
| After 10 years of service | 4 weeks |
| After 17 years of service | 5 weeks |
| After 24 years of service | 6 weeks |
Workers will be entitled to several other types of time off.
For example, workers who have been with the company for at least a year will be eligible for up to 6 months of unpaid leave without losing their seniority or benefits.
Bereavement leave is also available for workers when a family member dies, as illustrated in the following table; although an additional 2 days is available should the funeral be over 350 kilometres away.
| Spouse, common-law partner, child | 5 days |
| Parent, step-parent, sibling | 3 days |
| Grandparent, grandchild, parent-in-law | 2 days |
| Sibling-in-law | Up to one (1) day |
Workers will be paid for any time they take away from work for jury duty.
Full-time workers will be eligible for a sick and family responsibility leave equivalent to 40 hours.
The following days are recognized as paid holidays, and anyone having to work on those days will be paid at 1.5 times their normal pay rate.
- New Year’s Day
- Family Day
- Good Friday
- Victoria Day
- Canada Day
- August Civic Holiday
- Labour Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Remembrance Day
- Christmas Day
- Boxing Day
The brand new contract also includes shift differentials for workers scheduled to work evening and weekend shifts. This is on top of their regular pay rate
| Weeknight | $1.50 an hour |
| Weekend, day | $1.50 an hour |
| Weekend, night | $2.50 an hour |
All workers will be entitled to a meal allowance of $10 for any shift where they work at least two hours.
Health benefits include 80% coverage for basic dental, 50% for major dental restorative work. In both cases, this maxes out at $2,000 per year per person. Saputo will pay the premiums.
Workers are also eligible for $250 for optical every two years plus $50 every two years for eye exams. Saputo will cover these premiums, too.
There is also a mental health benefit, which covers up to $1,000 per year for mental health care.
Long-term disability will be 60% of their current gross weekly base rate, and life insurance will be the base annual wage. In both cases, Saputo will cover the premiums.
The employer will also provide boots for workers, as well as specialized clothing for any workers needing to work in the yard or the cooler.
The maintenance workers will also be eligible for a $400 tool allowance.
The employer has agreed to provide these workers with a pension plan, into which they will pay two thirds of all contributions made to the plan each month, while the worker will pay the remaining third out of their paycheque.
