Earlier this week, I was browsing through the collective bargaining agreement database maintained by the Mediation Services department of the provincial government.
I noticed a new collective agreement for the roughly 20 workers employed by the Medicine Hat News.
These workers include receptionists, customer service reps, accounts receivable/payable, data entry, billing, national sales, layout clerks, graphic designers, prepress technicians, marketing coordinators, sales support, telemarketers, reporter, photographers, videographers, assignment editors, lifestyle editors, mailers, mailroom shift supervisors, and classified advisors.
They are represented by Local 30400 of the Media & Communications Workers, which is affiliated with the Communications Workers of America. Local 30400 also represents workers at the Red Deer Advocate.
The last collective agreement for these workers expired back in March.
Workers ratified the new agreement on 11 August 2025, about 5 months later. It is effective as of March 2025 and expires in March 2028. Their previous agreement was also for 4 years.
The workers are set to receive wage increases in the last two years of this new collective agreement.
| 21 March 2025 | 0.00% |
| 21 March 2026 | 2.00% |
| 21 March 2027 | 1.75% |
This 3.75% combined increase is less than the 4.5% increase they received in their last contract.
That being said, the workers were to get a $750 signing bonus after ratifying the collective agreement. While $750 is not nothing, keep in mind that it does not affect the base wages that next year’s raises will be based off of.
For example, a starting wage for workers doing data entry is $15.92 an hour. If they work 40 hours a week, they would get $33,113.60 in gross pay. Add in the signing bonus, and it jumps to $33,863.60.
But next March, when their first raise of the contract kicks in, they will get a wage increased based off of $33,113.60, not $33,863.60.
After their final raise of the contract in 2027, only 1 position—mailroom shift supervisor—will have a starting rate above $20 an hour.
The top step of the wage grid will be highest for reporters, photographers, and videographers, who will be making $24.96 by the end of the contract if they have been with Medicine Hat News for at least 5 years.
Here are some other highlights of changes in the new collective agreement.
The joint standing committee, which would hear grievances that could not be resolved with the immediate supervisor of the affected worker. Instead, the general manager and the union lodge representative, or their designates, will meet to resolve disputes.
A new section on workload review has been added to the contract:
Workload will be administered in accordance with the following:
- Individual / departmental workloads are largely dictated by volume of business, that can vary by day, or even by hour. The company will continue to schedule and hold weekly workflow meetings that one representative from each department is encouraged to attend.
- Employees who believe they have a workload issue, which is regular and continuing and, in their opinion, requires remedial action, shall request a review. The employee and supervisor/ manager or their delegate shall meet to discuss the workload with a view to develop a satisfactory resolution. Such resolution may include:
- alternative organization of staff and facilities;
- changes to the assignment;
- extra compensation;
- stronger focus & prioritize essential work tasks
- other such acceptable alternatives.
If after the meeting the employee is not satisfied, the matter will be
referred to the Grievance Process for final resolution.
Medicine Hat News must now provide written notice when substantially changing current positions.
Severance pay has increased from 2 weeks for every year of continuous serve to 2.5 weeks for each year of continuous service. The maximum is still 26 weeks.
There is a new section on artificial intelligence:
The Parties recognize that AI and machine learning technology could be useful tools in reporting, sales, and production, and that, at the same time, the value of the Medicine Hat News comes from the work of its employees. The Employer agrees that any generative AI and/or machine learning technology that is introduced will minimize impact on bargaining unit employees, but cannot guarantee that roles or jobs will not be impacted.
The Employer will notify / consult with the Union about implementing any AI or machine learning technology that impacts bargaining unit work.
The new collective agreement introduced through a memorandum of understanding that workers in the classifieds department who must work on a statutory holiday will be compensated their regular stat pay, as well as a minimum of 3 hours of pay on their next paycheque.
The following has been added to Appendix B, which covers the classification and wages for those working in advertising:
The Employer will have the right to make changes when accounts have been dormant for three months or more, when personal conflicts between the salesperson and the customer arise, or for any other reason deemed appropriate by the company. If an account is moved to another list, every attempt will be made to replace the account with another account of an approximately similar value, except where there is a just cause.
Also new to this collective agreement is a $250 bonus for all the outside sales reps when department local revenues exceed the previous year in a single quarter.
