Last month, the Mediation Services department of Alberta Jobs, Economy, and Trade published the February 2025 Bargaining Update.
This monthly report provides information about the unionized workforce, primarily in Alberta. In February, Mediation Services received settlement information regarding 16 private sector and 5 public sector bargaining settlements, covering 1,598 and 3,407 workers respectively.
Among those settlements was a contract for about 30 workers employed by Agrifoods International Cooperative Ltd.
Based out of British Columbia, Agrifoods specializes in dairy products and other food products. The company owns several locations in Alberta, including a bulk transport facility in Acheson, just west of Edmonton, which is where these workers are based.
The workers in this collective agreement include tank drivers. They’re represented by Local 987 of the Teamsters.
The previous contract expired back in July 2024. This new contract was settled in September 2024, about a month and a half after the last one expired.
The new collective agreement is for 2 years, which is less than the 4-year term in the previous agreement.
These workers are set to receive wage increases in each year of their new contract:
| 1 August 2024 | 3.25% |
| 1 August 2025 | 3.00% |
This works out to a combined increase of 6.25% over the course of their new contract. That’s an annual average increase of only 3.13%.
They received 11.50% in their last contract, which worked out to 2.88% per year, on average.
| 4 August 2020 | 1.25% |
| 1 August 2021 | 2.25% |
| 1 August 2022 | 3.50% |
| 1 August 2023 | 4.50% |
Inflation during the same period was 16.32%, which left these workers with a real wage cut of 4.82%. This means that their new raise is effectively only 1.43%, which leaves them hardly anything to deal with inflation between August 2024 and August 2026.
However, with the new wage increases, none of the workers will be paid less than $30 an hour by the end of the contract.
Here’s a look at what else has changed between the previous collective agreement and the new one.
The evening shift premium has increased from $1.25 an hour to $1.75 an hour for all hours worked between 18:00 and midnight.
The meal allowance has increased from $15 to $20 for anyone 10-hour shift workers who work 2 or more hours beyond their shift and from $10 to $15 for anyone how has to come in at least 1 hour prior to their shift start time. Those working 12.5 hour shifts or who have to lay over will have their meal allowance increase from $15 to $20.
Workers who want to file a grievance can now file it with either their supervisor or the operations manager. Previously, they could file with just their supervisor.
The boot allowance has increased from $200 a year to $250 a year.
Workers will be provided with 3 new shirts, 3 new pairs of pants, and a new outer jacket every 2 years.
Vision care has increased from $300 every 2 years to $350 every 2 years. Eye exam coverage has increased from $100 every 2 years to $150 every 2 years.
Paramedical coverage has increased to $300 a year, and basic dental coverage has increased to $1,250 per year.
The employer plans to create a working foreman positions on a trial basis, and the details for that trial were included in a memorandum of understanding addended to the collective agreement. It will be an in-scope, non-supervisory position with duties assigned by the employer. It comes with a $3 per hour premium.
There is a new $35 phone benefit for workers who have to use their personal mobile phones for work.
