Over 250 Lafarge workers get new contracts

Earlier this month, the Mediation Services department of Alberta Jobs, Economy, and Trade published the July 2024 Bargaining Update.

This monthly report provides information about the unionized workforce, primarily in Alberta. Last month, Mediation Services received settlement information regarding 26 private sector and 10 public sector bargaining settlements, covering 2,032 and 6,698 workers respectively.

One of those settlements was for over 250 workers employed by Lafarge Canada. Technically, it’s actually 5 contracts, four of which were for workers organized through Local 955 of the Operating Engineers and one for workers with Local D331 of the Boilermakers.

The contract for the Boilermakers was settled just last month; however, all four of the IUOE contracts were settled back in March.

There were some differences in expiry dates for the two groups, too. Boilermakers, who are based in Exshaw, had been without a new contract since their previous one expired last November. IUOE workers at the Calgary, Stadium Road, and Winterburn shops—as well as the concrete facility in Edmonton—saw their previous contract expire in February, just a few days before the new contracts were settled.

Here’s a breakdown of wage increases over the life of their contracts, which vary in length from 2 years to 4 years.

	Exshaw	Edmonton	Calgary	Stadium	Winterburn
1st year	5.5%	3.5%	4.0%	4.0%	4.0%
2nd year	3.5%	3.0%	2.0%	3.0%	3.0%
3rd year	3.0%		3.0%
4th year	3.0%
Total	13.0%	6.5%	9.0%	7.0%	7.0%
Avg/year	3.25%	3.25%	3.0%	3.5%	3.5%

Mediation Services hasn’t yet released a full contract for the Boilermakers, so I can’t review the changes between that contract and the new contract. However, they did release contract for the other 4 worker groups.

Edmonton plant – Petroway

Shift premiums have increased from $1.00 to $1.50 an hour for the evening shift and from $2.50 to $3.50 an hour for the night shift.

Rest periods between shifts have increased from 8 hours to 10 hours. If they have to come back to work before 10 hours are up, they will see an improvement on overtime pay.

Previously, overtime was “based on a continuation of hours from the previous shift”. Now, they will be paid time and a half for the first 12 hours and double time for anything beyond that for weekday shifts. Weekend shifts are automatically double time. This overtime pay is in effect until they get their 10-hour rest period.

Meal allowance for workers on a 12-hour shift has increased from $10 to $15 for that shift.

By the time the previous contract expired, Lafarge was paying $2.00 per each hour worked by each worker into a health and wellness trust fund. That has increased to $2.05 an hour for this year, and will increase tp $2.15 an hour next March.

By the end of the old contract, Lafarge was paying $4.80 for each our worked by each worker into a pension trust fund. That amount has now increased to $5.00 an hour, and will jump to $5.15 an hour by the end of the new contract.

Also under the previous contract, Lafarge was paying 5¢ an hour per worker into a training trust fund. That has doubled to 10¢ an hour, half of which the IUOE will direct to the International Training Fund.

Calgary shop

The standby allowance for shop workers has increased from $25 to $27 per day Monday through Saturday and $50 to $54 per day for Sundays and holidays.

Health and wellness trust fund payments from Lafarge will increase from $1.90 to $2.00 per hour per worker by the time the new contract expires. Likewise, the pension trust fund contribution will increase from $4.40 to $4.55 an hour per worker over the course of the new contract. The training contribution has increased from 3¢ an hour to 8¢ an hour.

Stadium shop

The clothing allowance has increased from 15¢ an hour worked to 16¢ an hour. As well, Lafarge will now reimburse up to $100 every 3 years for workers who need to purchase custom moulded ear plugs, something that wasn’t in the previous agreement.

The standby allowance for shop workers has increased from $100 to $105 per day.

Meal allowance for employees working over 12 hours has increased from $16.50 per shift to $19.

Health and wellness trust fund payments from Lafarge will increase from $2.00 to $2.15 per hour per worker by the time the new contract expires. Likewise, the pension trust fund contribution will increase from $4.00 to $4.45 an hour per worker over the course of the new contract.

Winterburn shop

The clothing allowance has increased from 15¢ an hour worked to 16¢ an hour. As well, Lafarge will now reimburse up to $100 every 3 years for workers who need to purchase custom moulded ear plugs, something that wasn’t in the previous agreement.

Standby pay has increased from $100 to $105 who has to be on standby during a scheduled day off. For weekly standby, the premium has increased from $300 per week to $350. If two workers agree to share the weekly standby, they will receive $50 per day that they are on standby, something that wasn’t available in the previous contract.

Meal allowance for employees working over 12 hours has increased from $16.50 per shift to $19.

Health and wellness trust fund payments from Lafarge will increase from $2.00 to $2.15 per hour per worker by the time the new contract expires. Likewise, the pension trust fund contribution will increase from $4.00 to $4.45 an hour per worker over the course of the new contract.