Earlier this month, the Mediation Services department of Alberta Jobs, Economy, and Trade published the July 2025 Bargaining Update.
This monthly report provides information about the unionized workforce, primarily in Alberta. In July, Mediation Services received settlement information regarding 19 private sector and 15 public sector bargaining settlements, covering 2,179 and 4,684 workers respectively.
Among those settlements was a contract for over 100 faculty employed by Portage College.
Based in Lac La Biche but with campuses in several other communities, Portage College offers a wide variety of educational programming in northeastern Alberta
The Portage College Faculty Association represents these workers, which include instructional faculty (instructors, programme coordinators, and research chairs) and non-instructional faculty, such as educational counsellors, curriculum designers, learning facilitators, student learning support supervisors, educational counsellor supervisors, librarians, and teaching assistants.
Their previous contract expired in June 2024. Their new contract was ratified this past February, 8 months after the last one expired.
These workers are set to receive wage increases in every year of their this 4-year contract, which is longer than their previous collective agreement (3 years) and the longest contract they have had since at least 2006.
| 1 July 2024 | 3.00% |
| 1 July 2025 | 3.00% |
| 1 July 2026 | 3.00% |
| 1 July 2027 | 3.00% |
This will result in a combined increase of 12% over the life of the collective agreement, or 12.55% if you account for compounding increases. That averages out to, well, 3% (3.14%) per year.
Here is what they received in their previous 3 contracts.
| 1 July 2017 | 0.00% |
| 1 July 2018 | 0.00% |
| 1 July 2019 | 0.00% |
| 1 July 2021 | 0.00% |
| 1 July 2021 | 0.00% |
| 1 July 2022 | 0.00% |
| 1 April 2023 | 1.25% |
| 1 December 2023 | 1.50% |
That works out to a combined increase of just 2.75%, or 0.39% per year on average.
For comparison, the consumer price index in Alberta grew 30.4 points from 135.6 in July 2016 to 166 in July 2023, a 22.42% increase.
Because inflation grew 22.42% over the last 3 collective agreements, that 2.75% led to a reduction in real wages of 19.67%. And that does not include the wage freeze in 2016 either.
A 12% increase is nice, but it will still leave them with a 7.67% reduction in wages, when adjusted for inflation. Keep in mind that the 12% increase is after 4 years, during which time, there will be even more inflation.
For example, between July 2023 and June 2025, inflation in Alberta has increased by 3.8%, bringing the cut to real wages back to 11.46%, and we still have two more years of inflation to go.
The new contract is retroactive to 1 July 2024.
Here are some highlights of other things that are in this new contract.
The benchmark categories used to determine the minimum instructional hours have been consolidate:
| Old program | Old hours | New program | New hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACE | 650 | Fine Arts | 540 |
| Advance Care Paramedic | 625 | Business | 540 |
| Business | 540 | Education | 540 |
| Carpentry | 725 | Environmental Studies | 600 |
| Community Social Work | 540 | Foundational Learning | 650 |
| Culinary Arts | 725 | Health | 625 |
| Educational Assistant/ Early Learning & Child Care | 540 | Human Services | 540 |
| Electrical | 725 | Trades & Technical | 650 |
| Emergency Medical Responder | 625 | University Studies | 540 |
| Fine Arts | 540 | ||
| Hairstyling | 725 | ||
| Heavy Equipment Operator | 725 | ||
| Heavy Equipment Technician | 725 | ||
| Native Arts & Culture | 540 | ||
| Natural Resources Technology | 600 | ||
| Power Engineering | 650 | ||
| Practical Nurse | 625 | ||
| Primary Care Paramedic | 625 | ||
| University Studies | 540 | ||
| Welding | 725 |
Self-inflicted injury has been removed from the list of reasons to be denied sick leave benefits.
In the previous collective agreement, the workers were unable to use family illness leave to cover having to tkae family members to medical, dental, or optical appointments. In the new agreement, they can, but they must attempt making alternative arrangements if possible.
The following clause:
9.1.2 When an employee commences Human Resources will determine the Employee’s applicable education level and experience for placement on the salary grid. Human Resources assigns the salary in consultation with the Dean/Manager. Teaching experience is counted 1/1; non-teaching but program related experience is counted 2/1.
has been changed to:
When an employee commences Human Resources will determine the Employee’s applicable education level and experience for placement on the salary grid.
This clause has been added to the contract:
Effective July 1, 2025, an employee designated by the Employer to
receive the Level 2 “C” Modifier will receive the amount of $850 monthly.
Same with this one:
Effective July 1, 2025, an employee designated by the Employer to receive the “Z” Modifier will receive the amount of $300 monthly.
The overload grid for instructors will receive annual increases starting last month. These will be the first increases since 2015.
| 1 Jul 2015 | 1 Jul 2024 | 1 Jul 2025 | 1 Jul 2026 | 1 Jul 2027 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay Grid “H” | $106 | $106 | $109 | $112 | $116 |
| Pay Grid “G” | $106 | $106 | $109 | $112 | $116 |
| Pay Grid “F” | $102 | $102 | $105 | $108 | $111 |
| Pay Grid “E” | $95 | $95 | $98 | $101 | $104 |
| Pay Grid “B”,“C”, or “D” | $91 | $91 | $94 | $97 | $100 |
| Pay Grid “A” | $80 | $80 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
The following has been added to the section on protective clothing:
15.1 Where the dean determines that uniforms, coveralls, smocks or such other items should be provided for the protection of a faculty member’s personal garments, such items shall be provided and replaced upon approval from the dean.
15.3 Inquiries or complaints concerning safety equipment, safety clothing or protective clothing shall be first directed to the coordinator, then the dean, then the Vice President. Failing resolution, the College’s OHS office will review.
15.4 All uniforms, clothing and equipment supplied by the College shall remain the property of the College.
Because the college is now providing safety equipment, the contract has removed the $120 footwear allowance and the $300 prescription safety eyewear.
