Avis Bargaining Update: An Offer Worth Voting On
During mediation on August 19th and 20th, your bargaining committee secured a much-improved monetary offer from the Company. The committee is recommending this offer for acceptance.
A recommendation of acceptance from your committee does not mean that we think the offer is perfect or that it achieves all our objectives. However, it represents a significant improvement in terms of wages and benefits over the Company’s previous offer, and your bargaining committee believes this is the best outcome we can achieve under the circumstances without pursuing strike action.
Your union uses an open bargaining process that’s owned by the workers. You were represented at the table by your coworkers: Nilo Yee (Utility Agent), Omaid Nekzad (Service Agent), Nardos Gebregiorgis (Rental Sales Agent), and Scotty Betcher (Shuttler). As a committee, they brought their experience of your workplace to bear on the bargaining process.
You will get to decide if the offer works for you when you vote on it on September 2nd and 3rd.
Highlights of the Offer
Here are the highlights:
- Top-rate increases of 4% at DOR (retroactive to expiry, April 20, 2025), 4% on June 1, 2026, and 3% on June 1, 2027.
- Significant increases to the progression rates (start rate and 12-month rate) ranging between $0.25 per hour/$0.75 for the shutter department per and $3.75 per hour/$4.00 for the utility agent department, with retro pay.
- Improved Full-time benefits include:
- $150.00 per year increase to chiropractor benefits
- New massage therapy coverage of $250.00 per year
- $200.00 per year increase to dental coverage
- $75.00 per 24 months increase to vision coverage
- New part-time benefits: employees who work 1,000 hours each year receive a $300.00 payment paid by January 31st of the following year.
- Improved part-time paid personal leave, 1 day per year increased to 2 days.
Other highlights:
- Education and Training Fund contributions increased to $1500 in each year of the deal ($500.00/year increase)
- Lead premium increased to $2.25 per hour ($0.25 increase)
- Footwear allowance increases of $25.00-$35.00 per year
- Downtown parking allowance increases $63.00/month for full-time emplylees and $25.00/month for part-time employees
- New pension plan: a matching RRSP program to full-time employees after 12 months of employment, and part-time employees after 24 months
- New language on the early resolution of payroll disputes
- improved grievance procedure
- New language-the Company cannot ask for a doctor/nurse practitioner note for three (3) or less days of illness, unless there is an established pattern of absences
Click here to read the memorandum with the full details of the offer.
About the Ratification Vote
In-person voting will take place on Tuesday, September 2, 10:00 am-6:00 pm at the Holiday Inn & Suites Calgary Airport North (20 Freeport PIace NE). Information meetings will be held at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.
“Your union and your bargaining committee are well aware of the challenges you face as part of the affordability crisis,” said President Thomas Hesse of UFCW Local 401. “Personally, I have serious concerns about any employer settlement in this economy where the wage increases are not high enough to match the cost of living. Nevertheless, I respect the bargaining committee’s stance.”
“When you have an offer like this,” added Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart: “Which provides improvement but doesn’t provide everything we were asking for, it’s time to weigh whether you believe a strike vote — which won’t always lead to a strike, but can — will lead to a better deal.”
“As we generally do when an offer is on the table,” concluded President Hesse: “We advise you to weigh it carefully, to have conversations with your fellow members and with the members of your bargaining committee, and to reach out to your union if you have any questions about it. We are here to support you.”
If you have questions about the offer or the ratification vote, please contact your ULRO, Jeff Ible, at 587-583-1501 (or by e-mail at jible@ufcw401.ab.ca).
Stay tuned for future updates!
In solidarity,
Your Union
UFCW Local 401
Click here for a printable poster with details about the vote.
Posted on: August 27,2025