Great Gains for Heaven Hill Workers
October 21, 2021 – Lethbridge, AB – Workers at the Heaven Hill Distillery in Lethbridge have voted in favour of a much-improved Collective Agreement by a margin of 86%.
This distillery, which produces Canadian whiskey under the Black Velvet family of brands, has been operating for over 65 years and was recently acquired by Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. in 2019.
While the new 4-year contract includes many significant improvements, the negotiating committee was successful in fighting off company demands to increase flexibility for scheduling shifts, which could have included alternate shifts and weekends with little to no restrictions. These same demands that have forced our sisters and brothers on strike 6 weeks ago at the Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Workers’ weekly schedules are an important factor in achieving a work/life balance and providing stability to the day-to-day lives of all members.
“The negotiating committee pushed back hard and have ensured predictability in weekly shifts, which is an important achievement for our members,” says the union’s lead negotiator Devin Yeager. “It is our hope that these provisions and improvements will be helpful to our comrades in Kentucky in their strike with Heaven Hill.”
The previous contract expired in June 2021 and workers can now look forward to a number of significant improvements, such as:
- Wage increases in each year of the Collective Agreement, including retroactive pay
- Improvements to vacation entitlements
- Elimination of forced vacation on dark days (occasional plant shutdowns) – employees now have the option to use a vacation day or take the day off without pay
- Significant language outlining dignity, respect, and no retaliation protections
- Expanded Joint Health and Safety Committee duties and involvement
- Addition of the newly declared National Truth and Reconciliation Day, (starting in 2022), as well as a guarantee for any future declared statutory holidays
- Introduction of a healthcare spending account
- Pension increases for both the defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans
- Any future intended mandatory vaccination policies must be negotiated with the workers through their union
The negotiating committee could not have achieved these gains without the strength and solidarity of a unified membership that stood firm for their beliefs and demands. These improvements will have significant impact on the lives of workers not only in Lethbridge but will be used as an example for workers across the province.
Posted on: October 21,2021