Heaven Hill: An Important Decision For You to Make

Throughout the bargaining process, your Union Negotiating Committee has strived to advance your issues, concerns, and demands with the company. 

It has always been the goal of your Negotiating Committee to bring the best possible offer back for you to vote on. While we were able to reach agreements on a large number of issues, we were unable to reach an agreement on an overall package, as the company would not address some of your concerns.

Your Negotiating Committee continued to pressure the company to improve their offer, and on October 30, 2025, the company tabled what they referred to as their last, best and final offer. 

Offer Details

While this offer does not address every issue raised by members at Heaven Hills, it contains significant improvements in several areas and generally exceeds the progress made in previous rounds of collective bargaining.

Your Negotiating Committee believes that through your support and solidarity, we were able to push the company to put their best possible financial offer on the table without threatening a labour dispute. For these reasons, your Union Negotiating Committee believes you should review the offer and is supportive of acceptance.

Here are some of the key highlights:

• 5-year term. 
• 3% wage increases in each year of the agreement, including retro to the expiration of the contract. This represents an increase over the life of the agreement from $4.49 to $8.53 per hour, not inclusive of the other increases listed below.
• $1 adjustment at ratification for all classifications 5, 6, 7, and 8 on top of increases
• Increased severance pay
• Call-in’s increased to 4 hours at 2X the regular rate
• Statutory holidays now paid at the rate equal to regular shift and not just 8 hours
• Increased boot allowance $20 per year
• Removal of $7 wage differentials for new hires
• Increase of pay for each module of the International Brewers and Distillers program to $1 per module
• Increased afternoon shift premium to $2,
• Increaased night shift and shift worker premium to $2.50
• Increased life insurance, AD&D and Dependent life insurance
• Increased STD coverage to 80% up to a maximum of $1,700 a month
• Doubled laser eye surgery to $2,000 lifetime maximum
• Increased vision care to $500 every 24 months and eye exams to $160 every 24 months.
• Increased prescription coverage to 100%
• Orthodontic coverage (braces) increased to 60% up to $3,000
• Increased annual maximums for dental coverage
• Defined benefit pension plan increases $1 per month per year of service for each year of CBA, Early retirement calculation reduced by 4 years
• Defined Contribution pension increased to 7% contributions, which is matched by the company and is now based on gross earnings rather than regular earnings
• Health Care Spending Account increased from $500 per year to $2,500 per year.

You can view the Company Offer by clicking here.

“UFCW Local 401 is an open, transparent, and democratic union. We do what our members tell us to do, and we always shoot straight with our members when it comes to important decisions,” says Union President Thomas Hesse. “Your Negotiating Committee has chosen to put this offer in front of you for a vote. Whether you feel the offer meets your needs is an important decision. As you make that decision, know that your union has your back regardless of which way you vote.”

“It is important that you consider the opinion of your co-workers who were at the bargaining table. They are good people who make sound judgments. From my personal point of view, I rarely feel that any union contract is good enough for our hardworking members, especially during this affordability crisis,” adds Presient Hesse.

To give you an adequate amount of time to review the Company Offer, ratification votes will not be held until later this month. During this time, we encourage you to review the document thoroughly and direct any questions you may have to the members of your Union Negotiating Committee. 

While your Committee understands that the expectations of the membership were appropriately high, they believe it is essential to bring this offer back to the membership for a vote, particularly as the company has indicated that there is no further movement possible.

There are several significant improvements and additions to the contract that, if accepted, would provide immediate wage increases and additional benefits for the members. If you choose to reject the offer, we will make an application for mediation.

Mediation is a process whereby a government-appointed mediator participates in bargaining in attempt to resolve outstanding differences between negotiating parties. This process can sometimes bring the parties closer together and result in a better offer. 

Mediation is a necessary step before a strike vote can happen and union members can threaten job action to reinforce their demands.

Ratification Vote Details

An information meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Express (217 41 St S) at 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm on Monday, November 10, 2025.

In-person voting will be held at the plant from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm and again from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.

Online voting (only for those unable to vote in person) will be conducted between 8:30 am to 3:00 pm on Thursday, November 27, 2025. 

Please note, your union requires a valid email address to be able to participate in the online voting process. If you are unsure if your union has your correct email address, please contact your union office to update your contact information.

We want to extend our thanks to all of you. We firmly believe that the contents of this offer strongly reflect your continued support, solidarity, and commitment to fighting for each other.

This choice is an important one, and we encourage everyone to review the information and vote.

In solidarity,
Your UFCW Local 401 Negotiations Committee
Devin Yeager (Union Spokesperson)
Cory Anderson (Union Representative)
Andrew Roth
Casey Barker
Trevor Mcalpine

Posted on: November 06,2025