Minimal wage increase proposal and refusal of basic rights spark concern
FreshCo Heritage workers deserve respect, not a raise that barely moves the needle.
Heritage FreshCo has proposed just a $0.40 wage increase over five years for most part-time employees. That’s far below what is needed to keep up with rising costs, and it doesn’t address the basic dignity every worker deserves.
The UFCW Local 401 Bargaining Committee met with the company on March 16 and 17 in Edmonton as part of ongoing negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement, which expired on March 8, 2025.
Despite more than a year of bargaining, the company has yet to present a meaningful monetary package that reflects the rising cost of living.
But it’s not just about wages. The employer has refused to agree to even basic protections, including language that would guarantee workers a full day off to attend their Canadian citizenship ceremony. Instead, the company claims that employment standards require only a half-day, denying workers the ability to fully participate in one of life’s most important milestones.
“Our members deserve more than symbolic raises that don’t keep up with real life,” said UFCW Local 401 President, Thomas Hesse. “We’re fighting for fair wages and basic dignity on the job.”
“Denying workers the time to fully participate in their citizenship ceremony shows a lack of respect for the people who make these stores run every day,” added Local 401 Secretary-Treasurer Richelle Stewart.
UFCW Local 401 leadership has strongly criticized both the wage proposal and the company’s stance on workers’ rights.
“I can’t tell you how reprehensible it is to see this employer refuse to give a worker something that should be a basic right,” said Chris O’Halloran, Executive Director for UFCW Local 401. “This is on top of the insulting offer of a $0.40 raise over five years.”
Take Action
We’re calling on members, customers, and the public to stand together.
Read and share our public letter calling on FreshCo Heritage to do the right thing:
SIGN THE PETITION NOW!
Visit the FreshCo bargaining website for more information: https://gounion.ca/freshcobargaining2025/
Together, we can demand better wages, stronger protections, and the respect every worker deserves.
Posted on: April 29,2026