Bargaining between UFCW Local 401 and Canada Malting has hit a wall.
Despite being ready to negotiate, our union bargaining committee was met with stalling, threats, and a refusal to engage in real discussions from the company’s side.
Now, our members have had enough.
With a 97% strike vote, UFCW 401 members at Canada Malting have made it clear: they’re ready to fight for fairness and they have the full backing of their union.
WHO ARE CANADA MALTING WORKERS?
Canada Malting workers produce one of the most essential ingredients in beer: malt.
From Calgary’s barley fields to breweries across the country, their work fuels Canada’s thriving brewing industry. Every pint poured in bars, restaurants, and backyards starts with the skilled hands of these workers, people who ensure quality, safety, and consistency every day.
A GLOBAL GIANT THAT CAN AFFORD FAIRNESS
Canada Malting is owned by Soufflet Malt, which became the world’s largest malting company after acquiring United Malt for $1.5 billion in November 2023.
Soufflet Malt is backed by the massive French agricultural cooperative InVivo Group, which reported €12.4 billion in revenue in 2024. Its investors include some of the biggest financial players in Europe (KKR, Bpifrance, and Crédit Agricole Group) who together poured nearly €1 billion into the malting business.
This is not a struggling company. It’s a global giant with enormous financial capacity. Yet instead of sharing success with the workers who make their profits possible, Canada Malting is demanding concessions, even while admitting it doesn’t need them for financial reasons.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: LOCAL BREWERIES AND THE CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY
A strike at Canada Malting wouldn’t just impact the plant’s workers, it would ripple through the entire Canadian brewing supply chain.
Canada Malting is a major supplier of malt to countless local breweries and craft beer producers across the country.
If production stops, many independent brewers could face shortages, delivery delays, and higher costs, potentially disrupting operations and beer availability. The irony? These small, local breweries rely on the same sense of community and fairness that Canada Malting’s workers are fighting for.
By standing with these workers, Canadians also stand up for the sustainability and fairness of the craft beer industry, one that thrives on local production, collaboration, and respect for skilled labour.
Coming out of the last set of negotiations, UFCW Local 401 filed several unfair labour practice complaints against Canada Malting with the Canadian Industrial Labour Relations Board (CIRB). In response, the CIRB scheduled mediation for Friday, December 5, 2025.
As we prepare for these talks, Local 401 President Thomas Hesse reflected on the moment we’re in, noting how “Canada Malting workers have kept this industry strong with their skill and dedication, yet too often, respect has been missing from the company’s approach. This mediation is a chance to correct that.”
His words echo the feeling across the membership: a deep pride in the work, and a deep frustration that the company has not yet stepped up to match that value.
WHAT THE COMPANY MUST ADDRESS
The bargaining committee has been clear about what it will take to reach a fair deal. The company knows the issues and has the means to resolve them.
To move forward, they must:
- Remove their co-pay benefits demand
- Honour their commitments to address pension needs
- Provide wage increases that allow members to cope with the affordability crisis
UFCW Local 401 Secretary Treasurer, Richelle Stewart, spoke to this directly, explaining how the daily realities facing working families must be front and centre: “Our members are dealing with the same affordability pressures as everyone else in this country. A fair contract isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Canada Malting can do the right thing here.”
Her message underscores the heart of this fight: dignity, stability, and the ability to live decently.
A FIGHT THAT GOES BEYOND CALGARY
UFCW 401 is working closely with UFCW Canada and our international allies to put pressure on Soufflet Malt and InVivo globally. Even European labour representatives have been made aware of the situation, and solidarity actions are being planned should a strike become necessary. This isn’t just a local issue , it’s part of a global struggle for fairness and respect in an industry dominated by multinational power.
NEXT STEPS
The company is trying to delay workers’ right to strike, claiming no strike could begin until December 31, 2025, a position our union’s lawyers are challenging at the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB).
In the meantime, our members are organized, mobilized, and ready. The message to the company is clear: Bargain in good faith. Respect Canadian law. And treat workers fairly.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
- Follow UFCW Local 401 on social media to share updates: @ufcw401
- If you’re a brewer, bar owner, or beer lover, ask your suppliers where their malt comes from and tell them you stand with the workers who make it.
- Sign the petition and let Canada Malting know you stand with the workers who make Canada’s beer possible.
Because when powerful companies refuse to bargain fairly, workers stand up together.
