Workers at FCL Edmonton distribution centre ratify new contract

It will be business as usual at the 160 local Co-ops across Western Canada, after 92% of Teamsters Local 987 accepted a new four-year labour agreement at the Federated Co-operatives Limited’s Edmonton distribution centre.

"Local Co-ops rely on FCL to source and deliver food products to over 620 communities across Western Canada," said Ron Healey, vice-president of ag and consumer business at FCL, in a press release. "This agreement will help us continue to reliably supply our owners with high quality products at competitive prices for the entire Co-operative Retailing System."

The FCL provides a number of operational and strategic services and support to the local Co-ops including wholesaling, manufacturing, logistics, and marketing.

Employees at the top of their pay scale will receive a 1% wage increase in each year of the new agreement, which includes improvements to benefits, expanded use of part-time employees and increased scheduling flexibility.

There is also a new “alternate wage scale” for new hires, which the FCL release describes as being “key to sustaining FCL's operations… over the long-term.”

The new agreement covers the more than 170 employees working at the Edmonton DC and comes after nearly 11 months of bargaining.

"We acknowledge the important role our distribution team members play in our day-to-day operations,” said Healey. “We also appreciate the efforts of the bargaining committees, who worked respectfully through a range of difficult bargaining issues and were able to reach a deal together."