9 April, 2025Workers at two different Heidelberg Materials plants in British Columbia, Canada, are raising concerns over job security and fair bargaining, as two separate labour disputes are unfolding.
In Thompson-Okanagan, over 30 employees represented by Teamsters Local 213 have been locked out since 17 January, after contract negotiations broke down. Workers say they have been seeking a fair wage increase, improved scheduling and safer working conditions following the expiry of their collective agreement at the end of 2024.
“We showed up to bargain in good faith, but the company isn’t listening,”
said a worker on the Kelowna picket line. Pickets have been established at sites in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Penticton and Kamloops.
At Heidelberg’s cement plant in Delta, 76 members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local D-277 were locked out on 13 January, after talks stalled over management’s push to contract out unionized jobs. The union argues this move threatens long-term job stability and undermines skilled local labour.
“We’re not asking for anything outrageous. We just want to protect our work and our future,”
said a Boilermakers representative outside the Tilbury facility.
Despite mediation efforts, both disputes remain unresolved. Workers at both sites say that Heidelberg Material’s actions signal a broader shift away from respecting collective agreements.
Says IndustriALL materials director Alex Ivanou:
“Heidelberg Materials must return to the table in good faith and respect the rights of its workers. This isn’t just about one site or one country—it's about global solidarity and holding multinational companies accountable for fair treatment wherever they operate.”
Photo credit: Boilermakers Lodge 277, Teamsters Local 213