Unilateral modification to a pension plan
The class action seeks compensation for the bridge benefit that the class members lost as a result of Kraft Heinz’s illegal unilateral amendment of its pension plan.
Latest News
On April 9, 2026, the Honourable Justice Serge Gaudet, J.S.C., granted the class action in part and dismissed the defendant’s declinatory exception and motion to dismiss. He held that only those class members who had reached the age of 55 on or before December 31, 2023 are entitled to the actuarial value of their bridge benefit, calculated as of December 31, 2016, being the date of termination of the pension plan. This constitutes a favourable outcome for 138 of the 403 class members.
This judgment represents only the first phase of the proceedings, which Justice Gaudet splitted on his own initiative. In light of the complexity of the damages assessment and the current state of the evidentiary record, he directed the parties to work with their respective experts with a view to reaching agreement on the quantum of damages payable. He has also convened a hearing to determine the identity of the members entitled to the actuarial value of the bridging benefit, as well as the amounts attributable to each, in order to establish the total collective recovery.
A final judgment will be rendered only upon completion of this second phase, which will address the determination of the total amount of the defendant’s liability.
Conditions to be part of this class action
The class action’s group is described as follows:
“All participants in Option 2 of the pension plan of Non-Unionized Hourly-Paid Employees of Kraft Canada Inc. – bulk cheese plant and Mont-Royal plant, which have not received the value of their bridge benefit. “
You are a member of the class action if you meet the conditions. For the time being, you have nothing to do. However, if you fill out the form on this page, we will keep you informed of the progress made in the class action.
History of the case
On February 24 2020, Justice Suzanne Courchesne of the Superior Court authorized Mr. Yvon Milliard to institute a class action against Kraft Heinz for the loss of the bridge benefit.
The trial took place in December 2025.