Two major Alberta unions fight over solar workers
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on December 12, 2023.
https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews Two of the largest private-sector unions in Alberta have filed competing applications to represent renewable construction workers at a project in southern Alberta. Workers with Goldbeck Solar in Drumheller reportedly demonstrated at the end of November over a lack of live-out pay for employees who travel from Brooks and Medicine Hat to work on the Fox Coulee Solar project. On Nov. 29, Christian Labour Association of Canada Local 63 applied to become the bargaining agent for “81 general construction employees” on the project. The same day, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401 also applied to certify the workplace which they say has an estimated unit size of 100 construction workers. The applications will proceed separately to administrative hearings early next. According to the Alberta Jobs ministry, the UFCW is the largest private-sector union by membership in the province, representing 32,000 members in various workplaces and sectors. CLAC represents about 18,000 members in the province. Four years ago, CLAC won a challenge by building trades unions over unfair employer interference when the non-affiliated union certified Borea Construction workers at the Whitla Wind project. 10-9
