Labour relations denies Ironworkers union application to represent workers at Whitla Wind Farm
By Medicine Hat News on September 19, 2019.
A union competing to represent workers on the Whitla Wind Farm construction project has been denied in its bid by the Alberta Labour Relations Board. A ruling on Sept. 12 dismissed an application for intervenor status by Ironworkers No. 725 that argued it had been disadvantaged when Borea Construction gave access to the worksite near Bow Island to a competing union, The Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC), No. 63, and ordered a vote count on the CLAC application proceed. The board ruled that the Ironworkers were, essentially, too slow in efforts to sign up workers. In late June, CLAC applied to the board to certify five trade units within Borea’s 175-person workforce at the site, located 45 minutes southwest of Medicine Hat. Those comprise ironworkers, masons, labourers, equipment operators and carpenters, but on July 8, the iron workers and building trades unions representing labourers and carpenters filed objections stating their efforts were hampered and alleged illegal employer interference. The company and CLAC denied the claims, with the union petitioning the certification proceed . In August, the ALRB denied two other unions application stating no evidence of organizing activity existed, but requested more information from the Ironworkers. The latest ruling states that in April, Local 725 contacted Borea’s Alberta office about supplying workers for the project, but received “no positive response” and then made visits to the site on July 11 to attempt to contact Borea workers directly. That came after three CLAC visits in June, and the certification application two week’s earlier. The unions argued the company gave preferential treatment to CLAC, allowing them onto the property to hold meetings with employees. An unfair labour practices claim by the three unions is still to be processed. 12-11
