Last month, the Mediation Services department of Alberta Jobs, Economy, and Trade published the November 2024 Bargaining Update.
This monthly report provides information about the unionized workforce, primarily in Alberta. In November, Mediation Services received settlement information regarding 20 private sector and 11 public sector bargaining settlements, covering 2,841 and 4,096 workers respectively.
Among those settlements was a contract for about 900 pipeline workers in Alberta. It was actually 4 contracts, all negotiated with the Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada.
Founded in 1954, PLCAC represents Canadian contractors in labour relations matters. They negotiate 4 collective agreements covering mainline cross-country transmission pipeline construction, 4 collective agreements covering natural gas distribution pipeline construction within cities and towns, and 4 collective agreements covering pipeline maintenance and service.
This agreement falls under the latter category.
These workers are represented by Laborers’ International Union of North America, otherwise known LIUNA; the International Union of Operating Engineers, otherwise known as IUOE; United Association of Plumbers Pipefitters, otherwise known as UA; and the Teamsters.
Their previous contracts were actually consolidated into one, which expired at the end of 2023. The new contract were settled in early 2024, but Mediation Services received copies of the contracts only recently.
Both the Plumbers & Pipefitters and LIUNA settled their contracts (here and here) in last January, while IUOE and the Teamsters settled theirs (here and here) in April.
These workers are set to get wage increases in each year of the new 2-year contracts, which expire at the end of next year.
| LIUNA | IUOE | UA | Teamsters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2024 | 3.25% | 0.00% | -3.86% | 0.00% |
| 1 Jan 2025 | 3.60% | 3.60% | 3.70% | 3.25% |
| 1 Jan 2026 | 3.60% | 3.60% | 3.30% | 3.25% |
For the Plumbers & Pipefitters, in the previous contract, everyone outside of Ontario made the same wage. In the new contract, it’s everyone outside Ontario and Manitoba. As a result, the wages in the first year of the new contract seem to be lower than those in the last year of the previous contract.
Here are some changes between the previous contract and the new contracts.
Under the previous contract, if a grievance couldn’t be resolved within 5 days, the workers was able to submit the grievance to the executive director of PLCAC within 60 days. That’s been reduced to only 30 days.
Workers can escalate grievances to a grievance panel. That panel must be selected within 10 days of receiving the grievance. Previously, there was no time limit on panel selection.
The following has been added to the section in the collective agreement(s) regarding PPEs:
Where filtered air systems are required due to environmental conditions, the employer will provide use of respiratory protective equipment including powered air respirator (PAPR) apparatus, excluding helmets, made available for welders only; ancillary workers (UA helpers, IUOE and LiUNA, & Teamsters.) will be provided appropriate respiratory protection equipment including: half-face or full-face air purifying respirator by the employer when required and suitable to environmental conditions, in accordance with employer’s safety assessment and oversight control measures.
If a workers is laid off but hasn’t received their remaining pay, if any, under the old contract(s), the employer had 4 hours to issue payment. That has been extended to 24 hours.
Under the old contract(s), all workers received vacation and stat holiday pay at 10% of total earnings. Now, the Plumbers & Pipefitters will have theirs increased to 12%. Everyone else remains at 10%.
The night shift premium has increased from $3.00 an hour to $3.50 an hour.
For workers travelling to the marshalling point or yard, they will receive 70¢ per kilometre, the same rate as in the previous contracts, if they’re IUOE or LIUNA. UA and the Teamsters have switched from a set rate of 70¢ per kilometre to whatever the CRA rate is. Same goes for travel back home from the marshalling point or yard, as well as any travel with a personal vehicle required during their shift.
The subsistence allowance has been increased from $185 per day to $190 for the first year, increasing to $195 this year and $200 next year. This is for any worker who have to work40 kilometres or more from a marshalling point or yard and the employer isn’t providing room and board.
