Calgary fire alarm workers trying to unionize

Last week, the Alberta Labour Relations Board published their first new applications report for July 2025. In it was an application for union certification.

Local 496 of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, also knowns as just UA, filed the application on 27 June 2025 on behalf of workers employed at Viking Fire Protection Inc.

Based out of Québec, Vipond has locations throughout Canada, including 2 in Alberta.

Local 496 is trying to organize a bargaining unit at Viking’s Calgary location. It would include about 7 workers.

The application was actually multiple applications, which listed the workers in various classifications:

• Fire alarm technicians
• General construction fire alarm technicians
• Maintenance fire alarm technicians
• Non-construction fire alarm technicians

Before a union can submit an application for union certification, they must demonstrate that they have the support of at least 40% of the workers in that bargaining unit. That works out to 3 workers in this case.

The labour board has scheduled a hearing for this Friday (18th), during which time the employer can argue why they think these workers shouldn’t be able to join Local 496.

Should the ALRB approve the application, they will conduct a certification vote, allowing workers to democratically choose on whether to join Local 496. Assuming all 3 of the workers who initially supported unionization vote in favour, they’d have to convince just 1 more of their fellow workers to do the same.

If the workers successfully unionize, their first step will be to elect a bargaining committee and begin negotiating a collective agreement.

Because the ALRB doesn’t archive their new application reports, I’ve included a copy of this report below.