Last week, the Alberta Labour Relations Board published the final new applications report for August 2024. In it was an application for union certification.
Local 4050 of Unifor filed the application on 21 August 2024 on behalf of workers employed by Air Liquide Canada Inc.
Based out of France, Air Liquide supplies various gas products—such as acetylene, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, and propane—as well as related products through locations across Canada.
This application is for about 50 workers employed at the company’s facility in southeast Calgary. These workers include everyone except those employed in office, clerical, or sales positions.
The ALRB has scheduled a hearing for this Thursday regarding this application. The employer will have a chance at that time to present arguments, if any, on why these workers shouldn’t be able to unionize with Local 4050.
If the ALRB approves this application, they will organize a vote, during which time, the workers will have a chance to choose whether to join the union.
Assuming the workers do indeed vote in favour of unionizing, their first step will be to form a bargaining committee, so they can begin negotiating their first contract with Air Liquide.
The ALRB doesn’t archive their new applications reports, so I’ve included a copy of last week’s application below.
