Calgary long-term care nurses file for unionization

Earlier this week, the Alberta Labour Relations Board published their final new applications report for November 2024. In it was an application for union certification.

The United Nurses of Alberta filed the application on 14 November 2024 on behalf of workers employed by Carewest, the largest public care provider in Calgary and one of the largest in Canada.

UNA is applying on behalf of 36 workers employed in direct nursing care, nursing instruction, or team lead positions at Carewest’s Garrison Green location in Southwest Calgary.

The union already represents nursing workers at several other locations operated by Carewest, including Colonel Belcher, Dr. Vernon Fanning Centre, Glenmore Park, Rouleau Manor, Sarcee/Beddington, and Signal Pointe.

This application builds on unionization efforts of UNA earlier this year, when they filed application on behalf of nurses employed by AgeCare, Extendicare, and Newport Harbour Care Centre Partnership.

The ALRB has scheduled a hearing for this application for later today, during which time, the employer will have a chance to argue why they think these workers shouldn’t unionize with UNA.

If the application is approved, the labour board will hold a certification vote, and the workers will have a chance to choose whether to join UNA.

When they submit a certification application, unions must show a minimum of 40% support among the workers they’re trying to organize, so there’s usually a pretty good chance the workplace will unionize.

After all, the nurses at the 3 employers I mentioned above that the UNA applied for earlier this year all ended up joining the UNA, with a majority voting in favour of the certification.

And if these nurses do as well, their first order of business will be to form a a bargaining committee to begin negotiating their first collective agreement with Carewest.

UNA is currently in negotiations with Carewest on a new collective agreement, since their previous agreement expired this past March. Presumably, these nurses would be included in that agreement, should they vote in favour of joining.

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

Update (10 Dec 2024): A majority of these nurses voted in favour of joining UNA at Carewest’s Garrison Green location, as well as their George Boyack location, also in Calgary. The ALRB issued a certification for these workers on 4 December.