Last week, the Alberta Labour Relations Board released their first new applications report for December 2023, and in it was an application for union certification.
The application was filed on 1 December 2023 by Local 362 of the Teamsters Union.
The union filed the application on behalf of food services workers at Concordia University of Edmonton. The university contracts out their food services to the private, third-party Dana Hospitality LP, which is based out of Ontario but has a corporate office in Calgary.
I reached out to Stacy Tulp, a business agent and organizer for Local 362 for more information on the organizing drive.
Tulp told The Alberta Worker that workers reached out to him because of what he called a “change in attitude” at the company, particularly middle management.
According to Tulp, food service workers get no bereavement leave from Dana Hospitality. As well, he said that the workers claim that management shows a general disrespect toward workers, intimidates them with job loss if they refuse shifts, cuts hours for the workers, and hired too many workers for full-time hours—everyone is working part-time.
One of the workers worked in a unionized workplace at a previous job, so they reached out to the Teamsters about organizing this workplace. Once unionized, these workers will be able band together to improve their work environment.
If approved, the union certification will apply to 12 workers employed by Dana Hospitality.; although the ALRB would still need to hold a vote, which will allow all the workers a chance to vote on whether to join the union.
ALRB has scheduled a hearing for 15 December 2023, which will give Dana Hospitality a chance to oppose the certification.
Unfortunately, ALRB doesn’t archive their new application reports, so I’ve included this report below.
