Earlier this week, the Alberta Labour Relations Board published their latest new applications report. In it was an application for union certification.
Local 720 of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers—otherwise known as the Ironworkers—filed the application on 15 August 2025 on behalf of workers employed with GNE Construction Ltd.
Based out of Edmonton, GNE Construction offers engineering and steel fabrication services for clients in the telecommunications sector, such as roof tops units, wall mounts, tower reinforcement, monopoles, and antenna towers.
The application is for 4 “general construction structural ironworkers”.
To qualify for a union certification, the workers must indicate support for unionization from at least 40% of those who would be covered by the bargaining unit. In this case, that would be just 2 workers.
The ALRB has scheduled a hearing for next Friday (29th), during which time they will hear arguments (if any) from GNE Construction on why these workers should not join Local 720.
If the ALRB approves the application, they will hold a certification vote, during which time, the workers will choose whether to unionize with Local 720.
Assuming the 2 workers who indicated preliminary support for unionizing also vote in favour, they would need to convince just one fellow workers to do the same.
Should the workers vote in favour of unionizing, their first step will be to form a bargaining committee to begin negotiating a new collective agreement with GNE Construction.
Because the ALRB does not archive their new application reports, I have included a copy of this week’s report below, for your convenience.
