Edmonton LRT workers apply for union vote

Last week, the Alberta Labour Relations Board released their new applications report for the first week of 2024. In it was an application from Edmonton transit workers, who are trying to unionize.

The application was filed on 2 January by Local 569 of the Amalgamated Transit Union to certify the unionization of 13 transit controllers and train crew supervisors employed by TransEd O&M Partners General Partnership.

In a public-private partnership with the City of Edmonton, TransEd Partners is responsible to design and build stage one of the Valley Line component of Edmonton’s light rail transit system, as well as to operate and maintain the line for 30 years.

This isn’t the first time that Local 569 has filed applications with the ALRB recently. Back in October, the union had filed an application regarding unionbusting in the community of Strathcona County, where ATU had been trying to unionize bus drivers there.

The ALRB has scheduled a hearing tomorrow for the TransEd workers’ application, during which time, the employer can express any reasons they might have to oppose the unionization vote.

If the ALRB approves the certification application, the next step will be for the ALRB to organize a vote that they will supervise, for the workers to choose whether to organize.

The ALRB doesn’t archive their new applications reports, so I’ve included a copy of this report below.

Update (6 February 2024): I was able to connect with Steve Bradshaw, the president and business agent for Local 569. He indicated that their local already represented all 52 TransEd O&M operators. They also had organized inspectors with Edmonton Transit System, which prompted inspectors with TransEd O&M to reach out to them about unionizing. In the 3 weeks since this article was published, the company has opposed the unionization effort of the inspectors, according to Bradshaw, arguing to the ALRB that they are management. Local 569 disagrees, and so the two parties wait clarification from the ALRB, which may not arrive until at least June.

Update (9 January 2025): The ALRB issued a certificate for these workers on 19 December 2024.