Last month I wrote an article that discussed the recent and ongoing unionization attempt by firefighters employed by the Blood Tribe Department of Health.
These workers have not been unionized since their last collective agreement expired in 2018. Back then, they were represented by Local 987 of the Teamsters.
The International Association of Fire Fighters is trying to change that.
However, as indicated in last week’s new applications report from the Alberta Labour Relations Board, the Blood Tribe Department of Health has accused the union of not following the law.
Did you know that it is against the law in Alberta for unions to promise workers that life will be better for them unionized than not unionized?
You see, in their application to the ALRB, the Blood Tribe Department of Health accused the union of promising higher wages, which they claim violates section 151.1.f of Alberta’s Labour Relations Code.
No trade union and no person acting on behalf of a trade union shall use coercion, intimidation, threats, promises or undue influence of any kind with respect to any employee with a view to encouraging or discouraging membership or activity in or for a trade union including activity relating to making or revoking an election
See? Right there. “No union shall use promises to encourage membership in a union”.
Further to that, the Blood Tribe Department of Health also accused IAFF of conducting their unionization drive at the worksite during work hours, which is also against the law, section 151.d to be precise.
No trade union and no person acting on behalf of a trade union shall, except with the consent of the employer of an employee, attempt, at an employee’s place of employment during the working hours of the employee, to persuade the employee to become, to refrain from becoming or to cease to be a member of a trade union
As of this writing, the ALRB has yet to schedule a hearing for the Blood Tribe Department of health to plead their case and for the IAFF to defend theirs.
