Ironworkers apply for unionization

Last week, the Alberta Labour Relations Board published their final new applications report of February 2026. In it was an application for union certification.

Local 720 of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers filed the application on 17 February 2026.

They are applying for union certification on behalf of workers employed by Yanda Canada Ltd.

Based out of Fort Saskatchewan, Yanda Canada is a subsidiary of the Chinese company Shanghai Yanda Engineering Co., Ltd, which is listed as the employer of a separate but similar application.

The union filed a similar application for an employer listed as 1649269 Alberta Ltd.

Yanda specializes in fabrication and installation of piping, structural steel, insulation, and pressure vessels.

All 3 applications are specifically for general construction structural ironworkers, the current number of which is 8 in all cases.

For workers (or a union) to submit a certification application to the labour board, they must demonstrate that 40% of the workforce in the propose bargaining unit support unionization.

In this case, that would be 4.

Should the Alberta Labour Relations Board hold a certification vote, these 4 workers—assuming they follow through and vote in favour—would need to convince just one more fellow workers to join them for the certification to be successful.

The ALRB has scheduled a hearing for later today regarding these applications. It will be a chance for the employer(s) to present arguments, if they have any, as to why these workers should not be able to unionize with Local 720.

If the workers are successful in unionizing, one of their first items of business will be to form a bargaining committee and begin negotiating their first collective agreement.

Because the ALRB does not archive their new application reports, I have included a copy of last week’s report below for your convenience.