Oil & gas workers file for unionization

Earlier this week, the Alberta Labour Relations Board published their final new applications report for November 2024. In it was an application for union certification.

Local 955 of the International Union of Operating Engineers filed the application on 13 November 2024 on behalf of workers employed by Oosita Bluewater SCL GP Limited.

Based out of Fort Chipewyan, Oosita partners with other companies to provide technology, engineering, and constructions services in Alberta’s oil and gas industry.

The application filed by Local 955 would apply to 112 workers employed by Oosita at locations owned by Syncrude. It doesn’t include office or clerical workers, supervisors, or those working in quality control or sales.

This isn’t the only certification application Local 955 has filed this month. They also filed one on behalf of Lafarge workers in Fort Saskatchewan on the 4th.

The ALRB has scheduled a hearing for this application for later today, during which time, the employer will have a chance to argue why they think these workers shouldn’t unionize with Local 955.

If the application is approved, the labour board will hold a certification vote, and the workers will have a chance to choose whether to join IOUE.

When they submit a certification application, unions must show a minimum of 40% support among the workers they’re trying to organize, so there’s usually a pretty good chance the workplace will unionize.

And if they do, their first order of business will be to form a a bargaining committee to begin negotiating their first collective agreement with Oosita.

Because the ALRB doesn’t archive their new application reports, I’ve included a copy of this week’s report below for your convenience.

Update (9 January 2024): The ALRB issued a certificate for these worker on 6 December 2024.