If you're interested in unionizing your workplace, we can help.

Local 1111 can assist you in certifying your workplace. Our staff is knowledgeable and has the resources to assist Canadian workers in exercising their right to be represented. This is the way for you and your co-workers to have fair pay and working conditions, health benefits, a fair dispute resolution process with your employer, and a pension for your family's future. The long list of benefits of working in an organized workplace can be found on this website on the Local Union page.

Local 1111 has an Organizer on staff to assist workers wishing to be represented by our union. For information call the union hall at 403-287-2090

The Labour Relations Code specifies how a workplace can be "certified" by a union. LiUNA and all of its' affiliates act according to the applicable provincial and federal laws. The following is section 32, 33, and 34 of the Alberta Labour Relations Code. This section specifies how a group of workers qualifies to by certified by a union, and how the Board will act when it receives an application for certification from a group of employees wishing to be represented by a union:

Applications for certification

32   A trade union may apply to the Board to be certified as the bargaining agent for the employees in a unit that the trade union considers appropriate for collective bargaining.

Evidence in support of application for certification

33   An application for certification shall be supported by evidence, in a form satisfactory to the Board, that

(a)    at least 40% of the employees in the unit applied for, by

(i)    maintaining membership in good standing in the trade union, or

(ii)    applying for membership in the trade union and paying on their own behalf a sum of not less than $2 not longer than 90 days before the date the application for certification was made,

or both, have indicated their support for the trade union, or

(b)    at least 40% of the employees in the unit applied for have, not longer than 90 days before the date the application for certification was made, indicated in writing their selection of the trade union to be the bargaining agent on their behalf.

Inquiry into certification application

34(1)  Before granting an application for certification, the Board shall satisfy itself, after any investigation that it considers necessary, that

(a)    the applicant is a trade union,

(b)    the application is timely,

(c)    the unit applied for, or a unit reasonably similar to it, is an appropriate unit for collective bargaining,

(d)    the employees in the unit the Board considers an appropriate unit for collective bargaining have voted, at a representation vote conducted by the Board, to select the trade union as their bargaining agent, and

(e)    the application is not prohibited by section 38.

(2)  Before conducting a representation vote the Board shall satisfy itself, on the basis of the evidence submitted in support of the application and the Board’s investigation in respect of that evidence, that at the time of the application for certification the union had the support, in the form set out in section 33(a) or (b), of at least 40% of the employees in the unit applied for.

(3)  The Board shall conduct any representation vote and shall complete its inquiries into and consideration of an application for certification as soon as possible.

Certification representation vote in construction industry

34.1   A person is not eligible to vote in a representation vote referred to in section 34(1)(d) in respect of the certification of a trade union as bargaining agent with respect to employees and their employer who are engaged in work in the construction industry unless all of the following apply:

(a)    the person was an employee of that employer for at least the 30‑day period immediately preceding the date of the application for certification;

(b)    the person has not quit or abandoned the person’s employment between the date of the application for certification and the date of the vote;

(c)    the person meets any requirements with respect to eligibility to vote established in rules made by the Board pursuant to section 15(4)(a).

Please contact us for assistance in unionizing your workplace. You have the right to be represented by a union if the qualifications set out by the Labour Relations Code are met. It is illegal for your employer to threaten or fire you simply for your intention to become unionized.

Below are the links for the Alberta Labour Relations Board and the full Labour Relations Code:

Link to the Alberta Labour Relations Board website

Link to the Alberta Labour Relations Code