Construction Labour Relations—An Alberta Association

Location: province-wide, Alberta

Union: United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

Affiliation: Change-to-Win / Canadian Labour Congress

Number of employees: 8,000

A 48-month renewal agreement, effective from May 1, 2011, to April 30, 2015, settled in April 2011 at the bargaining stage. Duration of negotiations – 8 months.

Note: Representatives of a number of building trades unions and registered employers’ organizations entered into a Memorandum of Conditions for Joint Bargaining in the second quarter of 2010. The trade jurisdictions affected by the Memorandum are: Boilermakers, Carpenters, Cement Masons, Electricians, Insulators, Labourers, Millwrights, Operating Engineers, Plumbers & Pipefitters, Sheet Metal Workers, Sheeters, Deckers, Cladders, and Teamsters. Most of these trades ratified contract extensions in April and May of 2011.

Wages

Cost-of-Living Allowance

Per cent per per cent based on the percentage change in the Alberta All Items Consumer Price Index. First calculation in Januar 2012 compares the December 2011 index with that of December 2010, with a minimum annual adjustment of 2.0% and a maximum of 4.0%. One-half of the adjustment will be applied on May 1, 2012, the other on November 1, 2012, based on the Group 4 Trades (i.e., Boilermaker, Bricklayer-Refractory, Carpenter, Electrician, Millwright and Pipefitter trade jurisdictions) average wage. Similar calculations will take place in 2013 and 2014, with the yield affected by the Oil Price Variable (see below) and the minimum 2.0% annual adjustment removed from the calculation (previous formula, which was significantly different, did not generate an adjustment).

Oil Price Variable (new addition)

In calendar years 2013 and 2014, the wage adjustment to be effective in May and November of each year will be partly determined by the average price posted for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Oil, in current $US, over the six-month period prior to the month of a calculation. The wage adjustments for May 2013 and 2014 will be calculated as follows:

(i) If the Oil Price is less than $60 per barrel, the adjustment will be zero;

(ii) If the Oil Price is $60 or greater, but less than $90, the adjustment will equal one half of the annual Consumer Price Index change, multiplied by the Group 4 Trades Average Wage;

(iii) If the Oil Price is $90 or greater, but less than $110, the adjustment will equal one half of the annual Consumer Price Index change plus 0.5%, multiplied by the Group 4 Trades Average Wage;

(iv) If the Oil Price is $110 or greater, but less than $125, the adjustment will equal one half of the annual Consumer Price Index change plus 1.0%, multiplied by the Group 4 Trades Average Wage;

(v) If the Oil Price is $125 or greater, the adjustment will equal one half of the annual Consumer Price Index change plus 1.5%, multiplied by the Group 4 Trades Average Wage.

The wage adjustments for November 2013 and 2014 will be calculated as follows:

(i) If the Oil Price is less than $60 per barrel, the adjustment will be zero;

(ii) If the Oil Price is $60 or greater, but less than $90, the adjustment will equal one half of the annual Consumer Price Index change, multiplied by the journeyman carpenter gross wage rate in effect April 1^st of that year;

(iii) If the Oil Price is $90 or greater, but less than $110, the adjustment will equal one half of the annual Consumer Price Index change plus 0.5%, multiplied by the journeyman carpenter gross wage rate in effect April 1^st of that year;

(iv) If the Oil Price is $110 or greater, but less than $125, the adjustment will equal one half of the annual Consumer Price Index change plus 1.0%, multiplied by the journeyman carpenter gross wage rate in effect April 1^st of that year;

(v) If the Oil Price is $125 or greater, the adjustment will equal one half of the annual Consumer Price Index change plus 1.5%, multiplied by the journeyman carpenter gross wage rate in effect April 1^st of that year.

In no case will the total of the May and November wage adjustments in any year exceed 5.0%.

Special Project Needs Agreements (new addition)

When requested by an owner, by the Building Trades of Alberta, or by a general contractor (i.e., a contractor with bargaining relationships with 4 or more trades), a special project needs agreement will be issued. For projects in the Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer regions, the agreement will be similar to the agreements in place for the Enmax Shepard and Keephills projects. For projects that are more remote, the agreement will be similar to agreements in place for the Suncor suite of projects or the Husky Sunrise project.

Working Conditions and Employer Contributions applicable to Industrial Projects

Hours of Work

40 hours per week (unchanged).

Overtime

Time and one-half for the first two overtime hours worked Monday to Friday, then double time thereafter and for all hours worked on Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday (unchanged).

Meal: $40 and a 15-minute paid meal break where it is impractical for the employer to provide a meal (unchanged).

Shift Premium

$3.00 ($2.75) per hour.

Personal Time Off (new addition)

Employees accumulate one-half shift of unpaid personal absence allowance for each 30 calendar days worked, to a maximum accumulation of two full shifts. Employee must give a minimum seven days’ notice of intent to take a personal day or, where such notice is not practical, as much notice as possible.

Allowances

Mileage: 49¢ per kilometre (unchanged).

Daily Travel: For work on projects beyond a 45-kilometre free zone, employer has option of providing transportation and paying travel allowance or reimbursing the employees, as a vehicle allowance, at the rate of 49¢ per kilometre travelled, each way between the edge of the free zone and the projected job site daily and paying travel allowance (formula unchanged).

Room and Board: $110 ($100) per day within the 475-kilometre zone from Edmonton or Calgary. For remainder of province, allowance ranges from $110 per day for Forestburg billet to $195 per day for Fort McMurray (unchanged).

Initial and Return Travel: Each way to projects within the radius from Edmonton or Calgary as follows: on May 1, 2011, up to 200 kilometres, $84; 201 to 300 kilometres, $120; 301 to 375 kilometres, $144; 376 to 475 kilometres, $216 or actual airfare; over 475 kilometres, $330 or actual airfare (all unchanged). Allowance will be subject to review in January 2013 and January 2014.

Rotational Leave Allowance: On jobs located beyond a 300 kilometre radius to a maximum of 475 kilometres from the centre of Edmonton or Calgary or other hiring hall location, $168 after 35 calendar days of employment and, thereafter, for each subsequent 35 days of employment (unchanged). On jobs located beyond a 475-kilometre radius, a transportation allowance, not to exceed scheduled airline airfare where scheduled air service is available, or $300 every 35 days of employment where airline service is not available (unchanged).

Alcohol and Drug Policy

Existing reference document “Canadian Model for Providing a Safe Workplace” is updated with October 2010 addendum which includes provisions for oral fluids testing for drugs (new addition). Provision will prescibe oral fluids testing for “reasonable cause,” “post incident,” and “random testing” under the Canadian Model. If requested, copies of test results must be given to the employee, or former employee that underwent the testing.

Employer Contributions

Pension Fund: $6.60 per hour worked (unchanged).

Health and Welfare Fund: $1.40 per hour worked (unchanged).

Training Fund: 55¢ per hour worked (unchanged).

Vacation and Statutory Holiday Pay: 10% of the base rate (unchanged).

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0257410 – Report completed in March 2012.

Note: Summary reflects the information received at time of ratification.