Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Work Is Heating Up for CLAC Members in the Prairies

As the summer months are upon us, we are pleased to report on a number of exciting updates that impact members in Alberta and Saskatchewan

Guide magazine Local 63

By Dennis Perrin, Prairies Director

Construction

In Saskatchewan, we are very pleased to see a significant increase in activity, as noted in the March issue of the Guide. We currently have just over 2,000 active members working in Local 151, and that number could reasonably get to 3,000 later this year.

This growth is being driven by both work in the potash sector as well as the agriculture sector (think canola crushing plants). We also have a variety of high-profile commercial work happening with PCL Builders Inc., including the hospital in Prince Albert and the hockey arena in Lloydminster.

The high-water mark for CLAC in Saskatchewan occurred back in 2014, when we peaked at just over 4,000 active members working. After a few years of lower activity, we are thrilled to be very busy again.

On the Alberta construction front, we have concluded an amendment to our project labour agreement with Dow for the Linde scope of work, a new integrated clean hydrogen and atmospheric gases facility in Alberta. This scope of work is eligible for the investment tax credit (ITC), and the amended agreement meets the ITC criteria.

The Linde scope is the decarbonization portion of the work. It represents approximately 20 percent of the total project. CLAC-signatory contractors are actively bidding that work, and we anticipate hearing an announcement soon.

Another project that we are watching closely is Heidlberg Materials in Edmonton. Heidlberg is a cement manufacturer, and it is planning a major expansion that will include carbon capture technologies and carbon storage. The project will create the world’s first net zero carbon cement kiln. The expansion is valued at nearly $2 billion, and CLAC-signatory contractors are in the running for this work as well. The next few years promise to be very active with an abundance of employment opportunities for members in the industrial construction sector in Edmonton.

Education

In March, we successfully negotiated and ratified a first collective agreement for the full-time faculty at the King’s University in Edmonton. King’s is a liberal arts university offering a variety of degree programs.

Support for Apprentices

In the last update, I spoke to how CLAC intends to increase the tuition bursaries for when eligible apprentices go to school. We are pleased to announce that the amount per successfully completed apprenticeship level will increase from $850 to $1,150. A $100 bonus will still apply if the apprentice finishes with a final mark of 90 percent or higher.

Eligible claims will be for those who have successfully completed school or a challenge exam after February 1, 2025. This applies to eligible members working in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia in Locals 63, 68, and 151. Claims for school completed prior to February 1, 2025, remain eligible at the former amount. CLAC is pleased to offer this additional support to apprentices in the face of rising tuition costs.

Work Is Heating Up for CLAC Members in the Prairies

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