Grande Prairie rig welders plan Oct. 1 walk-off after BC action
Roughly 160 BC rig welders have already stopped work, and organizers say Alberta welders in the Grande Prairie area typically follow within days of a BC job action.
Why it matters
A coordinated welder walk-off could affect oilfield operations and service costs in the Grande Prairie region starting in October.
Rig welders in northern BC's Fort St. John area walked off the job on September 1, with about 160 welders refusing to work for any employer. The group is demanding their hourly rate rise from $125 to $150, citing sharply higher costs for welding rigs and equipment over the past two decades.
Vahid Aghdasi, spokesperson for the Rig Welders of the North Peace Region, said the walk-off began with a convoy of 120 to 160 vehicles honking outside companies in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek to draw attention to the dispute. He said the welders plan to gather each morning but will not return to work until rates increase, and are not currently negotiating.
A similar walk-off among welders in Alberta, including Grande Prairie, is scheduled to begin October 1. Aghdasi said Grande Prairie welders have historically followed BC's lead within a day or two of past job actions, and rate increases in BC have previously been matched in Alberta.
Aghdasi said BC employers interested in discussing higher rates can contact him directly.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.