Alberta rig welders are preparing to join a labour action spreading from British Columbia’s Peace region, with rallies planned across the province on Oct. 1 as independent welders push for higher pay to offset years of stagnant rates and rising business costs.
The movement began in B.C. on Sept. 1, when Rig Welders of the North Peace launched a stand-down involving roughly 160 independent contractors based in Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and surrounding areas. The group is seeking a minimum hourly rate of $150, along with changes to how fuel and supply costs are handled on jobs.
Craig Fiset, who owns Fiset’s Welding in Fort St. John and has worked in the trade since 1997, plans to travel to Grande Prairie this week to support Alberta’s participation in the action. He said the increase is “long overdue,” pointing to the erosion of purchasing power welders have experienced since 2008. Fiset estimated that it would now take $370 to match the buying power that $120 held in 2008, citing inflation and the rising cost of running a welding business.
Movement Gains Momentum Across Two Provinces
Vahid Aghdasi, an organizer involved in the Fort St. John effort, said the campaign has expanded rapidly, with the number of independent welders involved growing from the double digits to more than 1,000 across British Columbia and Alberta over the course of a few months. Aghdasi said the underlying issue has been building for more than 15 years, as hourly rates have failed to keep pace with the changing costs of operating an independent welding business. He said welders in northern and central Alberta are expected to join the B.C. stand-down.
Fiset said establishing a consistent $150 rate across the region would make it easier for local contractors to compete for available work. He acknowledged that oil and gas companies are also facing their own financial pressures in a difficult market, but argued that Alberta’s involvement in the action could help prevent companies from undercutting local welders by bringing in cheaper labour from elsewhere.
Wider Solidarity Among Trades
Fiset said the Oct. 1 action reflects broader frustration among tradespeople beyond welding, noting that electricians, gas fitters and truckers are also dealing with concerns over compensation and working conditions. He said many welders plan to attend the Alberta rallies simply to show support for workers in neighbouring trades facing similar pressures.
Key Figures in the Welders' Wage Dispute
Organizers say the campaign’s growth reflects frustration that has accumulated over more than a decade, as rates for independent welding contractors remained largely unchanged even as operating costs and inflation increased. The Oct. 1 rallies are expected to be held throughout Alberta, with Grande Prairie identified as a key gathering point for the province’s participation in the broader B.C.-Alberta labour action.
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