About the Business Agents

Local 987 employs 6 full-time Business Agents - 4 in Calgary and 2 in Edmonton. Each Business Agent has an assigned number of bargaining units for which he handles all grievances and negotiates first or renewal collective agreements. When a Local 987 member has a problem at work, he or she takes up the matter directly with a supervisor. If the matter cannot be resolved the employee files a grievance and the Business Agent engages in settlement discussions with the Company.

This system works well in resolving most disputes because employees have hands-on knowledge of how the workplace is run and the Business Agent is well positioned to argue the merits of the complaint with the Employer. While Local 987 endorses a mediation model of labour relations, the Local's Business Agents are tenacious in their advocacy of members' rights. All of Local 987's Business Agents were "rank-and-filers" at one time. That industry know-how is the foundation for other acquired skills of contract negotiation and dispute resolution.