Calgary business travel advisors file notice to unionize, covering 19 staff

CALGARY, Nov 4 — Employees at a Calgary business travel firm have filed a notice to unionize in Alberta. Applications published by the Alberta Labour Relations Board in October show an application by Flight Centre Travel Group (Canada) Inc. for the group's downtown Calgary office, covering staff in its Corporate Traveller division: 19 employees who work both remotely and in the Calgary office, except those above the rank of Team Leader.

If successful, they would join the United Steelworkers

Should the union drive succeed, staff will join the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (United Steelworkers), Local 1-207, which represents Alberta workers. Flight Centre Travel Group Canada confirmed the application. “We respect our employees' right to choose union representation. Our focus remains on supporting our people and serving our customers,” a company spokesperson said, adding that it would not be appropriate to characterize employees' reasons or speak on their behalf. The union has been contacted for comment.

What happens next

Under Alberta labour rules, a certification application must be backed by at least 40% of employees in the proposed bargaining unit — eight workers in this case. The Labour Relations Board has scheduled a hearing on the application, where Flight Centre can present objections to certification. If the application is approved, employees will vote on whether to join the union; a successful vote would clear the way for workers to elect a bargaining committee and begin negotiating their first collective agreement.

Unionization is rare among travel advisors in Canada

Unionization amongst travel advisors is rare in Canada, the report notes: while some advisors are employees of retail travel agencies, many are independent contractors or remote workers, making unionization more challenging, and industry representation more often comes through professional associations such as ACTA. There are precedents, however: W.E. Union Travel, based in Ottawa and Vancouver, has been fully unionized since 1971, and CAA South Central Ontario's travel agents are also unionized.

(Sources: Open Jaw, November 4, 2026; Alberta Labour Relations Board October applications. Photo: file image of the Calgary downtown skyline.)