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On October 26, 2026, the Alberta Labour Relations Board (the “Board”) declared that the Carpenters’ Regional Council, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (the “Union”), acted arbitrarily, in a discriminatory manner, unreasonably and unlawfully, contrary to section 152(1)(a) of the Alberta Labour Relations Code. The Union expelled the Complainants from membership and suspended two of them from elected Union Office as Local Union President and Treasurer. The Board ordered the expulsions and suspensions to be rescinded.
“As the Union applied disciplinary standards in a discriminatory manner contrary to section 152(1)(a) of the Code, the Board directs the discipline of the Expelled Complainants to be rescinded. [Two of the Complainants] were also suspended from their office positions (President and Treasurer of UBCJA Local 1325, respectively), with the expulsion, and as the expulsion is to be rescinded, the suspension from being able to hold office must also be rescinded.”
The Board has reserved jurisdiction with respect to additional remedies being sought by the Complainants.
Background
On November 28, 2022, Douglas McCarron, the General President of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, appointed Tom Cardinal, President, and Jason Rowe, as Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Carpenters’ Regional Council.
The Trustees of the ACAW Trust Funds took steps to protect the interests of the beneficiaries and their families from potential interference with the administration of the Trusts by senior Union officials appointed by President McCarron.
Senior Union officials, Jason Rowe, his wife, Stacey Rowe, and Tom Cardinal, misappropriated the Union’s funds without authorization to purchase real estate including a $4-million property in Nobleton, Ont., where Mr. Rowe and his wife lived from 2022 until 2024. In 2024, they used union funds without authorization again to purchase a second property valued at $2.5 million. Subsequently, President McCarron placed the CRC under supervision.
Notably, while the Complainants faced disciplinary charges, were tried, convicted and expelled from the Union, to date neither Mr. Rowe, Mrs. Rowe, nor Mr. Cardinal have been charged with disciplinary offences under the Union’s Constitution. However, they have reportedly resigned.
