SUMMER tradet THBEaC MBUAIGLADZININGE T … Summer 2017 Web.pdfA b i g ro l ef u dn t a s 28 Build Together BC Team at Skills BC Build Together 29 B.C. workers are paying for refunds

tradetalktradetalkTHE MAGAZINE OF THE BC BUILDING TRADES

WE BUILD BC™

SUMMER2017VOL. 20NO. 2

Publications Mail Agreement

No. 40848506

BuildingTrades

advancing diabetes

cure

This beautifully crafted 250-page book, written by the Union’s Strategic Researcher Mark Warrior, features many archival and recent photos of members at work on industrial, commercial, and institutional construction projects around the province. For infomation on how to order your copy, call 1.800.663.6588.

Building the Power, a history of LiUNA Local 1611, documents the dramatic events and accomplishments of its members from 1937.

For example, in 1953, Stacey Warner, while organizing pipeline workers, was threatened with a shotgun by a company thug hired for that purpose. The police did not take notice. In 1981, the Labour Relations Board ignored the fact that the employer o�ered union member Dean Homewood a $1,000 bribe to change his vote—right at the LRB o�ce—when LiUNA Local 1070 was attempting to certify his bargaining unit. Ignoring naked violence had been replaced by ignoring blatant lawbreaking. But the result was not the same. Warner succeeded in organizing the workers. The certi�cation vote at Homewood’s employer was lost.

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vothe pr tion o omaor inf. Fevinc our cder yo orw t on ho , call 1.800.663.6588.yop 88.

PUBLISHED BY THEBC BUILDING TRADES

EDITORTom Sigurdson

EDITORIAL SERVICESFace to Face Communications Canadian Freelance Union

DESIGN/PHOTOGRAPHYJoshua Berson PhotoGraphics Ltd.UNIFOR LOCAL 780G

ADVERTISINGShane DysonCanadian Freelance Union

Claudia FerrisUNIFOR LOCAL 780G

Tradetalk Magazine is published four times a year by the BC BUILDING TRADES#207 88 10th St. New Westminster, B.C. V3M [email protected]

All rights reserved. Material published maybe reprinted providing permission is grant-ed and credit is given. Views expressed arethose of the authors. No statements in themagazine express the policies of the BCBUILDING TRADES, except where indicated.

The council represents 21 local unionsbelonging to 12 international unions. There are approximately 35,000 unionized construction workers in B.C.

Summer 2017

ISSN 1480-5421Printed in Canada by Mitchell Press

Base Subscription Rate ––$24 Cdn. per year in Canada and the U.S.For subscriptions outside Canada and theU.S.––$32 Cdn. per year.

Executive Board and OfficersLee Loftus, President; InsulatorsAdam Van Steinberg, Vice President;

Electrical WorkersJim Paquette, Secretary-Treasurer;

Sheet Metal, Roofers and Production Workers

Geoff Higginson, Bricklayers & Allied TradesHamish Stewart, BCRC CarpentersChris Feller, Cement MasonsDerrek Autzen, FloorlayersDoug Parton, IronworkersManuel Alvernaz, LabourersBrian Zdrilic, MillwrightsBrian Cochrane, Operating EngineersDave Holmes, Painters and Allied TradesJim Noon, Plumbers and PipefittersTony Santavenere, TeamstersJim Pearson, UNITE HERE

Tom Sigurdson, Executive Director

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40848506 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:#209 88 10th St.New Westminster, B.C. V3M 6H8

tradetalk SUMMER 2017The magazine of The bC building Trades

Tradetalk is printed on Forest Stewardship Council ®

certified paper from responsible sources. The FSC® is an independent, not-for-profit organization promoting responsible

management of the world's forests.

Contents6 Building Trades move us one step closer

Cure for diabetes10 Optimism even with election uncertainty

B.C. election12 Reaffiliation will benefit B.C.’s unionized construction industry

Affiliates return to the council14 No Go for workers’ rights on Site C for now

Site C organizing drive16 Painting apprentices keep pace with technology

Finishing Trades Institute18 A great showing from the building trades

Skills Canada competition20 Building bridges and crossing controversy

Massey Bridge

22 Initiatives to build appreciation & an inclusive work environmentCanadian Building Trades Convention

24 Same construction work but focus moves to climate changeA big role for building trades

28 Build Together BC Team at Skills BC Build Together

29 B.C. workers are paying for refunds to businessWorkSafe B.C. surpluses

30 Many stories to tell in the first 50 yearsBC Building Trades anniversary

Summer 2017 / BC BUILDING TRADES tradetalk 3

Cover: Bruce Vechere, headof the ChildhoodDiabetes Laboratoriesat BC Children’sHospital, said the BCBuilding Trades havebeen instrumental inadvancing diabetesresearch.Photo: Brynn Bourke

To the editor:

Thank you for keeping us wellinformed. We need to keep workingon cracking the underground econo-my. B.C. needs to stop selling off westcoast timber and fisheries. This is cost-ing lots of B.C. jobs. These jobs aregoing to China.

Karl Wiggins, Fraser Lake, B.C.,Teamsters Local 213

CorrectionThe list of First Nations receiving con-struction craft worker training from theLabourers Local 1611 was incorrect inthe last edition of Tradetalk. The groupsinvolved in the training this spring arethe Kitselas, Burns Lake, andWet’suwet’en First Nations.

4 tradetalk BC BUILDING TRADES / Summer 2017

We welcome your comments...

The opinions expressed in StartingPoint are not necessarily those ofthe BC Building Trades Council orits affiliates. Send letters (the shorter the better)to the editor at:BC BUILDING TRADES, #209 88 10th St. New Westminster, B.C. V3M 6H8 [email protected]

Letters must include your name,address, phone number and, where relevant, union affiliation,trade or company.

Starting Point

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forthe most part, the continentaldivide runs through ourprovince along the high peaks

of the Rocky Mountains. Rivers on thewestern side of the divide flow to thePacific Ocean while the rivers on the eastof the divide, flow in that direction. Thedivide is a unique component of our geog-raphy that is not given a great deal ofattention.

There is another divide in our provincewhich, at this moment, is given much atten-tion; it is the political division that splitsour province. Vancouver Island, coastalcommunities, and the better part of metroVancouver elected New Democrat mem-bers to the legislature while the FraserValley, B.C. Interior, and North electedLiberals.

On election night and subsequent votecounts, the Liberals finished with 43 seats,the NDP 41, and the Greens 3. A total of1,591,778 votes were cast for the Liberalsand the NDP. When all the votes were tallied, the difference between the two par-ties was a mere 1,566 votes. BritishColumbians could not be more divided.

The three Green Party MLAs will holdthe balance of power. At the time of writ-ing, the Greens have not indicated whothey will support; Clark’s Liberals orHorgan’s New Democrats. Suffice to saythat the next few weeks and indeed thenext few months and years will be inter-esting times for political observers.

During the election, a number ofpromises were made. Of importance tothe members of the BC Building Tradeswas a particular commitment made by theNDP to build two major Skytrain exten-sions under a project labour agreement.Among other things, PLAs ensure that:B.C. workers have priority employmentopportunities; apprentices have access toproject work; and First Nations andwomen will have training and employmentopportunities. These are important compo-nents to successful PLAs.

Contrast that commitment with howthe Liberal government and BC Hydroproceeded with the Site C project. Afterover 50 years of building hydroelectricdams under the Allied Hydro Agreement,which was initially established by late pre-mier WAC Bennett, the Clark Liberalsmoved to an “open managed” site. Thereare hundreds of workers on that site whodo not reside in B.C.There are multiple

contractors on the project who reportedlyare overwhelmed and confused by thescope and management of the work.Apprenticeship opportunities fail to meetthe government’s own “aspirational goal”of 25%. Moving away from the Allied HydroAgreement/PLA to the open-managed sitemodel was a political decision made toappease and draw continued support fromthe anti-union contractors in our province.

There are many issues in B.C. requiringattention from our political leadership:from healthcare (MSP premiums) to hous-ing and homelessness; from education atthe basic elementary levels to post-sec-ondary which must include trades trainingand employment opportunities for ourapprentices; from poverty reduction togrowing our economy in an inclusive man-ner to foster a robust middle-class. The listof issues is exhaustive.

The leadership of the BuildingTrades willcontinue to press the B.C. government on

issues that directly impact our members:employment/apprenticeship opportunities;healthcare and pensions; organizing theunorganized; worker/worksite safety;action on the undergroundeconomy–another exhaustive list!

What we do not yet know is what themake-up of the B.C. government will be.Both the BC Liberals and the NDP requirethe support of the Green caucus in orderto pass budgets and move legislationthrough the legislative assembly. AndrewWeaver, the leader of the Green Party,holds a lot of power at the present timeand with power comes tremendousresponsibility. His party picked up almost17% of the total votes cast in the election,less than half of what the Liberals andNDP received. Importantly, only 40% ofB.C. voters wanted to keep the Liberals inoffice. To be precise, 59.64% wantedchange. Weaver and the Greens would bewise to heed the call for change.

The building Trades—Who we arePhone Web addressB.C. Building and

Construction Trades Council 778-397-2220 www.bcbuildingtrades.org

affiliated unionsBC Regional Council of Carpenters 250-383-8116 http://bcrcc.caBricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 2 604-584-2021 www.bac2bc.orgCement Masons & Plasterers Local 919 604-585-9198 www.opcmia919.orgConstruction & Specialized Workers Local 1611 604-541-1611 www.cswu1611.orgElectrical Workers Local 213 (L. Mainland) 604-571-6500 www.ibew213.orgElectrical Workers Local 230 (V. Island) 250-388-7374 www.ibew230.orgElectrical Workers Local 1003 (Nelson) 250-354-4177 www.ibew1003.orgElectrical Workers Local 993 (Kamloops) 250-376-8755 www.ibew993.orgFloorlayers Local 1541 604-524-6900 www.bcfloorlayers1541.org/Heat and Frost Insulators Local 118 604-877-0909 www.insulators118.orgIUPAT District Council 38 604-524-8334 www.dc38.caIronworkers Local 97 604-879-4191 www.ironworkerslocal97.comMillwrights Local 2736 604-525-2736 www.millwrights2736.comOperating Engineers Local 115 604-291-8831 www.IUOE115.caPile Drivers Local 2404 604-526-2404 http://piledrivers2404.caPlumbers & Pipefitters Local 170 604-526-0441 www.plumbers.bc.caPlumbers and Pipefitters Local 324 250-382-0415 www.ualocal324.comRefrigeration Workers Local 516 604-882-8212 www.ua516.orgSheet Metal, Roofers and Production Workers Local 280(Vancouver) 604-430-3388 www.smw280.org

Sheet Metal, Roofers and Production Workers Local 276 (Victoria) 250-727-3458 www.smwia276.ca

Teamsters Local 213 604-876-5213 www.teamsters213.orgUNITE HERE Local 40 604-291-8211 www.uniteherelocal40.org

tom sigurdsonFrom the editor

Clear as mud!


Members of the BC Building Trades will be outside liquor stores on the Father’s Day weekend collecting donations for the UBC Centre for Research

in Childhood Diabetes. Call your local union o�ce to learn more.

Join the campaign! Someday a pen will just be for writing

CFU

-F2F

(Dad’s Day)

April 28

The National Day of Mourning remembers and honours those who have lost their lives to work-related trauma or occupational diseases.

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By Richard GilbertThe BC Building Trades Council’s

unique partnership with UBC is havinga transformative effect on researchinto a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Over the past 18 years, the BCBT

has raised more than $330,000 forcharity through its annual golf tourna-ment and DAD’s Day (Dollars AgainstDiabetes) bucket collection drives.

For the most part, constructionworkers are able-bodied individuals

who have a skill which allows them toearn a pretty decent income,” said TomSigurdson, BCBT executive director.“There is a sense that we are fortu-

Building Trades move us one step closer to a cure for diabetes

Continued on following page

The UBC research team is working todevelop insulin-producing cells fromstem cells that will be resistant torejection. Br

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nate and we need to look after peoplewho are less fortunate. As an exten-sion of that, we decided decades agoto support diabetes research.”

Bruce Verchere, head of theChildhood Diabetes Laboratories atBC Children’s Hospital and one ofCanada’s leading diabetes scientists,said, “It really started when we builtthis diabetes centre at Children’sHospital with some support from thefederal and provincial government forequipment…We needed matchingfunds to liberate the governmentfunds, but also to pay for people tooperate and maintain the equipment.We had to make sure the staff wastrained and the equipment was beingused to its maximum extent.”

Verchere received his PhD in physi-ology from UBC and is a professor inthe Department of Pathology andLaboratory Medicine at the university.One of the most important uses of

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the donations from the BCBT goes to experts who trainpeople and operate the high-tech equipment.

“We are using really cool state of the art technology whichallows us to integrate single cells of blood from a kid withdiabetes,” said Verchere. “Now we are looking at single cells,which involves integrating or looking into the genes and pro-teins that are made in single cells. We compare cells inhealthy and diabetic states in order to try and make newinsulin producing cells from stem cells.”

Verchere said one treatment for Type 1 diabetes is totransplant cells, because these people no longer have the cellsto make insulin. Transplanting insulin producing cells intopatients can have a profound effect, which includes takingpeople off insulin.

However, transplants don’t last forever and there are notenough organ donors to provide cells for everyone whowants a transplant.

“So, we need new sources, and one of the sources is stemcells,” he said. “We are trying to make new insulin producingcells from stem cells that would be resistant to rejection. Weare trying to genetically engineer these cells so they will beprotected or last longer once transplanted.”

Donations from the BC Building Trades also provide seedmoney for research into a cure for diabetes.

“It’s really hard for us to get funding or grants for pilotexperiments or wild ideas that might lead to a cure, becauseyou need a lot of data to go to the government for grants,”he said. “I think there is some appeal for that to donors,because they see the new ideas, innovation, and technologythat might go to the next level. These initial steps can helpjump start or catalyze research.”

More than half of the money generated from these initia-tives has been used to support research into childhood dia-betes at UBC. The remainder of the money has been donatedto Variety–The Children’s Charity, which is a non-profit orga-

nization dedicated to supporting children with special needs. The 19th Annual BC Building Trades Golf Tournament is

being held at Hazelmere Golf Course in Surrey on July 19.The tournament organizers have set a fundraising goal thisyear of $25,000.


S P R I N G 2 0 1 7

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HATCH LAW H CTAAT CH L WAAW W

By David HogbenWhen all the counting—and

recounting—was done, the May 9 elec-tion was so close two weeks later thatit was still uncertain who would formthe B.C. government.

With the Liberals winning 43 seats,the NDP 41 and the Greens 3, it was-n’t clear whether the Liberals couldcling to power with a little help fromthe Greens, or if the NDP and Greenscould bridge their differences and gov-ern together.

“Until we really know what thestripe of the administration is going tobe, for the B.C. Building Trades it’s no

change at the moment,” said TomSigurdson, BC Building Trades executivedirector, moments after it was learnedthat the NDP had hung on to theCourtenay-Comox seat, denying theLiberals a razor-thin majority.

“We are still going to lobby for aB.C.-workers-first campaign. We aregoing to lobby for compulsory trades.We are going to lobby for projectlabour agreements on publicly fundedprojects so that we can have moreapprentices, more women, more FirstNations included.

“None of that is going to change. Wejust won’t know how well received

that message will be until we knowwho we are dealing with,” Sigurdsonsaid.

Despite the unknowns, BC BuildingTrades President Lee Loftus said thecliff-hanger election was also reasonfor optimism.

“The last 16 years has offered apointed strategy to put us out of busi-ness, and that is gone.

“Tomorrow, no matter who is inpower, I think there will be moreopportunities in the marketplace andmore occasions to have meaningfulconversations with our partners inconstruction,” Loftus said.

Optimism even with election uncertainty

Voters, everywhere in B.C., are waiting to see how the province willbe governed.

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“Hopefully we will find some sup-port in the political community tomake sure that local workers, localcontractors, and local communities aresupported with construction workrather than what we have seen, overthe last 15-plus years, with multination-als getting all of the work.”

Even if the Liberals manage to hangon to power, the relationship betweenunionized construction workers andthe government has fundamentallychanged, Loftus said, especially with there-afilliation of several local tradeunions.

“So, our numbers are stronger, andthe government that has been attack-ing us is weaker. We have the strengthto address issues both with the provin-

cial Green Party, and with the NewDemocratic Party.”

Unionized construction workers, likeother British Columbians, will be won-dering about the big-ticket projects likeSite C and the Kinder Morgan pipelineexpansion.

Kinder Morgan and Site C are keyLiberal undertakings.

The NDP and Greens campaignedhard against Kinder Morgan, butSigurdson said it’s not clear whetherthey can stop a project that hasalready been approved by the federalLiberal government and the ChristyClark government.

“I don’t know that they can do any-thing as a province, given that it’s fed-eral jurisdiction.”

Although a NDP/Green alliancecould spell trouble for the Site Cmulti-billion-dollar hydroelectric pro-ject on the Peace River, that politicaloutcome wouldn’t be all bad news.

“Site C, under an Orange/Green sce-nario, would be referred to the B.C.Utilities Commission, but we haveheard that major projects, like SkyTrainextension to Arbutus Street and theother one going east to Langley City,would be done under an Orange plat-form anyway.”

The Liberals have fought hard againsta project labour agreement at Site C.Sigurdson said he expects anOrange/Green alliance would be a lotmore open to project labour agree-ments on big, public projects.

Janet Routledge is joined by supportersas they head to the polls.

Reaffiliation will benefit

B.C.’s unionizedconstruction

industry


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By David HogbenThe framework is in place for the

unification of B.C. constructionunions.

B.C. Building Trades (BCBT) affili-ates and re-affiliating unions laid outhow they will work together during aspecial convention at the PacificGateway Hotel in Richmond on April25.

The B.C. Regional Council ofCarpenters; Plumbers and PipefittersLocal 170; Millwrights Local 2736; andthe Piledrivers Local 2404 joined cur-rent Building Trades members in vot-ing unanimously in favor of a resolu-tion to “endorse the principle ofunity for British Columbia’sConstruction Crafts and agree tofully support a re-unified Council tothe benefit of all.”

“It’s an exciting time for us torevisit our history,” said BCBTPresident Lee Loftus after the vote.

“There was a time when the build-ing trades [council] in B.C. was oneof the strongest advocates for work-ing people, and because of someinternal strife around the typical stuffconstruction industry works with,specifically jurisdiction, we found our-selves wandering down differentpaths,” Loftus said.

“Fortunately, today it looks like allthose paths are coming back togeth-er.”

The final step in uniting unionizedconstruction workers is set for theBCBT’s annual convention inSeptember which will include changesto the constitution and bylaws thatwill bring the re-affiliating membersback to the council.

The April meeting also set out pre-liminary budgets, funding, and votingrules for the special convention.

Brian Zdrilic, the millwrights’ busi-

ness manager, said the re-affiliationwill give his union a better ability todeal with political and LabourRelations Board issues such as orga-nizing and certifications. “It’s going tobe a higher profile for our members,”he said. “A bigger voice carries a lotfarther than a single voice.”

Joe Shayler, business manager of thePlumbers and Pipefitters Local 170,said “It’s best for the building tradesto be together working towardsincreasing market share in the con-struction industry and supportingeach other.”

Shayler said he wants to see theincreased strength of the unifiedcouncil be put to work focusing on“dealing with issues such as tradequalification tickets in municipalitiesthrough the inspection departments.”Municipal inspectors should berequired to visit construction sites toensure that qualified tradespeople areon site, doing quality work, he said.

Darrell Hawk, the piledrivers’ busi-ness manager, said there will beimprovements for his membersbecause of the re-affiliation.

“I think it’s big picture stuff, tryingto be a common voice, on things likeproject labour agreements.” Thatcommon voice, he said, adds strengthwhen promoting union qualificationsand apprenticeships.

Jason Pedersen, business managerfor the Sheet Metal Workers Local276 and a current member of thecouncil, said the return of the formeraffiliates will make it more attractivefor project developers to deal withthe BC Building Trades rather thanface dealing with multiple unions.

“The reason that keeps some peo-ple out is they say, ‘I have to deal with11 or 12 different unions on my own.Why would I do it?’

“[Now] a contractor can say I needthis building, and we can say, ‘Well, wecan do that for you’,” Pedersen said.“That is something we haven’t hadsince Expo ’86 when lots of the frag-menting began.”

Bob Blakely, chief executive officerfor the Canada’s Building TradesUnions, said the voice of unionizedconstruction workers in B.C. will bestronger with the return of the re-affiliating members.

Anyone trying to put forward amessage for the public good faces thesame challenge. “If your message issound, some people may hear it. [But]if your message is sound and carriedby a number of people, your chancesof success go up astronomically,”Blakely said. For unions, “it meansthat their views get represented.”

Tom Sigurdson, BCBT executivedirector, said bringing the groups backinto the fold will be good for themand existing Building Trades members.“Having the groups together in thesame room means the level of debatewill be better focused because it willrepresent more of the unionized con-struction industry in B.C.

“We need that. We have had holes.We have not had the carpenters. Wehave not had the plumbers. So thosegaps are going to be filled. We arecertainly going to be able to advance,in a more holistic way, the benefits ofhaving qualified workers delivering aquality product to the consumingpublic.

“We are going to be a little morefocused, a little more driven, anddeliver the benefits to the memberswho are working on the tools.”

Sigurdson is optimistic the re-affilia-tion process will be ready for the fin-ishing touches at the September con-vention.

We support industry, we support progress, we support a strong British Columbia economy.

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No Go for workers’rights on Site C for now

iT appearsthat Site CDam workers

won’t get a chance to certify as a bar-gaining unit with the BC BuildingTrades Affiliates—at least not for now.

The BC Labour Relations Boardruled in late May that organizers withthe three affiliates had not signed upenough members to qualify for a certi-fication vote. Its ruling is based on therequirement that a union applying forcertification of a business or work sitemust prove that it has signed up a min-imum of 50% of the work force on thepayroll at the time of the application.

Josh Towsley, business representativewith the Operating Engineers Local 115,who co-led the organizing drive alongwith reps from Teamsters Local 213 andLabourers Local 1611, was fairly certain

that they had signed up more membersthan the minimum requirement. Thesubsequent payroll and sign-up reviewby the LRB disagreed.

While the result was disappointing,as in any organizing drive, relationshipsbetween workers developed and therewere many conversations about thechallenges confronting workers and theconstruction industry in B.C.

“We signed up a lot of people,”Towsley said, adding that the potentialbargaining unit would have included upto 2,000 workers on the project.

Complicating the issue is that theworkers–who are mainly crane, heavyequipment, and supply operators andthose who perform servicing andmaintenance work–are currently mem-bers of CLAC (the Christian Labour

Association of Canada) which is notseen as a legitimate labour organiza-tion by most unions. The organizingdrive was considered a “raid” becauseone union is asking members of anoth-er to join it, Towsley said. The threeunions put in their application for avote well in advance of the April deadline.

“The employees were worried abouthealth and safety issues–like who isproperly trained to be running theequipment–and they had payroll con-cerns and they weren’t getting anyunion representation,” Towsley said,adding that the organizing drive startedin January, after many of the workerson the site approached the threeunions for help. “There are on-the-jobfears about being bullied. It’s the usual

situation we see with CLAC. It seemsto be just that way with them.”

The general contractor, HydroPartners Construction Ltd., is a jointpartnership between BC Hydro andtwo private firms. The companiessigned “voluntary recognition” agree-ments with CLAC at the very start ofthe project. These agreements don’tinvolve the LRB. Instead contractors orbosses agree to recognize employeesas a union and together they sign col-lective agreements.

“They got a deal when there werejust a few people on the site,” Towsleysaid. “Then they started to crew up forthe job.”

In addition, he said the drive wasplagued with constant delays by theLRB pushing back decision deadlines.Towsley said a key factor in the delaywas that the provincial government hasbeen underfunding the LRB for severalyears. It no longer has sufficientresources to conduct business in atimely manner. “There’s been a steadydecline in resources at the board.There aren’t enough people to getthings done as quickly as they used to.At one time, you could get to theboard at 8 p.m. or even 2 a.m. becausethe board would be open for business24 hours a day. Now you’re gettingpushed out the door at 6 p.m. becausethey want to lock up.”

Another point of concern, he said,was the lack of desperately neededapprenticeship opportunities on the$8.8 billion project. A BC Hydroreport showed that at the end ofJanuary there were a mere 40 appren-tices, out of a total of 2,000 positions.

“Any project of similar scope to thisone would be expected to have 20 to30% apprentices,” he said. The nine-year project would present a great

opportunity to train large numbers ofnew entries to the construction sector.“So this (Site C Dam project) has ashockingly low rate of apprentices.That’s very disappointing since BCHydro is a public utility. This project isbeing paid for by taxpayers andratepayers, and the corporation can’teven be bothered to ensure there aresufficient apprenticeship levels. Weought to be getting the maximum levelof apprentices on these sites.”

The lack of support for apprentice-ship training has been a grievance ofmany unions. This has been verified bynumerous industry and economicmonitoring reports showing that B.C.suffers a shortage of up to 30,000skilled construction trades positionsevery year.

“A lot of our people are within afew years of retirement,” Towsley said.“They can’t keep working forever, and

when they go, as it is now, there won’tbe enough people coming up toreplace them.”

This decline in skilled workers hasleft the industry to seek skilled labourfrom outside the province and country,or in the case of many non-unionfirms, simply to do the best they canwithout them. That also affects thequality of construction, with manyexamples in the residential construc-tion sector. For larger commercial pro-jects, the results could be disastrous,Towsley said.

“When these types of projects goahead, we try to ensure they are usingunion labour,” he said. “These ought tobe built with proper apprenticeshipprograms that ensure quality work andthat people are paid well with properhealth and safety [programs] and rep-resentation from real unions that getreal results.”


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Vice Chair — Paolo Perozzo; Vice Chair — Dave Rosemeyer; Vice Chair — Tony SarangeloPrince George Chapter Chair — Brian Helgeson; Vancouver Island Chapter Chair —Karl Jones

International Union of Bricklayers andAllied Craftworkers—Local #2 B.C.

I.U.B.A.C.—Proudly serving members of the trowel trades in B.C. since 1898

For information on membership or training, please contact

Geo� Higginson, Interim PresidentFred Goldie, Secretary-Treasurer

12309 Industrial Road , Surrey B.C V3V 3S4Phone 604-584-2021

Toll-free 1-855-584-2021

Brick Masons — Tile Setters — Corrosion and Refractory Workers —Stone Masons — Terrazzo Workers —Marble Masons — P.C.C. and Restoration

Proud Promoters and Trainers in the Masonry and Tile Industries


By Leslie DysonStudents at the Finishing Trades

Institute are keeping up with the fastpace of technological change that hascome to the industrial painting sector.

While the training institute employsa virtual paint sprayer as much as pos-sible because it is an environmentallyresponsible tool that saves gallons ofpaint each year, the FTI also featuressome of the most advanced equipmentin Canada. The official opening of the14,000 square foot addition to thenow 40,000 square foot facility inSurrey took place on March 30.

The District Council 38 Joint TradeSociety raised $4 million for construc-tion and equipment that includes anabrasive blast tank, well ventilatedspray booth, and Pleural ComponentPaint (PCP) System–used in the indus-trial painting sector. A new hazardousmaterials abatement training area islocated on the mezzanine.

“This is what the future holds for

the industrial sector,” said InstructorChico Albino. “We want students to beable to use the equipment safely andproficiently so it’s like second nature.It’s labour intensive to set up and cleanup the spray gun for example.”

Albino, a member of DC 38 since1985 and an instructor for nine yearssaid, “You have to look ahead or you’llbe left behind.” Training on this equip-ment will ensure that the skills of thestudents are in high demand. “It’s whatwe’re here for,” he said.

Business Agent Justin Chapman, thetraining institute’s industrial paintingrep, explained that industrial paintersare using constantly updated coatingsfor a wide variety of purposes. Manycan’t be mixed the old-fashioned way,in buckets, because they are highlyvolatile and toxic and can dry in as lit-tle as eight seconds.

The PCP spray system allows mixingof components that dry quickly andrequire specific temperatures to be

combined. The drums can be heated upto 130º before the coating is sentthrough the paint lines.

These high-performance coatingshave many applications, from sealingthe bottom of ships to preventing rustand adding strength and durabilityinside and outside pipes.

Chapman, a 10-year member ofDistrict Council 38, learned how touse all this equipment and gained wide-ranging experience while working for 8years with Dynacore Coatings on job-sites such as the GVRD water pipeline,SkyTrain line, at the Imperial Oil termi-nals, and the Chevron refinery.

The institute’s circular abrasive blastroom, is the first in North America anddoubles as a confined-space trainingenvironment. It resembles the types ofvessels that industrial painters arerequired to work inside. It is equippedwith a fan system that allows the spentabrasive to be vacuumed up and fil-tered. Materials that can be reused are

Painting apprentices keep pace with technology Guests at the open house get a look at

the Pleural Component Paint System(bottom left), spray booth (top), andabrasive blast tank (top right).

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collected, and leftover paint and rustare redirected into 45-gallon drums forsafe disposal.

Equipment is becoming more effi-cient and user friendly, Chapman said,“but coatings have changed the most.They are far superior and I expect thiswill continue. There’s always the‘newest and greatest’ thing.”

As a result, efforts to protect work-ers and the public have been rampedup. “Safety has come a long way,” hesaid. Painters are often required to usefresh air supplied respirators ratherthan the cartridge models to protect

them from a multitude of epoxies andurethanes. “You want to stay away asmuch as possible from them,” he said.

Before construction began, Chapmanwent to Business Manager DaveHolmes to say that he could come upwith a better design for the abrasiveblasting booth. Holmes told him to dothe research and come up with a pro-posal. Chapman met with him a fewdays later.

“How much?” Holmes asked.“Over $100,000,” came the reply.Holmes told the guests at the official

opening that he tried to hide his sur-

prise. He said he told the young busi-ness rep, “OK. But if it doesn’t work,you’re fired.” The guests laughed.

Chapman called suppliers and assem-bled all the components. The union hasa policy of trying to source equipmentand supplies from communities asclose as possible to B.C. and he madesure supply companies had local repswho could provide support and trou-bleshoot as necessary.

The facility went up in just fourmonths and was built without govern-ment funding. Holmes credited muchof the success of the project to signa-tory contractor support. Contractors,District Council 38 members, andapprentices worked well together toensure construction was completed asquickly and efficiently as possible.

Robert Kucheran, general vice presi-dent for the international union,thanked the contractors and said thisis the third such training facility inCanada, although the FTI in Surrey isthe most advanced.

Business Manager Dave Holmes said,“34 years ago, someone taught me mytrade so I could have a good career.”Passing along skills and experiencefrom member to member “is our phi-losophy and what we live by everyday.”

The FTI trains and provides upgrad-ing courses for painters, glaziers, waterblasters, drywall finishers, hazmatworkers, and interior systems mechan-ics. It is the only comprehensive glazingtraining facility in B.C.

Business Agent Justin Chapman withthe Pleural Spray Paint system whichallows mixing of components that dryquickly and require specific tempera-tures to be combined.

Students at the Finishing TradesInstitute will be using this newly installed abrasive blast tank.

Wall and ceiling installationJaysper Mannas, a fourth-year

apprentice with District Council 38,won the gold medal in the wall andceiling installer competition after pre-fabricating materials and installing anelevated ceiling from a mockup provid-ed at the beginning of the six-hourcompetition.

Mobile crane Garrett Duffus, a first-year appren-

tice with the Operating EngineersLocal 115, received a gold medal formaneuvering a bucket through anobstacle course and into a series ofbarrels. He operates a Manitowoccrane for Broadwater Industries out ofPrince Rupert.

Lee Taylor, also a first-year appren-tice, received a silver medal. He oper-ates boom trucks for RKM CraneServices. Caitlyn Younger, a first yeartoo, received the bronze medal.

Frank Apel, a second-year apprenticewho works for Fraser River Pile andDredge running lattice friction cranes,and Brent Hoard, another first-yearfrom Squamish operating boom trucksand hydraulic cranes for Mega Cranesin Surrey, also competed.

All are receiving their training atLocal 115’s training site in Maple Ridge.

Plumbing and pipefitting John Dicus, Level 2 with the

Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 170,won a gold medal in the sprinkler fit-ting competition. Grant McKitrick wonsilver. Samuel Kaiser, from Plumbersand Pipefitters Local 324 won bronze.

The competitors were given a draw-ing with the fewest measurements pos-sible and asked to fabricate pipe andassemble the project. The systemswere then pressure tested and mea-sured for level and accuracy.

Kyle Horne, also with Local 170,won a gold medal doing layout, fabrica-tion, tube bending, grinding, and weld-ing as part of the steam fitting compe-tition. Jacob Downie, Level 2, won thesilver and Cody Pihl won the bronze.

Marcello Simoncioni received a silvermedal in the plumbing competition forbuilding a piping system with three dif-ferent types of material (a cast ironmain, a system for trap arms and fix-ture drains, and copper for venting). Inaddition, competitors had to completea copper pipe bending project withfour ninety-degree bends and a brazedtee.

RefrigerationAliah Penner, from Refrigeration

Workers Local 516, won a gold medalin the refrigeration competition.

Sheet metal Matt McHardy, a fourth-year appren-

tice with Sheet Metal Workers Local280, won a silver medal in the sheetmetal competition. Mckenzie Collins,from Sheet Metal Workers Local 276,won the bronze medal.

ElectricalBrian Probert, in his first term with

the Electrical Workers Local 213, wona gold medal in the electrical wiringcompetition. Mitchell De Sousa, in hisfourth term, won a silver medal in

electrical automation and control.

BricklayingNicolo Binda, in Level 1 with

Bricklayers Local 2, was tested forspeed, neatness, accuracy and safetywhile building a brick wall with win-dow in under 4.5 hours. He has beendoing mostly refractory work andsmaller brick projects. His fatherAntonio Binda, a Local 2 member since1980, his wife Amber, and daughterNya were there to cheer him on.

Ironwork Secondary school student Claudia

Daignault was one of many students totry walking the iron beam installed byIronworkers Local 97. Local 97 jour-neyperson John Molloy talked to thestudents about safety and the nature ofthe ironworker trade. Local 97 alsobrought its mobile training trailer thatit uses to provide certified weldingtraining. A steady stream of studentsand younger siblings learned a littleabout the equipment while weldingtheir names on metal plates.


skills Canada–b.C.

A great showing from the building tradesArticle and photos by Leslie Dyson

Several members of the B.C. Building Trades were medal winners at the provincial Skills Canada competition in April inAbbotsford. Hundreds of post-secondary and high school students competed in this year’s event. Gold medal winners were invit-ed to compete at the national competition in June in Winnipeg.

Nicolo BindaBricklayers Local 2


Lee TaylorOperating Engineers Local 115

Jacob McVeighPlumber and Pipefitters Local 170

Claudia Daignaultwalking Local 97’s iron beam

Jacob DowniePlumber and Pipefitters Local 170

Marcello SimoncioniPlumbers and Pipefitters Local 170

Brian Probert Electrical Workers Local 213

Jaysper MannasWall and Ceiling installer - DC38

John DicusPlumber and Pipefitters Local 170

Thegeneral contractors for thenew Massey Bridge crossing

over the South Fraser River will beannounced soon but major infrastruc-ture projects in B.C. might be little lesscontroversial if union workers and con-tractors were given fair access to thetendering and bidding processes, saidWalter Canta, Teamsters Local 213 sec-retary treasurer.

The new bridge, which will replacethe existing George Massey Tunnel link-ing Delta to Richmond, as well as therecently approved Kinder Morgan oilpipeline, are raising concern across theregion for numerous reasons—not theleast being who gets to build them.Canta said how large-scale projects aretendered needs greater public account-ability and should be more inclusive.

“Kinder Morgan was awarded, andmost of it went to Ledcor and Kewitt,and contractors are telling me they did-n’t get a fair chance to bid,” he said.“Our contractors got to bid on someof it, but apparently not the rest. Whycan’t they let us bid on all of it? It’s sup-posed to be an open-tenderingprocess, but that’s not how it seems tobe in practice.”

Particularly of concern, he said, isthat Ledcor and Kewitt are both signa-tory contractors with CLAC—theChristian Labour Association ofCanada, which is not seen as a legiti-mate labour organization by mostunions. CLAC has been repeatedly chal-lenged over the past two decades withcomplaints of lack of democracy andmember control, poor representation

of workers’ concerns, underminingstandard pay rates, inadequate trainingand health and safety (particularly inthe construction sector), and lack ofsolidarity with other unions on workerand public interest issues.

Many of its contracts are “voluntaryrecognition agreements” where con-tractors or employers agree to recog-nize workers as a union and bargain foran agreement without the involvementof the Labour Relations Board. Theagreements are often concluded beforeanyone is hired and operations begin.Many unions and public interest groupshave charged that contractors andemployers seek out CLAC and similarorganizations to sign such contracts inorder to trap workers into bindingworking conditions they had no say in


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Building bridges and crossing controversy


By Merrill O’Donnell, Workers’ AdvocateThe provincial government’s recent announcement to create

a policy to return all future surpluses in WorkSafe B.C.’s acci-dent fund to the business community reminds us of theunflinching accuracy of Marx’s statement that “the executive ofthe modern state is but a committee for managing the com-mon affairs of the whole bourgeoisie.”

As noted in its news release, the government’s resulting poli-cy, which will be crafted by June 2017 and supported by thenecessary statutory changes during the next legislative sitting,“will trigger a return of funds to employers when WorkSafeB.C.’s funding hits a specific target level of assets over liabilitiesover a period of time.” According to Shirley Bond, the minis-ter of labour at that time, “employers fund the workers’ com-pensation system in our province and we think their moneyshould be returned to them when the system is over-funded.”

The government has revealed–without a shadow of adoubt–who it serves, certainly not workers.

As we contemplate the government’s proposal, it is instruc-tive to remind ourselves who creates value (read profits) foremployers. Contrary to Bond’s statement that “employersfund the workers’ compensation system,” the fact is that allvalue in our economy is ultimately created by labour. True, inan economic structure based on property rights such as ours,individual employers emerge to develop the means of produc-tion and employment for workers. But only by harnessingthose workers can value, wealth, and profit be generated.Without workers the machines (i.e., the means of production)lay idle and powerless. It is worker-generated profits, notemployers, who ultimately fund the workers’ compensationsystem.

As for the claim that WorkSafe B.C. is “over-funded,”, wemust ask, how did this happen? The answer isn’t too hard tofind. The legislative and policy changes brought in by the B.C.Liberals in 2002 as a result of the aggressive lobbying of the

business community has, as planned by the business communityand as expected by anybody who was paying attention, gener-ated significant surpluses in the hundreds of millions of dollars.And what did those legislative and policy changes consist of?

The list is too long for me to provide an exhaustive account,but let me give you a little taste:

•benefit rates were reduced from 75% of gross income to90% of net income thereby reducing benefits by 13%

• power was concentrated in the board of directors, includ-ing the delegation of power to enact binding policy and theremoval of discretion in decision-making processes

• the Consumer Price Index was reduced to the rate of CPIincreases less than 1% and to a cap of 4% in any year, and cal-culated only once yearly rather than twice

• standard lifetime pensions were eliminated for pensionsthat stop at age 65

• deep cuts were made to employer premiums• loss of earnings disability awards were significantly reduced

and there was an unconscionable clamping down on vocationalrehabilitation services which were supposed to prepare injuredworkers who could no longer return to their pre-injury jobsfor meaningful careers

• the cancerous growth of the culture at WorkSafe B.C. thatviews the business community as their “client” and injuredworkers as the enemy.

The government has assured the public that “the amendmentwill not affect the benefits payable to workers injured or killedat work.” That’s a lie. Not only will workers’ compensationbenefits, disability awards, and vocational rehabilitation services be negatively affected, more workers will die on thejob because funding for accident protection will be reducedover time.

As BC Building Trades Executive Director Tom Sigurdsonsaid, “this announcement is a betrayal to every injured workerand their families.” That’s the truth.

drafting and administered by an organi-zation over which they have limitedcontrol. This has earned these groupsthe title of “rat unions.”

Canta said the title is well-earned.“We’ve seen a lot of this over theyears,” adding that he strongly suspectsthe provincial Liberal government offavoring CLAC-signatory or non-unioncontractors in tendering contracts forpublic infrastructure projects. “The PortMann Bridge project wasn’t really upfor tender and Enbridge seemed tohave had everyone in place before any-thing started” on the NorthernGateway Pipeline project.

Union construction workers arelooking forward to the opportunity towork on the new bridge and pipeline,said Canta, despite widespread publicconcern around both. But he is con-cerned that the bidding process mayprevent them from getting much of the work.

“Generally we see any construction

being good for us,” he said. “We haveno problem with the bridge itself.There’s a real need to improve ourtransportation infrastructure (in theLower Mainland). We just want it builtunion, with safety and quality assuranceand that people are paid living wagesfor their work.”

This position has put the local on theopposite side of many public interest,consumer and environmental organiza-tions, and the majority of the mayors inthe Greater Vancouver RegionalDistrict—with the exception of DeltaMayor Lois Johnson, who has beenamong the strongest proponents forthe project.

The GVRD has cited concerns overthe loss of high quality farmlandbecause of the project and sees thesolution to increasing traffic as expand-ing public transit. Other opponentsinsist that upgrading and widening theexisting Massey Tunnel would be a lessdisruptive and less costly alternative.

Canta agreed that protecting farm-land is important, but that some loss isinevitable given the mayors’ support fora growing metropolis. “Municipalitiesare already giving up farm land forother things,” he said. “How much landhas been freed up for townhouses? It’sa juggling act. We are growing our com-munities, and there are costs for that,and it’s better to pay them now thanwait until it gets much more expensiveand tougher.”

He added that numerous reportsshow that the Lower Mainland is inneed of both road and highwayimprovements, as well as public transitexpansion. He’s also not opposed tothe tunnel upgrade option as an alter-native. However, he pointed out that allof this will affect some farmland, butoverall will be an improvement, claimingthat the new Port Mann bridge andSouth Perimeter road have eased trafficcongestion, which studies have shownreduces air pollution.

B.C. workers are paying for refunds to business


Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) recently marked ahistoric occasion with the unveiling of the Canadian BuildingTrades Monument in Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa on May 16.

The monument was fabricated in Ontario with Cambrian blackgranite, quarried in Quebec.The most prominent features are apair of oversized plumb bobs, one of the oldest tools known tomankind.The monument also features 16 iconic ‘tools of thetrades’ etched into the granite. Each tool was chosen by one ofthe 14 different trade unions that sponsored the monument.

“CBTU is proud to offer this monument as a gift to allCanadians,” said Bob Blakely, CBTU’s chief operating officer. “Thiswas a long time coming, we have worked hard and long to createa national monument in Canada’s capital that will celebrate thecontributions made to society by the women and men whowork in the building and construction trades and commemoratesthe losses they have endured in carrying out their work.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was present to accept the mon-ument on behalf of the people of Canada.

Working with Indigenous communities Canada’s Building Trades Unions resolved at the May conven-

tion to provide career opportunities in the skilled constructiontrades for underrepresented segments of the population

including First Nations, Metis, and Inuit (FNMI) Peoples.Furthermore, the delegates committed to meaningful consulta-tion with Indigenous communities, building respectful relation-ships, and continuing to advocate for cultural understanding in anenvironment of inclusivity and respect.

The resolution was presented by Darrell LaBoucan, the direc-tor of Canadian Affairs for the Iron Workers union, and it adoptsthe principles of #92 of the national Truth and ReconciliationCall to Action.

This is the first step in an initiative designed to recruit andretain under-represented populations in the workforce. Buildingon the momentum gained from its work with women in thetrades, the national building trades will expand its advocacy toinclude Indigenous peoples, the next generation of buildingtrades workers, and new Canadians.

“This initiative is important to the future of the building andconstruction trades as well as to the workforce of Canada,” saidLindsay Amundsen, CBTU workforce development coordinator.“We need to recruit and retain a workforce that reflects thecountry we live in.We are really proud of the work we have donewith women in the trades and look forward to creating an evenmore inclusive work environment, where everyone is respected.”

A highlight of the convention was the unveiling of a monument to tradespeople.

The design features plumb bobs, in use since ancient times, and 16 engraved tools representing the trades that sponsoredthe monument.

Canadian building trades present monumental gift to the nation


So, what’s the big deal and why wouldanybody erect a monument to trades-people? Are they just the folks whocouldn’t cut it at university and need away to keep out of the soup kitchen?

You might hear ill-informed peoplemake these kinds of comments andthey are giving opinions that their very limited knowledge entitles them to hold.

But the facts are readily available. Thequestion is “Why is it taking so long forpeople to figure it out?”

Out crafts suffer from underexpo-sure. Construction sites are fenced offand we disappear into them, do ourwork and then leave. By the time thepublic sees what we’ve done we’re longgone to the next job. The only realexposure most people get is on the wayto work or an important appointmentwhen they come face to face with thetraffic flagger who is holding up the stopsign, an inconvenience of seconds.

Another reason is that there are noaccurate construction role models onTV. Tradespeople are often portrayed assecond-class folks in dead end jobs andmarried to Roseann! The other reasonis, strangely enough, that we are wildlysuccessful in what we do–bridges inCanada don’t fall down, boilers don’tblow up and pipes don’t leak. It is onceagain a case of out of sight out of mind.

Consider the day of a person wholives in a climate-controlled high risecondo overlooking Stanley Park. Theelectrically driven alarm clock rings pre-cisely at seven and the automatic coffeemaker begins to make coffee. Our per-son swings out of bed and walks acrosscomfortable flooring to the en suite.Their business is done, teeth arebrushed, and shower finished leavingenough time to enjoy the view for acouple of moments.

This person has been touched sincebefore waking by the constructioncrafts. The high rise is stable and safebecause of the work of the ironwork-er, carpenter, labourer, cement mason,crane operator, bricklayer and a fewmore that collaborated in building thestructure. The climate control wasachieved by some sort of mixture(depending on the heating system

used) of the talents of the electrician,plumber, steamfitter, sheet metalmechanic, gasfitter, refrigerationmechanic and instrumentation mechan-ic. The view was enabled by the glazieror the ironworker. Safe electricity andpotable safe water are also taken forgranted. The flooring (depending on itsmakeup) came courtesy of the floor-layer. The weather was kept out by theskills of the plasterer, sheet metalworker, painter, insulator, pre-cast iron-worker or carpenter–ISM lather. Theelevator constructor allows for a safedescent to the parking garage, whichhas been built and maintained by thetrades above and a few others like thesurveyor and the non-destructive test-ing technician.

On the road, the now happy motoristis driving on roads and bridges built bythe operating engineers, labourers, carpenters, ironworkers, bricklayers, and teamsters.

While at work, our person fires uphis computer and it works, thanks tothe fiber optic cable installed by thetelephone electrician and with powerthat comes from not just the electricianand powerline technician but from ahost of trades including some that ourperson has never even heard ofbefore. It takes all the trades to con-struct a generating station and those

that they have never heard of are para-mount to the success and reliability ofthe grid–the boilermaker, millwright,insulator and steamfitter.

They have never thought that thetrades working away from home need ahome away from home and they arelooked after by chefs, cooks, bakers, campattendants, nurses and warehousemen.

The day has just begun and our per-son has been affected (favourably) by allof the trades and crafts in the BuildingTrades and many more.

This goes on every day without fail. Webuild their world and keep it running.

When the Oilers win the Stanley Cupit is in a facility we built and now main-tain; when Parliament decides greatthings it is in a structure that we havebuilt and re-built; when a skilled sur-geon saves a life it is in an OR that webuilt and equipped with medical gas,light and computer links.

Quite simply there isn’t an activitythat we are not involved in. Without usthe system grinds to a halt. We are theglue that holds everything together, thebackbone of Canadian Society. So that iswhy it is a very big deal when someonehas finally recognized that they need us.

Congratulations to you, the stalwartsto whom the Construction WorkerMonument is dedicated. It should neverhave taken so long!

Chief Executive Officer forCanada’s Building Trades Unions

view From ottawa By BoB Blakely

Finally! A monument to tradespeople

The monument to tradespeople unveiled last month in Ottawa.


By Richard Gilbert“The construction industry in

Canada is going to be busier than wehave ever been as we provide opportu-nities to reduce Greenhouse Gas(GHG) emissions and move to advancethe goals of the Paris Agreement,” saidLee Loftus, president of the BC Building Trades.

The BCBT commissioned a study bythe Columbia Institute to undertakeoriginal research on climate change andthe role of the construction industry intransforming to low-carbon develop-ment in Canada.

“This document provides a solution,which is in defence of work and is notin opposition to the protection of theenvironment. I don’t think we will meetnet zero by 2050, but I certainly thinkwe will be moving in that direction.”

Loftus argues that climate change andglobal warming are Canada’s mostimportant environmental, economic,and public policy challenges in the com-ing decades.

The Paris Agreement, introduced inDecember 2015 at the UN FrameworkConvention on Climate Change, com-mits 195 countries including Canada to

reduce GHG emissions that cause cata-strophic climate change, while shiftingeconomic activity away from the usefrom fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, andgas. This first legally binding climatechange agreement mandates govern-ments to keep global average tempera-ture from increasing more than 2°Cabove pre-industrial levels, and pursueefforts to keep the rise below 1.5°C.

The agreement aims to achieve netzero carbon emissions in 2050 by bal-ancing a measured amount of carbonreleased with an equivalent amountsequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up thedifference.

A recent study from the ColumbiaInstitute entitled “Jobs for Tomorrow:Canada’s Building Trades and Net ZeroEmissions” views this target as a majorpolicy challenge for the Canadian gov-ernment. However, the global responseto climate change is also an opportuni-ty to invest in the construction of facili-ties for the generation of renewableenergy, including hydro, wind, solar, tidal,biomass, and geothermal energy.

“The construction employment thatour members are doing today will be

no different from the work that will bedone in the future as we move toward2050,” said Loftus. “This is an excitingtime for the building trades in terms ofbeing able to look at future employ-ment and get a better understanding of what that means.“

The study concludes that the trans-formation of the national economy isone of the most important pathways tolow-carbon development. It will requireconstruction of new energy infrastruc-ture and conversion of existing systems.

For example, the study forecasts thatthe construction of an electrical supplygrid composed primarily of new wind,solar, geothermal and tidal power gen-eration (43%); hydroelectric (40%); andlegacy nuclear (5%) would result inmore than 890,000 direct constructionjobs by 2050.

In addition, net-zero building retrofitsand new green industrial, commercial,and institutional building constructionare predicted to account for nearly 2million direct construction jobs.

Building small district energy systemsin half of Canada’s municipalities with populations over 100,000 would

A big role for building tradesSame construction work but focus moves to climate change


create over 547,000 construction jobs by 2050.

An investment of $150 billion onurban transit infrastructure–including

rapid transit tracks and bridges, subway tunnels, and dedicated buslanes–between now and 2050 wouldcreate about 245,000 direct

construction jobs. More importantly,the transformation of the nationaleconomy will require the work of allthe trades in the BCBT.

The benefits of a national infrastruc-ture spending program include a higherstandard of living, more private-sectorinvestment, and a more productive econ-omy without significant long-term fiscalconsequences to federal or provincialgovernments,” according to theBroadbent Institute.

“There’s also a cautionary tale in here,”added economist Robin Somerville, theauthor of “The Economic Benefits ofPublic Infrastructure Spending in Canada.”

“The costs of neglecting our publicinfrastructure are not zero. Allowing ourpublic infrastructure to decay imposescosts at least equal but opposite to thebenefits estimated in this study.”

A five-year $50-billion public infra-structure spending initiative would triggersignificant private sector investment andstimulate wage increases and competi-tiveness. The study models a five-yearprogram of $10 billion per year equally

shared by the federal and provincial governments.

Within the five-year constructionphase, governments also recoup $0.44 ofevery dollar spent through additional taxrev- enues. The public infrastructurebrings permanent benefits to privatebusiness by lowering their operatingcosts, which leads to increased productiv-ity and higher wages for workers.

Other key findings include:• in the short term, the spending pro-

gram boosts employment by between81,000 and 88,000 jobs, increasing theemployment rate by 0.4% to 0.5%;

• about one half of the new jobs(42,150) would be in construction,with positive short-term impacts onjobs in manufacturing, and the businessservice sector providing support toconstruction;

• in the short term, provincial revenuesraised per dollar spent are highest in

Quebec ($0.72), British Columbia($0.57) and Nova Scotia ($0.46).

• B.C. and Quebec see the greatestimpact on real GDP growth in theshort term, while the average annualincrease across the range of benefitscenarios for Canada is around 0.7%,B.C. sees growth between 0.8% and0.9%, and Quebec an average increaseof over 1.0%.

• private-sector investment rises by asmuch as $0.34 per dollar spent in theshort term, and by up to $1 per dollarspent in the long run;

• the spending program increases labourproductivity by between 0.3% to 0.5%in the long term and workers earnhigher real wages: up 0.4 to 0.6% ayear on average relative to the econo-my without the spending program.

• the change in the average annualdeficit-to-GDP ratio from this programlies between a rise of 0.04% and adecline of 0.02% for the federal gov-ernment, and between a rise of 0.08%and a fall of 0.04% for provincial governments.

Infrastructure spendingHigher wages and living standards

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My career in trades is built on safety

We’re working with B.C.’s skilled trades industry to ensure current and future workers stay safe.

Find helpful industry resources at worksafebc.com/health-safety

Workers new to the trades, especial-ly those without any experience inthem, often face challenges and barri-ers that may not occur in other jobs.The learning curve for safety regula-tions alone can be daunting, nevermind the educational, physical, andtechnical rigors found in most trades.However, with the right training,resources, and employer support,workers new to the trades canbecome, not only proficient in theirfields, but successful leaders in theirindustries.

The students in the Women inTrades Training (WITT) Program atOkanagan College, mentored byWorkSafe B.C. prevention officers andjourneypersons Mary-Jaye Salmon andLindy Monahan are tackling the uniquechallenges of women entering a careerin trades and building a culture ofhealth and safety that will serve themalong their way.

Taking down barriersSingle parenthood and the high cost

of childcare affect many women work-ing outside the home. Low-paying jobsin retail and service sectors ofteninclude shift work and irregular hourswhich drive women to look for othercareers. However, purchasing necessarytrade equipment or attending therequired training programs can addeven more difficulties. The support andadvice from the WITT go a long wayto helping students navigate a newcareer path.

“For these students, working withmentors who’ve not only gone throughsimilar challenges, but who have come

through as leaders in their fields is agreat resource,” said Monahan, a jour-neyperson cabinet maker. “It showsthem that success is possible. Many ofus worked in the trades before therewere resources like financial assistanceand mentor support, so students areconfident about coming to us withquestions or concerns about theindustry or the specific jobsite they’reon.” These queries include workplacesafety which remains a focus for students when they’ve moved into jobs in the field.

“When they first come to us, manyof these women are starting fromsquare one learning about these tradesand their safety requirements,” saidSalmon, a journeyperson carpenter.“Situational awareness, machine safety,PPE, it’s all brand new.” The good news,she added, is that to these workers,“Safety becomes an automatic part ofevery job. It’s not simply another choreto be checked off a list.”

Monahan, who often sees formerstudents on jobsites, agreed. “It’s greatto see students get involved in trades.I’ll be visiting a site and they’re happyto point out that they’re in compliancewith the safety requirements. Or ifsomething is unsafe on the worksite,they’ll ask my opinion on how to bestaddress it. There’s such conscientious-ness about safety–it’s great for them,great for their employers, and it helpseveryone on the job stay safe.”

These new workers, having beenmentored by women in trades who arealso occupational health and safetyprofessionals, are building a culture ofsafety in every construction trade they

join. “They are the agents of change,”said Monahan. “They’re going outthere. All I’m doing is sowing the seedand they make it come to fruition.”

Learn moreWorkSafeBC has a variety of

resources and information on youngand new worker safety; find them atwww.worksafebc.com/health-safety

To learn more about the Women inTrades Training (WITT) Program atOkanagan College and WorkSafeBC’srole, see our Women in trades video at www.youtube/worksafebc


Building a culture of safety from the ground up

Worksafe b.C.

Job safety

Teleclaim centre open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Workers who've been injured on thejob, can call WorkSafe B.C.'sTeleclaim Centre between 8 a.m.and 6 p.m. to file a report. A repre-sentative will complete the injuryreport, explain the claims processand help direct the worker to otherservices if necessary. The worker’semployer is then notified of theinjury and both the worker andemployer can follow the status of theclaim online.

Call 1-888-WORKERS (1-888-967-5377) or #5377 on

your cell phone if you subscribe to Telus Mobility, Rogers or

Bell Mobility.

José

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The Build Together BC team participated again in Skills BC’s Trade& Technology Conference for Women on April 5. Team membersacted as mentors for dozens of young women interested in explor-ing opportunities in the trades. The conference was sponsored againthis year by the Electrical Workers Local 213.

Sandra Brynjolfson, a member of the Build Together team, shares herenthusiasm for the electrical trade.

The Build Together team at the Delta Career Fair.

A new executive was elected at the annual general meeting. Thenew executive will be working on improving regulations aroundpregnancy for women in the trades, networking with local unions,and increasing recruitment efforts. Build Together BC is open to allwomen who are members of a BC Building Trades affiliated union.For more information, or to join email [email protected]

Build Together BC Team at Skills BC

New structure, new strategies

2017 Executive Sandra BrynjolfsonCo-Chair

Julia BallantyneCo-Chair

Ashley DuncanSecretary-Treasurer

Stephanie JangCampaigns & Policy Director

Lisa LangevinMedia & Events Director

Sarina HanschkeOutreach Director

Sarah HansbyTraining & Mentorship Director

Lindsey NoortMember at Large

Kirsten NewmanMember at Large

Amy CarrMember at Large

Crystal GuayMember at Large

Michelle NeilMember at Large


bCbT president, business manager insulators local 118

lee loFtusPresident’s view

The B.C. election changed the way we do construction

WhileB.C.’s major parties jockey to establish a stableprovincial government, BC Building Trades affili-

ates have been busy putting our house in order to defend theunionized construction industry.

I am proud to welcome back members from the Plumbersand Pipefittes Local 170 and the BC Regional Council ofCarpenters—including Floorlayers 1541, Millwrights 2736, andPiledrivers Local 2404. It’s been a quarter of a century since the council has been so strongand unified.

This is an exciting time.We will need that solidarity

now more than ever to preparefor the uncertainty that’s aboutto take place at the provinciallevel and to help us shape theprovincial discourse on the futureof construction in BritishColumbia.

For nearly two decades, developers and proponents havebuilt with impunity. They’ve bypassed local labour for foreignworkers on major projects like the Canada Line and GoldenEars Bridge. They’ve cut corners on materials and supplies onprojects like the Olympic Village. They’ve rolled through com-munities and started development without any concerns toemploying or engaging local First Nations peoples.

We may not know much about the final outcome of the B.C. election but one thing we know for sure is that thefuture of projects like Site C and Kinder Morgan’s TransMountain Pipeline are in jeopardy. And if these proponentswant security, they’ll now have to establish the social license to proceed.

Construction has changed today. Labour relations havechanged today. The old boys’ club is not going to fly. Projectproponents and labour have to come to terms with the socialissues connected to major projects, the environmentalimpacts, and a changing workforce that creates meaningfulspaces for women, First Nations, youth, and new Canadians.

This is the future of construction. Those that fight it will go the way of the dinosaur.

For over 16 years, building tradesmembers have been told to poundsalt as contracts and projects haveflowed to those most closely con-nected to the BC Liberal govern-ment.

With a razor thin electoral out-come, the winds have changed andit’s time to come back to the tableand start a meaningful conversationabout building a province responsibly.

We have an opportunity as members of B.C.’s finest skilledtrades workforce to drive the conversation. Instead of fightingover scraps, we can drive for meaningful change that forcesdevelopment that benefits communities.

The low bid model is broken. Proponents can’t continue to exploit workers without the public rising up and sayingenough.

No matter how we move forward, I think the electoratehas spoken and we in the building trades are prepared toadvance our rights and our interests.

I look forward to the next four years. I look forward to working with our affiliates and I look forward to a positive change.

B.C. Building Trades CouncilFred Randall Bursary

Write a 250-word essay on the topic “The commitment to trade union principles.” You must be a member in good standing of an affiliate of the BC Building Trades and enrolled in a union-recognized trades training program to be eligible.

Application deadline June 30th.

Call 778-397-2220 to receive an application.

$2 per word!Give us your thoughts for a

chance to win $500!

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We may not know much about the final out-

come of the B.C. election but one thing we know

for sure is that the future of projects like Site C

and Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline

are in jeopardy.


By Jim SinclairOn June 2, 1967, leaders representing more than 40,000

B.C. construction unions met to formally accept the chartercreating the B.C. and Yukon Territory Building TradesCouncil. It was the culmination of years of discussion duringwhich time unions kept coming to the same conclusion–we’rebetter off together than when we are divided. The first annu-al convention of the council was held in October of the sameyear at the Blue Boy Hotel in South Vancouver. More than120 delegates were present to endorse founding presidentDon O’Reilly and lay the foundation for the battles that con-struction workers would face. For 50 years, the council hasbeen the recognized voice of construction workers in BritishColumbia.

Two years later, and in response to this development, morethan 500 unionized construction companies formed theConstruction Labour Relations Association, and the stage wasset for years of tough bargaining, strikes, and lockouts.

Through ups and downs in the industry, the council continued to fight for the rights of construction workers to afair wage and safe working conditions. It’s been a dramatichistory, full of solidarity and struggle, but also division and difficult times.

For nearly the entire time, the council and its memberunions have been in a battle for survival with well-organizedand well-funded groups such as the Independent Contractorsand Businesses Association (ICBA) who, more often than not,had the government in their corner as well.

Despite the challenges, enormous victories were won overthe years, including good pensions and benefits, safer work-places, decent camp accommodations, the best apprenticeshipprograms in the country, and a jurisdictional assignment planthat ended most of the infighting between unions.

“There’s no question it’s been an uphill battle to maintainand improve conditions for construction workers but therecan be no doubt the decent conditions that we do enjoy arethe direct result of unions sticking together to fight for allconstruction workers,” said Executive Director TomSigurdson. “We have a lot to celebrate and it’s important forus to take some time to do this and to honour those whosacrificed and fought so hard to enable us to have what wehave today.”

More details of the celebrations will be carried in future issues.

A 50th anniversary celebration is planned for October, andthe council has contracted Jim Sinclair, the former president ofthe B.C. Federation of Labour, to produce a book capturing thehistory of the B.C. Building Trades. Sinclair, who is a journalistby trade, is aiming to have the book finished and printed intime for the anniversary dinner in October. A committee ofexecutive officers will oversee the book and the celebrations.

Many stories totell in the first 50years of the BCBuilding Trades

Information picket inVancouver, late 1980s

v 2017 / BC BUILDING TRADES tradetalk 31

With over 85 years and 11,500 skilled membersThe International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 is the natural resource for the skilled and dependable men and women needed to complete massive resource and infrasture projects. Since 1931 we have trained and supported thousands of them, all across B.C. So visit our website today and learn the many ways you can bene�t from our knowledge and experience.

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Documents

SUMMER tradet THBEaC MBUAIGLADZININGE T … Summer 2017 Web.pdfA b i g ro l ef u dn t a s 28 Build Together BC Team at Skills BC Build Together 29 B.C. workers are paying for refunds