October 27, 2006

Labour

Trades council targets competitor

BRIAN BAKER

staff writer

NIAGARA FALLS

The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario (PBCTCO) is taking aim at the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC).

At its 49th annual conference last week, members passed a resolution to form a committee to “combat” CLAC, a union that separates itself from others by expressing its approach of Christian based social principles.

CLAC was described as “funding war chest” against PBCTCO.

The committee’s mandate is to educate union members about CLAC and why it poses a problem. The committee will also lobby for legislative changes.

“Our interest is not in attacking the workers represented by CLAC. Our interest is in establishing a wage and benefit level for all construction workers that is acceptable under the economic circumstances,” said Patrick Dillon, business manager, PBCTCO.

“If you are being undermined by organizations, then you cannot reach your goals of establishing a wage and benefit level.”

The resolution was submitted by the Central Ontario Building Trades, calling attention to the fact that CLAC is “setting up shop” in Ontario.

Concerns from the PBCTCO arose when several companies had been going to CLAC for voluntary recognition as legitimate organizing starts.

“If we stay fragmented, and we have a downturn in the economy, and if we have a change back to some employer-sensitive right-wing government, construction workers in this province are in big trouble,” added Dillon.

“There needs to be a restructuring in construction industry unions — and management, for that matter.”

Both Dillon and PBCTCO President Bill Nicholls downplayed the use of words like “war chest” and “combat” in the resolution.

“The intent of the resolution is based on having a level playing field for employers and the workers to work in Ontario,” added Dillon.

Nicholls said the resolution is also about working together, or unifying the industry, to achieve the same goals.

“We have looked at restructuring around the province when it comes to merging some administration of local unions that are significantly close together,” he said.

“When we have done that, we have been able to accumulate more money to put organizers on the road.”

By merging trust funds, pension plans, welfare benefits and vacation pay, unions can organize more constructively.

“We are trying to get them to understand that we are in the same business, same trade and same environment.

"Let’s make it a level playing field in the competition area,” Nicholls concluded.

CLAC was not surprised by the resolution by the PBCTCO, stating they are constantly facing negative responses to their existence across the country.

“To say that we are new in this area is a bit of an absurd statement, given that we have been around for almost 50 years,” said Jonathan Van Huizen, Ontario Representative, CLAC Construction Workers Local 52.

“We are different in our approach to labour relations, but to say we are mutually exclusive is a misnomer.”

CLAC concentrates on labour relations with their 25,000 members on a constructive level, focusing on integrity, respect, partnership, fairness and community.

They also will not tolerate discrimination of any kind, said Van Huizen.

“There are a lot of things we would be willing to work together on,” added Van Huizen.

“Interestingly, any of our attempts to reach out have usually not been well received,” he said, pointing to CLAC’s membership on the board of the Construction Safety Association of Ontario (CSAO) as proof that “we are willing to work together.”

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