January 9, 2013

TDSB skilled trades contract renewal draws fire

TORONTO

Some unionized and non-unionized contractors say the Ontario government’s decision to renew the Maintenance and Construction Skilled Trades Council’s contract with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is a “slap in the face.”

“While the McGuinty government strong-arms teachers and school boards to accept its austerity measures, they are renewing their sweetheart deals with a few privileged, old-style trade unions. That hypocrisy is costing taxpayers in Toronto and across Ontario millions,” said Sean Reid, federal and Ontario director of the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA), whose member companies’ workers are primarily unionized by the Christian Labour Association of Canada.

PCA says despite their qualifications, their member companies are prevented under Ontario law from working for the TDSB and other public jurisdictions in Ontario because they are affiliated with the wrong union.

A recent study by Cardus, a Canadian think-tank, found that construction monopolies are costing Ontario taxpayers over $250 million every year. It says 25 per cent of Ontario taxpayers are affected by municipal labour monopolies in construction and that the City of Toronto alone could save almost $60 million using open tendering practices.

A Toronto Star investigation documented cases of inefficiency by the Maintenance and Construction Skilled Trades Council, including $3,000 to install an electrical outlet and $143 to attach a pencil sharpener to a wall.

Merit Canada, which represents eight provincial open shop construction associations, is in favour of an open tendering approach for all projects that spend public funds.

“It is inconceivable that an organization that has been found to be inefficient in a provincially sponsored report and whose former workers are under police investigation has had its contract renewed.  In no other sector could a service provider that has been documented to be costing far more than it should be rewarded with a new contract that lasts until 2014,” said Merit Canada president Terrance Oakey.

The Maintenance and Construction Skilled Trades Council is comprised of the various building trades unions, which were part of the Working Families Coalition that spent millions of dollars to re-elect the Ontario Liberals in the last two provincial elections, says Merit.

“Short of trying to line up allies before the next election, there is no rational explanation for renewing this contract,” explained Oakey.

“The Board does not want it, the work is proven to be inefficient and more expensive than necessary, and former employees of the Council are under police investigation.”

According to Merit, as of June 2011, the Canadian construction sector employed 1.26 million Canadians with 900,000 working in the “open shop” sector.

DCN NEWS SERVICES

Print | Comment