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tradetalktradetalkTHE MAGAZINE OF THE BC BUILDING TRADES

WE BUILD BC™

SPRING2016VOL. 19NO. 1

Publications Mail Agreement

No. 40848506

DC38 MembersBuildingVancouverLandmarks

Site C:It's our DAM WORK!

Our skills build B.C.

We are the Labourers’

Training Plus is an ITA authorized Red Seal Training Facility offering training courses to help you advance your skills and further your career.

Construction & Specialized Worker’s Union

HEAD OFFICE#200 - 19092 26th Ave.

Surrey, BC V3Z 3V7Ph: 604.541.1611

Toll Free: 1.800.663.6588www.cswu1611.org

PUBLISHED BY THEBC BUILDING TRADES

EDITORTom Sigurdson

EDITORIAL SERVICESFace to Face Communications Canadian Freelance Union

DESIGN/PHOTOGRAPHYJoshua Berson PhotoGraphics Ltd.UNIFOR LOCAL 729G

ADVERTISING MANAGERShane DysonCanadian Freelance Union

Tradetalk Magazine is published four times a year by the BC BUILDING TRADES#209 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 17 local unionsbelonging to 13 international unions. There are approximately 35,000 unionized construction workers in B.C.

Spring 2016

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;

InsulatorsPatrick Byrne, Vice President; Painters

and Allied TradesJim Paquette, Secretary-Treasurer;

Sheet Metal, Roofers and Production Workers

Rob Tuzzi, Bricklayers and Allied TradesChris Feller, Cement MasonsRay Keen, IBEW Prov. CouncilJames Leland, IronworkersManuel Alvernaz, LabourersBrian Cochrane, Operating EngineersDale Dhillon, 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 SPRING 2016The 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 responsiblemanagement of the world's forests.

Contents6 Increasingly complex Vancouver landmarks

Union glaziers

10 Proof of hard work and skillConstruction Craft Worker

12 Site C Report13 Premier is playing politics14 Union workers protest outside BC Hydro event15 Major construction projects need building trades16 Bennett challenged on his numbers18 CLAC spinoff: CWCU19 Site C timeline

20 Shining light on rising construction deathsBentall tragedy

21 Women of the BC Building TradesBuild TogetHER

22 75 years of work on the IslandSheet Metal and Roofers Local 276

24 Drivers get a glimpse of the futureDriverless trucks

28 Intensive pressure crushes bad billsBill C-377 and Bill C-525

29 Learn your history!A warning to the business community

30 Hundreds of unionized plumbers bring their skillsLead in Flint city water

Spring 2016 / BC BUILDING TRADES tradetalk 3

Cover: Kelcie Bourassapreparing to install a panel on the highly complex twisting Trump Tower.

Photo: Joshua Berson

4 tradetalk BC BUILDING TRADES / Spring 2016

We welcome your comments...The opinions expressed in Starting Pointare not necessarily those of the BCBuilding Trades Council or its affiliates. Send letters (the shorter the better) to theeditor 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 orcompany.

Diesel DangerThis article about the dangers of

exposure to diesel exhaust is here atthe request of a Tradetalk reader.

Just two hours of exposure to dieselexhaust is enough to cause significantdamage to the human body, a newUBC study concludes.

The study, led by Dr. Chris Carlsten,looked at how pollution particles affectthe way genes are expressed in thebody. Sixteen nonsmoking adult volun-teers with asthma were put in anenclosed booth about the size of astandard bathroom, and asked tobreathe diluted and aged exhaustfumes equal to the air quality along aBeijing highway or a busy port inBritish Columbia.

Carlsten said the impact of the pol-lution“exceeded our expectations.” Ina matter of a few hours, the resear-chers observed changes in the bloodthat may have long-term implications.

It’s believed exposure to the parti-

cles affects the chemical “coating” thatcan attach to parts of a person’s DNA.

“That carbonhydrogen coating, calledmethylation, can silence or dampen agene, preventing it from producing aprotein – sometimes to a person’sbenefit, sometimes not. Methylation isone of several mechanisms for control-ling gene expression, which is the focusof a rapidly growing field of studycalled epigenetics,” said a statementissued by UBC. “The study, publishedthis month in Particle and FibreToxicology, found that diesel exhaustcaused changes in methylation at about2,800 different points on DNA, affect-ing about 400 genes. “In some places, itled to more methylation in morecases, it decreased methylation.”

Carlsten says the next step is to fig-ure out how to reverse the damage.“Any time you can show somethinghappens that quickly, it means you canprobably reverse it – either through atherapy, a change in environment oreven diet.”

Starting Point

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The magazine of the BC Building Trades

tradetalktradetalkTHE MAGAZINE OF THE

BC BUILDING TRADES


Thereis a truism that states “Ifit isn’t broke don’t fix it.”

But irrespective of the success of theAllied Hydro Agreement, BC Hydrodecided to build what is likely the lastdam on the Peace River under theopen-managed-site model.

The great irony is that the very firstdam built in B.C., on the Peace Riverwas built using a Project LabourAgreement. Late Premier WACBennett understood the best way tosecure the qualified workforcerequired to build massive infrastruc-ture was through PLAs with the BCBuilding Trades. Along with assuredlabour supply came labour peacethrough the no-strike, no-lockout pro-visions. Additionally, thousands ofBritish Columbians moved throughtheir apprenticeship to secure jour-neyperson status. The Allied HydroAgreement served British Columbiaand British Columbians exceedinglywell for over 60 years.

Unfortunately, ideological myopiaguided by philosophical hucksterismtrumped logic, and BC Hydro movedfrom the security of a skilled laboursupply from B.C. to the risk of findingworkers from outside our province toget the project built.

Bill Bennett, minister of energy andmines (no relationship to WACBennett), defended the decision of BCHydro by stating that employing aB.C.-only workforce would increasethe cost of the project by $3 billion.Really Bill? $3 billion? A 25% increasejust for labour? What nonsense! Whatmalarkey!

It is shameful that a senior ministerof the Crown would say something sofictitious. So knowingly fictitious! Nowwe know that every statement fromthe government or from BC Hydroregarding this project has to be ques-tioned.

Since the project started late last fallwe have filed freedom of informationrequests asking for the number ofapprentices and non-BritishColumbians working on the project.We have not had a response.

The CEO for BC Hydro, JessicaMcDonald, said she “thinks” that 75%

of the workforce is from B.C. Whydoes she think of that? Does she havea source of information that we can’taccess through the legal channels available to us?

What we do know is that we have afew thousand B.C. members waitingfor a dispatch to go to work–fully qual-ified members, who pay taxes in B.C.when they are working, who pay theirBC Hydro bills every month, and whoare ready right now and at a timewhen BC Hydro is hosting job fairslooking for workers.

Vehicles from Alberta andSaskatchewan fill the parking lots at

the Site C project while many of ourmembers are wondering about theirfuture vehicle payments.

A project workforce with 75% of theworkers from B.C., even if it is true,may be good enough for BC Hydroand the provincial government but it isnot good enough for me as a B.C. taxpayer.

Both the government and theCrown Corporation need to put B.C. workers first. Anything less isunacceptable.

If you agree with me, check outwww.buildsitectogether.com and sign on.

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

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

affiliated unionsBricklayers & 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.orgHeat 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.comOperating Engineers Local 115 604-291-8831 www.iuoe115.comPlumbers 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

Government and BC Hydrofailing British Columbians

Increasinglycomplex

Vancouverlandmarksrequire the

skills of unionglaziers

Apprentice Marcus Houckon the DC 38 glazingcrew from AGS workingon the covered area atthe base of the TrumpTower. "It's a long job, agood job, and it has aname," said Business RepMarv Magnison. "It willbe standing for a longtime. It will be be one ofVancouver's landmarks."

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By Leslie DysonGlaziers, members of District

Council 38 of the Painters and AlliedTrades Workers, are working on someof the most challenging structures inthe Vancouver area: the Telus Garden,the Trump Tower, and the MMP Tower.

Chris Burnstad said he enjoyedworking on the MMP tower, whichwraps around the Marine Building, andit’s unusual roof shaped like a ripplechip. He also helped install the curtainwall system.

The Trump Tower was interestingtoo, he said, because it employs a com-pletely different system to achieve thetwist effect. “It’s not you’re typicalsquare building! We were 600 feet upin the air. It’s really something.”

Burnstad is in Level 2 of his appren-ticeship.

The work picture is “really good” forunionized glaziers, said BrentBertholm, the director of finance forthe Finishing Trades Institute. The fourlargest signatory contractors are AGSCommercial and Residental GlassServices, Superior Glass Canada, APCOGlass Products, and Jangho CurtainWall.

When Tradetalk visited the trainingcentre, the apprentices were buildingdoorframes and entranceways, andinstalling and hanging glass doors thatyou’d see in small store fronts. Inalmost all cases, the units we see instrip malls are custom made, said

instructor Mark Longmore. Olmo Hernandez was glad to have

had the opportunity to work on theMMP tower roof as well. “It’s the onlyone like it in North America. Workingon landmarks has prestige.”

He said he would like to be aninstructor and, indeed, was precise inexplaining what he was doing to makethe frame cuts, taking into account thethickness of the saw, the curvature ofthe blade, and saving the pencil line.“We have a 1 mm threshold.”

Hernandez has worked union andnon-union and said, “There’s ahumungous difference. Safety especially.Non-union is unregulated. Anyone canget into it and start hacking away. It’sjust not right.

“I realized that all that I was doingwas wrong. Everything I was taught waswrong. You don’t have to do that toyourself. You’re putting your life in dan-ger. You can refuse unsafe work.”

Taylor Rivard has worked as alighting and sound designer for live per-formances in the San Francisco BayArea and a bartender. He went intoglazing because “I wanted to go back toworking with my hands. This is probablythe most multi-faceted trade.”

He’s worked on many interestingprojects but especially liked the chal-lenge posed by the Telus Garden build-ing at Richards and Georgia. It’s logisti-cally difficult with lots of nooks andcrannies and canopies everywhere.”

One section required 400 units of glassinside a glazed nook with just one steelbeam in the centre. “I found it challeng-ing because of all the overhangs. Wehad swing stages on monorails and Iwas in a Bosun’s chair in a controlleddescent. It was a blast.”

Anthony Church said he fell intothe glazing trade when a neighbourasked if he’d like to be a helper. “Theguys liked me and said ‘Why don’t youjoin the union?’” He’s happy he did.“There are a lot of good guys in glaz-ing.”

He worked on the Trump Tower bal-conies which feature a lot of glass.Working on the 67th floor of theArthur Erikson-designed tower was“extremely exhilarating,” Church said.But the number 67 is a little deceptive.The tower is missing the 3rd, 4th, 13th,14th, and 24th floors. The City ofVancouver recently passed a bylaw pre-venting unusual numbering systems sothis may be the last tower to have thisfeature.

Church also helped build JamiesonHouse on W. Hastings. The design callsfor curved tempered glass that is“insanely hard” to install and requiresspecial tools. The 10-inch suction cupstake a minute to pump up but can sup-port 175 lbs. Four strong glaziers wererequired to lift each piece into place.

The project also features an auto-

continued on next page

Apprentice Rob Edge and Foreman/journeypersonSpencer Dobbler installing custom-cut aluminumpanels on the Trump Tower.

"This is not a curtain wall system," said BusinessRep Marv Magnison. The drawings are incrediblycomplex because of the tower's twist and slopes. DC 38 glaziers are trained to be precise and they'reinstalling thousands of pieces that often have just1 mm of leeway.


matic parking garage. The mechanizedsystem, only the second in Canada,allows vertical stacking of parked carsin less space. Wandering around anenormous parkade looking for your caror trolling around looking for a parkingspace are no longer of concern.

Although Church is a second-yearglazier apprentice, he has Red Seal cer-tification. He studied at DubrulleCulinary Arts and is a Red Seal chef. Heused the certification to good advan-tage on a recent construction project.Whenever a meeting was called ofjourneypersons, he attended. “Theynever said ‘glazing journeypersons’ so Iwent to the meetings too.”

He left the chef trade because“everything tastes better when some-one else makes it.” However, he stillgets roped into making gourmet turkeydinners for his family.

Jason Phillips, used to be a land-scaper until his buddy laid him offbecause work was slow. “I was stressedfor work and a glazier friend told me

to come work at his shop. The friendand Phillips were happy when workopened up with union companyLynnmour Glass. “It’s always challengingand it’s nice to see the finished prod-uct. Even on the smaller jobs.”

Erwin Bautista said he enjoyedthe challenge of working on the curtainwall of the Ferrari building on 4th Ave.and Burrard. He’s also worked forAPCO Glass on the giant mall inTsawwassen. He’s been in the trade forthree years. “The training is pretty goodand the pay’s good.” With two youngkids (8 and 3), he said he appreciatesthe higher pay that comes with unionwork.

Allan Shoaf was a self-employedcommercial landscaper with contractsto look after all the hospital grounds inthe Lower Mainland. At times, heemployed six staff. “But I got sick ofwalking 25 miles a day and not makingmore money. Glazier seemed to be agood job and you’re making money.” At44, his only regret is that he didn’tmake the career move sooner.

“I’ve had a bunch of teachers andMark [Longmore] is one of the bestI’ve ever had. He knows the problemsand how to fix them.”

Shoaf has worked on several towers,the Safeway and three towers complexat Granville and 70th in Vancouver, andthe Coast Capital building on KingGeorge “with all the crazy angles. “It’snever the same because of the location,the situation, and the climate. It’s alwaysbusy and there’s always overtime if youneed extra money.”

Chris Read has been working withglass for almost a decade. He started athis dad’s residential and auto glass shopin Nanaimo. He also worked in union-ized road construction for a couple ofyears but didn’t like living on the roadwith no sense of community. “I enjoythis a lot more.”

He’s drawn to the larger cities withmany projects under way. “I’m hopingto move to the States after my thirdyear. Glaziers are more highly trained inCanada so they’re sought after. I wantto work and see a few places.”

continued from previous page

One wing of the Finishing Trades Institute. Foreman/journeyperson Gary Collier,working in a tight space and suspend-ed in a chair, does the caulking on along column.

Chris Burnstad Anthony Church Olmojose Hernadez


No cheatingon safety

“We’re hanging off the side of build-ings like Spiderman. The only thingholding you is your harness and yourbrain,” said Allan Shoaf, second yearglazier apprentice. Safety is a big com-ponent of apprenticeship training andthat has his full support.

“You have the right to say ‘I don’thave to do that work.’ It’s more danger-ous if you’re nervous. Next thing youknow, you’re going to trip or accidental-ly kick something that could fall and killsomeone.” He speaks in the strongestterms, if someone steps into his safetyzone.

Each workday begins with all trades-people going to their workstations toinspect their rigging and check for haz-ards. “I’m going to do it because I wantto know,” Shoaf said. “I’m not going torely on someone else to make sure it’ssafe.

“For the guys it’s become a ritual. Wecome in and we’re talking and jokingaround and then everyone goes quietand starts writing away, filling out theirPSIs (pre-shift inspection reports).”

Left: Taylor Rivard Above: Jason PhillipsBelow: Allan Shoaf, Erwin Bautista

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By Richard Gilbert

Two members of the Constructionand Specialized Workers’ Union(Labourers) Local 1611 recentlybecame the first women in B.C. to earnRed Seal construction craft workercertification (CCW).

“I would encourage anybody to pur-sue a trade and the CCW is a goodone because its versatile, it’s alwaysinteresting, there is always a lot tolearn, and it’s a great way to get expo-sure to all the other trades–to see ifthey are of interest to you,” said CallieChatten, who passed the challengeexam in November 2015. “In regards tobeing a woman, we are all workers withdifferent abilities, and if it is somethingthat interests you, go for it.”

The Red Seal CCW was introducedin B.C. by the Industry TrainingAuthority (ITA) in November 2014, in

response to a potential increase indemand for skilled tradespeople in theliquefied natural gas (LNG) industry.Construction trade helpers and labour-ers are at the top of the list of in-demand LNG occupations, with apotential demand for 11,800 helpers

and labourers by 2018.“As a labourer, you are brought on

to jobs to help out other trades. So,you have to know the tools you aredealing with for each particular tradebecause they are all different,” saidCoralee Roberts, who earned the

ConsTruCTion CrafT Worker designaTion

Proof of hard work and skill

Coralee Roberts

Callie Chatten

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

Vancouver/Burnaby Chapter Chair — Garry Winkler

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

Rob Tuzzi, PresidentEnzo Centis, Secrectary-Treasurer

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

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


CCW certification in December 2015. “A good labourer hasto be versatile in any environment and any type of work. Theyare always thinking one step ahead” of the tradespeoplethey’re assisting. “You have to have that tool waiting for themso they don’t have to stop what they are doing.”

The required scope of knowledge and field experience forCCWs involves a wide range of tasks including site prepara-tion and clean up; setting up and removing access equipment;and working on concrete, masonry, steel, utilities, pipelines,roadwork, and precast erecting projects. They also handlematerials and equipment and perform demolition, excavation,and compaction activities.

Local 1611 is the only union in B.C. to offer CCW certifi-cation. About 200 members have already received their RedSeal for the CCW, but Chatten and Roberts are the firstwomen to receive certification. They both qualified to chal-lenge the exam because they have worked more than 6,000hours in the field.

“You can’t just walk through the door and write this exam,”said Chatten. “It is definitely earned through experience. Thereis a lot more to being a labourer and to being a constructioncraft worker than most people realize. In a lot of ways, I had-n’t even realized or appreciated how much knowledge I andothers had accumulated as labourers, until we actually satdown and worked on writing the exam.”

The union offers a three-day review course in advance of

the exam that is written on the fourth day.“It made me feel proud of myself, because of my age,” said

Roberts who is 31 years old and has worked in the construc-tion industry for more than 10 years. “And, gender does

come into it, because you are dealing with con-struction. We go through different challengesthat a man wouldn’t have to. It proves I am ahard worker, so I am getting a lot of respectfrom men on the job.” As women in a male dominated industry, Robertsand Chatten have been frustrated by men onconstruction sites who can’t see past their gen-der. One of their largest challenges is having toprove themselves again and again on new jobsites. They want to be respected as workers andrecognized for being good at their job regardlessof gender. Both Roberts and Chatten said theprocess of earning the Red Seal CCW certifica-tion was an opportunity to demonstrate theirskill, experience, hard work, and expertise tothemselves and their coworkers.If you are interested in applying for CCW RedSeal certification, contact ApprenticeshipCoordinator Liana Biasutti at 604-538-5101 oremail [email protected].

Protein for People union volunteers filling orders from B.C. food banks. The BC Building Trades are long-time contributors to this initiative.

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Helping in the community

Site

Creport

It's our dam work! Members of the building trades have been building B.C. dams for decades. This photo was taken during theearly stages of the reconstruction of the John Hart Dam.

Be Lee Colldren

Premier Christy Clark campaignedon a promise to provide jobs, and yethighly skilled, experienced, and availableunionized dam builders are standing onthe sidelines as work proceeds on thebiggest publicly funded project in theprovince’s history, the Site C Dam.Someone should have asked Clarkwhat she meant when she talked aboutjobs. Who would get them and underwhat conditions? Even then, could shehave been trusted to tell the truth?

There is no general contractor onthis project. A politically appointedProcurement Committee is grantingcontracts but does not oversee theproject itself. This experiment hasnever been tried on a public project ofthis size. It’s hard to imagine everythingthat could go wrong when no one ispaying attention to the big picture.

The first contract for the initialclearing of the site (worth $1.75 mil-lion) went to a non-union Albertacompany. Building trades members liv-ing in the area of Fort St. John werenot called to work.

The $1.75 billion civil and concretework for the generating station wentto Peace River Hydro Partners, a con-sortium that includes Calgary basedPetrowest.

Petrowest was recently certified bythe Christian Labour Association ofCanada (CLAC) and its workers willreceive reduced benefits and lowerpension contributions. Meanwhile,building trades members will be out inthe cold again.

“Everything is controlled out ofVictoria,” said Wayne Peppard, directorof the Allied Hydro Council. The AHChas a long history of managing workerson B.C. dam construction.

Peppard and the leaders of the BCBuilding Trades have been pressing thepoint, through a multi-prongedapproach, that a project labour agree-ment with the affiliates of the councilmakes sense from a business, econom-ic, social, and ethical perspective. Butlogic doesn’t resonate with a premierwhose only motivation seems to begetting re-elected in the provincialelection in 2017. That means keeping

her biggest campaign funders happy,and many of them own non-unioncompanies that are hungry for the work.

“This is a political decision,” Peppardstressed. Breaking the project intomultiple components made it mucheasier for non-union companies tocompete. "I believe the governmenthad to give something to the non-union and CLAC companies. They hadto provide employment opportunitiesfor the financial and political backersand the work is going to the lowestbidders. Because equipment and sup-plies are the same for everyone, thatmeans the cheapest labour. The onlyway to exceed expectations on costsis to gouge the workers. CLAC andnon-union are the obvious options tosucceed with that,” Peppard said.

Unrelenting pressure from the BCBuilding Trades is not the only thingcausing trouble for Premier Clark. TheBlueberry River First Nations, whoseterritory includes the site of the dam,has gone to court to demand “mean-ingful” consultation. It wants theimpact of the dam to be seen in con-

junction with all the other oil and gasactivity in the region. It wants theprovince to agree to set aside 20,000acres from development on PinkMountain, which it considers sacredand which is also sitting atop the richMontney gas deposits.

At the same time, representativesfrom Treaty 8 nations, local farmers,and environmentalists are protestingthe lack of consultation with local FirstNations and the destruction of aborigi-nal hunting and fishing territory andsome of Canada’s richest farmland.

If the project does go ahead and asthe work becomes more complex,members of the building trades will becalled to work.

Regardless of the outcome on SiteC, the building trades are takinglessons from this experience because,until we have a government thatrespects project labour agreements,these challenges will come up againand again. Peppard and others in thebuilding trades will continue to pro-mote the message, “We have incredibleskills that can be put to work any-where and to any advantage.”


Site CReport

Premier is playing politics

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Dozens of BC Building Trades unionmembers and other union workersshowed up at BC Hydro’s “businessnetworking” event in Prince George inFebruary to protest the Crown corpo-ration’s lack of commitment to provid-ing jobs for B.C. workers on the Site CDam project. Protestors said that theselocal events are just window dressing.

“Why won’t BC Hydro and EnergyMinister Bill Bennett give B.C.workers a clear, unequivocalguarantee that they will get firstcrack at all Site C jobs?” askedTom Sigurdson, executive direc-tor of the BC Building TradesCouncil. “It’s because B.C.Hydro and Bennett know fullwell that they are hiring hun-dreds of Alberta workers andmay well bring in temporaryforeign workers next.

“That’s not fair to PrinceGeorge construction workers,it’s not fair to B.C. workers andbusinesses, and it’s not good forB.C.’s economy,” said Sigurdson.

David Conway, BC Hydrocommunity relations manager,told CKNW News inDecember that because of“existing agreements” withAlberta and Saskatchewan there

is no guarantee jobs will go to B.C. workers.

Sigurdson said “business networking”events are ironic when BC Liberal MLAPat Pimm of Peace River North hasbeen promoting a provincial programto bring foreign workers to Fort St.John.

Pimm told the Prince George Citizenin August: “If there’s an opportunity to

reach out and be able to bring in someof these foreign workers... I’m certainly100% in favour of it. I hope we can getit off the ground.”

Building Trades members also joinedmembers from UNITE-HERE Local 40who were protesting the lack of a newcollective agreement with PrinceGeorge’s Inn of the North, the locationof the BC Hydro job fair.

Site CReport

Union workers protest outsideBC Hydro’s business event

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By Bill Tieleman

“We will either find a way, or makeone!”–Hannibal, military commanders

Will BC Hydro’s $8 billion Site Cproject include building trades work-ers? Will B.C. residents get the vastmajority of the work? Will Site C evengo ahead in the face of environmentaland First Nations’ objections and legalaction?

These are the questions that bedevilBC Hydro’s Site C project. Some can-not be answered–at least, not yet.Despite all the unknowns, here’s whatwe can verify.

No matter how much anti-unionemployers and the BC Liberal govern-ment may wish otherwise, unionizedbuilding trades workers are essentialfor many aspects of any major con-struction project.

As hard as BC Hydro has tried tostop the BC Building Trades–even goingso far as to try to ban organizing onthe job site until unions blew the whis-tle and threatened legal action–there isno way this project can be built with-out the tremendous skills and experi-ence of building trades’ members.

Regardless of anything PremierChristy Clark says in photo ops andspeeches to business audiences thatdespise unions, Site C will have astrong union presence or it simplywon’t be built.

The BC Building Trades recentlyundertook public opinion polling thatconfirmed what they firmly believed.British Columbians support localworkers and businesses getting theoverwhelming majority of the work on Site C.

Unionized tradespeople know thatour health care, education, and social

services are funded in large part byworkers and businesses from thisprovince who pay the taxes needed tosupport them.

As for Site C itself, I have longbelieved it was needed because youonly need to look at your 50-inch flatscreen television or turn on your com-puter, let alone think about making alu-minum or planing logs, to realize thatthis province will need every kilowattof power that dam can produce soon-er or later. The need for more electric-ity is a powerful incentive to makesure that unionized B.C. workers arepart of the solution.

The objections raised to proceedingwith Site C are understandable andshould be addressed by BC Hydro andthe provincial government.

No dam in B.C. has yet been builtwithout flooding land and no dam hasyet been built without unionized work-ers playing an enormous role in theconstruction.

First Nations don’t trust the B.C.government to do the right thing andneither do the building trades, bothbased on recent past experience.

But that doesn’t mean either groupcan’t force the government to mend itsways and reach an equitable agreementto proceed. In fact, it’s essential.

So my advice is to keep up the fightfor B.C. jobs–and make dam sure ithappens!

Bill Tieleman is a communicationsand strategy consultant and writes forthe 24 Hours newspaper and TheTyee online.


Site CReport

Major construction projects can’t be builtwithout building trades workers

Save time.Claim online.

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By Richard Gilbert

Bill Bennett, B.C. minister of energyand mines, told Tradetalk that he couldnot provide evidence for his remarkthat a Project Labour Agreement (PLA)with the BC Building Trades for con-struction of the Site C dam could driveup costs by $3 billion.

The minister was responding to anarticle on Oct. 6, 2015 in the AlaskaHighway News. Bennett told thereporter that a PLA could add $3 bil-lion to the total construction cost ofthe Site C dam project. Translated, thismeans raising total construction coststo $11.8 billion or by 34%.

“We haven’t done a study, but if youthink of a 10% increase due to labourcosts, you are already at a billion dol-lars. So, it is significant,” Bennett said.“No one really knows how much itwould be. But the basic economic prin-ciples of the free market, competition,and access to labour all support theidea of having a larger pool of contractors and workers to keepprices down.”

Tom Sigurdson, executive director ofthe BC Building Trades, responded, say-ing, “However Minister Bennett madethis comment, it is ludicrous for amember of the Crown to make astatement that has no basis in fact.Surely, with all the information availableto a minister of the Crown, he wouldhave had a much better grasp of whatthe costs and locations would havebeen. I would argue that given our levelof productivity, there would not havebeen any additional cost!”

In 2010, construction of the Site CDam was estimated at $6.6 billion. InMay 2011, the estimate climbed to$7.9 billiion. When the B.C. govern-ment approved the mega-project onDec. 16, 2014, the cost had risen to$8.77 billion. At the time, Bennett saidconstruction costs were being drivenhigher due to inflation, interest pay-ments from a six-month delay in thestart date, the provincial sales taxreplacing the HST, and the creation ofa project reserve of $440 million.

Bennett told Tradetalk, “I was arguingthat the managed open site modeltakes the pressure off costs and makes

the process more competitive becauseyou have access to a greater pool ofworkers and contractors. The mainpoint here is you leave it open for allcontractors, union and non-union. Youalso leave it open to all subcontractorsand all workers. They have an opportu-nity to get work from the Site C pro-ject, regardless of whether or not theybelong to a union.”

Sigurdson said that Bennett’s argu-ment that a PLA will reduce the avail-able pool of contractors bidding onthe project is nonsense. “Contractorsfrom outside B.C. and under the IndianBusiness Agreements would have beenable to bid on the project,” he said.“The successful contractors wouldhave been able to access a workforcein B.C. by coming to the various dis-patch halls and using our members ifthey didn’t have a sufficient supply.”

As far as non-union contractors areconcerned, Sigurdson said that under aPLA, such as the one used on theVancouver Island Highway project andthe Millenium Line, they would comeon the project as non-union and leavethe project as non-union.

The leadership of the BC BuildingTrades is upset that the procurementprocess requires no assurances thatlocal labour is employed even thoughthat was the case with previously dam construction projects.

“We have hun-dreds if not thou-sands of qualifiedB.C. workerswho are willingand able to go tothe site and dothese jobs,” saidSigurdson. “But,because of themodel that BCHydro and thegovernment havetaken withrespect to Site C,they are bringingin workers fromoutside theprovince.”

Under theopen site model,

there is no single entity responsible for an overall site agreement toaddress this issue.

On Dec. 21, 2015, BC Hydro award-ed a $1.75 billion contract for themain civil works to Peace River HydroPartners using an open site model.

The consortium is led by a sub-sidiary of a Spanish-owned multination-al company called ACCIONAInfrastructure Canada Inc. and SamsungC&T Canada Ltd., a division of theKorean multi-national company. It alsoincludes an Alberta-based companycalled Petrowest Corporation. Theconsortium is not affiliated to any BCBuilding Trades unions and is responsi-ble for hiring its own workers.

Bennett told the newspaper that hecould not tell BC Hydro who to dobusiness with or require that BritishColumbians receive hiring priority.“There is no guarantee possible underthe Canadian Constitution for oneprovince to limit opportunities of adiscreet group of workers or contrac-tors on the basis of where they live,”he said. “In the Charter of Rights andFreedoms you have mobility rights.[However,] there is a policy [in theopen site model] of hiring local work-ers where possible, which is really allanybody can do, including the B.C.Building Trade unions,” said Bennett.

Site CReport

Minister Bennett challenged on his numbers

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Minister Bill Bennett


Chief Executive Officer forCanada’s Building Trades Unions

view From ottawa By BoB Blakely

Those of us who have been around fora time in the construction business haveseen a number of things come and go. Itis almost like the fads of the past.Something comes up, everyone wants toget on board and almost as quickly it getsdumped and we either go back to the“old way” (the way that actually worked)or jump onto some new miraculous wayof doing things.

The Site C Dam project might be acase in point. Since the 1930s, and allacross North America, enormous pro-jects like this one were built under someform of project labour agreement. Thereare significant reasons for using this sortof vehicle.

Those who understand labour relationsrecognize that there are a number ofparamount advantages of PLAs such asfixing the price of labour before the workis bid and regulating the upward costpressures on labour throughout the

course of construction. Another is using the gobs of public

money that go into these projects toachieve more than just the provision ofthe infrastructure, like making sure thattraining happens. Think about the numberof apprentices that could work, learn, andeventually become certified on this sortof project.

Improving the lot of local and aborigi-nal people is another potential outcome.Think about how people could benefitfrom work on these projects.

PLAs ensure the work is the safest itcan be. Making sure that quality construc-tion is the result means that the peopleof the province get what they bargainedfor–something that does not need to berebuilt in a very short time because thebuilder was more interested in profitabili-ty than in delivering the product.

Site C represents a very real depar-ture from the norm. While the turbines

and generators will be built under a PLAwith the mechanical trades, it seems thatthe rest of the work has gone to con-tractors that Canada has not seen beforeand a labour provider contractor withno real history in the field. There are nohiring hall provisions, no concrete strate-gies for hiring local construction work-ers, and no real ways to set the cost oflabour.

If you think this makes the projectsound risky, it is!!

Why then would an agency as sophisti-cated as BC Hydro do something likethat? The answer is politics, for better orworse, BC Hydro is a creature of theB.C. government and that governmentfelt (and continues to feel) that it owessomething to the Independent Contrac-tors and Businesses Association (ICBA).

In the face of that, all common senseand good labour relations practices goout the window.

At Concert we’re proud to have the support of the shareholders represented by the union and management pension funds who own our company. They recognize our commitment to quality and support us in our efforts to remain one of Canada’s leading real estate companies. In turn, Concert has contributed more than $102 million to our shareholders’ pension, health and

With the ongoing support of our shareholders, we will continue to develop solid foundations for years to come.

www.ConcertProperties.com

Developing a Solid Foundation Together

No common sense and risky as hell!


By David HogbenMost unions want to tell you all about

who they are, their key people, and thecontracts they have negotiated.

Visit their webpages and you almostalways find pictures and biographies ofofficers and key employees.

Visit the Labour Relations Board web-site and you can examine their con-tracts–clause by individual clause–govern-ing everything from the production ofthe movie Alcatraz to the operations ofZiebart Excavating Ltd.

The Canada West Construction Union,not so much. It’s an exception in theunion movement.

Abbotsford-based Canada WestConstruction appeared on the radar in2013, when it became a successor unionof the controversial Christian LabourAssociation of Canada (CLAC) and wasdeclared the bargaining agent for Trotterand Morton Electrical Constructors B.C.

But you won’t find anyinformation–not a single name–about thedirectors or staff of Canada WestConstruction on their webpages. Norwill you find any information on thelabour board pages about the contractthey negotiated for workers at Trotterand Morgan.

Their webpage states: “The CanadaWest Construction Union was foundedby a group of construction tradespersonswho believe that a union for the modernworkplace is one that truly puts mem-bers’ interests first.”

Who might those “constructiontradespersons” be?

Emails sent to Canada West Con-struction by Tradetalk went unanswered,as did telephone calls to the office.

Zoominfo.com, however, shows thatCanada West was founded by formerCLAC director Ken Baerg.Zoominfo.com says Baerg continues as director of labour relations forCanada West.

There’s another CLAC connection.Zoominfo.com lists Todd Cumiskey as

Canada West Construction’s director ofmember services. It says he was formerlyCLAC’s B.C. director of training.

The Canada West Construction Unionwebpage says it “prides itself on negotiat-ing excellent collective agreements.” But

there are no agreements, nor links to anyon the Canada West Construction site.

B.C. Labour Relations Board recordsshow Canada West Construction is thebargaining agent for workers at six com-panies: previously mentioned Trotter andMorton Electrical Constructors, Surrey-based Jacob Bros. Construction Inc. andJacob Bros. Asset Co. Ltd., Terrace-basedDunoon Contracting Ltd., Edmonton-based Morgan Earthworks Ltd., andSherwood Park, Alberta-based CanadianBorealis Construction Inc.

No contracts for any of those compa-nies have been registered with the B.C.Labour Relations Board, although B.C.labour law requires contracts be filed.

LRB information officer MarkPocklington said some companies andunions tend to ignore the requirementto file contracts.

“There are no penalties. The only waythe issue is forced is when someonemakes an application to us complainingthere has been a violation of the code.Then we can hold a hearing and orderthe union and employer to provide acopy of the collective agreement.”

Zoominfo.com and the B.C. corporateregistry show former CLAC operativesBaerg and Cumiskey operate a labourmanagement-oriented company CanadianWork Strategies Inc.

Canadian Work Strategies and CanadaWest Construction are both located at2020 Abbotsford Way–Canadian WorkStrategies in office No. 101, and CanadaWest Construction in office No. 100.

Brian Cochrane, business manager ofOperating Engineers Local 115, isn’timpressed with the way Canada WestConstruction represents its workers, norwith its cozy relationship with CanadianWork Strategies.

“Ken Baerg either moonlights being atrade unionist or he moonlights being anemployer representative. Either waythere is a severe conflict,” Cochrane said.“Ken Baerg is an ex CLAC rep, now he istrying to be entrepreneurial and start hisown sham of a union, which is reallydesigned to protect the interests ofemployers.”

The Canadian Work Strategies web-page says it can “help develop, implementand operationalize (sic) a labour relations

framework that is customized to yourworkplace.”

The Operating Engineers and the B.C.Building Trades are challenging CanadaWest Construction’s certification as thebargaining unit for Morgan EarthworksLtd. They claim employees have beenthreatened with losing their jobs (andone was fired) if they did not vote infavour of Canada West Constructionbeing certified as the bargaining agent.

“They had a foreman from Morgan geton the bus and basically tell them if theydidn’t support the Canada West Con-struction Union being the union ofchoice they would be fired by theemployer,” Cochrane said.

The Building Trades unfair labour prac-tices complaint says Morgan assistedCanada West Construction in being cer-tified as the bargaining agent for Morganwhen it threatened its employees if theydid not vote for Canada West.

The certification battle has huge impli-cations for B.C. workers as BC Hydroawarded Morgan a multi-million-dollarcontract in July for preparation at themassive Site C Dam near Fort St. John.

Irene Lanzinger, president of B.C.Federation of Labour, said the issue ofemployer-dominated unions is hugelyimportant, not only to the labour move-ment, but for all B.C. workers. Employer-dominated unions undermine the wages,the benefits and rights of workers, she said.

When a group acting as a union comesin and undercuts the prices, the wages,and benefits, and says we will do itcheaper, many companies will go forthat,” Lanzinger said.

But employer-dominated unions notonly lower wages and benefits but usethe labour code to block legitimateunions from organizing workers oncethey have been signed up by company-friendly unions.

“This has a big impact on the abilitiesof unions to organize workers intounions.” And the impact of that spreadsthrough the economy and the whole ofB.C. society, she said.

“By undercutting wages, by undermin-ing union organizing, they reduce theability of unions and the labour move-ment to create more equality in society.”

Site CReport

ClaC spinoff: Canada WesT ConsTruCTion

Serving whose interests?


April 22, 2014BC Hydro Procurement Committeemeets with BC Building Trades andAllied Hydro Council and announcesthat construction of the Site C Damwill be done with a man aged open sitelabour model. BC Building Tradesopposes move and begins campaign tochange model.

Sept. 23, 2014 BC Building Trades and Allied HydroCouncil have a conference call whereBC Hydro advises they are continuingwith open managed site.

Oct. 3, 2014BC Building Trades and Allied HydroCouncil meet with BC Hydro CEO.

Nov. 10, 2014BC Building Trades executive directormeets with BC Hydro CEO.

Feb. 2015BC Building Trade launches public cam-paign and www.buildsitectogether.comgoes live.

March 2015BC Building Trades takes BC Hydro tocourt over Site C project model whichtries to prevent unions’ constitutionalrights to organize. Premier intervenesand says BC Hydro has gone too far.The model is amended, but majorproblems remain.

April 2015Four veteran BC Building Trades dambuilders travel to Victoria and call onthe provincial government to committo a PLA and build Site C with B.C.workers.

May 2015BC Building Trades unions signa memorandum of understand-ing with BC Hydro that givesproponents that use buildingtrades unions a weightedadvantage.

August 2015BC Building Trades expressconcern at lack of clarity fromBC Hydro on the memoran-dum and procurement process.

Sept. 2015First major $100 million contract forSite C civil work awarded to anAlberta-based company that brings inAlberta workers.

Nov. 2015The $1.75 billion main civil work con-tract at Site C is awarded to a consor-tium that does not include any BCBuilding Trades workers.

Current StatusThe Site C project is crewing up usingworkers from other provinces, whileB.C. workers remain unemployed. Thefight continues.

SITE C TIMELINEThe BC Building Trades has put considerable time, effort, and money into advancing the argument that its highly quali-fied union members are the people who should be building Site C. The importance of local hire and apprenticeshipsremain high on the public agenda as well. Countless hours go into research, freedom of information requests, documen-tation, preparation of campaign materials, strategy sessions, and meetings and communication in all forms.

Site CReport


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By Brynn Bourke

Every year, representatives from theBC Building Trades, labour movement,WorkSafeBC, business community andpoliticians gather with family membersand the public to mark the deaths offour Vancouver construction workerswho plunged to their deaths when a fly form collapsed at the 36th floor of the Bentall Centre Tower IV buildingin 1981.

The Bentall memorial is a time forindustry to take stock of all the deathsthat have taken place in the construc-tion sector and to commit to improv-ed safety.

“This year was particularly hard aswe saw a surge in construction deathsdue to exposure,” said Tom Sigurdson,executive director of the BC BuildingTrades. “The last WorkSafeBC statisticsreport found 44 construction workershad died–26 workers from exposureand 18 workers from trauma.”

This figure is up sharply from the

past year when 31 construction workers died (19 from exposures and12 from trauma). That’s an increase of over 40%.

“We have made so many strides inimproving safety in the constructionindustry and yet the legacies of thepast still manage to inflict their brutalcosts on workers today. It’s heart-breaking,” said Lee Loftus, businessmanager for the BC Insulators Local118 and president of the BC BuildingTrades.

“These deaths represent more thanjust statistics. They represent peoplewho were loved and who are deeplymissed. Today, we come together toshow all the families of workers whohave died that we have not forgottenour brothers and sisters and we con-tinue the call for safer workplaces,”said Sigurdson.

Participants gathered at the westerncorner of the park at the BurrardSkytrain Station and laid wreaths at theBentall Memorial plaque.

35Th anniversary of benTall Tragedy

Shining light on rising construction deaths due to exposures

Mike Davis (above) is the son of DonaldDavis who was killed in the Bentalltragedy. Family, friends, and members ofthe BC Building Trades came to remem-ber the workers who died and pledge tocontinue advocating for safer worksites.


Thiswinter, women in the BC Building Trades came together for a week longstrategic planning session.

Canada has 1.3 million construction workers, but just 4% are women. Women in the trades are trying to change that by creating a mentorship program

for women in the trades and increasing our outreach to young women consideringtheir future job options.

If you're interesting in joining the Build TogetHER initiative, talk to your union andcontact the BC Building Trades at [email protected]

building our

fuTure TogeTher -

Women of the BC Building Trades

Above: Setting down plans for the nextfew months. Watch for more informa-tion in future editions of Tradetalk.

Right: Hilary Do and Julia Ballantyne atthe Vancouver School Board's Journeyinto the Trades event.

The women of the BC Building Tradeswho met for a strategic planning ses-sion in February: Kirsten Newman(Ironworkers Local 97), Ashley Duncan(Insulators Local 118), Jennifer Lowen(District Council 38), Lindsey Noort(Ironworkers Local 97), Julia Ballantyne(Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 516),Sarah Hansby (Plumbers and PipefittersLocal 516), Lisa Langevin (ElectricalWorkers Local 213).


Working on the promontory at the Bayview Place condo project in Victoria's InnerHarbour a year ago.–Barry Ferguson photo

Members of Sheet Metal and Roofers Local 276 working on theMath & Sciences Building at University of Victoria a decadeago.–Playsted Sheet Metal photo

Reroofing project at CFB Esquimalt two years ago.–Mark Curtisphoto

Preparing stainless steel duct for the Elliott Building at theUniversity of Victoria. The project is currently under way.–JasonBentley photo

The crew working on the Fleet Maintenance Facility, CapeBrenton, in Esquimalt two years ago.–Playsted Sheet Metalphoto

Sheet metal workers at Tri Metal fabri-cators built the components of thisplaque and the elements were assem-bled by a crew at the training centre ofSheet Metal Workers Local 280. Local280 presented the plaque at the 75thanniversary celebration of its sister localSheet Metal Workers Local 276

75 years of work on the IslandMembers and family and friends of Sheet Metal Workers and Roofers Local 276 onVancouver Island celebrated the local union's 75th anniversary recently. The festivitiesincluded a photo retrospective, show 'n shine, banquet and silent auction, and a fundrais-ing campaign that raised $14,000 for Children’s Health Foundation at Jeneece Place.

sheeT meTal Workers and roofers loCal 276

Building an elbow for the John Hart Dam tunnel a year ago.—CR Metal Fabricators photo

Local 276 apprentice working at Fleet Maintenance Facility inEsquimalt.

Building a stainless steel duct for the Elliott Building atUniversity of Victoria.—Jordan Johnson photo

Working at DND's helicopter hanger at the Victoria Airport ayear ago.–Brad Sweeze photo

Re-roofing on a site a couple of years ago.–Mark Curtis photo



By M. BordigaImagine this scene. About 800 Unifor

rock-truck drivers, working for SuncorEnergy Inc. in the oil sands, have beenwatching the company test a new fullyautomated truck that is designed to putthem out of work.

Driverless trucks are no longer thestuff of science fiction. Members ofTeamsters Local 213 are being told toget ready for more turbulent times.

Tony Santavenere, Local 213’s con-struction division assistant, has beenwatching the developments at theoperation in Fort McMurray.

According to the CBC Radio pro-gram Day 6, Suncor signed a five-yeardeal with Komatsu, a Japanese heavyequipment manufacturing firm, to buy175 of these driverless vehicles andthey plan to automate the entire fleet by 2020.

Santavenere is certain that, if thesenew vehicles do well in the testingstage, the drivers at the site will be laidoff shortly after. He worries thatTeamsters Local 213 members, whooperate the same types of vehicles atmining and construction operationsacross B.C., could face a similar fate.

“Technology can be great; but it canalso be pretty scary,” he said. “It’s usedto undermine workers’ living standardsby undermining their jobs. The impacton us could be huge. Between 300 and400 of our members operate construc-tion rock trucks.”

The loss of decent-paying and stableunion jobs affects consumer spending,which drives economies and leads to a

downward spiral with more job lossesand local business closures.

“Of course it’s devastating to theeconomy; especially in smaller commu-nities (where rock-truck work oftentakes place),” he said. “The loss of thesetypes of jobs means less money instores, in movies and restaurants, forvacations and hotels. You name it.”

The new driverless trucks look likethe standard vehicles, up to 30 meterslong with wheel spans of at least 4meters. However, instead of a driverseat, the cab is loaded with road sen-sors and computer processors operat-ed remotely. Company spokespeoplesay that since the trucks haul ore fromthe pit along a single route to a pro-cessing facility and then return, it is fair-ly simple to program them to operatewithout a driver, while removing thesafety risk of human error—a claimthat drivers disagree with.

“They (driverless rock-truck design-ers) have yet to deal with the diverseelements like changing weather condi-tions and differing types of ground androads,” Santavenere said, adding thatthere is no way yet to substitute a dri-ver making numerous decisions andjudgment calls, often in split secondsunder quickly changing conditions. “Thetechnology to deal with this is at leastfive to ten years off.”

He said this time lag may giveTeamsters Local 213 the opportunityto develop a strategy to address andadapt to the issue, including re-trainingmembers whose jobs may be affectedand transition strategies to get mem-

bers into new trades in the industrythey work in now.

In Australia, Rio Tinto recently intro-duced automated rock trucks at itstwo iron ore open-pit mines in westernAustralia.

“Our autonomous fleet outperformsthe named fleet by an average of 12%,primarily by eliminating requiredbreaks, absenteeism, and shift changes,”Andrew Harding, the firm’s iron orechief executive, told the AustralianFinancial Times. “Innovation and tech-nology is critical in our efforts toimprove safety.”

Yet there are reports of minor acci-dents and disruptions in operations due to equipment failure.

Meanwhile, in Vancouver, Santavenereis working with the Longshoremen’sUnion because it is also concernedabout the introduction of automatedtrucks to move freight at the new DeltaPort expansion. Labour and industryhave suggested governments look intoregulatory and transition programs tohelp workers and communities dealwith the negative consequences of thisnew technology, but Santavenere isskeptical that much will be done.

“It depends on what governmentsare asked or are able to do,” he said.“Does the government have the capa-bility to tell major corporations how torun their operations? In some ways itcan, but in others (like technologicalchange), it may not be very effective. It’s a constant challenge with new technology. We (unions) are constantly having to adapt.”

Drivers get aglimpse at the future and it doesn’tinclude them

Drivers get aglimpse at the future and it doesn’tinclude them


bCbT president, business manager insulators local 118

lee loFtusPresident’s view

Finally a jail sentence for killing workers

In a historic ruling this January thecourts sentenced a Toronto projectmanager to three and a half years inprison for the deaths of four workerswho died when a swing swage collapsed.

It’s taken over 10 years since theWestray Act was passed and employ-ers could be found criminal negligentfor the deaths of their workers. Yet,police and the judiciary have beenleery to convict. This January’s decisionmarks a monumental victory and agiant step forward for occupationalhealth and safety.

The news is bittersweet, as it comesat a time when deaths due to asbestosexposure are spiking and are expectedto remain high for the foreseeablefuture.

In 2014, there were 44 acceptedfatality claims in the construction sec-tor–26 due to exposure and 18 due totrauma. That’s an increase of over 40%from the previous year.

Those workers will be joined bythousands more over the comingyears, including ones that are exposedtoday.

Asbestosis and mesothelioma aren’tthe diseases of yesterday. Somewhereright now a worker is being exposedbecause of an unscrupulous contractor.

And although much has been done inregulations, the law continues to failworkers.

In one recent case, contemptcharges were only sought byWorkSafeBC after a contractor failedto change his practices after over 250asbestos-related orders had been dis-regarded.

Even though it’s been over half acentury since we first learned the dan-gers of asbestos, it’s disappointing thatwe are still experiences uncontrolledexposures to workers.

Most importantly, regulatory bodies like WorkSafeBC and theprovincial government still haven’tfound a solution.

I can’t believe in this day and agethat we are still struggling to addressthe causes of exposure. An increase ofover 40% in one year is a shocking statistic.

If we lost 26 people last year for anyother reason, there would be a public

outrage. But the quiet, insidious natureof exposures hides their effects frompublic scrutiny. It has allowed hundredsof employers to go blameless for negli-gently endangering workers becausethe manifestation of the diseases takeplace years later.

Not one employer will be heldaccountable for the 26 constructionworkers who died due to exposureslast year.

Preventing exposures isn’t rocketscience. We know what needs to bedone. We know how to manage it. Weknow why we should manage it. Butwe fail to use the tools we have to follow through.

There must be consequences fornegligent employers: Knowingly exposea worker to asbestos? Go to jail.

It’s the only way to break the cyclein an industry driven by a low-bidmentality. Ethical asbestos abatementcontractors are struggling while para-sites pick up the contracts and endan-ger workers.

This January’s recent sentencing is aturning point. I want all unscrupulouscontractors to lose sleep because theycould be next. I want them to hear themessage, “"The courts have opened thewindow to criminal convictions andI’m going to break down your door!”

And although much hasbeen done in regulations,the law continues to failworkers.


For resources on ladder safety visit worksafebc.com/safetyatwork.

Is this the right tool for the job?• Think about the hazards

before using a step ladder

• Consider a safer alternative

• Develop and follow safe work procedures

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.krwotaytfeas/mt isiy vtefr saeddan l

Special to TradetalkFalls are one of the leading causes of

injuries to construction workers inB.C. Yet, when it comes to being care-ful and staying safe on the jobsite,working with ladders–especiallystepladders–isn’t always seen to behazardous. After all, it’s a tool that,some assume, almost anyone can use.However, using a ladder at workcomes with risks just like any other tool.

From 2012 to 2014, 1,005 workersin the construction industry wereinjured or killed due to falls from lad-ders. That’s almost one fall, every day,for three years. These falls account for24% of all injuries, and 35% of all claimcosts. Falls from ladders reflect thehighest proportion of construction-related falls.

The first step to reduce the risk offalling from a stepladder is to ask your-self, “Is this the right tool for the job?”Following these simple steps, can helpyou stay safe and injury-free.

Assess the hazardsIf you do need to use a ladder,

ensure that it’s in good condition andis set up on a firm, level surface and atthe correct height and length to allowyou to work safely. Check the labelwith the load and duty rating and make sure the ladder is the right grade for the task and the industry,

typically CSA Grade 1 or better.

Consider safer alternativesSometimes a stepladder isn’t the

best tool. While a ladder may seem likethe quick, easy option, consider if thereare safer alternatives such as platformladders, stationary or rolling scaffold-ing, boom or scissor lifts, or otherwork platforms.

Follow safe work proceduresFollow safe work procedures every

time. Setting up a stepladder incorrect-ly puts you and other workers at riskof serious injury.

Using a stepladder correctlyStepladders should be used for short

duration, light-duty work. Maintain three-point contact when

climbing the ladder (two hands andone foot or two feet and one hand) atall times.

Keep both feet on the same stepand support your body (knees orchest) with the ladder to maintainthree points of contact and make surea safe handhold is close by and avail-able.

Always follow the ladder manufac-turer’s instructions and never stand orsit on the top two rungs of any ladder.

For more information on laddersafety, see the Construction SafetySeries on worksafebc.com.


ladder safeTy

Simple steps to preventserious injuries

WorksafebC

Job safety

Teleclaim centreopen from

8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Workers who've been injured on

the job, can call WorkSafeBC's

Teleclaim Centre between 8 a.m.

and 6 p.m. to file a report. A

representative will complete the

injury report, explain the claims

process and help direct the

worker to other services if

necessary. The worker’s employer

is then notified of the injury and

both the worker and employer

can follow the status of the claim

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.


Register at unionsavings.ca/tradetalk to take advantage of exclusive discounts from Canada’s only not-for profit, union run, members’ benefit

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Intensive pressure crushes bad billsBy Leslie Dyson

Unions received the good news last December that their sustained and uni-fied campaign had paid off. The new federal Liberal government was waiving thereporting requirements required in Bill C-377. A few weeks later, the discrimina-tory legislation contained in bills C-377 and C-525 was tabled for repeal.

As expected, Merit Canada, representing non-union and anti-union compa-nies, called it “an affront to our democratic system.” And even though theConservatives are in a much weaker position now, be prepared for a push backfrom those MPs and the Conservative-dominated Senate.

Bill C-525 would have made it even more difficult to join a union in federallyregulated workplaces.

Bill C-377 would have required unions to publicly disclose all expenses over$5,000 and salaries over than $100,000 and provide statements on political andlobbying activities.

Unions and federations of labour accused the Conservative government oftargeting unions specifically, preventing confidential transactions, and ignoringpersonal privacy. All the information was to be posted on the Canada RevenueAgency’s website.

The bill was also opposed by the NHL Players’ Association, Conservative andLiberal senators, seven provinces, the Canadian Bar Association, mutual fund andinsurance companies, Canada’s privacy commissioner, and numerous social jus-tice activists across the country.

Bill C-377, a Conservative private member’s bill, was passed in the House ofCommons in 2012. However, the Senate sent it back in 2013 with so manyamendments that it was rendered toothless. Former prime minister StephenHarper used a loophole to have the bill passed without the amendments in June2015. It would have gone into effect Dec. 31, 2015.

The Canada Labour Code and provincial labour laws already include legisla-tion requiring unions to make financial information available to their memberswhen requested and for free.

Shortly after the Liberal government’s announcement, the labour movement,including the Canadian Building Trades Unions, issued a statement praising thenew government.


By Merrill O’DonnellWorkers’ Advocate

In a recent Vancouver Sun editorialLaura Jones, from the CanadianFederation of Independent Business(CFIB), referred to BC businesses thatpay premiums to the Workers’Compensation Board (WCB) as “cus-tomers.”

Jones said she likes to describe busi-nesses as “customers” because it’s areminder that “there is always thethreat of competition if the organiza-tion [WCB] does not perform well.” Inother words, she is threatening privati-zation if the WCB doesn’t provide bet-ter customer service.

This bold utterance from the CFIBreveals an irksome misconception ofthe basis upon which the WCB wasestablished in 1917. As oftentimeshappens, it is based on a larger prob-lem, namely the notion that a “freemarket” can resolve all social ills, thestate should not interfere with thecapitalist market, and workers’ solepurpose is to make the wheels ofindustry roll smoothly along.

Jones’ research findings of the CFIB’s2015 Small Business Workers’Compensation Index ranked B.C'sWCB system fifth out of the tenprovinces.

While CFIB’s customer service rank-ing represents the perspective of smallbusiness and evaluates issues impor-tant to them, it’s no secret that thelabour movement isn’t enamouredwith the WCB’s service either. But I’mtalking about service to workers andtheir advocates, of course.

So the labour movement doesn’tprotest the CFIB’s customer serviceranking. What we do protest, however,is Jones’ suggestion that the WCB canbe replaced by private insurers at thebehest of the business community. Onthat matter she’s dead wrong.

Jones should learn a little history

Our workers’ compensation boardwas created as a result of a mutualunderstanding between business,labour, and the state. That understand-ing came about as a result of myriadsocial, economic, political, and legalrealities. As every labour history buffknows, the mid-1800s to mid-1900’swere interesting and highly provocativetimes for working people, the businesscommunity, and the state all over theworld. The Paris Commune of 1871,the Russian Revolution of 1917, and

the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919come to mind. A lot was happening inBritish Columbia, too.

In the late 1800s, workers in BritishColumbia were being injured and killedin huge numbers as they struggled toput a roof over their family’s heads andfood on the table. Workers’ efforts tofight back by suing their employer’swhen they got injured were stymied bythe judicial system which was closelyaligned with the commercial interestsof business.

But at the turn of the century,employers were confronted with anumber of precedent-setting courtdecisions that undermined their previ-ous defences against injured workerswho sued them. As a result, injuredworkers who took their employers tocourt had a better chance of winning.The number of law suits grew.

Labour unions, aware of the judicialchanges, provided workers with finan-cial resources thereby increasing theirnumbers and their chances of success.At the same time, B.C.’s economy wasin a recession and this put a lot ofpressure on businesses. Companieswere vulnerable to financial instabilitywhen injured workers or their depen-dents took them to court.Oftentimes, even if the employer wonthe case, the legal costs would sink thebusiness–the classic pyrrhic victory.

WCB the result of businesses’ demand for abetter system

This confluence of events putworkers’ protection and compen-sation back on the B.C. legisla-ture’s agenda. Through a simpletwist of political fate, a peskysocialist MLA, J. W. Hawthorn-thwaite, along with another col-league, held the balance of powerin the legislature and this enabledthem to introduce the Workmen’sCompensation Act of 1902.

This shift in power for labourand a landmark case in 1912 dra-matically increased the number ofpotential worker litigants. A hand-ful of very large judicial awards toinjured workers and dependentssent shockwaves reverberatingthrough the B.C. business commu-nity. Business, labour, and thestate came to the conclusion thatfinancial security for all partiescould only come about throughcompromise. B.C. businesseswanted the WCB system as much

as labour did–maybe more!This historic compromise forms the

bedrock of B.C.’s WCB system.Employers are protected from lawsuitsby injured workers and injured work-ers are supposed to receive protectionand equitable compensation benefitsfrom the WCB fund paid by employers.This was the deal. The notion of pri-vate insurers, as Jones threatens in herarticle, is not part of the deal. It neverwas and it never will be.

Undermining the WCB system could bring unintendedconsequences

Profit-seeking–the prime motivatorof all private enterprises–has no placein a system where providing injuredworkers with equitable and effectivehealth care benefits, compensation,vocational rehabilitation, and protec-tion is fundamental to the properworking of the system.

Back in early 2000, the BC Liberalsimplemented a wide range of dracon-ian changes to the WCB system at thebehest of the business community. Itwas wrong. Because of those changes,workers are seeing weaker protectionstandards, significantly lower compen-sation, fewer vocational rehabilitationservices, and dwindling health carebenefits.

If the business community thinks itcan further undermine our WCB sys-tem, it should think twice. We mightfind ourselves back in the militant mid-1800s and early 1900s. Workers arefed up and it wouldn’t take too muchto push them over the edge.Employers demanding private disabilityinsurance providers might just do it.

Call your union o�ce for more information on how to participate.

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

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Learn your history!

By Leslie DysonHundreds of unionized plumbers and pipefitters are volun-

teering their time to go door to door in Flint Michigan,installing faucets, filters, and test kits to help address the city’swater crisis and the extremely high levels of lead in people’sdrinking water. The initiative started in October with themembers of Local 370 in Flint but the problem is so exten-sive, with thousands of homes affected, that the call went outto plumbers from all over the state.

First priority was given to the homes of pregnant women,the elderly, and those with suppressed immune systems. Thefaucets, which cost about $100 US, are too expensive formany of the residents of Flint.

The problem stems from the city’s decision several monthsago to save money by neglecting to use corrosion controlswhen it went from drawing clean water from Lake Huron tothe Flint River. The result was a sudden increase in lead in thewater going to homes and businesses. Lead in drinking watercauses severe health risks including brain damage. Over100,000 residents, including children, have been exposed sinceFebruary 2015.

According to filmmaker and Flint native Michael Moore, theGM Factory complained about increased corrosion duringthe washing of car parts so Michigan Governor Rick Snyderfound the funds to reopen the Lake Huron water system…but just for GM.

Flint, one of the poorest cities in the U.S., suffered numer-

ous blows when the auto industry went in search of cheaperlabour and materials. Then, in 2011, Snyder introduced amajor corporate tax break which meant less money for edu-cation, health, and infrastructure. The priority of the gover-nor's appointed emergency manager was to save money.

“We did not cause this American tragedy in Flint,” saidLocal 370’s Harold Harrington. “But we certainly can helpcorrect the damage that has been done!”


oil and gas seCTor

Employersneglecting theirresponsibilities

Workers in B.C.’s oil and gas, drilling,and pipeline construction industriesare more likely to suffer hearing lossthan in other industries, according to arecent WorkSafeBC report. More than36% of workers in the oil and gasdrilling sector showed signs of noise-induced hearing loss according to thereport in Canadian OccupationalSafety Magazine.

This is more than double the resultsin other industries with hazardousnoise levels, according to Budd Phillips,WorkSafeBC’s regional preventionmanager in Fort St. John.

Employers are required to providehearing loss prevention programs,monitor noise levels, and conductannual hearing tests for workersexposed to hazardous noise. However,only 15% of workers in oil and gas andpipeline construction in B.C. weretested in 2014.

WorkSafeBC also found hearingprotection was insufficient in somecases, with 27% of young workersreporting that they do not wear hear-ing protection devices.

Art Kube, a steel fabricator, heavy equipment operator, and miner who rosethrough the ranks of organized labour to become president of the BC Federation ofLabour, was made a Companion of the Order of Canada last November.

Kube also helped found Canada’s first co-op housing federation, led the UnitedWay of Greater Vancouver and, in his retirement, served as president of theprovince’s Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations.

Irene Lanzinger, president of the BC Federation of Labour, said in a statement,“Art’s commitment and passion to the people of British Columbia and Canada hasnever waivered, and it is important that his work is being recognized and honouredin this way.”

The statement notes that his work took him from Vienna (Austria), Edmonton,the Canadian Artic, Manitoba, and Ontario. In the 1960s he was active in theCanadian Labour Congress, and over the next two decades took on a variety ofpositions advancing bargaining rights, education opportunities, and organizing.

From 1983 to 1986, he served as the president of the BC Fed. During this time,he also took on the role of chairperson for Operation Solidarity.

He has devoted his life to advocacy and activism and has inspired generations ofleaders coming behind him.

“It is a real pleasure to see him honoured with this appointment to the Order ofCanada,” said Lanzinger.

The Order of Canada was established in 1967, during Canada’s centennial, to rec-ognize outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to thenation. More than 6,000 people have been invested into the Order, includingLeonard Cohen, Tommy Douglas, Terry Fox, and Stephen Lewis.

lead in CiTy WaTer

Hundreds of unionized plumbers bring their skills to bear

Flint, Michigan's drinking water pipes. –Min Tang and Kelsey Pieper photo

arT kube

Labour leader given Orderof Canada

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Warehousing apprenticeships are now available. For more information contact the Training Plan Coordinator

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