Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Advocacy in Action

From apprenticeships and Indigenous outreach to key arbitration and organizing victories, CLAC is driving real change for workers

Guide Magazine

By Ian DeWaard, Manitoba and Ontario Director

Over the past several months, CLAC members in Manitoba and Ontario have stood strong through a busy and sometimes challenging season. Whether we’re protecting bargaining rights, securing new organizing victories, advancing Indigenous partnerships, or returning hard-earned money back to members, CLAC continues to show that when we work together, we can achieve meaningful and lasting results.

At the same time, our presence at government tables and industry events has amplified members’ voices on issues such as apprenticeship school access, fairness for healthcare workers, and recognition for the essential service of volunteer firefighters.

Manitoba

This September, the provincial government unveiled the long-awaited Manitoba Jobs Agreement, a policy first promised in the NDP’s 2025 budget. Despite repeated requests to participate, CLAC was not consulted, and the effects of the policy on members remain uncertain.

The policy is being heralded by government and the Manitoba Building Trades Unions as a win for “good union jobs.” It requires that on provincial projects worth $50 million or more, priority be given to unionized Manitoban workers and that 20 percent of jobs go to apprentices and workers from underrepresented groups. CLAC will continue pressing that our members, who already play an important role on these major projects, are not left on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, members have celebrated key victories at the bargaining table and before the labour board. The Manitoba team repelled a coordinated raid attempt by the United Food and Commercial Workers union at five Save-On-Foods locations and a Unifor raid at Premier Horticulture Ltd., while continuing preparations for upcoming negotiations for hundreds of members employed by both companies.

Ontario Construction

Indigenous and northern engagement remains a central priority in Ontario, due to continued membership growth in the far north and the strong possibility of work at upcoming mining developments. CLAC’s efforts include outreach to Indigenous training institutions, publication of op-eds in local media, community presence at major events, and marketing campaigns that highlight our unique, collaborative approach to labour relations.

Work prospects in 2025 remain steady for construction members. While the residential sector continues to lag, both the ICI (industrial, commercial, institutional) and heavy civil markets are strong. Total hours worked this year are expected to be level with 2024, reflecting a healthy pipeline of projects for members.

CLAC and the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada cohosted an Ontario Construction Lobby Day on November 3. Our message to the government included a push for fair access, ensuring that public projects are not restricted to certain unions (as with the City of Toronto’s model) and tackling the severe backlog apprentices face in gaining access to community college trade programs. In some regions, the wait-list is now nearly two years—a delay that hurts both young workers and employers.

Bargaining activity remains constant across the province, as CLAC represents employees at more than 240 construction companies. Major negotiations are coming up at J.M.R. Electric Ltd. and O’Connor Electric, two of Ontario’s largest contractors. With more than 820 members across 130 work sites between them, the outcomes of these talks will be trendsetting for the province. Preparations are also underway for bargaining at LTS Build Services Ltd. for the more than 350 members there who are laying fibre optic cable throughout the province.

Ontario Healthcare

At the Village of Wentworth Heights, over 400 staff who chose CLAC in 2024 recently saw justice done. After it was discovered that Unifor, their former union, had overcharged them dues, nearly $500,000 was successfully recovered and paid back to workers. For full-time members, that meant roughly $900 in returned income.

Across the broader healthcare sector, bargaining has been tough, with employers showing little willingness to match recent settlement patterns. So far this year, members at 17 workplaces have filed for interest arbitration to break through bargaining gridlock (see “The Waiting Game” on page 38 for a detailed look at what members are facing).

Encouragingly, arbitrators are still providing reasonable results. Recent arbitration decisions have seen members receive a 7 percent wage increase over 2 years in retirement homes, and an 8.5 percent increase over 3 years in long term care homes.

Political & Industry Stakeholder Activity

CLAC continues to ensure members’ voices are heard at the highest levels. Each August, we take part in the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference—and with the City of Toronto back at the table, all 444 municipalities were represented this year. The event provides a vital platform for CLAC to meet with municipal and provincial officials and industry partners to advocate for members’ interests.

This year’s priorities included

extending WSIB coverage to retirement home workers;
opposing Bill 14, which could unfairly create personal liability for long term care workers; and
supporting a provincial tax credit for volunteer firefighters.

This past summer, Colin deRaaf, CLAC Training, Apprenticeship, and Jobs Central director, joined Premier Doug Ford and Labour Minister David Piccini at a media event in August, where they announced a $750,000 government grant for CLAC’s Group Sponsorship Program. This investment is helping 1,500 CLAC apprentices continue their training journey, strengthening Ontario’s commitment to support future skilled tradespeople.

Local 53 members working on the Bannockburn Bridge Rehabilitation Project

Advocacy in Action

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