Standing for Fairness

I have been a CLAC member for over 20 years, during which time I have worked as a carpenter and foreman—and yet, the BC NDP’s community benefits agreement (CBA) tells me that neither my relationship with my union or employer is important. You see, if I want to work on a public project under this CBA (or project labour agreement), I have no assurance that I would be dispatched to the company to which I have been loyal for two decades. The only thing Premier Horgan’s deal assures me is that I would not be represented by my union of choice. That is the reality for thousands of workers like me whose right to choose their union is trampled upon by the NDP’s restrictive project labour agreement.

I have worked on large infrastructure projects, as well as commercial and public/private partnership projects. I have helped build Canada Place, Canada Line Station (Pacific Centre), BC Children’s Hospital, and the NRC Institute at UBC. I have worked alongside seasoned tradespeople as well as enthusiastic young people starting their careers—all of whom would be valuable assets to any major infrastructure project.

Our union, Local 68, provides excellent benefits, professionally managed retirement plans, training, and high-quality representation. Together, we’ve worked with our employers to resolve issues, negotiate fair wages, and develop a top-tier workforce. But for some reason, our government tells us that this needs to change. If we want to participate in a public project, we have to become members of one of its select unions and dispatched to a contractor whom we may or may not know. I value the continuity of my employment, my benefits, my retirement plan, and I value the team I have helped build for 20 years.

I choose to be a member of a progressive, independent union. I stand by my choice, and I’m standing up for fairness.