We Have a Construction Coordinator?

Members will be interested to know what your Ontario construction coordinator (OCC) does for you

By Andrew Regnerus, Ontario Construction Coordinator

Paid for from the CLAC Industry Fund negotiated in your collective agreement, here’s the important work the OCC does on your behalf. The OCC’s activities fall into eight main buckets.

High Level Labour-Management Relations – The OCC provides strategic support for CLAC representatives in relations with CLAC’s biggest construction companies in Ontario. He also is part of a team that manages labour-management relations with approximately 100 Ontario-based contractors that are members of the Progressive Contractors Association, a national group of CLAC-signatory companies.
CLAC Representative Resource – With over 30 years of experience, the OCC advises representatives and provides a fresh set of eyes to review tricky labour relations situations, such as organizing, raids and raid defense, labour board cases, grievances, mergers and acquisitions, etc.
Stakeholder Engagement Events – The OCC keeps connection and networks with a dozen trades groups and construction associations.
Indigenous and Northern Ontario Engagement – This is a new role for the OCC that began in 2024. Together with Gord O’Coin, regional director of the Sudbury Member Centre, and Ian DeWaard, Ontario director, the OCC attended six new events, engaged Firedog Communications for guidance, and developed material to promote CLAC’s presence in the north. Why? Because of growing mining and infrastructure work, we need to advocate for members so that you have an opportunity to participate in upcoming work opportunities. We are building name recognition and cultural competency for the union and CLAC-signatory contractors with Indigenous communities and northern communities.
Promotion – The OCC guides promotional work for members with print and web advertisements, event sponsorships, and swag—including your cool toques, ball caps, etc.
CLAC Jobs Team – The OCC works with the CLAC Jobs Team, which creates profiles for workers who are seeking jobs and sends them to 230 signatory contractors. The team matches hundreds of members to new jobs every year!
Government Relations – With government and public relations expertise, the OCC works with Ian DeWaard, Ontario director, to advocate for the union’s labour relations model with the Ontario government. We ask for advice on policy and legislation and we also give it. We go to Queen’s Park for an annual lobby day.
National Presence – The OCC manages CLAC’s presence at Skills Canada events. This year, Team CLAC included seven staff from three provinces. With varying francophone skills, we went to the 2024 national competition in Quebec City where we interacted with many of the 6,000 school kids who attended. We also attend Canadian Apprenticeship Forum annual events to learn and share best practices in supporting apprentices in the construction trades. The CLAC delegation in Calgary this June came from Ontario, Alberta, and BC. We also coordinate some national level First Nation initiatives.

Andrew Regnerus

We Have a Construction Coordinator?

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