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 Project labour agreements are what's needed(June 2008) By Gary Kroeker, Business Manager This year has started on a positive note. The number of employer-reported hours of work has increased over last year and it looks as though this trend will continue. Much has been said about twinning the Port Mann Bridge and upgrading Highway 1. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon was the guest speaker at our recent general membership meeting. In his address to almost 300 members, he spoke about the importance of the Asia-Pacific Gateway Strategy, much-needed infrastructure improvements and why the Port Mann Bridge is so integral to our economy. As we all know, B.C. is the gateway for trade with the Orient and Eastern Europe. The Port of Vancouver and the Roberts Bank port facility play key roles for our expanding economy. The Gateway Strategy is essential if we want B.C. to continue to prosper and grow. Projects included in the plan will also benefit the rest of the nation. The better the transportation system, the greater the financial savings for the end users. Projects will also make transportation more energy efficient and environmentally friendly when unnecessary idling time is reduced. We can’t put off this work. It will be costly, but will only be more so if we delay. The projects are estimated to cost $2 billion and create approximately 12 to 14 million hours of employment. There is concern that the Port Mann will be- come a toll bridge, but we don’t know how much users will pay. It remains to be seen whether road improvements outweigh the cost of the toll. After the minister’s presentation, we indicated our support, but it was conditional. We suggested he consider a project labour agreement (PLA) for Gateway for a number of reasons. PLAs: • set the standard for all bidders • ensure that workers with nationally recognized skills are compensated properly • make sure there are good opportunities for apprentices and trainees—critically important for addressing the skilled trades shortage and ensuring we have qualified people in the future, and • bring certainty and fairness which results in harmony and good morale on job sites The contractors who performed work on the Island Highway Project under that PLA agreed it was very effective. Contractors covered by the Allied Hydro PLA also see its benefits. Falcon replied that the provincial government has strong principles regarding “free enterprise.” Of course, we have no problem with this. Workers are of the same belief—you get what you pay for. We are the best of the best and PLAs would ensure that those who submit successful bids will benefit in the long term. We have no issue with the government’s position regarding infrastructure construction. All we ask is that we be given a fair chance. Our tax dollars are paying for these projects and it is B.C. residents, in the main, who will pay the tolls. I suggest that you contact your MLA and remind him or her of the value of supporting PLAs for all projects that require the skills of operating engineers. After all, we are simply the best. |
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