buildup
Senior Member
I just saw that 250,000 construction workers in Ontario have gone on strike. Does anyone know what the prospects are for a resolution? I''ve been waiting 42 months for my place, but whose counting...
|
|
|
Construction strike!
- Thread starter buildup
- Start date
beaconer
Active Member
I think you meant 25,000..
25,000 Ont. construction workers walk off job
TORONTO -- Twenty-five thousand construction workers across Ontario have walked off the job after the group representing their employers failed to come to an agreement Monday.
Although the trade associations involved have completed trade appendix negotiations with the Labourers' International Union, not all employer groups are willing to accept the language of their agreements, said the Ontario Masonry Contractors Association (OMCA).
"The general contractors have taken exception to some language in the memoranda of settlements between LIUNA and the masonry contractors association and LIUNA and the concrete floor finishers,'' said Martin Deeley, a negotiator for OMCA.
Deeley said the masonry appendix would give his association complete control over the working terms and conditions of masonry workers, but the group representing general contractors has refused to accept the terms of the agreement.
The general contractors' decision to stop negotiations has been backed by two other employer groups involved in negotiations, said Deeley.
In a statement last week, the masonry association said there was no need for general contractors to force the union into a strike by refusing to complete monetary bargaining.
"We're as frustrated as anybody else, including the labourers,'' said Deeley.
Labour union representative Patrick Little said internal problems between employer groups have left 25,000 construction workers without an agreement for the past month.
"If we're not given a wage offer like every other trade has in the province so far, we won't be going back to work,'' Little said. "We're now waiting for the contractors to get over their problems and call us back to the bargaining table.''
Minister of Labour Steve Peters said the government also hopes the dispute is resolved quickly.
"Certainly our goal is to have both sides resolve their issues at the bargaining table and the Ministry of Labour has mediators available that will provide assistance if required and asked by the industry,'' said Peters.
The masonry association and the Concrete Floor Contractors Association of Ontario have both said they don't agree with the negotiation standstill, said Deeley.
The general contractors, who instigated the halt in negotiations through their dissatisfaction with specific wording, should resolve their issues after a deal has been reached for all groups, he added.
"After the fact (the general contractors) can go to the Ontario Labour Relations Board or go to Binding Arbitration and deal with that disputed language then,'' he said.
The strike is expected to affect hospital projects in Belleville and Napanee, a casino expansion in Windsor, and construction at Queen's University and C-F-B Trenton.
According to Little, the union has planned pickets for Monday only, but will reinstate them if they find out their jobs are being performed by other workers.
Should the internal dispute be resolved quickly, Little said the union could be negotiating again as early as Tuesday.
25,000 Ont. construction workers walk off job
TORONTO -- Twenty-five thousand construction workers across Ontario have walked off the job after the group representing their employers failed to come to an agreement Monday.
Although the trade associations involved have completed trade appendix negotiations with the Labourers' International Union, not all employer groups are willing to accept the language of their agreements, said the Ontario Masonry Contractors Association (OMCA).
"The general contractors have taken exception to some language in the memoranda of settlements between LIUNA and the masonry contractors association and LIUNA and the concrete floor finishers,'' said Martin Deeley, a negotiator for OMCA.
Deeley said the masonry appendix would give his association complete control over the working terms and conditions of masonry workers, but the group representing general contractors has refused to accept the terms of the agreement.
The general contractors' decision to stop negotiations has been backed by two other employer groups involved in negotiations, said Deeley.
In a statement last week, the masonry association said there was no need for general contractors to force the union into a strike by refusing to complete monetary bargaining.
"We're as frustrated as anybody else, including the labourers,'' said Deeley.
Labour union representative Patrick Little said internal problems between employer groups have left 25,000 construction workers without an agreement for the past month.
"If we're not given a wage offer like every other trade has in the province so far, we won't be going back to work,'' Little said. "We're now waiting for the contractors to get over their problems and call us back to the bargaining table.''
Minister of Labour Steve Peters said the government also hopes the dispute is resolved quickly.
"Certainly our goal is to have both sides resolve their issues at the bargaining table and the Ministry of Labour has mediators available that will provide assistance if required and asked by the industry,'' said Peters.
The masonry association and the Concrete Floor Contractors Association of Ontario have both said they don't agree with the negotiation standstill, said Deeley.
The general contractors, who instigated the halt in negotiations through their dissatisfaction with specific wording, should resolve their issues after a deal has been reached for all groups, he added.
"After the fact (the general contractors) can go to the Ontario Labour Relations Board or go to Binding Arbitration and deal with that disputed language then,'' he said.
The strike is expected to affect hospital projects in Belleville and Napanee, a casino expansion in Windsor, and construction at Queen's University and C-F-B Trenton.
According to Little, the union has planned pickets for Monday only, but will reinstate them if they find out their jobs are being performed by other workers.
Should the internal dispute be resolved quickly, Little said the union could be negotiating again as early as Tuesday.
H
Hydrogen
Guest
My landlord is loving it.
Tuscani01
Senior Member
MY neighbour came to visit me at work today... hes off thanks to the strike and is hating it.
Prometheus The Supremo
►Member №41+⅜◄
Member Bio
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2007
- Messages
- 4,107
- Reaction score
- 5
- Location
- a strange reality, bizarro toronto
weren't concrete pumpers on strike also?
simply Dan
Active Member
The 9T6 condo site is busy with workers today, and the TTC is tearing up the tracks at Dundas St. W. and St. Patrick right now - no sign of a strike here.
H
Hydrogen
Guest
Might be a rotating strike, I guess. Anyone know for sure?
JasonParis
Moderator
I don't know for sure, but it also stands to reason that all workers won't be covered under the same CBA or even by the same union. Therefore, it may affect some projects, but not others.
H
Hydrogen
Guest
^Thanks for the info!