New construction labour law amendments made by the Saskatchewan government have angered unions, who claim the laws will hinder the construction industry and hurt employees.
The new laws will, among other changes, allow the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board the chance to investigate unions accused of abandoning a project and revoke a union's certification as a result of abandonment, remove maintenance from the definition of the construction industry in the province and allow unions to certify employers.
"Our construction industry requires fair, flexible and effective labour laws to help keep Saskatchewan's economy strong during this time of uncertainty," said Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris. "With the government's record spending on infrastructure and strong private-sector investment, we need a growing construction industry to handle a work load that should be heavy for years to come."
According to comments made by both the Saskatchewan Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, the new amendments proposed by the government will affect the livelihood of construction workers in the province.
"Once again, the government is gutting legislation that affects thousands of workers without consulting them in advance. We saw this with last year's essential services legislation and the amendments to the Trade Union Act. Now they're doing it with the construction trades," said SFL President Larry Hubich in a press release.
"The Construction Industry Labour Relations Act has provided industry and workers in this province with 17 years of labour stability," added SPB&CTC business manager Terry Parker in the group's own press release.
"Changes to the Act could affect the number of Saskatchewan people working in construction in the province."
Construction labour laws introduced
Construction labour laws introduced
New construction labour law amendments made by the Saskatchewan government have angered unions, who claim the laws will hinder the construction industry and hurt employees.
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Comments
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- Rena
- - November 20th, 2009 at 13:44:56
Jane, my husband has been a journeyman carpenter for over 30 years. He has never been in the Union for his trade. He didn't need the Union to go to school to learn his trade. Needless to say he has done just fine without the Union .
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- jane
- - November 20th, 2009 at 11:51:10
Have you ever even worked in industry? Guess what, safety shortcuts happen . The FATALITY statistic for the construction industry in Alberta last year was 17. Please do not be facetious and mock their loss. All the groups you listed are great places to go TO But again, where does a worker go when the company is not following regulations - and the supervisor is telling you, no - it''s ok to do this. the unions are there for a reason.
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- Unions
- - November 20th, 2009 at 10:30:49
Tyler thats the best post I have read in a looong time. Unions are extinct they belong in museums with a tag beneath them saying this is what wrecked our country P.A. is booming just fine without the unions. Keep up the good work SASK GOV.
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- K
- - November 20th, 2009 at 08:03:52
I have a Q for Tyler.
If things are so bad for construction is Sask., Why is the construction business booming?
Everywhere is proof of that. Things have been going great is SK. For the Gov't to meddle with it seems kind of the same that the NDP has been doing for years. We have toooo much Gov't control in this province as it is. Something like 100,000 Gov't employees in SK. Most of the rest of the working population only earns around $10 per hr. -
- hello??
- - November 20th, 2009 at 03:06:47
Jane...you said it!! If your son is a union member he will have many Journeymen looking out for him, he will go to school and learn the correct way to do things, not the cheap way to do things. He will learn his craft and have people looking out and teaching him the correct way to do his trade. Construction unions are there for a reason.
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- We all benefit from Union
- - November 20th, 2009 at 00:08:11
I think that those that do not like the benefits obtained from union over the years should give them up. The next time you want to enjoy a long weekend at the lake you should just goto work. If you have chosen a life as a businessman or woman and stay open on the holiday than turn away money spent at your shop that a union brother or sister has earnd. Tyler, Occupational Health and Safety, Employee Assistance Services, Labour Relations Board, Human Rights Commission, Environmental and Workplace Health dept. of Canada, Canada Safety Council, WHMIS, BBB, WCB, Canadian Labour Congress, etc. etc. most of these are the result of the lobby efforts of union members. Thank you for taking advatage of what you will and have available to you. Perhaps Tyler you just couldn't make the cut and get that job that pays well never the less there is a lot of union money being spent around to keep business happy. Everyone wins....
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- Unions
- - November 19th, 2009 at 23:23:18
Union Brother or Sister?It sounds like you belong to some cult and man have they brainwashed you. The fact of the matter is unions have over stayed their welcome, they have abused employers to the point that the government has to pass legislation to bring things back in check. Any union person I talk to brags how little they have to work for so much more than everyone else, I'm sure glad that the union busting has started and they are on there way out. This Govt. should have no problem getting a second term in office when the public sees the benefits of electing them in.
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- Tyler
- - November 19th, 2009 at 16:38:42
Enough all ready! The verdict is in, the people have voted, the fat lady has sung, and yes Elvis has left the building!
There was a time and place for unions. The on to Ottawa trek was noble, and worthwhile.
Since then however, the out of control, I can't change a light bulb, because that would be taking work away from the journeyman electricians kind of attitude has been a cancer to the economy of this province.
Anybody remember the mill?
Thank you Brad Wall for having the courage to do the right thing, and please keep up the good work. We need to attract private enterprise into this province like never before. Large unions, and over regulations are second only to Corporate tax rates when it comes to deterring companies who are looking to set up shop in a new province.
The Construction Industry Labour Relations Act has provided this province with stability over the past 17 years. But what good is stability at the bottom? Other provinces have been running construction circles around us for 17 years!! This insanity about a plumber in Alberta not being able to work as a plumber in Saskatchewan is only one example of your moronic regulations! People like Terry Parker would curl up into the fetal position and cry if they had to live outside the womb of their beloved unions. You know, like the rest of us living here in the real world.
Fair labour laws and minimum wages have been achieved. For that we owe a debt of gratitude to a few brave souls who climbed into a train 75 years ago, and literally fought for us. Now the unions are the ones who need to be brought under control, this time with reason, instead of riots. -
- hello??
- - November 19th, 2009 at 13:02:52
Tyler...some people should not change lightbulbs...because they don't have the smarts to do it! Ihave worked on jobs that things have to be pulled out and redone because of unskilled, untrained people have screwed it up. If Brad Wall wants companies put out of business because they can't pay for the mistakes made by unskilled tradesmen...then welcome to Saskatchewan. Go sign up at your local and get the correct training!
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- Tim
- - November 19th, 2009 at 12:39:26
I am a journeyman and I have been one for over 20 years. In that time I have worked for unionized companies and non unionized companies. No union helped me get my ticket, but my employer at the time went out of his way to turn young people into trained tradespeople. His pay of was quality work and a safe workplace. No union will give you that, only good employees will. and if you want to have good employees you have to treat them good and pay them a fair wage. No union will dictate that, they are all about protecting those who would be fired in the real world. Unions are parasites who take more than they give, they will defend the employee who creates the unsafe situation and they will keep people on the job who are unfit or incompetent as long as they pay their dues. They are rife with nepotism and they are far too political. That's the reality I have learned over the years and now I won't work in a union shop, I can make a better living, enjoy better benefits and I have the power to make the workplace safe for those who work with me. It's my knowledge and skill and my fellow journeyperson's knowledge and skill employers need, not unions. Besides anyone who needs a union to protect their safety is a very dangerous person to be around and needs to be taught by knowledgeable, experianced people not some union rep who never worked an honest day in his/her life.
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- Unions
- - November 19th, 2009 at 12:12:30
I didn't know they were in construction, ya learn something new every day LOL!
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- chalky
- - November 19th, 2009 at 10:12:58
The PC party oops I meant the Sask party have basically the same philosophy as the PC's they are a company oriented party looking out for big business I am sure everyone wants to work for less and let millionaires become billionaires RIGHT? The greedy get greedier and the poor get poorer and middle class cover it all. Oh by the way if you have not heard the middle class are going the way of the dinosaur.
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- Tyler
- - November 19th, 2009 at 05:37:21
K, the construction business is FINALLY booming precisely because the NDP are history! Remember that we had 15 years of socialist oppression in this province. They were one small step away from making house construction a crown corporation.
The current government is not MEDDLING with anything, they are beginning the process of removing the road blocks to free enterprise. You couldn't be more correct that WAY too many people work for the government, not to mention those who live off the government (you and me) and do no work at all.
Look the point is this, by removing maintenance from the definition of construction industry, you make a very small step forward towards wrestling some of the power away from the big unions. It is CRITICAL that our economy becomes MUCH less union dominated. I could throw statistics at you like the fact that the non-union states in the US outperform the union states in every economic indicator including job creation and especially growth. Non-union states are outgrowing the forced union states by MORE than two to one.
The fact of the matter is this. If unions are SO great dear HELLO reader, then Michigan should be the happiest place on earth! Instead they lead the country with 10.6 unemployment. -
- brotherhood
- - November 19th, 2009 at 03:06:39
Tyler you are dumb, or else u run one of those scabby outfits who rip off there employees chargin laborers out at 50 an hour payin them 9 go union they dont take your money, better job security and they fight for you. say no to fukin clac tho
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- jeff
- - November 18th, 2009 at 22:17:16
the police union
the city union
the sask govt union..
That's why are taxes are so high. WAGES.
Unions are a big part of the reason why our economy is where it is. They suck as much as they can from the companies and then when they are asked to make concessions and give back, they won't.
That's why the mill closed when it did. That's why the auto industry is screwed.
People. Please start thinking outside your little saskatchewan box. There are other ways to succeed and thrive without having someone hold your hand and spoon feed you. I'm with Tyler in the debate 100% -
- Flloyd
- - November 18th, 2009 at 20:37:37
I believe you will find that what is being set up with these changes will do no Saskatchewan resident any good.
The whole concept is to allow the jobless from Ontario(250,000or more)to come here and fill what few jobs we have here. -
- Jane
- - November 18th, 2009 at 17:48:51
Tyler, I shake my head at your naivety. Big business, private business, are not exactly known for their generosity to employees. Corners are cut in safety issues also. Unions are a powerful voice for workers against an uncaring company who takes advantage of uneducated workers. My young son is just into construction. He is eager to work and inexperienced. My hope is that he has someone - fellow workers, union reps, 'the old guys', who will keep an eye out, especially if he is asked to do an unsafe act (which happens!) and feels he must do what the company/supervisor tells him to. Who stands up for these issues? Wages are secondary, although I would much rather see well paid union workers in our province than wealthy shareholders receiving their dividends by mail.
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- Flloyd
- - November 18th, 2009 at 14:34:51
PA is doing fine without which unions?
The Police union
The Nurses union
The City union
The Sask Govt Employees union -
- Tyler
- - November 18th, 2009 at 14:27:58
Dear Jane, I do appreciate your concern for your son. Your question is, Who stands up for these issues? The answer is: Occupational Health and Safety, Employee Assistance Services, Labour Relations Board, Human Rights Commission, Environmental and Workplace Health dept. of Canada, Canada Safety Council, WHMIS, BBB, WCB, Canadian Labour Congress, etc. etc.
If all of those fail how about a little common sense? I learned almost everything I know about construction from older guys and guess what? None of them asked me to do a handstand on an icy rafter of a seven story building on a windy day.
