More labourers join strike action on construction sites
Construction on major projects across the city—from condos to Parliament Hill—will likely be stopped as trade unions take strike action.
Carpenters in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector in the construction industry across Ontario have walked off the job after rejecting the employers’ latest offer.
“The language in this agreement has all been done it’s a mature agreement it’s been around for a long time now it’s fundamentally down to financial compensation,” says Mike Yorke, Carpenters' District Council of Ontario (CDCO) president. “From groceries to housing, to transit, getting into work for gasoline, they said, ‘Look, we need to have a better deal on this table and we are contributing our skills our labour to creating wealth in our various cities and creating wealth in Ontario that our members are demanding a fair share of the wealth that they create everyday.’”
The CDCO represents about 15,000 members across the province in trade fields such as general contracting, framers, flooring installers and foundation contractors.
Last week, crane and heavy equipment operators in Ottawa and across Ontario went on strike, shutting down cranes and heavy equipment on major construction sites.
“It’s a domino effect for sure. Today we were informed that the labourers province-wide have rejected a deal,” says John DeVries, president and general manager of the Ottawa Construction Association. “The good news is that they agreed to keep working ,so we’re not seeing the labour disruptions yet. One trade leave the site, you can do work around, but sooner or later you’ve got to get the drywall up, you’ve got to get the doors on, the trim on, you’ve got to pour the concrete.”
DeVries says a short-term strike will not affect job sites, but longer job action will cause lengthy delays for all projects in Ottawa, including the Centre Block restoration on Parliament Hill and work at condominium buildings.
“It’s tough; these are unchartered waters. How do we know when we go back to the bargaining table? We’re going to come up with a deal that’s going to be accepted,” says DeVries. “It’s turbulent. You see it at your gas pump today, two bucks a litre. The rank and file are seeing that and are sending a message, so that’s the problem.”
Contractors warn that the strike action could impact work on Stage 2 of the LRT and the city of Ottawa says work on the $334 million new central library at LeBreton Flats was shut down last week due to the strike by crane operators. Coun. Matt Luloff, chair of the Ottawa Public Library Board, says it’s too soon to tell if the strike will push timelines. COVID-19 has plagued the Ādisōke project with delays and massive cost over-runs at around $130 million.
“It is so important that we continue to monitor this. We want to make sure that taxpayers are getting value for their money on citywide projects,” says Luloff. “I have every confidence in our project team that they have built in those healthy contingencies to ensure we are able to respond to an event like this.”
Currently, residential construction of houses has not been affected by the strike action and Yorke says that workers could be back on the job site in as early as next week if employers can agree on a price.
“The last two and half years have been a tough time and people are looking for an opportunity to make some progress and the construction industry really has made a commitment to the next generation,” says Yorke. “Our industry really does give back. They plan a career path for the next generation, young men and women that we want to see building Ontario, so there has to be a reflection of that as well. We made a commitment. It’s a two way street in our industry.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.
Drone footage shows Ukrainian village battered to ruins as residents flee Russian advance
The Ukrainian village of Ocheretyne has been battered by fighting, drone footage obtained by The Associated Press shows. The village has been a target for Russian forces in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Egypt media cite progress in truce talks as Israel downplays chances of end to war with Hamas
A delegation of the Palestinian militant group Hamas was in Cairo on Saturday as Egyptian state media reported "noticeable progress" in ongoing cease-fire talks with Israel while an Israeli official downplayed the prospects for a full end to the war.
Bystander livestreams during Charlotte standoff show an ever-growing appetite for social media video
Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte, N.C., home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered rifles descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gunfire from the direction of his neighbor's house.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.