Vancouver (March 20, 2018) – The province’s Labour Relations Code is already working in the best interests of British Columbians and little change should be contemplated, according to the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) whose member companies employ thousands of BC workers.
“BC has benefited from years of labour peace and a diverse pool of labour models that have helped keep the industry and economy strong and competitive,” said Rieghardt van Enter, Regional Director, BC, for the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada. “As major employers in BC we want to ensure that any changes considered do not put a leading industry at risk.”
In its written submission to BC’s Labour Code Review Panel, PCA warns that any substantive labour code change that privileges one labour model over another could cause irreparable harm to the provincial economy and workforce. PCA also recommends no change to proposals for automatic certification, either through card-based certification or automatic certification.
“We believe that all workers and all Canadians deserve the right to vote by secret ballot,” added van Enter. “This is a basic right that should never be taken away.”
One change PCA calls for is to move the present Open Period – where union raiding can occur – from the 7th and 8th month of each year to the last two months of a collective agreement, at a minimum three years.
BC’s Labour Code Review Panel will consult with stakeholders before reporting back to the Minister of Labour with recommendations or amendments to the code by August of 2018.
About the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA)
With offices in BC, Alberta and Ontario, PCA is the voice of progressive unionized employers in Canada’s construction industry. Our member companies are responsible for 40 percent of energy and natural resource construction projects in British Columbia and Alberta and are leaders in infrastructure construction across Canada. PCA member companies employ more than 25,000 skilled construction workers in Canada, represented primarily by CLAC.
For further information, contact:
Danna O’Brien, Danna@obriencommunications.ca 416-500-0699