HRSDC gives green light to steel firm, but unions charge there are plenty of qualified workers willing and available if Lower Mainland Steel would pay union rates
Construction unions in British Columbia are furious that the federal government has given the green light to Lower Mainland Steel to bring skilled workers in from outside Canada at a time when B.C.’s unemployment rate is rising.
Wayne Peppard, executive director of the B.C. and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council, said the move is “outrageous” and that the company would have no problem finding workers if it would pay proper wages.
“We say we do have people in B.C. who are willing to do that work,” Peppard told the Vancouver Province. “This is just an excuse to drive the wages down.”
Lower Mainland Steel applied for, and was given permission, by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) to import 50 rebar installers to work on highrise buildings in Vancouver.
Dominic Hickman, a spokesman for the company, said it’s a touchy issue and he doesn’t want to antagonize the union. But he told the Province that he had tried to hire Canadians but had no luck in attracting skilled employees.
“I’ve advertised across Canada three times now, all the way from here to Newfoundland,” he said. “It cost me about $6,000 or $7,000 and I’ve collectively … managed to gain about four employees.”
So the company went to HRSDC to get permission to look outside the country. Brent McIlveen, a director with HRSDC, said Lower Mainland Steel proved it had advertised the jobs in Canada and was prepared to offer wage rates and working conditions deemed reasonable by government evaluators.
Perley Holmes, business manager for Local 97 of the Ironworkers Union, said the idea there isn’t enough qualified workers in Canada is a myth. If the company paid the union rate — about $28 per hour — he could have 200 men ready to work tomorrow, he said.
“For example, in northern Alberta huge projects they’ve got going up there, certified ironworkers are coming from all across Canada to work up there because they’re getting paid the full union scale,” he told the CBC.
He said non-union companies tend to offer about $16 for the same work. Lower Mainland Steel wouldn’t disclose what it was paying, but said foreign workers would be paid the same wage as Canadian workers.
Wayne Peppard, executive director of the B.C. and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council, said the move is “outrageous” and that the company would have no problem finding workers if it would pay proper wages.
“We say we do have people in B.C. who are willing to do that work,” Peppard told the Vancouver Province. “This is just an excuse to drive the wages down.”
Lower Mainland Steel applied for, and was given permission, by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) to import 50 rebar installers to work on highrise buildings in Vancouver.
Dominic Hickman, a spokesman for the company, said it’s a touchy issue and he doesn’t want to antagonize the union. But he told the Province that he had tried to hire Canadians but had no luck in attracting skilled employees.
“I’ve advertised across Canada three times now, all the way from here to Newfoundland,” he said. “It cost me about $6,000 or $7,000 and I’ve collectively … managed to gain about four employees.”
So the company went to HRSDC to get permission to look outside the country. Brent McIlveen, a director with HRSDC, said Lower Mainland Steel proved it had advertised the jobs in Canada and was prepared to offer wage rates and working conditions deemed reasonable by government evaluators.
Perley Holmes, business manager for Local 97 of the Ironworkers Union, said the idea there isn’t enough qualified workers in Canada is a myth. If the company paid the union rate — about $28 per hour — he could have 200 men ready to work tomorrow, he said.
“For example, in northern Alberta huge projects they’ve got going up there, certified ironworkers are coming from all across Canada to work up there because they’re getting paid the full union scale,” he told the CBC.
He said non-union companies tend to offer about $16 for the same work. Lower Mainland Steel wouldn’t disclose what it was paying, but said foreign workers would be paid the same wage as Canadian workers.
