A reader named 害羞草研究所淛im害羞草研究所� didn害羞草研究所檛 take kindly to my column last week on the B.C. NDP government害羞草研究所檚 sudden move back to the 1970s-style international union monopoly on public construction.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l bet the only pipe you ever laid was a hash pipe,害羞草研究所� wrote Jim, in reference to my time in non-union construction in the 1980s.
In a series of terse emails, Jim talked tough, but not tough enough to share his last name. 害羞草研究所淢aybe if you did a better job, you too could have been a union worker, but I doubt it,害羞草研究所� he advised me. 害羞草研究所淲e can usually spot a slacker scab pretty quickly.害羞草研究所�
In his earthy way, Jim captures the assumptions that are now B.C. government policy. Non-union, or worse, what they call 害羞草研究所渞at union害羞草研究所� employees are poorly trained, inefficient and lazy.
害羞草研究所淏rothers and sisters,害羞草研究所� as Premier John Horgan addressed the assembled members of his anointed 19 international unions when announcing the monopoly, are so superior they can complete a big road or bridge job faster and cheaper despite lavish benefits and higher wages.
Given that 85 per cent of construction work in B.C. is now non-union, that害羞草研究所檚 a lot of lazy scabs. Fortunately, the new system allows international unions to pick the workers they deem acceptable to the 害羞草研究所渂rotherhood害羞草研究所� and force them to join.
The NDP government quietly released its 害羞草研究所渃ommunity benefits agreement害羞草研究所� for this deal, which takes effect with the Pattullo Bridge replacement and then moves to a series of projects to widen the Trans-Canada Highway east of Kamloops. At more than 300 pages, it is an old-school union choke-hold with perks and conditions that go on and on.
Non-union companies are free to bid, as long as they pay wages and benefits set by the U.S.-based 害羞草研究所渜ualified affiliated unions.害羞草研究所� They can even choose some of their employees, although a quota for each trade will be imposed. Those lucky workers will not only have to pay union dues, but also pay into union-controlled pension fund, 害羞草研究所渋ndustry rehabilitation fund,害羞草研究所� and skill improvement fund. The largest fund deduction, 25 cents per worker hour, is funnelled into a 害羞草研究所渃ouncil administration害羞草研究所� slush fund to finance the newly created union council.
The government also set up a new Crown corporation to administer this deal, called B.C. Infrastructure Benefits Inc., with its own CEO and staff. There害羞草研究所檚 a lot to administer, as a peek into the dusty list of perks indicates.
Take the menu requirements for work camps, like the ones that will be needed for the Trans Canada Highway jobs. Here is a sample of what害羞草研究所檚 required for lunch and dinner:
害羞草研究所淪alad table will be refrigerated or ice provided. Minimum requirements 害羞草研究所� an assortment of salads, coleslaw, green salad (tossed), potato salads and two other prepared salads (Caesar, Greek, pasta, bean salad, protein etc.)
害羞草研究所淏eef steaks must be served once per week, between Monday and Thursday. Roast beef once per week. There will be no duplication of first line choice [meats] in a five-day period other than beef and beef steak.害羞草研究所� And every meal must be all-you-can-eat.
Transportation Minister Claire Trevena stresses the ambitious quota for 25 per cent apprentices. We害羞草研究所檒l see what that does to efficiency on taxpayer-funded projects.
Somehow this will all translate into a maximum seven per cent increase in the cost of public construction, according to Trevena害羞草研究所檚 minions. So around $100 million extra to replace the old four-lane Pattullo Bridge with a new four-lane bridge.
Tom Fletcher is B.C. legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Email: tfletcher@blackpress.ca
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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