ATTENTION: NON-UNION CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
The COVID – 19 crises has certainly brought us into uncharted territory in the construction industry over the last few weeks. Construction workers in all trades have been overwhelmed by all the information we are receiving on a moment by moment basis from Government leadership. The Building Union of Canada (BUC) has been updating our Members on a daily basis with information packages and helping them navigate through these challenging times. Who is helping you? If you are working in the construction industry in a non-union environment we are there for you to provide any help and guidance you...
Ontario Government List of Essential Services
On April 3, 2020 the Ontario Provincial Government updated their list of Essential Services and Workplaces. Below is the list of construction projects and services that the Province has declared as essential:
AS PER PREMIER FORD’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT FRIDAY APRIL 3rd, 2020.
1. All industrial construction, except critical industrial projects, will stop as of 11:59pm Saturday, April 4, 2020; 2. Only necessary infrastructure projects like hospitals and transportation construction will continue; 3. No new construction projects will start. https://www.ontario.ca/page/list-essential-workplaces
Ontario extends working-at-heights certifications during COVID-19
Some trained in 2017 given an extra year to renew paperwork The working-at-heights training of more than 120,000 Ontario workers is set to expire over the next six months. This training is mandatory, but many training providers have shut down due to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a news release issued Monday by the provincial government. The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development is giving workers in the construction sector an extra year to renew their training if they work at heights. Workers who successfully completed their working-at-heights training between February 28...
Ontario Stepping Up Measures to Limit the Spread of COVID-19 on Construction Sites
Message from Craig Bromell, President of The Building Union of Canada
Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 From: Craig Bromell, President of The Building Union of Canada (BUC) Dear Members, On March 23, 2020 the Ontario Provincial Government posted their list of Essential Services and Workplaces. Below is the list of construction projects and services that the Province has declared as essential: Construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space; Construction projects and services required to ensure safe and reliable...
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE BUILDING UNION OF CANADA: CONCERNING WORKING DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS NOW MORE THAN EVER – SAFETY FIRST
You have no doubt heard that the Government of Ontario has declared a state of emergency. At least for now, the Government has indicated that this state of emergency does not extend to an across the board shutdown of all construction sites. Despite this, the Union’s position is that the health and safety of our members is the most important thing during this time of crisis. Things are changing by the day and even by the hour and we will do our best to keep you all updated. What we can tell you right now is that none of our members should be working in conditions that are unsafe. Therefore,...
Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant and decisive action to help Canadians facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. On March 18, 2020, the Prime Minister announced a new set of economic measures to help stabilize the economy during this challenging period. These measures, delivered as part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, will provide up to $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses. [button link="https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html#business%EF%BB%BF" type="big"...
BUC SUCCESSFULLY RAIDS CLAC MEMBERS WORKING FOR MTM-2 CONTRACTING INC.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 - Concord, ON – On February 7, 2020 The Building Union of Canada (BUC) filed a raid application against the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) on behalf of employees working for MTM-2 Contracting Inc. who perform construction work in the Heavy Civil Sector in Ontario. The ballots were counted at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) at 11:30 am on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. Those employees who were represented by CLAC overwhelmingly voted in favour of the BUC by a count of over 84%. “These Members reached out to Tony Cordeiro, Field Representative of the...
TILE AND TERRAZZO EMPLOYEES UNANIMOUSLY RATIFY FIRST COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE BUC
Saturday, February 15, 2020 - Concord, ON – The majority of represented employees working for The Belluz Group Ltd., Castlewall Marble & Tile Inc., Centa Construction Ltd. and York Marble Tile & Terrazzo Inc. attended a ratification meeting and unanimously voted in favour of their first Collective Agreement with the Building Union of Canada (BUC). These bargaining rights were attained through a successful raid from BACU Local 31 where over 87% of the workers voted to join the BUC during the most resent raid period in 2019. This first Agreement includes increases to hourly wages,...