FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 2005

VANCOUVER … Workers at the GVRD Mount Seymour Water Diversion Project were granted decertification from the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) in a dramatic decision at the Labour Relations Board yesterday. The ballot count had been held up by legal challenges for over three months. The vote strongly favoured decertifying from CLAC and joining of a group of Building Trades Unions, made-up from the Labourers Local 1611, Operating Engineers Local 115 and IBEW Local 213. The ballot result, which was 24 in favour of the Building Trades unions and 14 against, authorized the negation of CLAC.

The CLAC agreement provides for substandard wages, benefits, work conditions and grievance procedures. While BC labour law requires that the existing collective agreement with CLAC remain in place until it expires, the Building Trades Unions will be meeting with Bilfinger-Berger to discuss the terms and conditions of the Agreement. If the rates are not increased, the Unions are concerned that the workers may leave the Project for higher rates paid on other Union jobs.

Labourers Local 1611 Business Manager Mark Olsen was glad to receive the news from the LRB. “Collectively we look forward to representing the workers and to building a positive relationship with Bilfinger-Berger. We have additional skilled workers and training facilities to assist Bilfinger-Berger on this Project and on others in the future, ” Olsen said.

Operating Engineers Local 115 Business Manager Gary Kroeker called on the provincial government to update BC Labour Laws so that newly certified workers are entitled to the master collective agreement of their new union. “Workers have rejected CLAC so that they can enjoy fair wages, benefits, pensions and reasonable working conditions. The workers should be entitled to Building Trades standard rates of pay and benefits,” Kroeker said. Page 2

IBEW Local 213 Assistant Business Manager Harry Van Beest had been in contact with the workers since March. “They clearly did not want to have to work under the atrocious conditions and collective agreement signed by CLAC,” Van Beest said. “After having cast their ballots in May it was unreasonable for the workers to wait until yesterday to have their ballots counted. This type of delay at the LRB is an injustice to the workers,” Van Beest said.

The Building Trades Unions are anticipating a positive new relationship with Bilfinger-Berger and for the workers on the GVRD Water Diversion Project.

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For further information contact Mark Olsen (604) 341-1799 cellular.

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For further information contact 

the BCYT-BCTC office:  604-291-9020

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