THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2006

Vancouver….Construction unions have responded to today’s Auditor General’s Report on Olympic overruns. Increases have been blamed on skyrocketing construction costs by the BC Liberal government and VANOC. The Building Trades are reminding the public of their campaign to build Olympic venues under a project labour agreement. The agreement would have provided guaranteed labour costs, stable labour relations, training for youth, first nations, women and minorities and a comprehensive worksite safety prevention plan.

“The Building Trades proposed a collaborative approach to construction based on the Sydney Summer Olympics model” said Wayne Peppard, Executive Director of the BC Building Trades Council. We brought the expert up from Australia and met with VANOC in 2004” Peppard continued. “Unfortunately the concept was rejected by the provincial government and subsequently by VANOC as well.”

“The Building Trades are benefiting from the current hot market, and so are non-union workers as well as contractors with increased wages and profits. The Olympic accord would have stabilized wages and provided guaranteed investments in training and safety, instead we have the current free-for-all” added Gary Kroeker, President of the Building Trades Council.

“The Auditor General’s report is a wake up call for taxpayers and all 2010 Olympic observers. We could have saved millions of taxpayers dollars had VANOC and the BC Government been willing to reach an accord. The Auditor General's Report fails to address lost opportunities.” Peppard concluded.

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For further information contact Wayne Peppard at 778-388-0014 (cellular) or Gary Kroeker at 604-230-1507

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For further information contact 

the BCYT-BCTC office:  604-291-9020

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