TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007

Building Trades angry over $50 million allocation to ease entry of foreign workers while over 14,000 trades workers are waiting for a call to work.

Vancouver… The Building Trades Council has reacted with anger to federal budget commitments that will open the door to more cheap temporary foreign labour for the construction industry. The Building Trades have released the results of a new survey that shows that over 14,000 unionized construction workers are waiting for dispatch across the country.

“We lobbied the federal government for amendments to the Income Tax Act that would have provided transportation and living-out deductions to encourage more labour mobility right here in Canada” according to Wayne Peppard, Executive Director of the British Columbia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council (BCYT-BCTC). “Not only did the government ignore our proposal to facilitate the employment of Canadians they have committed to speed up the process to issue visa applications for temporary workers” Peppard said.

The Building Trades released a copy of a new survey of union dispatch reports from across the country. The survey results reveal that over 14,000 union plumbers, electricians and other trades are waiting for dispatch call-out. “This survey is only part of the story” according to Peppard. “Many trades and regions are left out. We can only assume that the actual number of unemployed certified construction workers is much higher” Peppard said.

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program has come under criticism for its lack of monitoring and enforcement measures to ensure that employers are not using the program as a source of cheap labour. The Building Trades revealed the exploitation of Latin American workers on the Canada Line last summer. On that publicly funded infrastructure project over 50 workers from third world countries were being paid less than $3.50 per hour. The new funding in yesterday’s budget will expand the on-line application system for employers to make the system easier, faster, and less costly for employers. “The government has chosen to abandon Canadians in regions and sectors in the country that are struggling in favour of cheap guest workers” Peppard concluded.

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For further information contact: Wayne Peppard, Executive Director, BCYT-BCTC at:

Office 604-291-9020 or Cell 778-388-0014

BUILDING TRADES WORKERS AVAILABLE FOR DISPATCH FROM ACROSS CANADA March 9, 2007

Bricklayers; total journey level = 213 Tilesetters = 32 Refractory Masons = 50 Cement Masons = 33 Mason Helpers = 40 Plasterers = 5

Electricians IBEW Unemployed journey level = 6,912; Unemployed apprentices = 1,935 Total = 7,847

Ironworkers = 394 (80 of these are right here in BC at Local 97) This survey was completed on March 9, 2007. Not all locals responded by the due date on their survey. These numbers are from 15 locals across the country.

Operating Engineers = Partial total (one trade out of 18 reporting) = 178 Mobile Crane Operators (three provinces only) = 178 Alberta = 97 Saskatchewan = 13 Newfoundland = 68

Painters (Drywall Tapers, Glaziers); total journey level = 270 Alberta = 50 Saskatchewan = 10 Ontario = 100 Quebec = 60 Atlantic Canada = 50

Plumbers – United Association Alberta: Plumbers - 450; Apprentices - 549; Fitters - 1005; Metal Trades – 190; Sprinkler Fitters - 13; Refrigeration - 24; Welders - 573; Technicians - 35 Total out of work = 2,839 Members out on travel = 152; Travellers in Alberta = 460 British Columbia: Plumbers - 112; Apprentices - 156; Fitters - 239; Metal Trades – 203; Sprinkler Fitters - 30; Refrigeration - 0; Welders - 238; Technicians - 35 Total out of work = 1013 Members out on Travel = 177; Travellers in BC = 2

Manitoba: Plumbers – 24; Apprentices – 0; Fitters – 39; Metal Trades – 21; Sprinkler Fitters – 2; Refrigeration – 3; Welders – 45; Technicians – 12 Total out of work = 146 Members out on Travel = 58; Travellers in Manitoba = 10

Saskatchewan: Plumbers - 80; Apprentices - 193; Fitters - 182; Metal Trades – 49; Sprinkler Fitters – 49; Refrigeration – 22; Welders - 76; Technicians - 2 Total out of work = 604 Members out on Travel = 74; Travellers in Saskatchewan = 55

Total out of Work for Western Canadian Provinces = 4,628

Sheet Metal Workers = 900 Most recent survey was on December 31, 2006

Teamsters No drivers available across the country

Total Building Trades out of work from this survey = 14,430

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For further information contact 

the BCYT-BCTC office:  604-291-9020

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