Earlier this fall, thousands of Manitoban workers came together to say no to Brian Pallister’s proposed Bill 28, because it represented a real threat to our livelihoods and on-the-job safety.
When the government failed to advance the bill to its second reading, we thought they had listened to our concerns.
We thought they that realized attempting to ban project labour agreements goes against public interests and serves only fly-by-night contractors. After all, these agreements are the best way to guarantee that Manitoban projects create jobs for Manitobans. Since the 1960s, governments all stripes have used these agreements to give all workers on public infrastructure projects the same fair wages, same safety standards and training opportunities.
Instead, the Pallister government has decided to press ahead with this risky legislation by re-introducing it under a different name. Bill 4 is Bill 28. Both bills take us backwards to a time when out-of-province workers could be brought in to build sub-par infrastructure. We can’t afford to go back to that.
Earlier this month, I attended the PC Convention in Brandon and was pleasantly surprised to not hear Premier Pallister address Bill 28 in his remarks. PC members were not focused on this solution in search of a problem. They, like all Manitobans, want local projects to benefit Manitoba people.
We thought Premier Pallister had listened. But we were wrong. Make no mistake: this new legislation is just as destructive as the old.
We need your help to continue pressing the Pallister government to realize this fact. It’s not too late to change course. We encourage you to tell a friend or colleague by forwarding them this note or linking them to letsbuildmb.ca.
Yours in solidarity,
Sudhir Sandhu,
Chief Executive Officer, Manitoba Building Trades
Updates
Follow our campaign here to stay up-to-date on the news about Community Benefits Agreements.
We are all trying to build something.
April 11, 2019
Manitoba Building Trades understands that Bill 4 removes protections and opportunities for Manitoba’s skilled trades workers – both union and non-union. Brian Pallister’s commitment to ban Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) shows that he does not support skilled trades workers in the province. The government’s agenda to award projects through cost-based procurement is a race to the bottom paid for off the backs of hard-working, skilled trades professionals. Project cost savings shouldn’t be found in the pockets of workers. Removing...
Manitoba Building Trades understands that Bill 4 removes protections and opportunities for Manitoba’s skilled trades workers – both union and non-union. Brian Pallister’s commitment to ban Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs)...
Read MoreNDP steps up to support skilled trades workers.
April 11, 2019
NDP steps up to support workers – delays Bill 4 to fall session. Earlier this week the NDP announced that they would be carrying Bill 4 over into the fall session, officially removing The Public Sector Construction (Tendering) Act from the legislative agenda this spring. View the full NDP statement. This announcement is an important step forward in our collective fight against Bill 4 (formerly Bill 28). If brought into law, Bill 4 would ban the use of Community...
NDP steps up to support workers – delays Bill 4 to fall session. Earlier this week the NDP announced that they would be carrying Bill 4 over into the fall...
Read MoreHow we plan to Keep Building Manitoba.
February 26, 2019
Campaign update. Last fall we received outpouring support from you and the entire building trades community during our campaign against Premier Pallister’s bill to ban the use of Project Labour Agreements in Manitoba. We thank all of you who followed the campaign and spoke up against a bill that will reduce opportunity and wages for skilled workers in Manitoba. Despite our best efforts, and a petition signed over 2400 times to end this bill, Brian Pallister’s government has remained...
Campaign update. Last fall we received outpouring support from you and the entire building trades community during our campaign against Premier Pallister’s bill to ban the use of Project Labour...
Read More