Controversial bill expected to hurt local training and employment opportunities.
(October 3, 2018, Winnipeg, MB) Today, over 130 local skilled construction and trade
professionals rallied at the Manitoba legislature to voice their opposition to Bill 28. Bill 28, which
would ban project labour agreements (PLAs) on public-sector infrastructure projects, is
expected to negatively affect local jobs, project safety and construction quality.
PLAs were first introduced in Manitoba by Premier Duff Roblin to mandate quality and labour
predictability on public sector infrastructure projects. Since his time, successive governments of
all parties, as well as private sector builders, have relied on PLAs.
“PLAs are a Tory legacy that have worked for Manitobans for decades,” said Sudhir Sandhu,
chief executive officer of Manitoba Building Trades. “For years, these agreements have moved
the goalposts on construction builds from cost only to cost plus quality, ultimately creating more
jobs for Manitobans. The Pallister government’s move to ban PLAs is short-sighted and will
ultimately hurt the quality and safety of our projects.”
Christina Thiessen, a journeymen steamfitter with United Association of Local 254 also spoke at
the event.
“I don’t know why Premier Pallister is coming after us,” she said. “If he proceeds to
advance this bill, job and training opportunities for local workers, particularly those in
underrepresented groups like women, Indigenous people and northerners, will be placed
directly at risk.”
About Manitoba Building Trades
Manitoba Building Trades (MBT) represents the common goals of more than 8,000 construction
and trades professionals in 13 member unions to deliver safe, skilled and highly productive
labour. MBT delivers cost competitive skilled labour while maintaining the highest standards of
training, wages and benefits and workplace safety. In partnership with other provincial councils
MBT is part of a network of over 500,000 Canadian construction professionals.
About Bill 28
Bill 28, the Public Sector Construction Projects (Tendering) Act, was introduced in the Manitoba
legislature this past May by Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler. The bill, which is expected to be
debated this fall legislative session, would ban PLAs, if passed.
Media Contact
Tanya Palson
Manitoba Building Trades
tpalson@mbtrades.ca
O: (204) 956-7425
D: (204) 619-2068
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