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Concerned BC construction worker

Concerned BC citizen

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Dear Premier Horgan,

As a hard-working skilled tradesperson and taxpayer in British Columbia, I am writing to share my concerns with your government’s new rules for building public infrastructure projects.

I am disappointed and frustrated by your decision to funnel the province’s upcoming infrastructure projects to a minority of Building Trades Unions. I’m among the vast majority of skilled construction workers in this province who’ve chosen not to belong to these unions. Forcing me to join and pay dues to the BTUs in order to work on public projects undermines freedom of association and my right to choose under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

I take pride in the work I do to build our beautiful province. I should be allowed to build public projects in my community based on my skill and experience—not union affiliation.

Your government should be working to provide good value for taxpayers on public construction work. Instead, your new rules—by your own admission—will raise taxpayer costs on infrastructure for no good reason.

Premier Horgan, you and your government have a responsibility to all British Columbians to promote the common good. Show BC taxpayers and skilled tradespeople you’re willing to put our interests first, ahead of your union friends.

Do what’s right. Scrap your rules for building public sector projects. Instead, create jobs and opportunity for all British Columbians, not just a select few.

Dear Premier Horgan,

I am writing as a concerned citizen to express my opposition to the Building Trades-only hiring requirement your government has established for public infrastructure projects.

On July 16, your government announced that it had reached a deal with the Allied Infrastructure and Related Construction Council, which will force all workers on public infrastructure projects to join the Building Trades Unions (BTU) within 30 days of employment as a condition of employment. This deal was labelled a “community benefits agreement.”

I am supportive of community benefits, such as furthering the career development of apprentices and enhancing opportunities for women and Indigenous workers, but this policy has created a needless and ethically troubling labour monopoly.

The right to choose your union is a long-standing fundamental freedom in Canada, and the vast majority of British Columbians in the construction industry choose not to affiliate with the Building Trades. Those who choose to organize with any union should have the right to do so, but it is not right for a government to order workers to join a union, or which union they are required to join.

Government should seek ways to include all British Columbians in public projects, instead of creating artificial barriers to employment. Many skilled workers will be dissuaded from participating in public projects because of the BTU membership requirement. As the construction industry faces a shortage of skilled workers, it is nonsensical to restrict the pool of available people.

As a citizen and taxpayer, I want to ensure that the government is receiving the best economic value and creating the most employment opportunities possible on public projects. The Building Trades-only policy accomplishes neither.

I am asking you to rescind this restrictive policy, and allow all British Columbians to participate in building public projects.

Andrew Wilkinson, Leader of the Liberal Party Andrew.wilkinson.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Dr. Andrew Weaver, Leader of the Green Party Andrew.weaver.MLA@leg.bc.ca

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Re: Forced Building Trades Membership on Public Projects

Dear Premier Horgan,

As a hard-working skilled tradesperson and taxpayer in British Columbia, I am writing to share my concerns with your government’s new rules for building public infrastructure projects.

I take pride in the work I do to build our beautiful province. I should be allowed to build public projects in my community based on my skill and experience—not union affiliation.

Do what’s right. Scrap your rules for building public sector projects. Instead, create jobs and opportunity for all British Columbians, not just a select few.

Dear Premier Horgan,

I am writing as a concerned citizen to express my opposition to the Building Trades-only hiring requirement your government has established for public infrastructure projects.

I am asking you to rescind this restrictive policy, and allow all British Columbians to participate in building public projects.

Sincerely,

Concerned Citizen
British Columbia

Andrew Wilkinson, Leader of the Liberal Party Andrew.wilkinson.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Dr. Andrew Weaver, Leader of the Green Party Andrew.weaver.MLA@leg.bc.ca