Manitoba bringing back project labour agreements in construction

Manitoba is giving more power to unionized workers by bringing back project labour agreements in the construction industry.

Bill 7, the public sector construction projects (tendering) repeal act, would bring back the option to require unionized workers as a condition of a tender or project labour agreement. However, it does not mean all tenders will require unionization, noted the minister.

The legislation eliminates the previous government decision to prevent the provincial public sector from engaging in tendering practices requiring or favouring a specific labour relations model, according to the provincial government.

“We are ensuring that every public project benefits working Manitobans, contractors and communities,” said Malaya Marcelino, labour and immigration minister. “It is time that workers across Manitoba are a part of, and benefit from, projects that build up our province.

Project labour agreements

Project labour agreements are agreed upon between the developer of a specific construction project and the various trade unions that will perform the construction work, according to Marcelino. They typically govern all working conditions for the project including wages, benefits and working hours, and can be a useful tool to stabilize the workforce and wages, address safety, prevent work stoppages and reduce the risk of disruptions, noted the minister.

Years ago, trade union leaders argued that legislation that ended project labour agreements for public sector construction projects in Manitoba was a bad deal for skilled workers.

Manitoba is the only Canadian jurisdiction with legislation that prohibits public sector employers from being required to follow a pre-determined collective agreement as a condition of tender, according to Marcelino.

In a Facebook post, Marcelino noted that repealing the act through Bill 7 would provide “a means for achieving social objectives relating to matters such as employment equity, fair representation, local hiring, skill development, and workplace safety and health.”

Also, under the new legislation, contractors would benefit, as project labor agreements “establish a basis for the orderly and efficient completion of the project in accordance with the rules set forth in the agreement, thereby ensuring that the project is completed budget and on time,” she said.

Project labour agreements to bring ‘more good jobs’

The legislation would also ensure there would be “more good jobs” in the province, said Premier Wab Kinew.

“Workers are the backbone of our economy. They built our province, from hydro to health care to highways. But the previous government stripped away their rights and made it harder for Manitoba workers and communities to see the full benefits of public projects.

“We’re taking a different approach by bringing back the use of project labour agreements to make sure there are more good jobs for Manitobans.”

The Manitoba Building Trades welcomed the new legislation.

“Manitoba Building Trades has been looking out for skilled trades workers in our province for over a century,” said Tanya Palson, executive director of the group. “Repealing the ban on project labour agreements not only opens the door for Manitoba to maximize the workforce development benefits that can be pulled from investing public dollars into infrastructure but is a great first step by this government to bring the province into closer alignment with governments across North America.”

Previously, a group of skilled workers in Manitoba called for the provincial government to do away with the family-ties consideration in its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).