Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Picket lines begin at high-profile sites
WAYNE.GLOWACKI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA Enlarge Image
Pipefitters and plumbers on the line early Monday morning outside the Canadian Museum for Human Rights project.
On Monday morning, with the sun on their face and a breeze at their backs, tradespeople from a newly striking union launched their picket lines at some of Winnipeg's highest-profile projects.
Standing in front of the growing spire on the future Canadian Museum for Human Rights, United Association Local 254 strike captain Rick Fournier said while most workers could "not afford to be on strike," the mood was high among the 80 walkers pounding the pavement at 7 a.m.
For the day, members of the steelworker, ironworker, carpenter and electrical unions joined the lines at sites, which also included the new Winnipeg airport terminal. However, those non-striking trades workers are expected to be back on the job today after their one-day show of solidarity.
A spokeswoman for the airport said the effect of the strike remained to be seen as only about eight of the 450 to 500 workers on site daily at the airport are part of the striking local.
On Sunday, the local, which is composed primarily of industrial pipefitters and plumbers, rejected a tentative agreement that had been developed last week. At issue in the strike are pay rates the union said are among the lowest for the trade in Canada, and a dispute over the compensation rate for working overtime while out of town. Most of the union's 600 members spend much of the year travelling to rural parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario to work.
"Our biggest fear is losing our manpower to the West," UA Local 254 financial secretary and spokesman Heiko Wiechern said. "We've lost a lot. Three hours away in Saskatchewan, you can make $5 or $6 an hour more... our membership works across Canada and they see that."
melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 18, 2010 B3
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