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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Stop-work order issued at airport

By: Larry Kusch

Posted: 04/17/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

The province ordered work stopped this week on the installation of passenger boarding ramps at the city's new airport terminal amid concerns that unlicensed electricians were on the job.

A Chinese company, China International Marine Container (CIMC), has been contracted to build and install the loading bridges, which link airplanes to the airport terminal.

A local electricians' union says it recently witnessed Chinese nationals employed by the foreign firm doing work that should have gone to local workers. Under provincial law, any electrical work must be performed by licensed journey persons or apprentices.

"We issued a stop work order (Wednesday morning) to make sure they (CIMC) understood the importance of having licensed personnel," said Don Hurst, assistant deputy minister of labour for Workplace Safety and Health.

He said the order will stand until the contractor satisfies the government that it has appropriate personnel for the job.

Ron Stecy, business manager with Local 2085 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said he observed five Chinese nationals employed by CIMC doing electrical work -- including entering cables into switches and electrical boxes --when he visited the site April 6. This followed a similar incident last fall, he said.

Under labour rules, foreign workers cannot be brought into the country unless it is shown that no Canadians can be found to do the work. Currently, Stecy said, there are 100 unemployed electricians in the province.

"I was pretty upset about watching these people do this work," the union leader said, referring to his observations last week.

However, the company hired by the Winnipeg Airports Authority to manage the airport terminal construction project said it's unaware of any significant electrical work being done by unlicenced workers.

Bob Edgar, program manager for U.S.-based Parsons, said there may have been a couple of isolated infractions, including a case this week where one of the Chinese workers took down a 45 centimetre by 45 centimetre exit sign to install a gasket.

Edgar said it's up to the CIMC to satisfy the province's concerns so that the stop-work order is rescinded. He said China International has now hired a local firm to carry out work tasks requiring licensed electricians.

"As far as we're concerned CIMC has to abide by the local laws and regulations," Edgar said.

The Free Press reached an official Thursday with China International Marine Container, who said he could not understand a reporter's questions due to his limited English skills.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 17, 2010 A7

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