Provincial PCs look to repeal act praised for retaining jobs

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This article was published 24/12/2020 (1909 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Pallister government is quietly looking to repeal the Construction Industry Wages Act that’s been credited with attracting and retaining skilled trades and well-paying jobs in Manitoba.

Some industry members have been invited by the provincial government to join a Zoom meeting Jan. 7, to discuss how much time the transition may take — and what steps might be warranted to “minimize disruption.”

In advance, trades, contractors, unions, opposition parties, and even a Conservative party senator, are questioning a plan to repeal legislation that has set minimum-wage rates for skilled trades in Manitoba for years.  (Read the existing legislation here.)

“I think it’s a dangerous time to do it right now,” said Sen. Don Plett, noting he’s careful about getting involved in provincial politics. “Now, in this year, I would be hesitant to support trying to tinker around with the wages act.

“Construction has taken a huge hit in this crazy year that we’ve had,” he said in an interview Wednesday. “I’m not sure that this is the time to do it and I don’t believe it should be done unilaterally — I think it should be done with the associations and the contractors.”

Plett, who has experience with skilled trades as the former owner/manager of Landmark Mechanical, said he’s “vaguely aware” of the Pallister government’s proposal.

Repealing the act, without having a good alternative to it in place, “could have a devastating impact on a lot of businesses,” Plett warned. “Manitoba could lose a lot of skilled tradespeople going to other provinces. I think there’s a reason why the act is there.”

It’s “a jewel in the pantheon of legislation in our province,” agreed Peter Wightman, executive director of Construction Labour Relations Association of Manitoba. “Why would the government want to monkey with it?”

Construction projects have supported Manitoba’s economy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Wightman said, adding he’s heard no complaints about the wage legislation.

“To have something dropped in the lap of Winnipeg, of this significance, days before Christmas, and with such a tight timeline to get it done?”

Finance Minister Scott Fielding wasn’t made available for an interview Wednesday, but issued a statement saying there has been no legislation introduced or drafted to repeal the Construction Industry Wages Act.

“Our government is committed to consulting with stakeholders on how to modernize legislation and reduce red tape, which is exactly what we have done by extending a confidential invitation to industry stakeholders to begin a consultation process,” the statement said.

“The goal of this consultation is not to lower construction industry wages, but to address rules that can be unclear or confusing and to align Manitoba with all other Canadian jurisdictions. We are eager to hear from industry stakeholders and will let their recommendations guide this consultation process.”

However, now is not the time to mess around with industry wages, critics warn.

The majority of employers and employees in the industrial construction sector are “committed to the stability (the act) provides Manitoba’s construction owners and their workforce, alike,” Manitoba Building Trades said in a statement Wednesday.

MBT, representing 10,000 skilled trades and construction professionals in 13 unions, said it is working with industry associations and employers to prepare a response letting the provincial government know they’re against repealing the act.

The legislation has helped Manitoba remain competitive for labour in a national market by setting out a “reasonable and market-based minimum-wage framework” and a healthy balance between competitive wages, productivity, safety and training, the trades group said in a statement Wednesday.

With the federal government indicating infrastructure investment will be key to Canada’s post-pandemic economic recovery, repealing the act now would be “disastrous” for the province, Manitoba Building Trades said.

It warned Canada already has a skilled labour shortage and local entrance into the skilled trades would plummet.

“If they pass this into law, it means all journeypersons and skilled trades people in Manitoba’s wages could be slashed drastically,” the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers posted on social media. “Your employer could pay you $11.90 an hour, the Manitoba minimum wage, regardless (of credentials).”

The opposition blasted the province’s timing and judgment.

“In the middle of a pandemic, while Manitobans are busy getting ready for the holidays, the Pallister government… is telling electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and other workers in skilled trades they should have their pay cut,” NDP labour critic Tom Lindsey said.

“Even in regular times, this would be a terrible idea,” said Liberal leader Dougald Lamont. “In an economic crisis where people are struggling to pay their bills, this is Pallister and his (Tory) party choosing to make people’s life worse.”

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca