Manitoba labour groups decry weakened apprenticeship regulations

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This article was published 26/01/2021 (2069 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Advocates representing those learning a trade are worried workers could be killed or injured on the job because of provincial changes to apprenticeship and certification regulations.

The Manitoba Federation of Labour and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers say the recent changes — which eliminates the requirement for one-to-one journeyperson to apprentice ratio and now allows two apprentices for every journeyperson — will make workplaces less safe.

“They have weakened the regulations dramatically, and they did it under the radar during COVID and during the holiday season,” MFL president Kevin Rebeck said Tuesday. “It really feels they are making things worse. This is a program that keeps workers safe while they are learning a trade.

“Manitobans that work in the trades are essential to our economy and they often work with potentially dangerous equipment and in situations where risks are heightened… This could lead to more injuries and accidents at workplaces throughout our province.”

The changes, which came into effect on Dec. 18, 2020, also allow an apprentice in their fourth year not to be counted in the ratio, but to let them do work without a journeyperson being present, as long as the journeyperson is available over the phone.

Russ Shewchuk, business manager and financial secretary with IBEW Local 2085, and an electrician for more than three decades, said the government did not consult with his union — whose members work on everything from electrical wiring in a new home to the Keeyask generating station under construction — nor contractors.

“I think this is very dangerous. Before this legislation came in the 1990s, young apprentices got electrocuted. We’re now going back to that — and when did we find out about it? They emailed us on Christmas Eve,” Shewchuk said.

Manitoba is watering down its apprenticeship and certification program just like other Conservative governments have done in Alberta and Saskatchewan, he said.

“This government just doesn’t care. I was livid when I heard about this.”

Economic Development and Jobs Minister Ralph Eichler said in a statement that workplace safety is a priority for his government, and the Workplace Safety and Health Act will enforce safe work practices of Manitobans.

“Employers in Manitoba continue to be responsible for ensuring safe work conditions are met for all their employees at all times,” Eichler said.

“If there is a concern that apprentice safety is at risk, employers can decide to have more journeypersons on the job site to ensure that tasks are completed in a safe manner.”

The change was made after industry consultation, and reducing the ratio will help employers who want to expand their business through the apprenticeship system and allow more Manitobans to reach certification, he said.

NDP labour critic Tom Lindsey said the changes will not only put apprentices at risk, but the long-term effect will result in a drop in the number of highly skilled, well-paid journeypersons working in trades.

“It will lead to a loss of good jobs and will cheat apprentices out of the quality training they and their employers expect,” the Flin Flon MLA said in a statement.

“Rather than investing in Manitoba’s trade industry, this government is in a race to the bottom that will only end in fewer good jobs and an exodus of skilled workers from our province.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca