Cape Breton trades workers on strike as they call for ‘equitable working conditions’

Cape Breton trades workers from 10 unions are on strike.

For the first time in more than three decades, trades professionals on Cape Breton Island are on strike as they call for “more fair and equitable working conditions.”

Construction of the new medical sciences building at Cape Breton University is among the projects currently on pause due to the strike. Workers were picketing outside the campus Tuesday morning.

“It’s unfortunate talks broke down and the number one thing is for people to come back around a common table,” said Cape Breton Regional Municipality mayor Cecil Clarke.

Clarke said while he respects the workers’ right to strike, there is concern about construction projects that are now on hold.

The new medical school is supposed to open in the fall as well as a new community health centre being built in the Northside Business Park.

“And in some cases regionally if funds get reallocated that would mean a concern and a loss to our region,” Clarke said. “So clearly I’m focusing on encouraging people to come to the table and find a reasonable solution so that these meaningful works and the projects they represent can go forward as soon as possible.”

The university says it’s too soon to say whether the job action will affect the timeline of the projects.

“It is important to note that this is not a CBU related strike, and there is no impact on program start dates, which means the inaugural class will begin in late August as planned,” said Lenore Parsley, director of strategic communications with Cape Breton University in an email to CTV News.

“We continue to monitor the situation and will update the community when we know more.”

Strike comes after ‘challenging negotiations’

The Cape Breton Island Building and Construction Trades Council says the job action comes after “months of challenging negotiations to achieve new multi-trade collective bargaining agreements” for the 10 construction unions affiliated with the council.

“At this time, the unions are seeking wages and conditions that respect the dignity, work, and skill of its members,” said Ernie Dalton, president of the Cape Breton Island Building and Construction Trades Council, in a news release.

The council says the current agreement, which was negotiated more than five years ago, includes substantial wage concessions that were promised to be remediated in future negotiations. It says the concessions were made to support a smoother negotiation process and expediate some much-needed projects.

“These promises are not being honoured and current negotiations are once more asking our members to accept lower wages,” said the council.

Negotiations were supposed to begin in January, but didn’t begin until March, which the council says has resulted in lost wages for its members.

The council is calling on all parties to return to the bargaining table, noting 95 per cent of infrastructure and community projects in Cape Breton are done by its members.

“With critical projects across the Island relying on timely construction, a swift and fair resolution is crucial,” said Dalton. “The Cape Breton Building Trades remains open to any constructive dialogue and is committed to achieving a fair outcome.”

The Cape Breton Island Building and Construction Trades Council says it represents a total of 14 affiliated unions with more than 4,000 trades professionals in multiple disciplines across the island. It partners with more than 100 unionized contractors to build infrastructure such as water and sewer, commercial buildings, schools, and hospitals.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Ryan MacDonald

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