Thread: Canadian protest rally over foreign construction workers

http://www.cbc.ca

Protest rally over foreign construction workers
Last Updated: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 | 11:07 AM PT
CBC News
Unionized construction workers in Vancouver are walking off the job on Wednesday to protest Ottawa's decision to allow foreign workers to be brought in to work on a major project, says the head of the B.C. Federation of Labour.

Jim Sinclair says the designated "guest workers" on the new Golden Ears Bridge in the Fraser Valley are treated as second-class citizens and are not paid as much as Canadian workers.

"This isn't about immigration. This is about having cheap labour available without any of the rights a normal worker would have," he said.

Sinclair argues there is no shortage of local skilled trades workers available, and that contractors are just trying to save money.

"In the boardroom right now, what they're crying out is 'Workers, workers, workers,' and what they're really crying is 'We need cheaper, cheaper labour.' "

These workers often come from developing countries just to work, not to immigrate.

Sinclair says the doors to immigration should be opened wider to attract new Canadians, who would then be paid Canadian rates of pay instead of allowing companies to import workers.

But Philip Hochstein of the Independent Contractors and Business Association of B.C. dismisses allegations that the imported workers are treated as second-class citizens.

He says contractors are just trying to finish jobs, and the workers are needed to fill a serious labour shortage.

"As the contracting community, we have clients to serve who want to get into their houses and get into their highrise properties, and we just don't have enough workers to do that."

Hochstein accuses the B.C. Federation of Labour is just grandstanding to serve its own interests.

Sinclair argues there is no shortage of local skilled trades workers available, and that contractors are just trying to save money.

Oh, we believe you Mr. Sinclair, we have millions of unemployed/under employed America contruction workers here in the U.S. who suddenly became invisable to employers...once they got a taste cheap, foreign labor.

"In the boardroom right now, what they're crying out is 'Workers, workers, workers,' and what they're really crying is 'We need cheaper, cheaper labour.' "

Yep! And it is only a matter of time before those "imported" workers will be replaced by the even cheaper illegals that will soon be flooding into Canada, courtesy again, of our weak borders.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columb ... rally.html

Construction protest rally draws crowd of 200
Last Updated: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 | 1:45 PM PT
CBC News
Construction did not come to a standstill in Vancouver on Wednesday morning, despite a call from the B.C. Federation of Labour for workers to walk off the job to protest the increasing number of temporary foreign workers being hired.

About 200 construction workers put their tools down to attend the federation rally in downtown Vancouver.

Federation president Jim Sinclair said the protest was aimed at companies that hire temporary foreign workers as cheap labour — and at the federal and provincial governments for allowing it to happen.

"Employers everywhere are screaming, 'There's a labour shortage,' when we know it's not a labour shortage, it's a wage shortage," he told the rally.

"What we have is shortage of decent employers, not decent workers."

Sinclair said he has no quarrel with the imported workers themselves. He argues that if Canada has a shortage of skilled labour, it should allow more immigrants into the country, not just to work, but to build lives as Canadians.

Wage allegations

His point was echoed by George Daskos who works on the Canada Line rapid transit line, one of the projects targeted for hiring temporary foreign workers.

"These guys are working for a way lower wage than is legal in Canada. I don't even understand how the government is allowing it to happen, to be honest."

Daskos said the practice is driving down wages and working conditions for all Canadian workers.

B.C. construction unions say dozens of foreign workers from Central and South America are being exploited by a tunnelling contractor on the Canada Line and are being paid less than the hourly minimum wage.

A spokesman for the Canada Line has denied the allegations, asserting that the tunnel workers are being paid "competitive wages."