Category: Bargaining

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To Scorpio Masonry BC Employees

EPSON MFP image
EPSON MFP image

Look at the numbers. Some Bricklayers working for Scorpio Masonry BC are receiving the Alberta (AB) collective agreement rates. Some Bricklayers working for Scorpio Masonry BC are getting the Company imposed rates in the Blue Shaded area. The BC Union Bricklayers, the Independent Agreement is in the Green. The Labourers (Masonry Support Workers) also have a gap between what Scorpio pays and what the union rates are. The Support workers rate for Union Negotiated Independent Rates can go higher than 34.00 based on experience, and equipment tickets.

The company “men” may say “I’m telling you, if you go union we will have less and less work. In Alberta its union because 99 percent of the work is Union.” Not so. I was an organizer in Western Canada for several years and part of my job was to go to non union sites in Alberta where brick work was being done. It is not 99 percent union. Without a doubt. The Industrial/Refractory may be 99 percent but the outside brick is not. The company is already paying Alberta Rates to some crews and paying them Living Out Allowance a minimum of 150 a day or hotel and 70. Yet they are paying you more than 8 bucks less? The numbers don’t lie.

What about if I haven’t gone to school? We run the school. Our union pays for your schooling. You can go to school outside of the regular training. We can decide to red circle your wage, so you won’t make less. Give us a hard look and if you think the numbers are wrong call me and say hey, this aint so and then you and I can figure it out.

Negotiating the agreement. You decide. The workers on the job decide together. That’s what a union is. But you have to do it together. You don’t even have to join a union. Just Be a Union on the job. The company would rather have you fighting with each other. Get together and help each other. We are only as good as the lowest among us. Raise the Line. Call any time, or text, 778-847-2472, Geoff. Email is ghigginson@bac2bc.org .

If we have got something wrong here say so in the comments below. We’d be glad to explain.

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Svend Maltesen Masonry 14% hourly rate hike July 1st.

Good news for union bricklayers on the commercial institutional side. Svend Maltesen Masonry and BAC Local 2 have successfully negotiated a new independent wage package. Hourly journeyman wage up five bucks to $40.00 an hour plus holiday/vacation and benefits. Total package $51.00 plus per hour as of July 1 2021. Svend Malteson Masonry has been a leader in the industry for years and once again came to the table with a forward looking proposal to adequately pay Bricklayers for their skilled capital and to “raise the line” on quality Masonry installations. Skilled Masons are worth the dough. Thanks to the Maltesen team for pushing the envelope.

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Covid 19 Testing On Job Sites and Industrial Projects with Camps

Some contractors/owners are requiring COVID 19 Rapid Testing to gain access to work on shutdowns. Counsel advises that this is something that may be required to get on site to work. You can obviously refuse to be subjected to the test but, that means the company or owner/client can deny you access to the job. However, if it is being made a requirement for the job, and you agree to the test, the company, in our opinion, has to do the screening on your first day indoctrination. Same as with site specific indoctrination, it amounts to doing work for the company. A requirement for that specific job.

COVID 19 testing on Camp Jobs is also happening. All those travelling in to LNG Canada in Kitimat are required to do a rapid covid test upon entering the project. JFJV Fluor has decided to implement a second covid test three days after you arrive in camp. They have been trying to unilaterally implement the testing during workers off time either After day shift or after night shift. The union objects to this. For the same reason. Mandatory testing as a requirement to stay on site is paid time in our opinion.

Whether you are on a camp job or a shut down, if you are required to take a covid 19 test please contact Geoff Higginson at 778-847-2472 or the Hall at 1-855-847-2472.

In Solidarity, Geoff Higginson