Sam
07-25-2007, 11:26 AM
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=650 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>http://www.canada.com/images/spacer.gifhttp://www.canada.com/images/headings/en_head_canadacom.gif</TD><TD vAlign=top align=right><SCRIPT type=text/javascript> <!-- var today = new Date(); var cc_days = new Array("Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday"); var cc_months = new Array("January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"); var cc_year = today.getYear(); if (cc_year > 99 && cc_year < 200) {cc_year += 1900} else { if (cc_year < 100) {cc_year = 2000 + cc_year}} document.write (cc_days[today.getDay()]+" » "+cc_months[today.getMonth()]+" "+today.getDate()+" » "+cc_year); //--> </SCRIPT>Wednesday » July 25 » 2007
</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD>Alberta oilsands workers ready for strike
<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD>Shaun Polczer</TD></TR><TR><TD>CanWest News Service</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Monday, July 23, 2007
CALGARY -- Five oilsands construction unions have voted overwhelmingly to strike, in a move that could halt work at oilsands projects in Fort McMurray, Alta., as early as next week.
The results of the July 4 votes were presented to the Alberta Labour Relations board on Monday. Once certified, 72-hour strike notice could be served as early as Friday, said Barry Salmon, a spokesman with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 424, based in Edmonton.
"These are rather overwhelming mandates," he said. "Historic is a word that's used far too often, but that's what this is -- historic."
The five unions -- boilermakers, plumbers and pipe fitters, electrical workers, millwrights and refrigerator mechanics -- held simultaneous ballots in Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray earlier this month, the first such votes in almost three decades.
The electrical workers voted 94% in favour of strike action, while the boilermakers and plumbers voted 99% and 97%, respectively, in favour. Millwrights were 90% supportive, while refrigeration mechanics came in at 85%.
At issue are quality-of-life issues as opposed to wages, Salmon said. Journeyman electricians make about $35 an hour, for example.
"It just shows the level of frustration among trades," Salmon said. "We want a contract, not a strike. This is all about getting back to the table."
In addition to oilsands projects, a walkout could threaten big public-works projects that use union labour.
The unions have been without a contract since May 1. Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan described the votes as "unprecedented," in light of the province's existing labour law, which critics have complained is overwhelmingly biased in favour of contractors.
Consequently, there have been no strike votes under the legislation since it was enacted in the early 1980s.
"Alberta's labour code was deliberately written to make it impossible for construction unions to go on strike," McGowan said. "These workers are sending a very strong message, and employers ignore it at their peril."
Neil Tidsbury, president of the Construction Labour Relations Association of Alberta, the arms' length organization charged with negotiating on behalf of big oilsands operators, said talks would continue.
"This obviously hasn't been the norm, but strike votes happen," he said. "Negotiations carry on, our focus is on getting a settlement."
According to the group's web site, agreements have been reached with 14 of 25 construction unions, with ratification votes pending from the Teamsters and electricians, which if approved would effectively overturn their strike mandate.
Mark Freisen, an oilsands analyst at FirstEnergy Capital Corp., said the labour unrest is another layer of ambiguity in an oilpatch already grappling with a government-sponsored royalty review and skyrocketing capital costs.
He's not surprised the unions would vote in favour of walking off the job. However, he held out hope strike action could be averted.
"This was pretty much expected," he said. "It's part of the negotiating tactic."
But Freisen said the lingering uncertainty threatens $100-billion worth of construction projects in northeastern Alberta and the investments needed to fund them. Already, oilsands players are reconsidering whether new developments are economic, he added.
"I don't want to say this is the last straw, but every project has a last straw. ... It's just one more thing. We're at the point where every stakeholder has to take into consideration the cumulative effects of their actions."
But IBEW's Salmon said a strike might not be immediately called even if notice is served. As opposed to a general walkout, the unions could stage rotating stoppages or an information campaign.
"Do I think the members are feeling their oats? Yes I do. Do I think they want to go on strike? I don't think so."
Calgary Herald
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</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD>Alberta oilsands workers ready for strike
<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> </TD></TR><TR><TD>Shaun Polczer</TD></TR><TR><TD>CanWest News Service</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Monday, July 23, 2007
CALGARY -- Five oilsands construction unions have voted overwhelmingly to strike, in a move that could halt work at oilsands projects in Fort McMurray, Alta., as early as next week.
The results of the July 4 votes were presented to the Alberta Labour Relations board on Monday. Once certified, 72-hour strike notice could be served as early as Friday, said Barry Salmon, a spokesman with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 424, based in Edmonton.
"These are rather overwhelming mandates," he said. "Historic is a word that's used far too often, but that's what this is -- historic."
The five unions -- boilermakers, plumbers and pipe fitters, electrical workers, millwrights and refrigerator mechanics -- held simultaneous ballots in Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray earlier this month, the first such votes in almost three decades.
The electrical workers voted 94% in favour of strike action, while the boilermakers and plumbers voted 99% and 97%, respectively, in favour. Millwrights were 90% supportive, while refrigeration mechanics came in at 85%.
At issue are quality-of-life issues as opposed to wages, Salmon said. Journeyman electricians make about $35 an hour, for example.
"It just shows the level of frustration among trades," Salmon said. "We want a contract, not a strike. This is all about getting back to the table."
In addition to oilsands projects, a walkout could threaten big public-works projects that use union labour.
The unions have been without a contract since May 1. Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan described the votes as "unprecedented," in light of the province's existing labour law, which critics have complained is overwhelmingly biased in favour of contractors.
Consequently, there have been no strike votes under the legislation since it was enacted in the early 1980s.
"Alberta's labour code was deliberately written to make it impossible for construction unions to go on strike," McGowan said. "These workers are sending a very strong message, and employers ignore it at their peril."
Neil Tidsbury, president of the Construction Labour Relations Association of Alberta, the arms' length organization charged with negotiating on behalf of big oilsands operators, said talks would continue.
"This obviously hasn't been the norm, but strike votes happen," he said. "Negotiations carry on, our focus is on getting a settlement."
According to the group's web site, agreements have been reached with 14 of 25 construction unions, with ratification votes pending from the Teamsters and electricians, which if approved would effectively overturn their strike mandate.
Mark Freisen, an oilsands analyst at FirstEnergy Capital Corp., said the labour unrest is another layer of ambiguity in an oilpatch already grappling with a government-sponsored royalty review and skyrocketing capital costs.
He's not surprised the unions would vote in favour of walking off the job. However, he held out hope strike action could be averted.
"This was pretty much expected," he said. "It's part of the negotiating tactic."
But Freisen said the lingering uncertainty threatens $100-billion worth of construction projects in northeastern Alberta and the investments needed to fund them. Already, oilsands players are reconsidering whether new developments are economic, he added.
"I don't want to say this is the last straw, but every project has a last straw. ... It's just one more thing. We're at the point where every stakeholder has to take into consideration the cumulative effects of their actions."
But IBEW's Salmon said a strike might not be immediately called even if notice is served. As opposed to a general walkout, the unions could stage rotating stoppages or an information campaign.
"Do I think the members are feeling their oats? Yes I do. Do I think they want to go on strike? I don't think so."
Calgary Herald
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