Building Trades Advancement College – For the trades. By the trades.

The first course of the Building Trades Advancement College of Nova Scotia (BTAC) started September 16, 2019. The Electrical Construction and Industrial Pre-Employment Program will run for 35 weeks, including a five week work term placement with an Industrial-Commercial-Institutional Contractor.

This cooperative vocational education program leads to Level One electrician theory accreditation with credit for 900 practical hours towards employment as an apprentice. The program provides technical training, real world experience, along with a variety of career opportunities in the electrical trades.

For more information about BTAC, please visit btacns.com.

Building Today’s Workforce for Tomorrow

On Wednesday, April 17, 2019 we held our 6th Annual Conference – Building Today’s Workforce for Tomorrow.

This year’s conference featured a number of presenters speaking on topics such as apprenticeship, diversity and inclusion in the trades, promoting, recruiting and building tomorrow’s workforce, labour supply and demand, shifts in the national landscape and more.

Rodger Cuzner, outgoing MP, Cape Breton-Canso delivered this year’s keynote address.

Save the date! The 7th Annual Conference will take place, Thursday, April 23, 2020 at the Hotel Halifax.

What are Community Benefits Programs?

Community benefits are a tool to help local communities organize and leverage public infrastructure investments to create employment and apprenticeship opportunities. It is a “best value” procurement approach to optimize the tax dollars investment.

Community benefits increase the social impact of government and public institutional expenditures. Aligning spending with broader social and policy objectives creates benefits for those economically marginalized segments of the population. They enable a more strategic approach to procurement, by creating linkages to workforce development, economic development and environmental sustainability goals.

Various levels of government have used community benefits agreements (CBAs) to incorporate community benefits provisions in infrastructure projects and programs. CBAs help to ensure public projects are completed on time and on budget, while providing benefits to the communities in which they are built. CBAs ensure tax dollars are reinvested in local communities, and that there is a lasting legacy of experience, skills, training, and employability among the workers who built the project.

Each CBA is unique to the situation and the communities it is designed to serve.

Examples of CBA’s include:
• Requirement for a percentage of the workforce be apprentices;
• Requirement for a local workforce;
• Requirement for a percentage of under-represented groups;
• Requirement to pay a fair wage and benefits;
• Prioritization for businesses that have third-party certifications for social impact (B-Corps, Community Contribution Companies, Buy Social Canada, Living Wage Certified);
• Opportunities for local business or social enterprises;
• Workforce development and training plans.

In Nova Scotia we have a number of well-defined challenges around workforce development. In simplistic terms we have an aging workforce and under-represented groups, including women, youth and persons with disabilities experiencing higher than average unemployment or are “working poor”. The gap can be closed with education and experience.

The Building Trades has been having conversations with a number of stakeholders including those in municipal and provincial government on the importance of Community Benefits Agreements and the impact it would have on the place in which we all live and work.

Brad Smith Elected APEC Board Chair

Brad Smith, Executive Director of the Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades has been elected Board Chair of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC).

APEC’s Board of Directors elected Brad as Board Chair, effective February 21, 2019.  Brad has been on APEC’s Board of Directors since 2013, and takes over from past Chair, Raymond Adlington, Partner with McInnes Cooper.

The Atlantic Provinces Economic Council is a policy research organization whose mandate is to further economic progress in Atlantic Canada and build synergies among its stakeholders to strengthen the region’s position in a rapidly changing world.

Check out APEC’s April 2019 Membership Update to learn more.

 

Leaders of Canada’s Building Trades Unions Meet with Prime Minister Trudeau

Leaders of Canada’s Building Trades Unions Met with Prime Minister to Talk Infrastructure and Apprenticeships

October 15, 2018, Ottawa, ON – This morning, leaders of Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) met with the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister Patty Hajdu and Parliamentary Secretary Rodger Cuzner to discuss issues that matter most to the half a million skilled construction workers of the building trades.

“Canada’s Building Trades Unions were pleased to meet with the Prime Minister today. We have a strong working relationship, and that’s built off the Federal Government’s firm belief that unions are  instrumental in lifting Canadians up into the middle class, and keeping them there,” said Canadian Operating Officer, Robert Blakely. “While we were able to discuss many of our issues, it was clear that the Government is in favour of creating jobs in extractive industries where both the economy and the environment are balanced. This is important to our members and to all Canadians.”

The Federal Government has actively taken steps to make things better for workers, including banning asbestos and repealing regressive, anti-union legislation enacted by the previous government including Bill C-377. Moving towards 2019, Canada’s Building Trades Unions want to continue to work closely with the Federal Government to continue building a stronger Canada which includes steps to address labour mobility across the country and allow skilled workers the same tax exemptions that other professionals are able to use when traveling for work; investing in apprenticeships to train the workforce  of tomorrow; and ensuring public tax dollars invested in infrastructure benefit the communities and all people in those communities where these projects are happening.

Leaders of the CBTU participated in a number of roundtables with various Ministers and MPs throughout Monday, with more members participating in meetings on Tuesday, October 16 in Ottawa.

“The CBTU advocates on issues that matter to the half a million men and women that go to work every day to build this country. We will continue to communicate and work closely with the Federal Government to ensure those issues are reflected in policy decisions now and well into the future,” stated Blakely.

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ABOUT CANADA’S BUILDING TRADES UNIONS
Canada’s Building Trades Unions is an alliance of 15 international unions in the building and construction industry that collectively represent over half a million skilled craft professionals in Canada. Each year, our unions and our signatory contractor partners invest over $300 million in private sector money to fund and operate over 175 apprenticeship training and education facilities across Canada that produce the safest, most highly trained and productive skilled craft workers found anywhere in the world. Canada’s Building Trades Unions represent members who work in more than 60 different trades and occupations, and generate 14 per cent of Canada’s GDP.

For more information, please contact:
Kate Walsh
Director of Communications and Marketing
CBTU (Canada)
kwalsh(at)buildingtrades.ca
613-298-0652

What Does #MeToo Mean for the Building Trades?

A simple two word hashtag that has gone viral has highlighted the magnitude of the problem of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the workplace and beyond. The “Me Too” movement actually started with a Black activist in Harlem more than 10 years ago. Community organizer Tarana Burke founded the “Me Too” movement in 2006, in order to spread awareness and understanding about sexual assault in underprivileged communities of colour. The difference today; a social media environment that serves as a platform bringing large groups of people together, sharing a common story of inequality and unsafe workplaces.

What does this mean for the Building Trades? Unions have always been on the forefront of fighting for the protection of workers’ rights. In North America, Unions helped create things like maternity leave, vacation time, sick leave, minimum wage laws and safety. All based on fundamental principles of fairness, equitable and safe workplaces. Equal pay for equal work is yet another foundation of the Building Trades movement.

But the fact remains that in the area of sexual harassment in the workplace we have little to be proud of. The image of construction workers “catcalling” and “whistling” from the scaffolding at a construction site has been seen as the norm, and not for what it is – a degrading act against our sisters, mothers and daughters.

Although the Building Trades have been working on attracting more underrepresented groups to the trades, cultural and generational changes in attitudes and behaviors is slow and difficult work. We need to do so much more in the area of providing a safe and welcoming workplace. Acknowledging we have a problem is a first step. And this has been widely communicated and openly acknowledged. Now is the time for further and more aggressive action.

The Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades Council is pleased to announce that we’ve been working with Build Together – Women of the Building Trades to create a Nova Scotia Chapter that is composed of female members from our 13 Affiliated Unions who are inspired in their skilled trade. The official launch of the committee took place at this year’s conference on April 10th.

Through a Build Together Nova Scotia Chapter, the committee will:

• Provide mentorship and support to apprentices, journeypersons, and women considering the trades;
• Challenge and debunk existing myths and stereotypes of women in the trades;
• Provide awareness and exposure to careers in the trades;
• Promote retention and challenge policy makers and industry on the barriers that prevent the retention of women in the industry;
• Work to create a more inclusive, respectful and diverse workforce and workplace.

Build Together has created guidebooks for both employees and employers in creating a safe and welcoming work environment. Both of these resources can be found on the Build Together website. Many other resources can be found on this site, including forms and templates that will aid in setting up a welcoming work environment.

We understand that there is more to be done by both the Trades and our contractors to ensure a safe and welcoming work environment. It’s everyone’s responsibility to act when they see or hear discrimination or harassment. We’re excited for our partnership with Build Together, and we look forward to continuing our work with our contractors on these important issues.

If you are a female member of one of our 13 Affiliated Unions, and are interested in learning more about Build Together Nova Scotia, please contact Alison at alison(at)mainlandbuildingtrades.ca.

Women of the Building Trades Launches in Nova Scotia

Halifax, NS – April 9, 2018 – The Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades Council is pleased to announce the formation of Build Together Nova Scotia, the first Chapter of a program on the East Coast that promotes, supports and mentors women in the skilled construction trades.

The official launch of the Committee is happening tomorrow (April 10th) at the Mainland Building Trades’ 5th Annual Conference being held in the Baronet Room at the Delta Halifax. The session begins at 1:15pm.

Build Together is a national Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) program represented by tradeswomen (apprentices and journeypersons) of Canada’s Building Trades Unions across the country. There are currently Chapters in British Columbia & the Yukon, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Nova Scotia Chapter consists of women from the Insulator, Electrical and Carpenter Unions with representation from Halifax to Cape Breton.

Specific aims of this newly formed committee include: introducing women to the trades, providing mentorship and support to apprentices, journeypersons, and women considering a career in the trades, promoting retention and challenging policy makers and industry on the barriers that prevent the retention of women in the industry, and creating a more inclusive, respectful and diverse workforce and workplaces.

Ramonda Martin, Insulator with the International Association of Heat & Frost – Local 116 is one of Build Together Nova Scotia’s committee members. With not much in the way of mentorship opportunities for women in the trades, and being the only female Insulator in her Local, Ramonda was more than eager to participate, stating, “I firmly believe that this Committee is the first step for women and minorities to level the playing field in the trades, and build an understanding and an open line of communication between all workers, the companies we work for and Unions.”

The Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades Council, through our affiliated unions, provides highly trained, safe working industrial-commercial-institutional tradespeople to the Nova Scotia construction industry. Our mandate includes promoting and developing business for our 11,000 members, and providing a united voice on issues affecting the professional trades.

For more information, please contact:
Alison Casey, Marketing and Communications Manager
Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades
902-478-8967
alison(at)mainlandbuildingtrades.ca

Special Projects Agreement provides significant opportunity for Building Trades Contractors and Tradespeople

HALIFAX, NS – May 10, 2017 – The Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades and the Nova Scotia Construction Labour Relations Association (NSCLRA) are pleased to announce they have reached a labour agreement for the proposed $8.3-billion Goldboro LNG project.

A project of this size and scope provides significant opportunity for youth and apprentices; it secures work for Nova Scotia’s skilled contractors and tradespersons close to home. The two sides worked diligently to ensure an agreement was in place, guaranteeing labour supply and stability throughout the project.

“We have the experience and the skilled trades to complete a project of this size, and we are excited to showcase our ability on a project of this magnitude,” says Brad Smith, Executive Director of the Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades. “And we recognize this as an important step in the process of securing a positive investment decision.”

Both the Mainland Building Trades and the NSCLRA worked with the Province of Nova Scotia to update the Construction Projects Labour Relations Act. The legislation helps allow labour stability for construction projects of this size and significance.

Allan Stapleton, President of the NSCLRA adds, “This project labour agreement creates a stable labour relations climate that will support the investment decision to bring work and benefits to our province.”

The Goldboro LNG project is to include a liquefied natural gas processing facility, storage tanks and marine works in the Goldboro Industrial Park. The plant itself would be capable of producing up to 10 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas annually, and the marine facility would have the capacity to handle carriers of up to 250,000 cubic meters.

The Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades Council, through our affiliated unions, provides highly trained, safe working Industrial-Commercial-Institutional tradespeople to the Nova Scotia construction industry. The Building Trades of Nova Scotia represents 11,000 professional tradespeople, providing a united voice on issues affecting the skilled trades.

The Nova Scotia Construction Labour Relations Association represents 325 employers in collective bargaining with trade unions in the industrial and commercial sectors of the construction industry.

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For more information contact:

Brad Smith
Executive Director, Mainland Building Trades
902-450-1012
brad(at)mainlandbuildingtrades.ca

Allan Stapleton
President, NSCLRA
902-468-2283
astapleton(at)nsclra.ca

2016 Federal Budget Review and Analysis

Our national organization, Canada’s Building Trades Unions has created a review and analysis of the 2016 Federal Budget.

We are pleased with the support demonstrated for the skilled trades in this Government’s first tabled budget. Particularly notable for Building Trades Unions across the country is the proposed $85.4 million over five years that is designated to support union-based apprenticeship training.

Building Trades Unions have a working model that demonstrates how industry can lead and deliver apprenticeship training (such as joint apprenticeship training committees), and it is important that these good working practices continue.

We are very involved in training apprentices; there are now over 2,700 apprentices in the province’s Building Trades and in partnership with our contractors, we invest over $7 million dollars annually in training and training facilities.

This funding will further strengthen the role of union-based training providers. As well as improving the quality of training through investments in equipment, the Liberal Government’s framework will seek to incorporate greater union involvement in apprenticeship training and support innovative approaches and partnerships with other stakeholders, including employers.

Apprentices Across the Country Can Now Train More Easily

Labour and Advanced Education
January 18, 2016 2:12 PM

Apprentices can now move between provinces and territories more easily to complete their training.

As of Jan. 1, apprentices’ technical training, work experience and examination results will be recognized across the country. Students graduating from approved pre-apprenticeship training programs will also get full credit for their training.

“Apprentices should be able to transfer their training credits just like other students studying in post-secondary programs,” said Kelly Regan, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education. “This agreement ensures pre-apprenticeship, technical and on-the-job training is recognized so our apprentices can earn their certification and take full advantage of opportunities across the country and here at home.”

Nova Scotia currently has mobility agreements with Alberta and the other Atlantic provinces. This agreement expands the recognition to the remaining provinces and territories.

“As a glazier apprentice, I was unable to receive the training I wanted in Nova Scotia,” said Pat Grimbly, a fourth-year Nova Scotia glazier apprentice with Superior Glass. “Without agreements like these, I would not have been able to study in Alberta and work at home in Nova Scotia. This agreement will help apprentices get the training and work experience they need regardless of where it’s available.”

This new agreement follows the signing of the Provincial-Territorial Apprentice Mobility Protocol by Canada’s premiers in July 2015. At that time, premiers mandated ministers responsible for apprenticeship to implement a provincial-territorial approach to mobility for apprentices and individuals involved in pre-apprenticeship training.

This initiative also aligns with government’s efforts to reduce red tape and foster more opportunities for businesses and citizens to be successful. This week is Red Tape Awareness Week and Nova Scotia has been recognized by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business for its work to improve the labour mobility of apprentices and for creating the Office of Regulatory Affairs and Service Effectiveness.