Cape Breton unionized construction workers on strike to restore pandemic concessions

Unionized construction workers in Cape Breton went on strike Monday, looking for wage increases after making what they call "substantial" concessions during the pandemic to keep the industry working under difficult conditions.

Picket lines have gone up at several major worksites around Cape Breton Regional Municipality, including the university, hospitals and a long-term care home, projects the unions call "critical infrastructure."

According to a release quoting Cape Breton Island Building and Construction Trades Council president Ernie Dalton, the most recent collective agreement was signed more than five years ago "and includes substantial wage concessions that were promised to be remedied in future negotiations. These concessions were made in order to support a smoother negotiation process and to expedite getting much needed projects started."

Picketers declined to talk to reporters, referring them to Dalton, who was not available for interviews Monday or Tuesday.

In a brief phone conversation, he said he was too busy trying to get talks back on track and to put an end to the strike.

In the release, he said the promise to restore concessions is not being honoured and workers are being asked to accept lower wages.

Strike affects private contractors, employees

The council represents 14 unions in Cape Breton, 10 of which are seeking a new collective agreement.

The council negotiates with the Nova Scotia Construction Labour Relations Association, which represents private contractors in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector.

In an interview on Wednesday, association president Bob Shepherd said the main issue is wages.

He said he wasn't sure what Dalton meant by "concessions" in the last agreement, which he said contained increased pay.

"Certainly, the wage increases were modest, but it was in recognition of where work stood and the fact that the wages in Cape Breton at that time were competitive with the rest of Atlantic Canada and, quite frankly, they remain competitive with the rest of Atlantic Canada."

'Substantial offer' made: association

Shepherd said the employers made a "substantial offer" of wage increases this year, but the unions turned that down.

In the news release, Dalton said the unions were willing to have "constructive dialogue," but Shepherd said no talks are scheduled.

"We would be willing to discuss our last offer, if they're interested in doing that," he said.

The new medical building under construction at Cape Breton University is one of the projects where work has stopped.

In an email, university spokesperson Lenore Parsley said the building is supposed to be finished in October.

Parsley said it's too soon to know if that date will be impacted by the strike, but she said medical classes will begin on time in late August.

The Department of Labour said the province respects the right to strike.

In an email, a spokesperson said the department is providing impartial conciliation and mediation, and is encouraging dialogue to bring about a fair and timely end to the strike.

It also said only private-sector contractors and their employees are involved, not government workers.

A provincial public works spokesperson said all roadwork has stopped, including construction of the roundabout on Kings Road at Keltic Drive in Sydney River.

Build Nova Scotia, which is in charge of the region's hospital redevelopment projects, said in an email that construction is on hold and once the strike ends, timelines will be reviewed with an eye to limiting any impacts or lost time.

The strike has also stopped work at CBRM's new wastewater treatment plant in Glace Bay and halted regular roadwork and maintenance.

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