The Ontario Construction Report – March 2011 – PAGE OCR B5 OGCA SYMPOSIUM VII – MARCH 31 TO APRIL 2


CLAC: An alternative approach to construction labour relations


STAFF WRITER – The OCR Construction Report Special Feature


The Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) provides an alterna- tive to construction workers and employers seeking the advantages of collective bar- gaining agreements without the craft-based and jurisdic- tional barriers of traditional construction trade unions. CLAC currently has about 50,000 members across Canada. In Ontario, the union represents about 12,000 workers at 220 em- ployers.


CLAC continues to ex- perience steady and healthy growth,” says Andrew Reg- nerus, CLAC’s provincial construction co-ordinator for Ontario. “While many unions are in a decline, CLAC represents about four to five per cent more mem- bers in Ontario than it did a year ago. As more and more folks come to know and ap- preciate our labour relations policies and practices, we have every reason to be op-


timistic that we will con- tinue to grow in the con- struction industry.”


“Respect and equality have been the kingpins of the CLAC framework since its early days almost 60 years ago,” Regnerus said. “We believe that all humans have an inherent worth, are entitled to dignity in their jobs and in their lives . . . and workers will do their work better when all are treated in the same manner by their employers.”


This means CLAC em- ployees can perform a diver- sity of jobs in different trades (provided they have the necessary qualifications and safety certifications) and help each other out, rather than being bound by strict union jurisdictional rules. The ability of employees to multi-task also allows em- ployers to maintain a more stable and secure payroll, often providing year-round employment for employees.


“What matters in con- struction is getting the job done – safely, on time and on budget,” Regnerus says. “We put a strong emphasis on safety training and job se- curity. A wage rate of $50 an hour is only meaningful when the worker can be ex- pect to be working for much of the year.” CLAC’s dues are reason- able (1.4 per cent of earn- ings) with a modest $25 initiation fee with no hidden charges or taxes. “We do not provide sup- port for political parties or interest groups,” Regnerus says. “Union dues pay for union representation – we provide workers with all of the advantages of union rep- resentation without putting the company out of business or turning the workplace into a war zone.”


For employers, CLAC


representation provides a co- hesive and responsible bar- gaining and representation counterpart, with an under- lying non-adversarial philos- ophy – if the business does well and is profitable, then CLAC member employees


have more security and greater opportunities. This allows employers to operate in a unionized environment without the stress of con- stantly battling the various crafts and trades over juris- dictional issues.


CLAC is a sponsor of the


OGCA symposium and you can meet Andrew and other representatives there. You can also learn more at www.clac.ca or by emailing aregnerus@clac.ca.


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