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Carpenters’ strike ongoing amid stalled negotiations by employers

Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario represents 25,000 skilled tradespeople across province
Northern Ontario Business Staff
Sudbury carpenter (NOB file photo)
(File photo)

Vaughan, ON – Carpenter’s District Council of Ontario (CDCO), United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (the “Carpenters”) is today announcing that the province-wide strike of carpenters in the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sector in the construction industry is continuing.

On Thursday, May 12, 2022, the Union and employers were in discussions about this. The Union made it clear to the employers that we are ready and willing to return to the bargaining table and that we wanted to recommence negotiations on Friday, May 13, 2022 or on the weekend or on any day next week. It is the Union’s position that this strike should end with an agreement being reached as soon as possible due to the severe financial impact the strike is having on our industry and all Ontarians.

Unfortunately, the employers took the position that they can’t meet with us tomorrow or next week because “they need more time to gather data to present to the Union” prior to restarting the negotiations.

“It is incredibly disappointing that this group of employers wants to hold hostage millions (if not billions) of dollars’ worth of construction, much of which involves critical infrastructure, because they are unprepared,” said Mike Yorke, the CDCO’s President and Director of Public Affairs and Innovation.

The Carpenters understand the severe consequences that this delay brings to Ontario’s economy. The construction industry is vital, employing over 500,000 workers and worth over $50 billion annually. Stalled infrastructure developments impact all Ontarians, including our members that are desperate to get back to work to be able to provide for their families.

“This is extremely disappointing news for all of us at the Carpenters’ Union”, Mr. Yorke continued. “Stalling these negotiations for 12 days or even longer will have a hugely detrimental effect across Ontario. The livelihoods of our members are being impacted and we demand that the employers get back to the bargaining table as soon as possible to resolve this situation before it gets any worse.”

“We will continue to push for the wage increase that we believe our members deserve. Given the current economic circumstances in our province, we believe it is only fair that wages reflect the skyrocketing cost of living, inflation, and housing affordability crisis we are all experiencing. We also understand that we have a responsibility to Ontarians to end this strike as soon as we can. That is why we are prepared to go back to the bargaining table immediately and reach an agreement to resolve this unfortunate situation. We expect that the employers take their responsibilities to Ontarians equally seriously and commit to resuming negotiations right away”, added Mr. Yorke.

About the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario (CDCO)

The Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario (“CDCO”) is composed of 17 affiliated Local Unions of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners across the province. In total, we represent some 25,000 women and men working in a wide range of skilled trades, including carpentry, drywall, resilient flooring, concrete formwork, underwater construction, welding, scaffolding, and a long list of other construction-related work.