General Motors Place
Canada Place and Pan Pacific Hotel, Vancouver
Labour Relations Services
Background
Since its beginning in 1969, CLR's primary objective has been to provide professional labour relations services to its union contractor members. CLR's efforts have also benefitted those union contractors who chose to remain independent of the Association, through collective agreement negotiation and development of industry programs such as the Jurisdictional Assignment Plan.
CLR offers access to its various services to Association members and independent contractors alike. CLR member contractors also have the opportunity of election to the Association's governing bodies, giving them a more direct voice in CLR's activities.
Collective agreement negotiation
CLR negotiates and administers in excess of 50 collective agreements on behalf of its member contractors. Agreements currently negotiated between CLR and the 15 International Building Trade Unions which comprise the Bargaining Council of BC Building Trade Unions (BCBCBTU) include:
| Boilermakers | |
| Bricklayers | |
| - Bricklayers Agreement | |
| - Terrazzo Agreement | |
| - Tilesetters Agreement | |
| Carpenters | |
| - Standard Agreement | |
| - Carpenter-Lather Addendum | |
| Cement Masons & Operative Plasterers | |
| - Cement Masons | |
| - Plasterers | |
| Culinary Workers | |
| IBEW Inside Wire | |
| Elevator Constructors | |
| Floorlayers | |
| Heat and Frost Insulators | |
| Ironworkers | |
| Labourers | |
| - Standard Agreement | |
| - Mason Tenders | |
| - Plasterer Helpers | |
| Millwrights | |
| Operating Engineers | |
| - Heavy Construction | |
| - Concrete Pumping Addendum | |
| - Crane Rental Addendum | |
| - Steel Erection | |
| Painters & Allied Trades | |
| - Painters | |
| - Glaziers Construction Agreement | |
| - Drywall Finishers | |
| Plumbers and Pipefitters | |
| Refrigeration Workers | |
| - Construction Agreement | |
| Sheet Metal Workers | |
| - Sheet Metal Agreement Locals 276 and 280 | |
| - Roofers Agreement Local 280 | |
| Teamsters | |
CLR can also negotiate project-specific agreements where appropriate.
For further information regarding any of the agreements listed above, our Staff Directory can help you contact the specific staff member responsible for administering that agreement.
Collective agreement interpretation
Confused about the proper application of travel time? shift premiums? overtime? These are just a few examples of collective agreement provisions which may differ from trade to trade, or project to project. CLR's professional labour relations staff are available to interpret these provisions for you, and provide guidance on their proper application to your circumstances. Check our Staff Directory to contact the labour relations officer responsible for administering your agreement.
Pre-job conferences
Large or complex projects proceed more smoothly if the affected contractors and unions meet before commencement to resolve issues of potential conflict. CLR is available to coordinate and assist contractors with pre-job conferences. Contact Clyde Scollan at clydes@clra-bc.com for information or assistance.
Advocacy in grievances, arbitrations and illegal work stoppages
In most cases, CLR's labour relations staff are able to resolve grievances before they escalate to a formal grievance procedure or arbitration. If a situation cannot be resolved informally, CLR can provide an advocate to represent the contractor's interests at a formal hearing or arbitration. CLR also handles Labour Relations Board applications where necessary to resolve illegal work stoppages or picketing.
Check our Staff Directory to contact the labour relations officer responsible for administering your agreement.
Jurisdictional expertise
At one time, jurisdictional disputes were one of the most common causes of work stoppages. CLR's labour relations staff have extensive resources available to help you identify the union in whose jurisdiction specific work falls.
CLR was instrumental in the establishment in 1978 of the Jurisdictional Assignment Plan of the BC Construction Industry - a forum for adjudication of jurisdictional disputes. Contractors or unions can apply to the JAPlan prior to commencement of work to have the Jurisdictional Umpire make an appropriate assignment of the work in question.
For more information on jurisdictional issues or the JAPlan, contact Clyde Scollan at clydes@clra-bc.com.