Article content‘HISTORIC AGREEMENT’Article contentAccording to Dalton (via an emailed statement), the council in November 2020 signed what was considered to be a historic agreement that was said to bring labour stability to Cape Breton’s construction industry in the ensuing five years.Article contentThe contract signing by the council’s members arrived as major builds across the island, particularly the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, were beginning to ramp up — this despite the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic.Article contentThe collective agreement from late 2020 was said to cover the commercial and industrial sectors of the construction industry that were building the new Nova Scotia Community College – Sydney Waterfront campus, in addition to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital expansion and other public and private projects that had an estimated worth of $1.5 billion.Article contentArticle content‘ONEROUS CONDITIONS’Article content“(We) negotiated in good faith and agreed to significant concessions to facilitate infrastructure development and continue a stable labour environment on the Island,” Dalton said in Monday’s statement. Article content“During the pandemic, its members did whatever was necessary to keep the construction industry operating despite onerous conditions. Trade union leaders worked co-operatively with industry and government so the construction industry would continue driving Nova Scotia’s economy.”Article content Workers affiliated with Cape Breton Island Building and Construction Trades Council stage strike action outside of Cape Breton University on Monday. Photo by IAN NATHANSON/CAPE BRETON POSTArticle contentArticle contentSuch concessions were made “in order to support a smoother negotiation process and to expedite getting much-needed projects started,” Dalton added.Article contentArticle contentHowever, he noted, those promises from five years back are now not being honoured and current negotiations are once more asking our members to accept lower wages.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentArticle contentArticle content“Negotiations were intended to begin in January,” Dalton said. “However, (they) did not begin until March 2025 — and is a repeated pattern from our negotiating partner to start late, begin late, and results in our members losing wages.“Our unions prioritize working with apprentices to ensure structured training, fair wages, and workplace safety for trainees. We promote skills development, job security, and equal opportunities, leading to a highly skilled and reliable workforce that benefits workers, employers, and the community.”Article contentArticle contentMeetings with the various affiliated unions mainly took place on Sunday for workers to view the latest agreement updates. Following those viewings, it appeared to be determined that strike action would immediately take place on Monday.Article contentDEFERRING COMMENTArticle contentThe Cape Breton Post approached picketers near Cape Breton University, in downtown Sydney and at the under-construction Northside Health Complex at the Northside Business Park in North Sydney. Asked about their thoughts on the strike, picketers said they could speak on the matter and directed that all comments on their behalf would have to come from Dalton.
UPDATED: Unionized trades workers in Cape Breton take strike action after contract negotiations stall
