After a battle of over 30 years, it appears the city of Sault Ste. Marie could finally be getting out from under the hammer of two local unions. The provincial government has tabled new legislation which might give the city an *out* from having to use just those unions on city projects.
For 31 years, whenever the city has certain infrastructure projects, such as the current cladding project, the city has to use certain union workers.
"The Labourers International Union and the Carpenters and Joiners Union," said Matthew Shoemaker, a Sault Ste. Marie city councilor.
in 1978, the province made it a rule stating only those two unions can do the infrastructure work..
It's something the city has tried to get overruled for decades.
"It means we can open up the bidding process to any company not just across the municipality, but any local business, provincial business of national company that wants to bid on city work. Right now, we can't do that and what it means is, some studies have found it increases prices on these projects from three to thirty percent. So, it could mean significant savings for the municipalities, " said Shoemaker
The provincial government is putting through a bill which would change that law..
"Our goal with this legislation is to improve our competitiveness in Ontario. We've seen in the province the number one complaint we've heard from that sector is was that it was entirely way too complicated for people to do business in the province right now. It's not competitive," said Ross Romano- Sault Ste. Marie MPP (PC)
This new bill would allow everyone the right to bid on projects and use whoever they want to do the work. The earliest it could become law would be in the spring.
The Labourers Union did not return phone calls to comment.
As for the Carpenters and Joiners, Union leader Tom Cardinal says he's disappointed in the PC government and Romano over the proposed changes. He calls it an attack on unions.
