Q: Collaborating with the government is a big part of the work that happens at the Carpenters’ Union, could you explain what the Government Relations (GR) department does?
A: Absolutely, politics intersects with our work in so many ways. As a union, we exist to protect workers’ rights and improve the working conditions and lives of our members. Historically, many of the most impactful changes for working conditions – like minimum wage, workplace safety laws and collective bargaining rights – have been achieved through unions working with governments. Our GR department is continuing this legacy and is constantly advocating for laws and policies that positively benefit our members.
Our work goes beyond legislation. We meet with elected officials at all levels of government and across all political parties to build strategic relationships with those who prioritize issues that matter to our members. Through our discussions with politicians, we make them aware of the issues facing our industry and membership and how the UBC can be a partner in addressing them. These relationships also secure government funding for UBC members, including training programs and physical upgrades and additions to union facilities, all of which directly benefit our members and their career development.
Q: We’ve just come out of a federal election in which the CRC had to choose between two candidates who were very close at the polls. Can you speak to what factors went into the decision-making process?
A: Sure. We carefully reviewed the platforms of all candidates, and we met with both Pierre Poilievre and Mark Carney, however, we just felt that one of the candidates offered a stronger plan for our membership that would address the priorities that matter most to workers.
The platform put forward by Mark Carney and his party included direct supports for apprentices such as an $8000 Apprenticeship Grant and a commitment to continue to fund the highly successful Apprenticeship Service Program. Both of these initiatives will support the career development of UBC apprentices. That platform also proposed to double funding for the Union Training and Innovation Program (“UTIP”), which will allow us to deliver more training and upskilling to UBC members, improving their employability for future jobs. Further, they pledged to expand the Labour Mobility Tax Deduction, making it easier for workers to travel for jobs across Canada. And importantly, there was a focus on ambitiously investing in homebuilding, which will create a significant amount of work for UBC members as we grow into that market across the country.
It was through the lens of what we believed would benefit our members most, that we made a decision on who to endorse and who to support.
Q: What do you have to say to members who supported other candidates?
A: First, and most importantly, you have every right to your own opinion of which candidate you believe is the right choice, and I encourage you to vote for that candidate, whoever they may be. We recognize that our membership has a diverse range of political views, and we respect their right to vote for the candidate who best reflects their values. As an organization, however, our political decisions are grounded in a pragmatic approach we call “Carpenter Economics”.
Platforms cover all types of issues, ranging from social policies, defence spending, housing, foreign affairs, and many more. Our focus is to filter through all of that and zero in on Carpenter Economics: the policies that directly impact workers, their pay cheques, their jobsites, and their livelihoods. When we look at a candidate or party’s platform through the lens of carpenter economics, we ask questions like: How much of the government’s budget will be allocated towards skilled trades initiatives? What housing or infrastructure projects are being planned? How committed are they towards workplace safety and workers’ rights? Are they backing legislation that offers real protections and supports for our members? So, to members who voted differently- we understand and respect that other issues may have shaped your decision. But as an organization, our priority is clear – we focus squarely on the issues of carpenter economics and we make our decision based on how each candidate plans to address these topics.
Q: What can members look forward to in the future, on the political front?
A: There’s lots to look forward to. We have several ongoing programs that are funded in part by the Federal Government. These are actively supporting UBC apprentices as they progress towards their Red Seal status. Recently, in Ontario, Premier Ford has announced a billion dollar increase to the Skills Development Fund, which has already provided UBC Locals with funding to upgrade and renovate our Training Centres across the province. In Alberta, the government recently announced funding to grow union training centres, another area we’ll be looking to secure investment in.
While some parts of the country are experiencing slowdowns in the residential sector right now, overall, construction is front and centre in Canada, meaning carpenter economics are top of mind for elected officials. There is bipartisan agreement across the board that Canada needs to aggressively invest in housing and infrastructure projects. With the strong relationship we’ve forged with our government, that means UBC members will be doing the building. The future of our industry is certainly promising, and I would tell all members to look forward to more work opportunities that are on the horizon.
