Sault labourers protest outside Civic Centre

Not everyone is happy with the replacement of exterior metal panels and windows on the Civic Centre, a year-long job which began in June.

“This was supposed to be a job with our union’s labourers,” said Joe Biocchi, Labourers International Union of North America Local 1036 president, speaking to SooToday.

The company which received the nod from the City of Sault Ste. Marie to complete the overhaul, Cy Rheault of Timmins, has hired Sault carpenters to do their part of the job but has left Local 1036 labourers out in the cold, Biocchi said.

“They (the City) said the company had to hire union labourers, the company said they would, but they are not,” Biocchi said.

“Right now they’re hiring apprentices who are doing our work. All this demolition should be done by our labourers,” Biocchi said.

“All of our guys are looking for work.”

A 1987 Labour Relations Board ruling designated the city a construction employer, tying it to two local unions for all of its construction work. The city has attempted to challenge that ruling.

While the labourers have spoken to Cy Rheault and the City regarding their concerns, Thursday marked the first time labourers set up an information line outside the Civic Centre, Biocchi said.

The City of Sault Ste. Marie issued the following statement today:

A picket line was set up at the Civic Centre this morning by the Labourer’s International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 1036 concerning a grievance they have filed related to the Civic Centre cladding project.

The grievance is scheduled to be heard later this fall after a jurisdictional challenge (filed by the Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 2486 against LIUNA Local 1036) is resolved.

It is the City’s position that it has been compliant with our collective agreement obligations concerning LIUNA Local 1036. The City is therefore filing an application to the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) for a cease and desist order concerning the picketing.

Further information will be available to the public as appropriate.