Efforts of workers to secure better working conditions, fair wages, and greater rights helped drive the demand for building trades unions in Canada. Some of the earliest trades to successfully unionize in Canada were pipefitters, electricians, and labourers who helped to shape the future of building trade unions across the country.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”19px” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”29px” custom_margin=”||-8px|||” custom_padding=”||1px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]Growth of Pipefitters, Electricians & Labourer Unions
The first strong unions were formed in Canada during booming construction and population growth experienced throughout the 1890s. The unionization of maintenance trades in Canada was influenced by pipefitters unionizing with the formation of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada. This union, commonly known as the United Association (UA), at the time represented workers in the plumbing and pipefitting industries. Today, the UA represents plumbers, Pipefitters, Sprinkler Fitters, HVACR Service Technicians, Welders and Pipeliners working in the construction and maintenance industries.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-38px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”19px” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Stephane Favron, International Representative for UA and Secretary-Treasurer for the GPMC I NMC, describes the importance of the UA:
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-38px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Italic Text” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”19px” global_colors_info=”{}”]“The United Association proudly represents over 380,000 highly skilled piping professionals across North America—61,000 in Canada. From coast to coast, our members are the best for a reason—we bring unmatched expertise, productivity, and safety to every project. Founded in 1889, we have over 135 years of excellence; we’re not just in the industry but setting the standard. The Standard of Excellence, Productivity, and Safety are the three pillars of the UA Advantage. We are industry leaders in Training, and our training programs are unmatched. We have over 200+ instructors, national resources trainers, and 33 training centers across Canada. We foster, promote, craft, champion, empower, and advocate for our members every day through training, collective bargaining, and collaboration with our Industry partners. We are UA Proud.”[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://gpmccanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Stephane-Favron-Smaller.jpg” title_text=”Stephane-Favron-Smaller” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”12px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”19px” custom_padding=”||27px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]A key figure in the creation of a union for electrical workers was Samuel Gompers, founder of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), Gompers once stated, “Where trade unions are most firmly organized, there are the rights of the people most respected.” The AFL helped to form several unions such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Teamsters. As industries began expanding and the demand for skilled tradespeople increased, this led to the need for collective bargaining to address issues such as wages, working conditions, and job security.
The IBEW was originally founded in St. Louis, Missouri, and was known as the National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (NBEW), and the American Federation of Labor (AFL) gave the NBEW a charter as an AFL affiliate on December 7, 1891. Interestingly, the union’s journal, The Electrical Worker, was first published on January 15, 1893, and has continued to be published ever since.
The first Canadian local was organized in Ottawa in 1899, and the union’s name was officially changed to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) that same year. The formation of 85 affiliated locals across Canada today represents members in many industries, including utilities, manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, cable, radio and television, shipyards, railroads, sound and alarm, appliance repair, motor shops, sign shops, pulp and paper mills, mining, and government.
Cordell Cole, International Representative for IBEW First District and GPMC | NMC Committee Vice Chairman reflects on the importance of the IBEW today:
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”-18px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Italic Text” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”19px” custom_margin=”-9px||-4px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||45px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]“IBEW founder and first President Henry Miller began organizing Electrical Workers in 1890 when he realized that something had to change in the industry. At the time one in two Electrical Workers died on the job, due to a lack of safety and training measures. Now 134 years later, the IBEW in Canada has over 50 state-of-the-art Training Centers from Coast to Coast and our Members are the most highly trained, skilled and safe electrical workers in the industry.
These training centers do a wide range of training from Pre-Apprentice Training and Block Training to Journey Person Upgrade Training. IBEW Local Unions spend millions of dollars each year to ensure that we remain the best trained and most highly skilled workers in the industry. I can only imagine the pride that Henry Miller would feel if he could see where the IBEW is today; a Dream turned into Reality.”
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://gpmccanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/cordell-quote.jpg” title_text=”cordell-quote” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”-73px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-24px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”67px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”19px” global_colors_info=”{}”]Labourers are also integral to the construction and maintenance of buildings and structures. Despite their important role, labourers also faced precarious working conditions and disparity in wages. The unionization of trades led to significant improvements for skilled workers, including higher wages, standardized working hours, and the implementation of safety protocols to protect workers from dangerous materials and conditions. As well, training programs and certifications ensured that workers maintained high professional standards.
The first recognized Laborers Union was established in Philadelphia in 1836. There were numerous Laborers Local Unions in North America by 1900, but they were only considered by the AFL as “Federal Locals.” In 1903, Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), urged these independent local Laborers’ Unions to join together and establish an international union of construction laborers, which became known as the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA, stylized as LiUNA!), or also known as the Laborers’ Union that was formed that same year, representing members in both the US and Canada. Today, Local 183 in Toronto is the largest construction local union in North America.
Tony Pietrangelo, Chairman of the GPMC I NMC and Assistant Regional Manager and International Representative for LiUNA Central and Eastern Canada recognizes the impact of unionized labour:
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-38px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”8px||57px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Italic Text” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”19px” custom_margin=”46px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]“Today, with half a million members strong across North America, LiUNA – the Labourers’ International Union of North America – is a powerhouse of highly-skilled men and women who proudly build stronger communities across various sectors, predominately in construction. Representing over 160,000 men and women in Canada, LiUNA continues to be a leading advocate for workplace health and safety.
United through collective bargaining agreements, LiUNA members earn competing wages, good benefits, and the opportunity for advancement and better futures. From roads to bridges, tunnels to high-rise, to building essential transit, healthcare, and energy infrastructure, the highly skilled, diverse members of LiUNA build stronger, prosperous communities from the ground up, and are essential to our country’s economic development and advancement.”
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://gpmccanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/tony.png” title_text=”tony” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”6px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”19px” header_2_font=”|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”29px” global_colors_info=”{}”]Achievements and Challenges Faced by Unions
The unionization of skilled trades brought about significant improvements in their working conditions. Through collective bargaining, unionized tradespeople negotiated for better wages, safer working environments, and benefits such as healthcare and pensions. The union also provided a platform for workers to voice concerns and work together to address common challenges. This, in turn, contributed to increased productivity and efficiency within various sectors, highlighting the mutual benefits of unionization for both workers and employers.
However, the path to these achievements was not without its challenges. Unionized trades faced resistance from employers reluctant to recognize unions and make concessions. Economic conditions including periods of recession and industrial decline, posed further challenges to maintaining stable employment and securing favorable terms for union members.
Pivotal Shift: General Presidents’ Maintenance Committee for Canada and National Maintenance Council for Canada (GPMC | NMC)
A pivotal shift occurred in 1952, with the formation of an alliance of 13 international construction unions known as the General Presidents’ Maintenance Committee for Canada/National Maintenance Council for Canada (GPMC | NMC). This marked the initiation of concerted efforts to secure maintenance jobs for their respective unions.
Today, the GPMC | NMC provides maintenance customers with the highly skilled tradespeople they need to maintain complex industrial facilities. It helps contractors develop pragmatic, flexible approaches to upcoming projects and provides them with valuable information they can use to bid on maintenance work. At the heart of GPMC | NMC maintenance agreements lies the mission to create employment opportunities for unionized building trades members. These agreements offer a lifeline during seasonal and cyclical downturns in construction activity, providing members with alternative employment options. Furthermore, they furnish skilled workers with the prospect of long-term, secure employment, enabling them to forge stable careers within fixed locations.
The commitment to health and safety on unionized worksites in Canada has been a dynamic and ongoing process that GPMC | NMC has been a part of since the 1950s. Over its 70+ years in operation, the GPMC | NMC has earned the trust of unions, employers, and maintenance customers by providing stable multi-trade agreements that cover critical maintenance activities.
Legacy of Unionized Maintenance & GPMC | NMC
The legacy of unionization of pipefitters, electricians, and labourers in Canada represents an evolution in fair labour practices, professional development, and the protection of workers’ rights. The building trades unions have improved working conditions and provided greater job security in the maintenance industry. Maintenance agreements facilitated by the GPMC | NMC ensure the seamless operation of industrial facilities. By fostering employment stability and career growth opportunities for skilled tradespeople across Canada’s industrial landscape, the GPMC I NMC has been your trusted maintenance industry experts since 1952.
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