Construction workers in demand across region
Union looking for 500 to fill jobs in all trades to cope with boom
Windsor-Essex is in the midst of a construction boom and the local labourers’ union is hiring to fill the demand for skilled workers.
Labourers’ International Union of North America Local 625 announced it is hiring up to 500 construction workers over the next three weeks to bring the local labour workforce up to speed.
LiUNA typically keeps a pool of workers to provide manpower to local contractors. The pool is about 300 workers short, Robert Petroni, LiUNA’s business manager, said Tuesday.
“If we had them here, we could send them to work today,” Petroni said.
LiUNA is holding job fairs every Wednesday for the next three weeks to fill available positions:
3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 14 at the Holiday Inn, 1855 Huron Church Rd., Windsor;
3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 21 at the Days Inn, 201 Erie St. N., Leamington;
And 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 28 at the John D. Bradley Centre, 565 Richmond St., Chatham (use the East Side Expo entrance).
Petroni said applicants should bring their resumes and be prepared for an on-the-spot interview. Applicants can also email LiUNA their resumes or drop them off at the union’s training centre at 2155 Fasan Dr., Oldcastle.
“We’re looking for every position, from a cement finisher to a pipe layer to a carpenter to a master electrician,” Petroni continued.
A Canada-wide shortage of skilled workers means there aren’t enough people to fill available jobs, so Petroni said people with no construction experience should still apply.
“If their resume is literally empty of construction experience, we can take care of that,” he said, adding that the union’s training centre will help workers gain the necessary skills.
“We are looking for people new to the industry, as well as people in the industry that are just looking for a better career.”
Petroni said every sector in the construction industry is different, but LiUNA members make approximately $45 an hour, including benefits and pension.
LiUNA has about 1,500 members and their membership typically increases by 50 to 100 a year.
“This year, because things are coming back on track and the economy is doing so well, we think we’re short up to about 500,” Petroni said.
According to Petroni, partner contractors do about 90 per cent of construction work in the WindsorEssex and Chatham-Kent region. That means LiUNA members work about nine out of 10 construction jobs.
Despite the economic ups and downs of the last decade, Petroni said members have been working steadily.
“Even during the downturn over the last nine years, even with the blips in the economy and recessions, we’ve been at full employment.”
Petroni said that if the work is there, LiUNA members are, too.
“The work has been here a long time and we don’t see anything slowing down. This is not a rampup to the bridge or the hospital or any of the big projects. This is literally just things that need to get done, that haven’t been done over a number of years.”
Canadian infrastructure is becoming increasingly outdated, Petroni said. Meanwhile, the federal government is investing heavily in new infrastructure.
“It all needs to be replaced. And now’s the time to do it.”
The work has been here a long time and we don’t see anything slowing down.