Community benefits deal keeps workers safer, union says
Re: Qualified workers a priority, Letters, July 27.
Letter writer Roger Reimer tries to link the 1958 collapse of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge to the fact that it was built by union workers.
He also implies that the new Community Benefits Agreement requirement that construction workers on projects such as the new Pattullo Bridge be covered by union collective-agreements contracts, and provide for diversity, will somehow make such projects unsafe.
For the record, a Royal Commission report into the collapse of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge blamed the deaths of 18 workers on the engineer’s miscalculation of the capacity of the temporary support beams that were used in construction.
One of the reasons for the Community Benefits Agreement requirement that workers be covered under a collective agreement is to provide them with access to union safety, training and apprenticeship programs.
Indeed, academic research of the construction industry in Ontario suggests unionized construction is 23-per-cent safer than non-unionized construction. Doug Parton, business manager, Local 97 of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers
Apology after apology
Re: Too much ‘white, liberal guilt’, Letters, July 31.
Kudos to letter-writer Mike Tropp for paying attention. The park board also uses the terms “theft of ancestral lands,” along with “unceded lands” and looking into a “decolonized perspective.” We’re being inundated with these terms at every turn by all forms of leadership. Now, the prevailing invaders/ conquerors are the “evil colonists” who believed they were just that, prevailing.
More unwarranted and costly apologies to come. We as taxpaying citizens deserve to know the end game of truth and reconciliation from governments at every level. Hugh Shirreff, Vancouver
Ride-hailing within weeks
Deputy Green party leader Jonina Campbell’s editorial on ride-sharing is nothing more political speak in an attempt to make her party look better than it is.
The Green party could make ride-hailing a reality within weeks if they weren’t fixated on the referendum on electoral reform. All it would take is for Andrew Weaver to tell the NDP they either recall the legislature to allow him to introduce an NDP-supported bill to legalize ride-hailing by the end of the summer or he would withdraw Green support and let the government fall.
Instead the Greens continue with this charade of how they’re strongly supportive of ride-hailing, but are unwilling to do anything about it. What they care about is making the public think they care. They are really no different than the other political party. Power over promises. Power over ethics. Power at all costs, and damn the public. Perry Coleman, Delta
Only evidence of greed
On a recent stroll around the beautifully treed streets of the West End I came across two magnificently restored old houses on Comox Street. Both had development-application signs outside with a picture depicting the proposed replacements — ugly square boxes without one iota of imagination or esthetic value.
I thought that there were certain standards in the issuing of development permits in order to protect the heritage of our city. No evidence of that here, only evidence of greed, crassness and neglect of civic responsibility from our elected politicians. There is no justification for this community vandalism. Al Regan, Vancouver
Hike MSP to cover more
Re: ‘Free’ health care? We pay a lot for it, report says, July 31.
Interesting article in Tuesday’s Province indicating the actual costs per family or individual for B.C. health care, most of which is being paid by our government, i.e. out of our tax dollars. Instead of reducing to nothing our monthly premiums why not increase them a bit as we either pay it that way or through our taxes?
Heck, maybe the government would consider adding coverage for things that aren’t covered like dental work, casts, ambulance rides, eye exams or even orthotics. They’re all related to our body and health care. Tom Duncan, Chilliwack