Construction strike may affect region

Job action could delay both single-family and highrise multi-family residential construction

The impact to residential builds may be minimal when compared to the Greater Toronto Area, but Niagara could soon start to feel the effects of a strike involving more than 15,000 skilled construction workers.

Members with the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 183 went on strike Sunday in “support of fair compensation and workers’ rights.”

Striking workers in the GTA, central Ontario and parts of southern, eastern and southwestern Ontario include those in highrise forming, self-levelling flooring, house framers, tile installers, railing installers and carpet and hardwood installers.

A press release issued by the local said members are asking for better compensation to help combat the rising cost of living. It said the job action could impact both ground and highrise multi-family residential builds.

Andrew Pariser, vice-president of Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON), said highrise forming and house framing are the two “most predominant trades that will affect the Niagara region” due to the strike.

“I think it is safe to say … anyone bound to the Ontario formwork agreement, that are 183-bound form workers, they’re on strike, you’re not going to see them on your sites,” said Pariser.

“Someone who’s ready to have the concrete forming started, or residential house framing started, they’re going to be impacted.”

He said it is “much less likely” there will be any impact on tile installers, self-levelling and railing installers who are unionized in Niagara with LIUNA Local 837.

However, with the union local representing operating engineers also on strike, Pariser said there could be impacts on the “crane side, the concrete pump side and, potentially, even on the excavation side.”

Because construction is dependent on subcontracting, requiring specialized skills, workers in the industry are covered by separate collective agreements. RESCON said 30 collective agreements exist in the residential construction sector.

In what Pariser calls the ‘greater, Greater Toronto Area’ — Kingston to Niagara to north of Barrie — all collective agreements expire every three years on April 30.

LIUNA Local 183 called on the Contractors’ Association to return to the bargaining table and address the costs of inflation and demands on the sector in the coming years. LIUNA Local 837 represents 4,000 workers in Hamilton-niagara.

Asked how the strike could impact Niagara residential construction, as well as where the local union stood in its own negotiation, a spokesperson said “no comment.” Followup emails did not receive a response by publication.

Niagara-on-the-lake realtor Doug Rempel said any delay in construction “is going to have a ripple effect” and makes it more difficult to overcome the “very real” issue of pent-up buyer demand and access to housing.

“If there’s a slowdown in availability of materials, if there’s a slowdown in the availability of labour, if there’s a slowdown brought on by labour unrest, all those are going to equal the same thing — a slowdown in the ability of builders to deliver finished products,” he said.

Add in a lack of skilled workers, not just in Niagara, but “across the board,” and it is only adding to the problem.

Someone who’s ready to have the concrete forming started, or residential house framing started, they’re going to be impacted.

ANDREW PARISER RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION COUNCIL OF ONTARIO