Province reviewing trades ‘boot camp’
City cut ties after participants in the Hammer Head program reported slurs, intimidation
The report is in, but the verdict is still out.
A building trades “boot camp” that helps disadvantaged young people access lucrative careers in the construction trades met a provincial deadline to submit an independent review of its operations.
The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities requested the third party review of Hammer Heads earlier this year after ministry staff became aware of allegations that program participants were subjected to abusive language, racial slurs and intimidation, according to internal provincial documents obtained under Freedom of Information legislation.
As reported by the Star, the ministry’s $187,712 funding agreement, signed with Hammer Heads on May 8, was subject to the program’s board of directors appointing an independent third party “to review, assess and report on program activities and experience of past participants.” Hammer Heads was required to submit its report to the ministry by Oct. 24, according to the documents.
At 5:40 p.m. Wednesday, a ministry spokesperson confirmed the report had been received and that provincial officials are “in the process of reviewing” it. The Star is seeking access to the report. Union leaders contacted by the Star for comment were reluctant to weigh-in about the program beyond noting the construction industry needs to become a more inclusive, respectful, and diverse workplace.
“We believe everybody should be able to work and learn in an environment that is free from harassment,” said John Cartwright, president of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council.
The City of Toronto cut ties with Hammer Heads in July 2017 following complaints from participants about program director James St. John, according to internal city documents obtained through a separate freedom of information request.
Those who complained to the city
alleged St. John yelled and swore at them and used racial epithets, city documents show. They said St. John told them human rights don’t exist on construction job sites and “they had better get used to it.”
Among the specific comments cited in city documents that participants claim St. John made:
“You are black as night so you need to smile so people can see you.”
“You need to shave because you look like a terrorist.”
“You are going to be called n---, you are going to take it, and not say anything.”
The province withheld its funding last year when it became aware of the allegations, according to internal ministry documents. Funding was renewed — subject to the independent review — after a ministry review “concluded the organization and its board had taken sufficient steps to address the allegations raised,” the internal documents say.
Through a spokesperson, St. John has denied the allegations. A petition, signed by 77 current and past Hammer Heads participants, many of whom are Black, said they experienced no abusive behaviour or racist language while in the program.
St. John did not respond Thursday to a request for further comment following the submission of the report.
When asked last week about the third-party review, St. John’s spokesperson Raj Rasalingam said “the report is an internal review and part of our ongoing review of programs.”
“The province has subsequently confirmed that they only acted on information that was communicated to them by the city and has restored funding,” Rasalingam added in his emailed response to the Star.
The allegations of verbal mistreatment come at a time when the city, in partnership with the provincial and federal governments, is embarking on numerous “community benefit agreements” to ensure jobs that result from public infrastructure spending go to people in underemployed and economically disadvantaged communities.
Cartwright, who is also co- chair of the Toronto Community Benefits Network, said Hammer Heads has been “incredibly successful” at helping young men and women living in poverty and in conflict with the law get unionized construction jobs.
The intensive 12-week program for young people between the ages of 18 and 26 includes health and safety training, academic upgrading and the opportunity to try out different trades through visits to as many as 16 different union training centres. About 95 per cent of graduates are hired as apprentices and receive at least a year of on-the-job support from the Hammer Heads staff, according to the program’s website.
“James has committed a tremendous amount to Hammer Heads in leadership, time and energy,” Cartwright said of St. John, who also heads the Central Ontario Building Trades Council, which represents more than 50,000 skilled trades people in the GTA from 21 unions including electricians, plumbers and iron workers.
“It’s hard to know what would happen if you changed that dynamic,” Cartwright added.
Kevin Bryenton, president of the provincial Iron Workers District Council, said he had no first-hand knowledge of how the Hammer Heads program operates.
However, union leaders have a duty to use their positions to “move things forward on a progressive level … so that all working people can have a chance to succeed and not be diminished in any way,” he said in an interview earlier this month.
Discussions about issues like racism, sexism and on-the-job bullying, should be part of an “ongoing courageous conversation you have to have with your members,” Bryenton added.