FORT McMURRAY, Alta. - A group of Quebec tradesmen have come to the Alberta
oilsands for work, claiming they're being discriminated against in their own
province because they don't belong to the right union.
One of those workers is Marc Allard, who hails from Montreal. The millwright
claims he hasn't been able to find work in his home province after he
decided to leave his union - Conseil Provincial du Quebec des Metier de la
Construction- International - in 2006.
Another reason is because his Quebec Local 1981 boss says he has audiotape
evidence of Allard's former union allegedly using intimidation and
discrimination ‹ tape which also allegedly reflects poorly on his new union
of choice, the Federation des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec. Local
1981 falls under the FTQ's construction arm.
Both unions deny allegations of discrimination and intimidation.
“If I want to work construction, I have to work up there,” said Allard, who
travelled to Fort McMurray in 2007. His first job was at Canadian Natural
Resources. He has since moved to Shell Albian Sands.
He estimates some 50 Quebec millwrights were at the CNR site with him. There
were about 45 of them at Albian during the peak period last year.
“I'm in exile here. That's one way to say it,” said Allard, who has worked
construction since 2000.
There are jobs in Quebec, but because he's not part of the right union after
voting against the construction council, Allard claims he can no longer find
work.
“It's not normal. We're in Canada,” said Allard, adding it's like not being
able to work because he voted Liberal and the ruling Conservatives didn't
like it.
“You see that in a banana republic, but not in Canada.”
Ken Pereira, Allard's Local 1981 union boss, said, “there's sanctions
against my men here in Quebec.”
“I can't find work in Quebec for Quebec workers,” he continued. “I've got to
bring them to Russia, Vancouver, Alberta and New Guinea. I can find them
(work) anywhere in the world except in Quebec.”
FTQ president Michel Arsenault denies any claims of discrimination against
his 1981 members.
“What I'm hearing is Local 1981 has not produced their financial report for
the last two years and the FTQ-Construction has suspended their direct
affiliation because they're not conforming themselves to the regulation and
laws of the Construction Commission of Quebec.”
Pereira said the books aren't up to date “because they (the FTQ) were doing
it.”
“They have my union dues; everything went to them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Allard continues to look for work in Quebec, but has had no luck.
He said he called several contractors in January, but heard the same reply:
“We're not from the right union.”
