A wider range of bidders will soon be able to vie for major City of Hamilton building projects.
Councillors have voted 11-1 to open the construction market to competition by taking no action on Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act.
The provincial legislation deems the city to be a “non-construction employer” under the Labour Relations Act.
READ MORE: MPP Skelly touts ‘big savings’ for Hamilton
The decision, made by the general issues committee on Wednesday, will end the Carpenters Union of Ontario’s almost 15-year-old monopoly on all city projects that include carpentry work.
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Hamilton taxpayers are expected to save millions of dollars annually as more organizations, and other unions not affiliated with the carpenters, are able to bid on municipal projects.
A report prepared by the Construction Competitive Monitor estimates that the carpenter’s monopoly has cost the city an extra $4-10 million each year.
Michael Gallardo, Executive Director of Merit Ontario, says that compounded annually since 2005, “that’s a lot of savings for taxpayers.”
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Sean Reid of the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada says this is not only a “golden opportunity” to save money, but also a chance to “treat all workers fairly and equally without compromising safety, impacting fair wage policies or diminishing worker’s rights.”
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