We support amendments to the Ontario Labour Relations Act which remove municipalities from the definition of "construction employers." It is believed that trade union monopolies at City Hall add significant costs to the City's operating costs. A report looking at the issue of trade union monopolization in Hamilton was prepared in 2007 for Hamilton City Council. A related news item appeared in the Hamilton Spectator: "Union hold on carpentry could shut down city", Nicole McIntyre.
The motion adopted by the City of Hamilton received the endorsement of the Strategic Initiative Committee of the City of Oshawa. In a report dated February 15, 2008, the Committe recommended as follows: "That the Large Urban Mayors' Caucus of Ontario ("LUMCO") be advised that the City of Oshawa endorses the City of Hamilton's request that the Province amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995 to designate municipalities as non-construction employers".
Recently LUMCO, chaired by Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, agreed with the request of the City of Oshawa. Why hasn't Toronto Mayor David Miller?
At this time a motion asking Toronto to support Hamilton's endorsement is being studied by city staff. The motion was made by Councillors Case Ootes and Karen Stintz and referred to staff by the city's Executive Committe in October 2007. Although city staff has not yet reported back to Council and there has been no official position taken by Council or any committee, Toronto sent LUMCO a negative response on supporting the CIty of Hamilton request.
