Fourth in a series on proposed changes to B.C.91裸聊视频檚 labour code.

The B.C. government91裸聊视频檚 plan to expand union succession protection to a wide range of private sector contracted services is an 91裸聊视频渆xtraordinary91裸聊视频� state intervention into the open market for labour, the Business Council of B.C. says.

BCBC chief policy officer Jock Finlayson said the automatic transfer of union contracts for food services, security, building maintenance and bus transportation is the main objection of employers in the Labour Relations Code overhaul that is now before the B.C. legislature.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e concerned about the impact, which I think could be fairly far-reaching,91裸聊视频� Finlayson said in an interview with Black Press.

91裸聊视频淔or businesses that contract out for services, and a lot of them do, it91裸聊视频檚 going to substantially remove the competition in the market for contracted services. So competition and choice for those who outsource these services are going to be substantially curtailed as a result of these provisions, and I think a lot of organizations are going to wake up and realize that91裸聊视频檚 a fairly big change from what they91裸聊视频檝e been used to.91裸聊视频�

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The B.C. government has repeatedly pointed to 91裸聊视频渃ontract flipping91裸聊视频� by operators of senior care facilities, some of which have seen multiple ownership changes that force employees to reapply for work and accept pay and benefits that may be reduced. Finlayson said the extension into private sector services will likely drive up costs across a large swath of the economy.

91裸聊视频淚f there are examples of particular abuses or practices that a reasonable person would view as unacceptable, and those things do exist out in the marketplace, then the appropriate remedy is not to bring a sledge hammer down and try to take the competitive forces in contract provision out of the market,91裸聊视频� Finlayson said. 91裸聊视频淚f there is a real problem, the way to deal with that is through targeted measures.91裸聊视频�

Labour Minister Harry Bains said employees in food services, janitorial, security and bus transportation, as well as non-clinical health services like care aides, are 91裸聊视频渙ften vulnerable91裸聊视频� and need more protection.

He said the labour code changes are designed to ensure that all union agreements carry over when contracts change.

91裸聊视频淲hat it does is say the new contractor steps into the shoes of the old contractor,91裸聊视频� Bains said. 91裸聊视频淚f that means preserving a collective agreement, a certification and employment, that91裸聊视频檚 the intent.91裸聊视频�

The change is one of two areas where the NDP government went against the recommendations of it panel of business and union experts, which held hearings around the province last year. The other area is union raid provisions in construction, where the legislation reinforces the ability of unions to stage membership raids every summer.

Bains used the example of food services at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, which were re-tendered when Canucks Sports and Entertainment made a new deal in 2014 with Philadelphia-based Aramark Corp. to expand food and beverage offerings.

The move terminated the employment of 750 people who work at hockey games, concerts and special events. It was disputed by Unite Here Local 40, whose employees were making $13 to $17 per hour in serving jobs where they receive tips, and $18 to $21 an hour in the kitchen. The employees had to reapply.

Finlayson said successorship legislation also leaves room for the B.C. cabinet to add other areas of the contract work economy as it sees fit. He gave the example of information technology contractors.

91裸聊视频淟ots of organizations, instead of building up their own IT departments, contract out for those services, and use a firm like Accenture or IBM, somebody who91裸聊视频檚 an expert,91裸聊视频� Finlayson said. 91裸聊视频淐abinet could wake up one day and decide to add contracted IT services. That would get a lot of attention from employers.91裸聊视频�

He said many employers are not yet aware of the effects of changes expected to take effect when the legislation passes by the end of May.

The B.C. Green Party objected to removing a secret ballot from union certification votes, forcing Bains to drop that idea and follow the advice of the expert panel to keep secret-ballot votes. Green MLAs have been lobbied to oppose other parts of the NDP bill as well, before it becomes law by May 30.

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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