\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"MIKE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4235463_web1_32898952_211208-DARRYL-HARRISON-0001.JPG\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
MIKE DEAL \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Darryl Harrison of the Winnipeg Construction Association is among those speaking out against the province\u2019s jobs agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was extremely disappointed that there was little rigour in the negotiation,\u201d said Darryl Harrison of the Winnipeg Construction Association.<\/p>\n
His group, alongside the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association and the Construction Association of Rural Manitoba, oppose the new rules, which they say will increase construction costs.<\/p>\n
The jobs agreements apply to provincial construction projects that cost at least $50 million; they impose wage, benefit and apprenticeship conditions on builders.<\/p>\n
Compliance is overseen by a collective of unions headed by Manitoba Building Trades. Construction companies are charged a per-worker fee that\u2019s included in the contract to pay for training opportunities for Manitobans.<\/p>\n
The three associations launched a website \u2014 redflagmanitoba.ca \u2014 to publicize their opposition to the policy.<\/p>\n
They liken the contracts to a 20 per cent tax on construction and say they discriminate against the 88 per cent of Manitoba construction workers who aren\u2019t unionized.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was such little work done to develop the agreement. It explains why the agreement is causing so (many) problems for the industry,\u201d Harrison said Tuesday. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of construction companies that choose not to pursue these projects because of the pricing risk associated with it and the schedule risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the information uncovered by the freedom-of-information files shows the province didn\u2019t analyze the impact on competition, costs and scheduling.<\/p>\n
The associations sent a letter to the ombudsman on Friday.<\/p>\n
Manitoba Building Trades advocates for jobs agreements with every government, said Tanya Palson, the organization\u2019s executive director: \u201cIt\u2019s no different than any other association group advocating for the things they advocate for every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The New Democrats announced its plans for a Manitoba Jobs Agreement in the 2025-26 budget, which was released in March 2025.<\/p>\n
It was also a campaign promise, noted Public Service Delivery Minister Mintu Sandhu. He said the province has consulted \u201chundreds and thousands\u201d of people on the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur focus is Manitoba workers,\u201d Sandhu said. \u201cThis is about better wages, better benefits and a safer worksite.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manitoba Building Trades published an open letter Tuesday in which it denounced the construction associations\u2019 cumulative messaging, and that of the Opposition Progressive Conservatives during house sittings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is an increasing difference between constructive policy discussion and rhetoric that fundamentally misrepresents Manitoba\u2019s construction industry,\u201d says the letter, signed by Palson.<\/p>\n
She said the accusation of a 20 per cent tax is \u201cunsubstantiated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Project-by-project financial analyses haven\u2019t been publicized. It\u2019s too early to be stating a number, Palson said in an interview Tuesday, and the wages outlined in the agreements align with current union standards.<\/p>\n
Two public projects are currently under Manitoba Jobs Agreements: the Victoria General Hospital emergency room rebuild in Winnipeg and the creation of four schools.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t MIKE DEAL \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n Chris Lorenc, president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, is also voicing opposition to the provincial policy.<\/p>\n Advertising a 20 per cent tax by following union standards is \u201cdamaging\u201d to unionized construction companies, Palson argued.<\/p>\n \u201cIf that continued to be stated publicly \u2026 we may have to consider legal implications,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s actually damaging for fair and transparent procurement.\u201d<\/p>\n Manitoba Building Trades\u2019s letter asserts the new agreements don\u2019t prohibit Manitoba workers from jobs. The only thing stopping non-unionized labour from participating, it says, is employers\u2019 own reluctance to bid on contracts.<\/p>\n The government has inked 28 non-union and 18 union contracts for the four schools, and seven non-union and eight union contracts for the emergency room build, a government spokesperson said.<\/p>\n Still, there\u2019s massive resistance to bidding on Manitoba Jobs Agreement projects, according to construction associations and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business.<\/p>\n \u201cThe provincial government does not have the right to substitute its ideology and its preferences for the choices made by 88 per cent of construction workers,\u201d said Chris Lorenc, president of the heavy construction association, adding that 88 per cent covers about 50,000 people.<\/p>\n The 20 per cent tax is just an estimate \u2014 the number could be higher, Lorenc said. He said there\u2019s been a lack of transparency over the fee of 85 cents per hour, per worker that\u2019s charged on the schools contract.<\/p>\n Businesses often offer better wages and benefits than outlined in current Manitoba Jobs Agreements, Lorenc said.<\/p>\n He said the province must hire a labour relations mediator \u2014 agreed upon by government, Manitoba Building Trades and the construction associations \u2014 to review the policy.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t The government should implement the mediator\u2019s recommendations, he said.<\/p>\n Manitoba Building Trades is \u201cas open as ever\u201d to engage with industry, Palson said.<\/p>\n The Red River Floodway expansion and some Manitoba Hydro projects, including the Keeyask Generating Station, have used labour frameworks similar to Manitoba Jobs Agreements. The federal government ties some project funding to labour agreements.<\/p>\n \u201cUp until now, we\u2019ve had labour peace. We\u2019ve had union and non-union Manitobans working together on job sites,\u201d said Tory MLA Josh Guenter. \u201cThe NDP are completely turning that on its head\u2026 at a time when we want to see economic growth.\u201d<\/p>\n gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Gabrielle Pich\u00e9 Gabrielle Pich\u00e9 reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reporter
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n