New BC Conservative anti-PLA Bill appears to discriminate against women trades jobs.
As a ticketed Red Seal Construction Electrician, I’m blown away by the new bill, which Kyle Giddens, MLA for Prince George presented in the Provincial Legislature in early March. I’ve worked construction for a number of years now, and I’m currently working on the new Cowichan Hospital, a Community Benefit project just north of Duncan.
It was difficult breaking into a male dominated industry. Each time I take on a new project and/or job, I feel as if I have to prove myself as a young woman in construction.
There’s many important differences that project labour agreements like the Cowichan Hospital brings. For example, good wages, good benefits, and good retirement funding for local trades workers. Labour agreement projects are special because they provide the space for women and other visible minority trades workers to gain experience and knowledge on a job like building a hospital. For me and other tradeswomen, this is a dream come true. There are easily two to three times more local trades women on this job than I’ve ever seen on any other job I’ve worked.
This is no mistake; it is simply sound social policy that is long overdue, being made possible through a community benefits project. The BC Conservatives bill will undo all of that, sending women in the trades back years, struggling to get ahead.
From my perspective, this is shameful.
Alexandra Robertshaw
Red Seal Electrician