HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION VANCOUVER MEDIA RELEASE
June 20, 2022, for immediate release.
Concrete Strike Set to Stall Delivery of Lower Mainland Housing.
Vancouver, BC: The Rempel Bros. strike surrounding employee working conditions, underway since May 21, is crippling the Lower Mainland’s concrete supply and the strain is being felt across the region with the residential construction industry being rocked at its core, from the foundation up.
Large commercial and industrial projects are taking precedence for deliveries of what little supply remains available, leaving the small and medium residential builders, who deliver a significant portion of our region’s sorely needed housing, in a quandary.
Speaking with members of the Homebuilders Association Vancouver, CEO Ron Rapp shares builders concern over the impact of the strike. ‘Members are telling me the larger concrete suppliers have advised them to not break ground on any projects planned with concrete foundations, estimating the strike could push on through September or October. Recognizing our members build 65% of Metro Vancouver’s homes, cancelled projects can add up quickly, with grave impact on the ability to deliver our region’s desperately needed housing.
‘Another member, multi-family builder Polygon, has advised orders are now taking three to four times as long to deliver, noting the results are reflected in significant project delays and added costs, which may well amount to several thousands of dollars.’
Beyond added costs, the potential for delays to create a cascade of negative effects is real. Trades intended to follow the concrete pour sequence are multiple and schedule disruptions can lead to the loss of workers who may not be available when the concrete finally is poured, further escalating costs, and exponential delays.
Rapp notes, ‘in Ontario after a recent strike in the same sector, many drivers and form workers did not return to work as they had secured alternate work in the interim and given BCs low unemployment rates, being able to retain skilled workers in a somewhat stable market is a challenge, let alone the added pressure from the strike.’
Bargaining started January 7 with the most recent negotiations ending on June 8. Further negotiations are scheduled for June 20, 21 and 22.
Rapp suggests, ‘the two sides should bargain in good faith, however, if agreement cannot be reached, then mediation should be considered and or mandated.’ A similar strike in Seattle saw a return-to-work net of an agreement, but only after many weeks of disruption, and subsequent talks between the two sides have resulted in a pending agreement that could come into effect this week. In Ontario, such strikes are limited to six weeks before being directed to mediation to avoid the crippling ripple effects, but even at that, the adverse consequences are real and significant.
Media Enquiries:
Ron Rapp, CEO, Homebuilders Association Vancouver (HAVAN)
ron@havan.ca
604-516-9272
www.havan.ca
HAVAN, the Homebuilders Association Vancouver, is over eleven hundred members strong. Recognized as leaders in the homebuilding industry since 1974, our members include builders, developers, renovators, designers, suppliers, sub-trades, and leading professionals. We are an association of knowledgeable, trusted, resourceful and local professionals who build over 65% of Metro Vancouvers homes.
HAVAN provides both industry and consumer education, and actively liaises with local municipal governments with the focus of meeting Metro Vancouvers housing needs. A not-for-profit association, HAVAN is proudly affiliated with both the provincial CHBA BC, and national CHBA offices.
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