Government of Canada Shipbuilding procurement plan meets the needs of skilled
trades workers on both coasts

OTTAWA, June 3 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada's Building Trades Unions support the decision made by the Government of Canada regarding the future of the shipbuilding industry. The proposed procurement process outlines the commercial bidding system for spending about $40 billion over the next 30 years.

Robert Blakely, Director of Canadian Affairs for the Building Trades says "the Shipbuilding industry will rely heavily on skilled trades at all stages of future construction in all parts of the country. This decision will have a big impact on both labour force planning and operational supply going forward. We are happy the process will be based on commercial competitiveness and not political patronage."

Mark Curtis, Local Business Manager for the Sheet Metal Worker International Association in Victoria, BC says "this decision impacts the future of our local economy - it affects training, it affects the ability for youth to obtain an apprenticeship, it affects people's pay cheques and it affects our employers. We are glad our construction contractors and shipbuilding industry partners will have a chance to bid on this work - now it is up to our local companies to make it happen for B.C."

About BCTD

In Canada, the BCTD represents 450,000 skilled trades workers. The North America-wide Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labour -Congress of Industrial Organizations) coordinates activities and provides resources to 15 affiliated trade unions in the construction and manufacturing industries. It has 386 state, provincial and local councils in Canada and the United States. In addition to construction, our skilled workforce resides on the naval dockyards on each coast and we build ships.

For further information: Christopher Smillie, Government Relations and Public Affairs, Office: [phone] ex 25, Cell: [phone]