CLAC
A Unique Approach
to Labour Relations
Special to Canadian Design
and Construction Report
By Wayne Prins
CLAC is a different kind of
union. And it’s always been that
way. In the early 1950s, the Cana-
dian labour scene was chaotic
and often violent. Most unions
were grounded in the ideology
of class warfare.

One group of workers knew
there was a better way. In 1952,
they founded CLAC as a union
guided by the principles of re-
spect, dignity, and fairness for
all workers.

CLAC works to bring justice
to workplaces and protect and
improve the lives of workers it
represents. It negotiates collective
agreements that provide fair wages,
excellent working conditions, and
comprehensive benefits. It does so
through an approach to labour rela-
tions based on partnership, not con-
frontation. CLAC knows that the work com-
munity is a better place when every-
one works together for the benefit of
all. It’s this view that has led others in
the labour movement to criticize
CLAC for not being militant enough.

But what other unions don’t like about
CLAC is exactly what has led CLAC to
be successful while other unions
have struggled to remain relevant.

CLAC signatories have completed
public and private construction proj-
ects across Canada at a combined
value of well over $100 billion, while
supporting labour inclusiveness and
career advancement for tens of thou-
sands of workers in the skilled trades.

Multitrade support, fair and open
30 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report
tendering practices, managed open
sites for major projects—these are
features of CLAC’s progressive
model. They ensure that construction
work, a huge piece of the Canadian
economy, remains accessible to all
Canadian workers while maximizing
the full potential of Canada’s skilled
workforce. At its heart, CLAC wants to keep
people working. It offers skills
courses and training programs that
are open to both members and non-
members in its well-equipped training
facilities. It also does not limit who
workers can work for, where they can
work, which trades they can work in,
or even their union affiliation.

CLAC strongly supports the right
of workers to choose the type of
union representation they want—free
of intimidation from either employers
or unions. That’s why it opposes so-
called right-to-work legislation, which
severely undermines worker rights.

That’s why it remains independent of
larger labour bodies, which pre-
vent raiding between affiliated
unions thus restricting worker
choice. CLAC believes that competi-
tion holds unions accountable to
their members.

Not surprisingly, the main-
stream labour movement has
tried to destroy CLAC since day
one. In the beginning, CLAC sur-
vived thanks to the support and
courage of workers who paid
dues to the union out of princi-
ple—including workers who took
out membership even though
CLAC did not represent them at
their place of employment.

Their early sacrifices have
paid off. Today, CLAC represents
more than 60,000 workers across
Canada in many different sectors in-
cluding construction, healthcare,
service, retail, and transportation, to
name a few. CLAC members have ac-
cess to cost-effective benefits plans,
secure retirement programs, profes-
sional representation, and a full range
of services—all while paying some of
the lowest dues in the country.

CLAC celebrates workers and their
achievements every day. It believes
that we all achieve a measure of
greatness as we go about our daily
tasks of building our country and
helping each other succeed. It applies
the principles of respect, dignity, and
fairness to everyone in the work com-
munity, because the best workplace
is one in which everyone works to-
gether. These are the unique hallmarks of
CLAC—and they always will be.

Wayne Prins is CLAC’s executive
director. For more information see
www.clac.ca.