Union members protested outside the site of Windsor’s future Costco on June 24, accusing the retailer of overlooking local skilled trades workers by using subcontractors from Quebec on the project. About two dozen members from several local building trades unions gathered outside the construction site near Lauzon Parkway to raise awareness about what they say is a missed opportunity for Windsor-area workers.
Local workers speak out
“We’d like to go to work and they’re bringing guys from out of province,” said Don Smith, an ironworker with Ironworkers Local 700. “We just wanted to come out and make the community aware of what Costco’s doing here.”
Dave Campbell, organizer with Sheet Metal Workers and Roofers Union Local 235, said unemployment among his union’s members sits at roughly 40 per cent despite a recent push to recruit more people into the skilled trades. “Our community needs to be aware of it,” Campbell said. “We’re here in the community, ready, willing and able to work.”
Failed local bids
Campbell said three local union contractors bid on the work but were unsuccessful. He said the union even offered wage subsidies through its stabilization fund to help make local bids more competitive. “It’s a battle when we have the corporate world taking over our communities,” Campbell said. “If no one’s aware of our workers being available to work and building stuff in our own backyard, maybe we just need to express that voice.”
The unions acknowledged Costco, as a private company, can choose its contractors, but argued the company should place greater emphasis on employing local skilled trades workers. Smith said the protest was intended to highlight the impact on workers already facing high unemployment. “Everybody knows how hard it is to afford groceries,” he said. “When you’re unemployed, it’s even harder. We have qualified people that can do this work.”
Costco silent
Costco did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
