Building Trades construction unions donate over $622,000 to B.C. flood relief

by | Jan 19, 2022

Building Trades members work on the Othello washout on Highway 5. BC Building Trades photo

January 19, 2022

VANCOUVER, B.C. — B.C.’S UNIONIZED CONSTRUCTION SECTOR has raised $622,500 for the province’s flood relief efforts.

“Within days of the flooding, local building trades unions were putting the call out across their organizations for donations,” said BCBT executive director Brynn Bourke. “This disaster touched everyone from members who were displaced by the flooding to members engaging in the rebuilding effort. We wanted to do everything we could to support people and communities during this difficult time.”

Donations to the Canadian Red Cross are coming from the BC Building Trades Council, its local affiliated unions, national unions, and sister locals across North America. The donations are matched by the provincial and federal governments for three times the impact: more than $1.8 million.

“The Red Cross is in the best position to provide direct financial support to people impacted by the flooding,” said BCBT president Al Phillips.

A necessary part of the flood response is also to repair the devastation to the province’s vital infrastructure, including roads and other structures. Building Trades members were part of the first teams on site repairing infrastructure.

“Our members have already been working exhaustively to repair the damage caused by the flooding and we will continue working until it’s complete,” said Phillips. “This is what we’re trained for and this is what we do.”

The BC Building Trades represents more than 40,000 skilled tradespeople in B.C.

Overview
Donors include the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Locals 213, 230, 993, 1003 and the IBEW provincial council ($39,500 total), the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 and its sister locals ($134,000 total), the Laborers International Union of North America Local 1611 and its sister locals ($110,000 total), Teamsters Local 213 and its sister locals ($200,000 total), the United Association Local 170 Plumbers & Pipefitters Union and its sister locals UA 324 and UA 516 ($129,000 total) and the BCBT council ($10,000 total).