On March 6th 2020 despite a sever snow storm the Building Trades held their annual General Meeting. Attendees included local Mayors, Regional council, MPs and MPPs.
The event is great opportunity for the local members of the building trades and our political partners to interface directly and hear what each other has been doing .
For Immediate Release
Building Trades and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) Sign a Milestone Fourth Project Agreement.
Cambridge, Ontario, February 26, 2020 – TMMC and The Waterloo, Wellington, Dufferin and Grey Building and Construction Trades Council announced the signing of their fourth Project Labour Agreement.
In 2011 TMMC reached out to the WWDGBCTC in order to discuss the potential of a Project Labour Agreement for a 265,000 construction-hour update project to the Cambridge plant. The two organizations have a long history of working together as the Building Trades has maintained a Maintenance agreement with their signatory contactors on site for close to 28 years. The PLA was negotiated and ratified in 2012 and the work commenced.
Since that date three additional PA’s have been signed with total construction hours projected to exceed 1,830,000 with a possible fifth PA in the Future. This includes the recently completed RAV 4 new model introduction to the Cambridge plant.
Rene Mulder, Senior Construction manager for Toyota, indicated that the relationship that TMMC has built and sustained with the local Building Trades has become “a benchmark for construction relationships at Toyota plants across North America”. “We continue to strive for a WIN-WIN-WIN relationship between the Building Trades, the Contractors and Toyota”. “Our work with the Building Trades has resulted in the deployment of standards & controls to reduce safety risks across all the Toyota NA sites. This includes best practice for construction methods related to cutting and demolition processes”.
Business Manager for the Building Trades; Greg Bobier agrees. “Our Building Trades have always approached these Agreements with an open mind and belief that we can solve most issues by being honest, maintaining good communication and looking for the middle ground”. The approach has fostered a positive close relationship between the Building Trades and TMMC’s construction needs. “This has worked well for close to nine years (relate to PA construction) and we certainly hope to see it continue into the future”.
TMMC President, Frank Voss was on hand to mark the occasion. “We have tremendous respect for the Building Trades, we couldn’t have built this plant to what it is without you. Your (the Building Trades) approach to safety and the high standards your members are trained to resonate completely with Toyota’s own corporate identity.
The Building Trades are proud to have been involved with Toyota since the ground breaking in 1986. So what’s next for the relationship between these two organizations? With approximately 600,000 PA construction hours scheduled for 2020- 2022 both are going to be quite busy but TMMC and the Building Trades are already working on the next initiative.
Frank Voss also stated “We are looking forward to a long and successful working relationship for many years to come”.
For additional information contact;
Greg Bobier
Business Manager
Waterloo, Wellington, Dufferin and Grey Building and Construction Trades Council
5195032347