Canadian unions slam Irish recruitment drive

Construction worker unions in Canada have criticised a recruitment drive for hundreds of workers here to take on roles which, the unions say, should be filled by homegrown talent.

A delegation from the north American country will gather in Belfast and Dublin during the next fortnight for yet another “jobs expo”, this time hoping to fill more than 700 vacancies for roles including welders, steel fixers and heavy duty mechanics. As well as the country’s infrastructural requirements, the recruits will also be involved in Canada’s growing oil and gas industry.

The British Columbia Construction Association, which is leading the programme, has said there are not enough skilled, experienced workers in western Canada.

Manley McLachlan, president of the association, was quoted on CBC News last week as saying that 38,000 people living in British Columbia are due to retire in the next four to five years, but there was not the skills set to replace them.

The association says if the shortfall were to be filled by Canadian natives, it would require one in five high school graduates to pursue a trade job — at present only one in 32 are taking that route as the majority prefer to go to university.

Furthermore, there is a perception among some employers that the training courses here are superior to those provided in Canada.

However, the British Columbia Federation of Labour has pointed out that “a modern, strong and stable economy must produce its own skilled workers, something the BC government has not done”.

“Instead, they have relied on temporary workers imported from abroad,” it said.

The federation is angry with its local government, saying it withdrew from apprentice schemes leading to a situation where just 43% of schemes were completed by apprentices in 2011, compared to up to 80% in the 1990s.

In its recruitment blurb for next week’s recruitment drive, the association said Ireland was chosen as the location for the Expo as it had proven to be a good source for skilled tradespeople.

“The Irish and British apprenticeship systems are very strong and line up well with Canadian Red Seal qualifications,” it said.

Since BCCA’s first expo here in March last year, 482 Irish skilled workers have been nominated for permanent residency. BCCA vice president Abigail Fulton said it is hoped the “journey persons” from Ireland will in a position to help train up indigenous apprentices.

* The first expo, in Belfast, will take place in the Europa Hotel from 12-8pm on Oct 31. The second, in Dublin, takes place on Nov 2 from 10am-5pm in the Convention Centre on North Wall Quay.

Pre-registration is required. For more information visit

www.bccassn.com