Construction wages causing concern and dispute
**A Fresh Take: Unmasking High Construction Wages
In Marie-Eve Fournier's recent piece for La Presse, she questions the alleged high wages in construction, seemingly driven by a concern for wage disparities between uneducated men and women. However, I can't help but feel that this approach unfairly pits workers against the rest of society.
Behind the Hammer and Hard Hat: The Unseen Heroes
It's crucial to recognize that construction is the harbinger of death for Quebec's workers, with a staggering 30% of fatal work injuries despite accounting for just over 5% of the workforce. This translates to what would effectively be a permanent memorial service for our comrades. Only last week, two workers lost their lives on construction sites. The casualty list doesn't end there - daily figures show a slew of injuries, which in essence, make construction a disability factory.
The irony lies in the generous wages Fournier mentions. It's our bodies that bear the brunt of these wages. We endure chronic pain, unpredictable shifts, chilling cold, scorching heat, and torn families, all in the quest for a decent income. On average, construction workers live six less years than executives, largely due to harsh working conditions and exposure to hazardous materials like asbestos.
TheWhy the Scorn for Skilled Labor?
Why should those who forgo a 20-year education journey earning a meager income raise eyebrows? After decades of labor struggles, unions have paved the way for a stable income in our industry, marked by strikes, negotiations, and constant risks of retaliation due to job insecurity.
Some might argue that wage hikes will inflate house prices. But why not target real estate speculation, development margins, or interest rates instead?
Over-hyped Salary Hikes or Squashed Purchasing Power?
Fournier suggests that construction wage increases are excessive. However, statistics reveal that between 2021 and 2024, wage increases were around 2.05%, while workers faced a 9.1% loss in purchasing power due to inflation during the same period. These increases are primarily aimed at safeguarding workers' purchasing power, not significantly increasing it.
The Precarity Paradox: Beyond the Paycheck
In 2022-2023, 28,876 workers became inactive, while 25,581 became active, painting a picture of a turbulent workforce. This instability is compounded by inadequate worker placement management, with only 2% of workers placed by the Commission de la construction du Québec in 2022. Additionally, the average hours worked last year were 1005 hours, hardly the six-figure sum mentioned in Fournier's piece.
Women’s Exclusion: A Battle We Wage
While it's true that the industry remains heavily male-dominated, it's more productive to discuss union initiatives geared towards change rather than accusing current worker of shutting out women. At Local 791, we champion policies targeting training, mentoring, and zero tolerance for harassment. The core problem lies in the undervalued nature of traditionally feminine jobs, not construction wages that allegedly pay too much.
Equal Treatment for All
When a citizen thinks "carpenters and electricians are already overpaid," it's perplexing. Is it the perceived discrepancy in pay between blue-collar workers and white-collar workers that's truly at issue? Is it the outdated notion that a good salary should be reserved solely for those with an office and a degree? We have nothing to apologize for earning a good living. It's not a privilege, it's a right we've fought for. Our aspiration isn't for others to earn less, but for everyone to receive fair treatment.
Join the Debate: Weigh in on Marie-Eve Fournier's column on high construction wages
- In the context of Marie-Eve Fournier's column on high construction wages, it's essential to remember the dangerous working conditions that claim the lives of construction workers, with seemingly generous wages serving as a bitter reminder of the costs paid in blood.
- The irony is palpable when one considers that the workforce, particularly construction workers, endure grueling conditions to earn a living, living six years less than executives on average, while often facing rosters of chronic pain, unpredictable shifts, and exposure to hazardous materials.
- Instead of scorn for skilled labor, let's acknowledge the decades-long labor struggles that have led to a stable income for workers in various industries, including construction, faced with strikes, negotiations, and job insecurity.
- As we navigate the discussion of high construction wages, let's focus on addressing issues such as real estate speculation, development margins, and interest rates to protect workers' purchasing power, rather than stigmatizing blue-collar workers for their decent wages earned through hard labor.
