Local 1999, Labour's Version of Collaborative Contracting and Collaborative Competition

The?National Construction Council, Local 1999, is affiliated with the?United Brotherhood of Carpenters. We are a diverse and skilled group of workers specializing in various construction and maintenance projects. We are proud to be affiliated with the UBC, which represents over 500,000 members across North America.

Because of NCC Local 1999's multidisciplinary, national structure, our projects are almost always in a geographic area shared with UBC Locals.

In those jurisdictions, there is often a Local 1999 signatory contractor and a UBC signatory Local contractor bidding in for the same or similar work. This is in addition to competing with non-union or other union contractors.?

Construction and maintenance client's bidding behaviour to inspire competition includes open-managed sites to execute work. This bidding situation is what it is, regardless of what Local 1999 does or does not do.

Multiple NCC and UBC signatory contractors bidding on the same work are expected. It is a good thing. It increases the odds that NCC, UBC and new members, regardless of local, will be employed on the project.

It is also good for the client, as contractors compete on innovation and good management practices to execute the work. After the competition, clients expect labour harmony and collaboration as parties execute their portion of the work, supporting the project as a whole.

Because of the above, we are on shared hunting grounds as contractors hunt for and secure work. And contractors and labour must maintain harmony post-contract award.

Being on shared hunting grounds reminds me of a conversation I had during a chance encounter with an Indigenous man while bargaining in Sarnia.

While in an elevator, I asked, "Are you in town for business or pleasure?"

"Business," he said, "we are in conversation about a partnership agreement for some development in the area."

He asked me the same. "Business, too," I said, "We were engaged in a negotiation with UNIFOR for a client."

"Are you from the area?" I asked. "Yes," he said.

"My family is Oji-Cree, part of the Sucker Clan north of here on Sandy Lake Reserve," I said.

He paused.

"Remember,?One Dish and One Spoon, that is our Code," he said.

We each stepped out of the elevator, and we parted ways.

A Dish with One Spoon is a concept that originated from the Great Lakes region between Indigenous Nations before European contact. It was the basis of agreements among Nations sharing hunting territories. It symbolizes sharing resources and responsibilities among allies in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation.?It also implies that everyone has a right to access the dish, but no one has the right to take more than they need or waste what they have. The spoon represents the tools used to sustain ourselves and our communities.

As members of NCC Local 1999, we find this concept very relevant and inspiring. It reminds us that we are all part of a larger community spanning regions, UBC affiliations, and the broader labour community.

It also reminds us that we have a duty to respect and support each other in our common goals and challenges. We are not enemies but partners and allies. We share one dish and one spoon.

Some parties unaffiliated with the UBC fear competition and take the rigid, colonial viewpoint that collaboration and coexistence are impossible. They want the dish for themselves. And they want to soil the dish for others if they don't get what they want. That is unfortunate. That is not our way. We will only convince some that there is a better way.

We will continue to operate in good relations on behalf of members, with signatory contractors, UBC Local Unions, other unions who wish to collaborate, and clients.

We are committed to sound and effective representation and partnerships in securing more work, more variety of work, and better work for our members. In so doing, we remember that we share one dish. Each of us is responsible for caring for the land, industry and labour relations environments where we operate.

In Partnership,

Sam Kemble - Executive Operating Officer

Sam Emke - Vice President