We appreciate that there is more to life than just work. We are committed to advancing the working conditions and making the lives of workers better.

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COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENTS

Community Benefits Coalition of BC was created to ensure that public funded projects in British Columbia are contributing to communities around the Province paying workers industry standard wages, providing secure work, skills training and safe work conditions to qualified local residents and groups who are traditionally underrepresented in the skilled trades sector, such as apprentices, Indigenous workers and women in trades.These benefits can be secured through Community Benefits Agreements.

Public infrastructure projects should provide direct, long lasting benefits to the hard-working people of British Columbia.

KNOW THE FACTS 
About Community Benefits Agreements

What are "Community Benefits?"
There are many different types of Community Benefits Agreements. Generally, a CBA is an agreement that sets out hiring provisions on publicly funded infrastructure projects. Typically, there will be provisions for hiring qualified local workers first, as well as underrepresented groups, including Indigenous Peoples, apprentices and women in trades. CBAs also include provisions for union wages, and ensure there are no work stoppages (strikes, lockouts) for the duration of construction.

How can CBAs ensure projects are completed on time and on budget?
CBAs ensure wage predictability and eliminate the risk of work stoppages. In addition, investments in worker safety and training are proven to increase productivity. CBAs also enjoy increased transparency and accountability, because these provisions are known.

Why can’t contractors hire whoever they want and pay whatever they want?
Unless provisions are made that establish requirements for local hiring and union wages, unscrupulous contractors could hire workers from outside of B.C. and perhaps even temporary foreign workers from outside of Canada. As was the case in the construction of the Canada Line. Workers were brought in from Latin America and paid $3.47 per hour. Even at Site C 'Non-Building Trades portion of work' 20% of workers are not from B.C. Preference for hiring should be given to qualified local workers first, at a salary that allows them to support their families and invest in their own community.

For more information on Community Benefits Agreements or the Community Benefits Coalition of British Columbia CLICK HERE.