Whereas providing safe and well-maintained highways, roads and bridges is the responsibility of the Province of BC; And whereas the Province of British Columbia has privatized the maintenance of BCs highways, roads and bridges; And whereas the request for proposals is open to the current companies that hold contracts and new bidders who are under no obligation to retain the current contractors professional, skilled, and trained employees or maintain successorship rights; And whereas loss of jobs in local communities will have negative impacts on those economies: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government retain these skilled jobs by awarding maintenance contracts for highways, roads and bridges to companies that will maintain the employment and successorship rights which will benefit local economies; subject to the Province meeting its existing domestic and international trade agreement obligations, specifically recognizing procurement thresholds.
Ministry of Transportation Infrastructure Government recognizes the benefit in keeping skilled local labour in communities and has reached a tentative agreement with the BC Government and Service Employees Union and the BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association for labour succession rights in 27 highway maintenance service areas, ensuring job security and improved maintenance service levels on the highway network. This agreement provides labour stability for the 2000 workers in the 140 communities across the province and means that these well-trained, experienced workers who are familiar with their local highways will continue to keep the public safe throughout the province. The province will also reinvest savings from the agreement to increase maintenance standards across the province, including enhanced winter maintenance, increased sweeping along cycling routes and more communication with the public as to rapidly changing road conditions during severe weather events and other incidents.