BAC Journal > CBTU Executive Director Sean Strickland Highlights Our Commonalities

CBTU Executive Director Sean Strickland Highlights Our Commonalities

Strickland
Canada’s Building Trades Union Executive Director Sean Strickland

Canada’s Building Trades Union Executive Director Sean Strickland spoke to the delegates and guests of the 2022 BAC Special Convention on Tuesday, September 27. During his speech he spoke about many of the legislative and membership issues that they are seeing across the country. 

“Our commonalities outnumber our difference, especially when it comes to fighting for working people,” he said, speaking to the members from the United States. “We’re tied economically, we’re tied socially, and it’s important for us to work together to continue to provide good working opportunities for the men and women of the building trades together. Just like the theme of your conference, we’re building communities and building lives.” 

President Strickland spoke to Canada’s recent infrastructure investment and what the country is doing to address climate change. He also spoke to their need for manpower. “I was very encouraged to hear all of the resolutions from your apprenticeship committee this morning, about attracting and retaining apprentices,” he said. “We need to do all of that and more to meet the challenges that we have in terms of labor availability.” 

“Communications, it’s critically important,” he said in his conclusion while discussing how to reach out to and retain apprentices. “Let us define who we are, not the five percenters or the contractors, or the open shop, or the nonunion. You have to have a strong communications platform and a strong communications program… Define the message that’s going to strengthen our industry, that’s going to provide us with more work opportunities, and put negativity aside so we can focus more on the positive attributes and the job and the opportunities we provide to grow a strong middle class in Canada and in the U.S.” 

Resolution Encouraging Canadian Political Action Passes 

After President Strickland finished speaking, the Committee on General Good came up to present their report. Their recommendation on Resolution, No. 29, which seeks to, among other things, mobilize “BAC and its Canadian affiliates to continue to support political candidates who will defend a worker’s right to form a union," passed with unanimous consent from the body.