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Labour Day Message 2015
Here we are – Labour Day 2015. In previous years’ messages we have recognized our work, our contributions to our communities and the history which we were built upon. This year, we ought to take a moment to recognize the moment of change that is occurring in our industry—and what we can do to lead that change.
The workplace, as we know it, is not going to look the same in the future. Our Baby Boom members who have worked incredibly hard over the years to build and maintain Canada will retire. Change is scary to most people- venturing into the unknown is never an easy task. It is our responsibility as leaders to prepare our workforce and our industry for the change that is now upon us. Inclusion, Respect in the Workplace and Mentorship are all key pillars critical to our success as we manage this change.
Inclusion is about being valued, respected and supported. It’s about focusing on the needs of every tradesperson and ensuring the right conditions are in place for each person to achieve his or her full potential. Inclusion must be reflected in our industry culture and practices that support a diverse workforce. Every single one of our members should feel welcome on our job sites, in our industry and in our unions.
Respect in the Workplace is critical to maintaining and increasing a diverse workforce. Respect fosters collaboration, synergy and cooperation, which are essential ingredients for creating a workforce that values productivity, performance and the quality of our work. Anyone who has looked at the numbers for growth and replacement of the current workforce knows we are NOT going to have the workforce unless we use all sources of supply of interested and bright young people.
Mentorship is critical to the success of our future workforce. The legacy of a skilled tradesperson is their wealth of knowledge and experience in their craft. We must ensure that their knowledge, expertise and work ethic are passed down to the next generation. We must focus our efforts on allowing Journeypersons to recognize their skills sets as teachers and mentors. We must focus our efforts on training our Apprentices how to learn from their mentors so that they build a solid foundation for themselves as our future workforce. The Apprentice/Journeyperson relationship is not what it used to be, and it is our responsibility to educate our members to understand this. We will be better for it and the people who follow us will be better equipped than we ever were for the challenges of tomorrow! Some of our best men will be women and we will be better for that as well! Change is in the air Brothers and Sisters; it is inevitable and necessary for our growth and success as an industry. To quote Charles Darwin “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change”. We need to be the best managers of that dynamic.
On behalf of the Chairman, members of the Canadian Executive Board for Canada’s Building Trades Unions, and the staff of the Canadian Office I would like to wish you all the best for Labour Day 2015!!
Robert R. Blakely
Canadian Operating Officer
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