The BC Insulators Union featured prominently in a Vancouver Sun newspaper story published January 13, 2015 about the union’s successful efforts to get a Labour Relations Board order demanding a fly-by-night insulation company be shut down and forced to pay back wages, union dues, pension and health and welfare benefit contributions totally nearly $100,000.
BC Insulators Union Business Manager Lee Loftus was interviewed and commented that: “It has been a significant struggle. It’s evidence of how unregulated the construction sector is.”
“This is a wake-up call for any other fly-by-night business in the insulation sector or any other that abusing your workers and their union will result in serious penalties and losing your business – not to mention your reputation,” Loftus says.
Below is the BC Insulators Union news release that prompted the Vancouver Sun story and other media coverage:
Labour Relations Board issues unusual order for business to close, pay nearly $100,000 to BC Insulators Union after repeated complaints over violating Court and LRB orders, unpaid union dues, pension contributions, wages; Union says LRB set clear warning for fly-by-night unscrupulous businesses
VANCOUVER – The BC Labour Relations Board has issued a clear warning to fly-by-night, unscrupulous businesses who violate the law and collective agreements by ordering a firm to shut down and pay nearly $100,000 in penalties, says the union representing insulation workers in BC.
BC Insulators Union Local 118 Business Manager Lee Loftus says the union obtained an LRB order – backed by the BC Supreme Court – demanding that Locke Insulation Systems and owner Tim Locke wind down the business and pay the union nearly $100,000 in union dues, pension plan, health and welfare funds and members’ wages that it refused to remit.
Loftus said the ruling by the LRB and its filing the order with the BC Supreme Court is a clear warning to any other business ignoring its responsibilities that there are severe consequences.
“The LRB found that Locke Insulation Systems flagrantly violated just about every legal agreement it signed with the union – and then outrageously violated LRB and Court orders as well,” Loftus said. “It is one of the worst examples I’ve ever seen of a completely unscrupulous employer abusing its workers and their union while thumbing its nose at the LRB and the Court.”
“Fortunately, the LRB and the BC Supreme Court are doing the right thing by demanding Locke Insulation Systems and owner Tim Locke make complete restitution to the union and the workers affected and shut down the business,” Loftus added.
“This is a wake-up call for any other fly-by-night business in the insulation sector or any other that abusing your workers and their union will result in serious penalties and losing your business – not to mention your reputation,” Loftus says.
The LRB order was filed with the BC Supreme Court on December 24, 2014.