We need to band together to stop the Ontario College of Trades forcing carpenters into its fold

When we are individuals, there is weakness. Yet when like-minded individuals group together, there is strength, power and solidarity. Together there is common purpose and a goal. The self-employed at this time – and like never before – urgently need to band together in the home renovations industry and tackle this new threat called The Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) and unionization.

In the home improvement industry, the self-employed stand alone and work hard to carve out a living against all the odds. They have to compete against the underground market (including illegal immigrants) while paying excessive fees to governmental monopolies like Ontario’s WSIB (with its new cash grab from independent operators). They face strict safety regulations, which I agree are needed, but how far do we take it? Has this all gone so far that we are now tying up independently-owned, legitimate companies and making them uncompetitive, while others roll up under the radar – with ladders strapped to their cars – taking cash?

The latest issue and greatest threat everyone faces right now is the Ontario College of Trades. This new government-created layer of bureaucracy is creating big incomes, benefits and pensions on the backs of the self-employed contractor who has no such career safeguards.

If you become a mandatory trade under them, and don’t pay your yearly dues, they will revoke your license so that you cannot legally ply your trade – even if you’ve done it the last for 20 or 30 years.

This week the OCOT became more dangerous (see article here).

Any day now they will be putting in place regulations to make carpenters join the OCOT – and technically, under Ontario Regulation 275/11,s.15, this will include ALL home renovators in the province performing carpentry.

But the OCOT won’t train you or certify you in carpentry. They don’t train anyone.  They are just another organization, no different than those who give you a license sticker for your vehicle plate. Yet they have incorporated the  name “College,” to win over the public with the idea that they train, which the public likes.

In October 2013 I asked the question:  “Are you a fly-by-night contractor or a legitimate tradesperson?” . I questioned why so many of the vocal supporters of the Ontario College of Trades, such as Jeff Koller, of the Ontario Construction Finishing Industries Alliance, promote the unionization of our industry so vigorously.

And now, the question arises. Who will train carpenters (and renovators who do carpentry) once they are a mandatory trade within the Ontario College of Trades? The carpenters union!

WELCOME TO THE UNION!

WE HAVE TO STOP THIS WITH SOLIDARITY!

LET’S GET UNITED!

Go to STOP THE TRADES TAX petition and sign up.

CARAHS was founded as a non-profit association to help educate, inform and mentor self-employed renovators, builders, trades and home services.

CARAHS has over 130 online Health & Safety e-courses

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