Defence Construction Arrives With a Bang

The year was 1951. The Cold War was starting to heat up, and Defence Construction Limited was created as a Crown Corporation. Along with other responsibilities, it was required to maintain Regional Government Emergency Headquarters across the country. These sites were underground bomb shelters capable of providing a safe environment and communications systems for whatever government might survive a nuclear war.

In 1967 the Corporation was transferred from the Department of Defence Construction to National Defence. Ken Green immediately sought, and received, jurisdiction from the Alliance to organize and service their members. By late 1969/early 1970, the Regional Headquarters members at Nanaimo BC and Courcelette Quebec were certified, and UNDE prepared for bargaining on their behalf. Organizing drives at the other Headquarters were not immediately successful.

Negotiations began quickly, and by 15 July, auspicious progress was announced. Eight months later, the optimism was gone, and the parties faced conciliation. Money of course was the key issue, but members also wanted input into planning their shift schedules. Management/Union meetings in February 1971 were not helpful. The May conciliation report was rejected by the Company, and the members followed with an overwhelming vote to strike that was announced on 18 June. Within three days, they were manning the pickets;

There were initial bureaucratic glitches over strike pay, but by early July, the workers were receiving funds from both the Alliance and UNDE. In three weeks and three days, it was all over. From the point of view of many of the members, they had won. Unfortunately there would be more challenges and disputes on the horizon, but for the moment, both Defence Construction and UNDE could revel in their victory.