05-14-2022, 02:42 PM
(05-13-2022, 10:45 AM)skyrise32 Wrote:(05-13-2022, 08:08 AM)Acitta Wrote: I read that in Vancouver, companies are having trouble getting construction workers because they
because they can't afford to find housing in the city where the jobs are. Maybe the situation is similar here.
I would say that most union trades are fairly paid, a lot of individuals over paid for their skill levels. But some cases are asking a lot as far as increase over 3 years, from 9$ to 18$ in some cases. I think that most people would like a yearly 3$ raise such as a plumber will get, on top of his already over 40/hour rate.
Life is getting more expensive, but asking for too much will just continue to drive up costs of construction. Its easy to ask for 15$ increase without really understanding everything, it isn't just that owners are "greedy".
This doesn't seem that it has anything to do with owners or developer greed. If costs continue to increase (which they will), there isn't a chance that housing will become more affordable. I am sure that there is a balance somewhere between not enough reward based on the risks and I wonder how far the industry is from that. Labour is not coming down, materials either, government costs are increasing - it seems that land is the only area where it can fluctuate. I doubt land prices come down and if they do, it won't impact affordability.
Ignorant question, are trades in high-rise ununionized in Kitchener and affected by the strikes?