UBC Millwrights Support Canada’s First LNG Export Terminal in British Columbia
Kitimat, BC – The largest Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) construction project in the history of Canada is underway in Kitimat, British Columbia. Union Millwrights will not only be building this project but performing a six-year maintenance contract thanks to the dedication of Miro Maras, Millwright Local 2736 Business Manager and President of the Pacific Regional Maintenance Council (PRMC).
A Project labour Agreement (PLA) was negotiated with the Building Trades Union Affiliates in 2017 to provide 10-15 million construction work hours. In 2019 the PRMC was focused on the importance of securing a maintenance contract once the plant construction was complete.
Miro and the PRMC worked to show the value of the Union Labour force to the LNG Canada procurement and asset team with an emphasis on local workers, apprenticeship, first nations, and women in trade.
“As progressive cross-trained construction and maintenance professionals UBC Millwrights are leading the way in developing programs and relationships that will directly support the success of our Members and Industry partners.” said Mark Beardsworth, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Millwright Regional Council
The PRMC Executive also reached out to the GPMC (General Presidents maintenance Committee) and coordinated a meeting with the PRMC affiliate unions to present these work schedules to the group. Once the presentation of the work schedules was reviewed the PRMC affiliate unions unanimously adopted these 24 work schedules for LNG Canada maintenance agreement in the appendix of the PRMC Agreement.
These actions secured work for northern BC Tradespersons including the UBC Millwrights. The maintenance contract was awarded on October 26th, 2022. Just days after the PRMC Annual General Meeting, the word came that Gitga’at Waiward Industrial Ltd. was awarded a 6-year maintenance contract at LNG Canada.
LNG Canada is the largest private investment construction project in Canada at $40 billion dollars. The construction commenced in 2018 to 2019 with ground preparation and underground utilities. Major component construction took shape at site prior to the covid-19 pandemic.
The Millwright Regional Council looks forward to the construction of this facility and collaborating with our industry partners to provide installation and maintenance services to keep the industry moving.
About the Millwright Regional Council (MRC)
The Millwright Regional Council (MRC) is composed of thirteen affiliated Local Unions of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC) across Canada.
We represent thousands of women and men working as progressive cross-trained construction and maintenance professionals with exceptional skills to install, maintain, diagnose, and repair precision machinery.
UBC millwrights are vital partners in industries as diverse as energy, automotive, aerospace, food processing, pharmaceuticals and more. For media inquiries, please contact media@millwrightont.com
