Teamsters union aims to organizes Windsor Essex Parkway construction dump truck drivers

The Teamsters union is hoping to organize disgruntled dump truck drivers on the $1.4 billion Windsor Essex Parkway road project, let by Amico Infrastructure. The project is a six-lane expressway linking Highway 401 to the U.S. border on the Detroit River.

Union organizer Rick Parent said “we’re in the midst of talking to them now, I’ve handed out a bunch of cards — absolutely.”

This follows a brief protest and work stoppage late last month at the location of the initial earth hauling along Matchette Rd. at the extreme west end of the 11-kilometre six-lane expressway, that will link Hwy. 401 to a new Windsor – Detroit bridge.

“We can negotiate a decent collective agreement for them so that they will get their wages they’re asking for, so they can pay for the fuel and the upkeep on their vehicles and everything else,” Parent said.

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The drivers, about 140 in all, complained that the $63 an hour is much too low for the costs of fuel and maintenance. Many have said their trucks have broken down — and have had to replace numerous tires and axles at hundreds of dollars apiece — due to the soft clay earth in which they are working.

Amico Infrastructure hired more than two dozen firms for the project, which is to take as long as two and a half years to remove 3.9 million cubic metres of earth, most to be redistributed on site. The majority of the highway will be constructed at sub surface level.

The average contractor pay rate for a triaxle truck in Ontario is about $100 an hour, according to George Rumble of the Associated Earth Movers of Ontario, which oversees excavators and truckers on major downtown Toronto projects

Although Rumble said he didn’t know details in Windsor he was still “surprised” to hear the rate.

“You’re probably not even covering your expenses,” he said.

The work stoppage only lasted a couple of hours and about a dozen Windsor police officers showed up to keep peace and direct traffic. But much of the work was shut down for the remainder of the day.

However, erection of girders for a new North Talbot Road overpass over the existing 401 went ahead as planned on the weekend.

Subcontractor Amico Infrastructure president Dominic Amicone went to the site and held an impromptu meeting with drivers. The company later agreed to raise the rate by $2 to $65.

Truckers’ spokesman Randy Benoit told the Daily Commercial News that he was no longer allowed to speak to the media.

“Sorry, my bosses won’t let me talk to you guys anymore. Every time I open my mouth I get into trouble.”

Amicone said the new rate would continue until December.

“That’s the rate that we’ve negotiated to carry on now for this year.”

Asked about the differential between Windsor rates and others in the province, which are generally higher, he said rates “vary depending on a number of factors. And obviously Windsor has its own factors. And that rate has been the indicative rate. Actually the $63 is even higher than it’s been for the last couple of years here.”

Amico is a subcontractor to Parkway Infrastructure Consultants, the international consortium building the highway.

Parent said even the Teamsters’ existing “Windsor Heavy” contract, negotiated with certain companies like Coco Paving, is paying $65 but is up for renegotiation.

“Our collective agreement was negotiated four years ago…and it’s not enough money for our guys right now. But we’re going into negotiations next year…and we’re going to be asking for increases there as well.”

Out of their earnings drivers have to pay for fuel and maintenance.

At present the fill is being hauled to various locations but more permanent sites are still in negotiation, Amicone said. One, currently farmland, is only a few kilometres from the eastern end of the Parkway. The other, a former landfill, is about 20 km away.

Distance also affects drivers’ income, Rumble said.

“The shorter the haul the cheaper the cost, the longer the haul the more cost.”