Contract Flipping: Protecting Workers and Fair Wages in British Columbia
The practice of contract flipping—where companies re-tender contracts to avoid honouring existing collective agreements—has historically undermined workers' hard-won wages and benefits. Under the B.C. NDP government, significant steps have been taken to limit the harmful effects of contract flipping, particularly in specific industries like building cleaning, security services, and health care.
Progress on contract flipping
In 2019, the B.C. NDP government passed Bill 30, a landmark piece of legislation that introduced successorship protections for workers in key sectors. This legislation ensures that when service contracts are flipped, the workers involved don’t lose the wage rates, benefits, or working conditions they’ve fought for under their collective agreements. This has provided thousands of workers with job security and has been critical in industries like cleaning, transportation, and non-clinical health services. By addressing contract flipping, the B.C. NDP government has actively protected unionized workers in these sectors from exploitation and wage suppression.
Remaining challenges
While Bill 30 was a substantial victory, it only extends to a limited number of industries. Workers in other sectors remain vulnerable to losing their benefits and wages when contracts are re-tendered. The NDP recognizes the need to expand these protections to all workers across B.C. and ensure that companies cannot evade their obligations through contract flipping. Additionally, the absence of automatic access to employee lists during union organizing remains a barrier. Without access to these lists, union organizers face significant challenges in reaching workers, further limiting their ability to unionize.
Nobody can afford John Rustad’s B.C.
In contrast to the NDP’s worker-friendly approach, the B.C. Conservatives have consistently opposed measures aimed at enhancing union rights and protections against contract flipping. Voting for a party that resists strengthening labour laws puts workers at risk of losing the protections they currently enjoy under the current government. The Conservatives’ reluctance to support legislation like Bill 30 signals a return to weaker labour laws that favour corporate interests over workers' rights.
Take action
British Columbians have a clear choice in the upcoming election: to support a government that is committed to expanding worker protections, or to risk rolling back the gains made under the B.C. NDP. To further strengthen pay and benefit security across industries, it is critical to continue building on the success of Bill 30 by extending successorship rights to all sectors.
