Mortgage renewed at a strangulation rate, costly separation in avocasseries, damaged residence, accumulated debts, multiple reasons can explain why some construction workers choose to skip the general sabbatical this year.
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It is wrong to think that all construction workers fall on leave during the famous period called “construction holidays”.
Not only can civil engineering sites (especially roads) continue, but many workers choose to give up their summer rest and ask to be transferred to active sites during these two weeks.
“On our platforms, we see it: many of our members say that they want to work during the holidays and that they are looking for construction sites during this period”, explains Éric Boisjoly, the general manager of the FTQ-Construction which represents approximately 90,000 members.
Taken by the throat
With the rise in the cost of living in recent months, some are financially strapped and simply have no choice but to continue working to make ends meet.
FTQ Construction
Most of these workers who ignore vacations find their own place, but some call on their union for help when, at the last minute, they haven’t found anything yet.
“Just last Monday, we had three calls from our members who wanted us to help them find a place and we did what we could to help them,” says Alexandre Ricard, general manager of Local 9, the section of carpenters and joiners of the FTQ Construction (26,000 members).
“Civil engineering sites that continue account for about 30% of sites, so it’s not obvious that all our members who want to can continue to work… Some don’t necessarily find it,” adds Mr. Boisjoly.
All workers receive “holiday pay” for vacation, which is about 13% of their pay from previous months that has been automatically set aside and returned to them.
“Whoever chooses not to take leave will receive this vacation pay in addition to their salary,” explains Mr. Ricard.