By Bert Zethof

The Winnipeg Free Press reported that several hundred construction workers at Winnipeg's James Richardson International Airport terminal took job action to protest inadequate toilet facilities.

The company had been providing sanitation trailers with flush toilets and running water but then replaced them with porta-potties. After initially resisting the workers' demand, the company has reportedly agreed to return the sanitation trailers.

An EllisDon manager had said that the company is not obligated to provide workers with flush toilets and running water, adding the company is compliant with regulations that stipulate the number of porta-potties for the number of workers employed on the site.

A visit to the EllisDon web site finds a company that says its people are the priority. EllisDon was recently selected as one of Canada's Top 100 employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc. The news about the job action is a disconnect with EllisDon's public personna.

An employer of choice reaches this status because of a strong relationship with its employees. Companies that only comply with government regulations are unlikely to reach this status. Read the profiles of employers of choice and you will find that each company has created a unique work environment that is tailored to the needs of its employees (while still being cost competitive). Government regulations simply set bare minimum requirements.

It will be interesting to see whether EllisDon recovered well enough to prevent long term damage to its employee relations.