Fifteen contractors met late in 1985 to consider their futures. Construction was pretty well at a standstill and any work going on was being built union free. Workers had few benefits, wages were low and profit margins were non-existent. It was time for companies to focus on the needs of their workers. From that dilemma, the idea of an industry-wide, portable benefit plan for open shop workers was born and, not long afterward, an organization to run it and, in time, to expand to other areas. Today there are over 40,000 people enrolled in the benefit programs.

From the original 15, Merit has grown to over 1,300 members including most of Alberta's large generals and trade contractors. Of the original small group, about two-thirds could have been described as philosophically committed to open shop and the others were more pragmatic. The philosophical group was, for many years, the mainstay of the Association and probably it was largely due to their commitment that the group continued beyond the first year.

The movement to open shop construction in Canada is not an isolated trend but rather is a North American phenomenon. Forty years ago the construction industry in Canada and the USA was highly unionized with up to 75% of construction completed by workers affiliated with building trade unions. The union sector offered a highly skilled and efficient workforce at competitive market rates. Building unions were considered the only option especially if large workforces needed to be in place over short time periods and in particular for industrial construction.

However, massive changes have occurred in the industry beginning in the late '50s and early '60s in the USA and the late '70s and early '80s in Canada. These changes were in part a response to escalating costs of building union and excessive work disruptions and jurisdictional disputes. The transition was made easier through increased management skills and growing capacity of open shop firms. The changes in some areas have been gradual yet in provinces like Alberta, they occurred virtually overnight.

The Independent Contractors and Business Association has been around for over 30 years and Merit Alberta for over 20 years. Merit Saskatchewan is celebrating 18 years, and Merit Manitoba has completed 11 years. It is an interesting phenomenon, particularly as each has sprung up on the whole independently of the others, in response to circumstances - political, economic or social - in its own region. Yet they are all tracking in the same direction: a stronger, more efficient open shop sector.

Although there has been no single consolidated effort to develop a movement, each group has profited from the programs and projects of the others. The hour bank benefit plan, which was developed in Alberta to accommodate the transient nature of construction employees between companies, is now offered in other provinces. It would obviously be an enormous advantage to construction workers across the entire nation if they could depend on their benefit coverage continuing uninterrupted as they followed available work from region to region.

Similarly, managerial and supervisor training programs initiated and developed by one association have been sponsored in other provinces by the local association. Apprenticeship training continues to be a provincial responsibility with cooperation through the national Red Seal initiative.

Common goals and programs are contributing to solidarity and mutual support across the country.