History

Merit Contractors Association of Nova Scotia

In the spring of 1993, a group of concerned contractors and employees met in Halifax to discuss a Supreme Court decision called the Steen Decision and the effect this decision could have on the construction industry in Nova Scotia.

As a result of this meeting, an organization was formed to represent open shop contractors and workers in the province who felt they would lose their right to work on construction sites in
Nova Scotia and remain union free.

This organization was called The Right To Work, the name was later changed to Merit Contractors Association of Nova Scotia. The Association held meetings throughout the province gaining support from other contractors and workers with the same interest to carry on their businesses and have access to construction industry jobs.

The Association members and workers held demonstrations at the Nova Scotia Department of Labour, lobbied government officials and presented their interest to various government agencies. As a result, in 1994 they were successful in having the provincial government pass a bill in legislature and reverse the Steen Decision. This allowed unionized general contractors to hire open shop contractors and workers with the same interests to work alongside union workers on the same construction sites.