Holiday Message from Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher

On behalf of the executive board and officers of Local 793, I would like to wish all union members and their families the very best over the holiday season. It was certainly a productive year for the local. Our membership grew to more than 12,000 – double the number from 15 years earlier. Our finances […]

On behalf of the executive board and officers of Local 793, I would like to wish all union members and their families the very best over the holiday season.

It was certainly a productive year for the local.

Our membership grew to more than 12,000 – double the number from 15 years earlier.

Our finances remained healthy with members’ equity at nearly $49 million as of June 30, 2011 – a 14.6-per-cent increase from the prior year.

Our pension plan continued to grow, despite volatile stock markets, topping $1.5 billion in market value as of June 30, 2011.

And our training facilities remained at capacity with the number of apprentices training to become heavy equipment, concrete pump, mobile and tower crane operators at its highest level ever.

We continued to bring new companies into the fold. Between January and August alone, we filed nine certification applications and signed voluntary recognition agreements with 46 companies.

We extended consent for unreduced early retirement pensions and kicked off a pension calculator called Destinations on our website.

The year began in grand style for Local 793 when TV personality Rick Mercer paid a visit to our training facilities and filmed a segment for his show. The episode was aired many times on CBC and is still being shown on Air Canada flights.

In the summer, we had a booth at the CHIN picnic in Toronto and in the fall operators across the province took part in Labour Day parades in Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Kingston, Windsor, Sudbury and Sarnia.

In the run-up to the provincial election, we again participated in the Working Families Campaign, which was a success.

Recently, we handed out Jack Redshaw Scholarships to six aspiring young students. Two daughters of Local 793 members also received bursaries from the Canadian Conference of the IUOE.

Meanwhile, Michael Quinn, retired area supervisor for Northeastern Ontario, was named co-winner of the Roy A. Phinnemore Award presented by the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association.

In September, our union was deeply saddened when late president Gary O’Neill passed away. This precipitated a number of changes to our executive and Joe Redshaw took over as president. In November, staff at Local 793’s head office took up the Movember challenge in memory of Gary and surpassed their goal, raising nearly $5,300 for prostate cancer awareness research.

As for 2012, I am hopeful that the work situation will remain favourable for operating engineers.

The $1.4-billion Windsor-Essex Parkway is under way, subway projects have been started in Toronto, and new mental health care facilities are being started in London and St. Thomas. Work also continues on the Lower Mattagami hydroelectric generating project northeast of Kapuskasing.

While 2011 was a success, the executive and officers of Local 793 fully realize there is still more work to be done.

Again, please accept my best wishes for a happy holiday season.

Fraternally Yours,

Mike Gallagher
Business Manager
IUOE Local 793

Defence Assessment Reminder

Local 793 members are being reminded to make sure their defence assessments are up to date. The annual assessment is $30. Payments for 2012 are due by the end of 2011. Members can make payments in several ways. For example: Members can pay business representatives. Members can make payments in person at head office or […]

Local 793 members are being reminded to make sure their defence assessments are up to date.

The annual assessment is $30.

Payments for 2012 are due by the end of 2011.

Members can make payments in several ways. For example:

  • Members can pay business representatives.
  • Members can make payments in person at head office or any district office.
  • Members can mail payments to head office at 2245 Speers Road, Oakville, Ont., L6L 6X8.

When mailing a payment, please ensure it is marked as a defence assessment payment.

The fund provides money for the “defence of actions commenced in labour disputes against the local, its officers or members,” according to the bylaws.

The fund is administered by a committee comprised of the business manager, president, recording-corresponding secretary, one other officer selected by the executive board, and five other members who represent different regions of the province as determined by the executive board.

Money in the fund is used to help defray costs incurred by the union as a result of a labour dispute, including strikes or lockouts, and any legal and other fees and expenses incurred in the defence of interests of Local 793.

The account of the defence fund is audited annually by a chartered accountant.

Construction of Spur Line to Airport Will Cost Nearly $129 Million

The province has announced that it will cost $128.6 million to build a new three-kilometre spur line to Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport. AirLINX Transit Partners Inc., a consortium of Aecon Construction and Dufferin Construction, have reached commercial and financial close on the project, paving the way for construction to begin this spring on […]

The province has announced that it will cost $128.6 million to build a new three-kilometre spur line to Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport.

AirLINX Transit Partners Inc., a consortium of Aecon Construction and Dufferin Construction, have reached commercial and financial close on the project, paving the way for construction to begin this spring on the spur line and a new passenger station at the airport.

The announcement was made jointly by Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx.

The project is expected to create and support more than 1,200 jobs.

The spur line will branch off the Weston Subdivision (GO Georgetown corridor) and connect to a new passenger station at Terminal 1 at Pearson. It will be part of an Air Rail Link (ARL), which is being built by Metrolinx to provide express service every 15 minutes between Union Station and the airport.

Construction of the spur line is expected to be completed by summer 2014.

When completed, travel time between Union Station and Pearson will be approximately 25 minutes.

Premier Dalton McGuinty said the ARL is good for jobs and the economy and visitors who use the airport.

“Its design, construction and operation will be environmentally responsible, ease congestion and make the Greater Toronto Area even more attractive for businesses and investment.”

Metrolinx president and CEO Bruce McCuaig said the ARL is a signature project for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.

“Completing the contract arrangements is a milestone which demonstrates our commitment to provide the Air Rail Link in time for the Pan/Parapan Am Games.”

Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli said the entire ARL project will create 10,000 jobs in design and construction and take 1.2 million car trips off roads in its first year of operation alone.

“We’re going to construct this link in a way that’s responsible, that offers excellent value to taxpayers and that dramatically reduces the number of cars that travel between Toronto Pearson International Airport and downtown Toronto.”

$26-Million Construction Project to Begin at University of Windsor

The University of Windsor has decided to build a two-storey, 40,800-square-foot Innovation Centre and a seven-level parking garage with 1,055 spaces at its campus along Wyandotte Street. Construction on the $25.8-million project is set to begin in early 2012. The work will be completed during the summer of 2013. Newton Parking Structures Ltd. of Guelph […]

The University of Windsor has decided to build a two-storey, 40,800-square-foot Innovation Centre and a seven-level parking garage with 1,055 spaces at its campus along Wyandotte Street.

Construction on the $25.8-million project is set to begin in early 2012. The work will be completed during the summer of 2013.

Newton Parking Structures Ltd. of Guelph has been selected to build the structures.

The project consists of two separate buildings that are connected by a second-storey pedestrian bridge from the Innovation Centre to the parking structure.

The Innovation Centre will feature a 22,600-square-foot first floor and a 16,800-square-foot second floor.

The parking garage will be 295,000 square feet. Pre-cast decking will be assembled on site to speed up construction.

One of the features of the parking structure will be the use of wide-open space.

University president and vice-chancellor Dr. Alan Wildeman said the project will strengthen the presence of the school and add much-needed parking space.

“It will also enable us to consolidate much of the parking on campus onto a significantly reduced footprint, and create opportunities to add more green space and provide land for future capital development.”

Founded in 1963, the university has close to 16,000 full- and part-time students.

Local 793 Named Best Float at Toronto Labour Day Parade

An entry by Local 793 was recently named the best float at Toronto’s 2011 annual Labour Day parade by the Central Ontario Building Trades. The organization made the announcement Dec. 8. An entourage of Local 793 members and family members participated in the Sept. 5 parade. The Local 793 contingent was led by business manager […]

An entry by Local 793 was recently named the best float at Toronto’s 2011 annual Labour Day parade by the Central Ontario Building Trades.

The organization made the announcement Dec. 8.

An entourage of Local 793 members and family members participated in the Sept. 5 parade.

The Local 793 contingent was led by business manager Mike Gallagher.

Children rode atop the Local 793 float while union members and their families walked alongside.

Union members wearing black coats and baseball hats emblazoned with Local 793 logos marched from University Avenue north of Queen Street to the CNE grounds.

More than 25,000 unionized workers participated in the Toronto parade. It is held annually to celebrate gains made by the labour movement and to demand further improvements.

Local 793 Staffers Surpass Movember Campaign Goal

Local 793 staff members raised nearly $5,300 for prostate cancer awareness and research during the recent Movember campaign. A seven-member team, dubbed the Operating Mo’gineers Local 793, was captained by Justin Smith, an organizer with the union. Other members of the team were Robert Taddei, Mike Tabar, Armand Dowdall, Melissa Waterman, Erin Groves and Bruno […]

Local 793 staff members raised nearly $5,300 for prostate cancer awareness and research during the recent Movember campaign.

A seven-member team, dubbed the Operating Mo’gineers Local 793, was captained by Justin Smith, an organizer with the union.

Other members of the team were Robert Taddei, Mike Tabar, Armand Dowdall, Melissa Waterman, Erin Groves and Bruno Pereira.

Staff raised the funds in honour of late union president Gary O’Neill, who died in September after a courageous battle with cancer.

The team’s goal was to raise $5,000 but they surpassed that figure.

Movember is a campaign held annually during the month of November to raise funds for a broad range of programs that educate, raise awareness and conduct research into prostate cancer.

During the month-long campaign, men in Canada and around the world seek sponsors for their moustache-growing efforts.

The men are known as Mo Bros and are effectively walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November.

In 2010, the global campaign raised $76.8 million, up from $34.2 million in 2009. The Canadian campaign raised $22.3 million in 2010. The funds went directly to Prostate Cancer Canada.