The Ontario Construction Secretariat has published a bulletin, outlining the effect of the provincial budget on the construction industry. Click here to see the bulletin.
The Ontario Construction Secretariat has published a bulletin, outlining the effect of the provincial budget on the construction industry.
Click here to see the bulletin.
Local 793 is on solid financial footing, but there are many challenges ahead, business manager Mike Gallagher told a special executive board meeting of the union at head office in Oakville on March 24. “This organization is in great shape,” he said, noting that members have decent pension and benefit plans, the work situation remains […]
Local 793 is on solid financial footing, but there are many challenges ahead, business manager Mike Gallagher told a special executive board meeting of the union at head office in Oakville on March 24.
“This organization is in great shape,” he said, noting that members have decent pension and benefit plans, the work situation remains favourable for members across the province, and that the defence and reserve funds of the local are in good shape.
However, he told delegates, it would be a mistake for the union to become complacent as there are clearly some obstacles ahead, namely the infiltration of the right-to-work movement from the U.S., large foreign consortiums bidding on work in Ontario, and a federal Conservative government that is intent on undermining the rights of unions.
“There are reasons for us to be vigilant,” he said. “There are storm clouds on the horizon.”
Gallagher said the Koch Brothers – architects of the Tea Party in the U.S. – have moved into Alberta and Ontario and are “intertwined” with the Tories.
The Kochs, he said, helped put in place anti-union legislation in America and are intent on bringing their agenda to Ontario.
He said the wages that workers enjoy in Ontario will be fleeting if the Koch Brothers get their way and unions like Local 793 need to be actively involved in fighting against the movement.
At the federal level, he said, the Conservatives are trying to bring in Bill C-377, legislation that would increase the bureaucracy and compliance costs for unions because they’d have to file more detailed financial statements that could be viewed by the public.
“It would increase administration costs to unions by 20 per cent,” he said. “It would be like having a forensic audit done on you every year.”
The legislation would also require the union to disclose any disbursement to a member in excess of $5,000, he said, and that information could be posted on a government website.
Local 793 and other building trade unions are fighting the legislation, but the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper is intent on getting it passed, he said.
“We need to be a strong organization and politically active, as we have been,” noted Gallagher. “If we allow the right wing to roll over us, it won’t be long before jobs are eroded.”
Gallagher said members only have to look at what happened at the Caterpillar plant in London to see what’s on the agenda for unions in Ontario.
“It’s disgraceful what happened there,” he noted.
Caterpillar locked out workers at its Electro-Motive Locomotive Factory after they refused pay cuts of up to 50 per cent. The company is moving the work to Indiana.
Gallagher touched on a number of other topics during his remarks.
He said an Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) signed by all first ministers has basically undermined training programs as it allows a crane operator with a licence from another jurisdiction to work in Ontario without writing a demonstration of skills test (DOST).
He said there was an instance recently where an operator came to Ontario and went to work without doing the test.
Gallagher said he wants the province to recognize that the DOST should be done in such cases. Otherwise, operators could go to work on a 25-storey building in Toronto without being tested.
“We have to continue with the government to get them to recognize we want the best on such sensitive pieces of equipment,” he said.
Gallagher also told the audience that Local 793 is working to convince the province that an operator of a drill rig should have a 339A crane licence.
According to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, that licence is not required, he said.
“We are working urgently to get the government to change this,” he said, noting that Local 793 has always dispatched operators with a 339A licence when a contractor calls for a drill rig operator.
Gallagher said he has had a couple of heated meetings with representatives from the ministries of labour and training, colleges and universities over the issue, and intends to continue pressing them.
“This is extremely high on our radar to get this righted,” he said.
Support provided by Local 793 is enabling a Mesothelioma Research Program at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto to make important progress against the disease. “Your members’ support has helped our clinicians and researchers make significant progress in the area of mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment,” the hospital’s foundation says in a report prepared for the union. […]
Support provided by Local 793 is enabling a Mesothelioma Research Program at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto to make important progress against the disease.
“Your members’ support has helped our clinicians and researchers make significant progress in the area of mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment,” the hospital’s foundation says in a report prepared for the union.
“Novel approaches you have supported are giving Canadians and their families the relief and hope they need and deserve.”
The report notes that the hospital is very grateful to the members of Local 793 for their continued support of the research program.
The program is supported by Local 793 and a number of other building trades.
Local 793 has contributed more than $1.2 million to the research program over the last four years. The union contributes two cents to the program for every hour worked by a member.
The program is designed to detect mesothelioma and lung cancer at an early stage using a CT scan.
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. It is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos.
The hospital foundation says that funds provided by Local 793 are supporting further development of pioneering approaches to mesothelioma treatment.
“Your commitment will also help us invest in training thoracic surgeons, radiologist clinicians and researchers for future generations,” the foundation’s report notes.
“With Local 793’s commitment, we can make a global impact on mesothelioma, increasing the quality of life through early diagnosis and novel therapeutics.”
To date, 1,186 participants have been screened since the program was launched in 2005. Fifty-six of those have been members of Local 793.
Local 793 operators who wish to find out more information about the screening program can call Brenda O’Sullivan at 416-340-5686.
To see the full report from the hospital foundation, click here.
James T. Callahan, general president of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), has been elected as vice president of the AFL-CIO. The executive council of the AFL-CIO is composed of 57 union leaders and is the key decision-making body of the 12-million-member organization. “I look forward to working with my fellow leaders in the […]
James T. Callahan, general president of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), has been elected as vice president of the AFL-CIO.
The executive council of the AFL-CIO is composed of 57 union leaders and is the key decision-making body of the 12-million-member organization.
“I look forward to working with my fellow leaders in the labour movement to fight for working people across America,” Callahan said in a statement. “I’m honored to receive their trust and support.”
Callahan was elected IUOE general president in November 2011 to fulfill the term of retired general president Vincent Giblin. He previously served as IUOE general secretary-treasurer and as president and business manager of Local 15 in New York City.
Callahan, a 32-year union member and third generation operating engineer, moved up the ranks from member to shop steward, foreman, trustee and business representative to ultimately leading Local 15.
He was one of the many operating engineers who responded immediately to the September 11 tragedy at the World Trade Center and worked the entire recovery effort at Ground Zero.
“I firmly believe that working together, we have the collective strength and ability to deal with the challenges of our time – an erratic global economy, a hostile political environment and a stubbornly sluggish recovery,” Callahan said. “Don’t underestimate the character and resolve of American workers and their unions.”
The IUOE represents more than 400,000 members in 123 local unions across the U.S. and Canada, including Local 793. Members work as crane and heavy equipment operators, mechanics and surveyors in the construction industry; stationary engineers in the building and industrial maintenance sector; nurses and other health care workers; and public employees.
Toronto Football Club (TFC) is getting ready to kick off another season. The first home game is Saturday, March 24, 2012 against San Jose. Game time is 1 p.m. For more information on single game or group package tickets, call 416-360-4625 (GOAL) or click here. For 2012 schedule, group pricing and seating chart, click here.
Toronto Football Club (TFC) is getting ready to kick off another season.
The first home game is Saturday, March 24, 2012 against San Jose.
Game time is 1 p.m.
For more information on single game or group package tickets, call 416-360-4625 (GOAL) or click here.
For 2012 schedule, group pricing and seating chart, click here.
The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) is using the power of the Internet to draw attention to the importance of infrastructure investment. The organization has published a video on YouTube that characterizes what will happen in the future if society fails to invest properly in public infrastructure. The RCCAO is an alliance […]
The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) is using the power of the Internet to draw attention to the importance of infrastructure investment.
The organization has published a video on YouTube that characterizes what will happen in the future if society fails to invest properly in public infrastructure.
The RCCAO is an alliance of management and labour groups, including Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
The video is titled A Child’s Future in Ontario? It can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6S4pmwouQw.
RCCAO executive director Andy Manahan said infrastructure is something the public rarely thinks about, but the future looks bleak if investments aren’t made.
The RCCAO recently released a study showing that the average worker in Ontario could lose some $400,000 in potential wages over his or her working life as a result of system failures and inefficiencies caused by underinvestment in infrastructure.
“We recognize that the province has to get its financial house in order, but delaying infrastructure programs is not the way to get there,” said Manahan.
He said even the recently-released Drummond Report urged the province not to address its fiscal problems by postponing needed infrastructure projects.
The RCCAO video portrays a young girl visiting her own future in Ontario. She finds that her generation is paying the price for the failure of the present generation to spend wisely on infrastructure.
“It looks at this as an inter-generational issue, and it suggests that we are selfishly leaving our children fewer opportunities,” Manahan said. “Perhaps, for some, it will be a wake up call.”
Inspectors from the Ministry of Labour (MOL) are conducting a month-long blitz of construction sites in March. They’re targeting construction projects employing workers in high-rise formwork, low-rise formwork and masonry, siding and built-up roofing work. The blitz began March 1. It is aimed at protecting workers from preventable workplace injuries. The MOL says the inspections […]
Inspectors from the Ministry of Labour (MOL) are conducting a month-long blitz of construction sites in March.
They’re targeting construction projects employing workers in high-rise formwork, low-rise formwork and masonry, siding and built-up roofing work.
The blitz began March 1. It is aimed at protecting workers from preventable workplace injuries.
The MOL says the inspections will help ensure that:
The blitz is in addition to regular inspections already being undertaken by the MOL.
Labour Minister Linda Jeffrey said the blitz is part of the government’s Safe at Work Ontario strategy.
“The safety and well-being of all Ontario workers is a priority of our government,” she said. “It’s especially important to make sure we’re protecting workers in high-risk trades from slips or falls that would be disastrous for them and their families.”
George Gritziotis, Ontario’s chief prevention officer, said construction workers lose more time at work due to injuries than those in many other sectors.
“Most of the incidents involve young workers. Our goal is to improve worker health and safety and prevent injuries and deaths at Ontario’s construction sites.”
In 2011, 22 people were killed in construction site accidents and the year before 25 died.
Since 2008, MOL inspectors have conducted more than 266,000 field visits, 36 inspection blitzes and issued more than 426,000 compliance orders.
Canada’s building trades have launched a new website to lobby against Bill C-377. If passed, the legislation would create more bureaucracy and dramatically increase costs for unions. The website is at www.workersbuildcanada.ca. The website contains a list of myths and facts about Bill C-377 and information how union members can email, fax or mail comments […]
Canada’s building trades have launched a new website to lobby against Bill C-377.
If passed, the legislation would create more bureaucracy and dramatically increase costs for unions.
The website is at www.workersbuildcanada.ca.
The website contains a list of myths and facts about Bill C-377 and information how union members can email, fax or mail comments to MPs.
The Canadian branch of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department, which represents more than half a million unionized trades, opposes the Bill because it is intended to fix a problem that does not exist.
“Instead,” says a statement on the Department’s website, “it actually duplicates processes that are already in place to provide accountability and transparency for our workers and would create an expanded, expensive and redundant bureaucracy. Our costs of compliance will be extraordinary and beyond that required of any other tax entity.”
The proposed legislation is a private member’s Bill. In a nutshell, it would require labour organizations in Canada to file detailed, annual financial statements that go into much greater depth than your typical income statement and balance sheet.
Once submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency, the complete financial package would be made public for anyone to view by way of the Internet.
Conservative estimates put the additional administration costs for compliance in the neighbourhood of 20 per cent. This can be attributed to increased labour costs associated with statement tracking and preparation, and will increase the expenses of unions.
Meanwhile, union pension and benefit plan administrators would also be faced with additional administrative costs.
The building trades are also concerned that the Bill would infringe on members’ privacy.
A component of the Bill requires that the union disclose any trust fund transaction or disbursement (i.e. health and welfare payment, pension payment, etc.) to a member in excess of $5,000, accompanied with the name and address of the recipient, and the purpose for the payment.
Another concern is that regulations to be established after the Bill is passed would require extensive information to be filed on political lobbying activities.
As part of the campaign, the Department is asking union members to call their local Members of Parliament in an effort to convince them to vote against Bill C-377.
A lobby day is also scheduled to be held in Ottawa on May 15.
For poster, click here.
For myths and facts, click here.
