Crane Apprentice Ratios Should Continue: Panel

A review panel of the Ontario College of Trades has concluded that the current 1:1 journeyperson to apprentice ratio for three hoisting engineer trades should be maintained. Local 793 wanted the ratio to remain the same for a number of reasons, one being to ensure that the health and safety of workers on construction sites […]

A review panel of the Ontario College of Trades has concluded that the current 1:1 journeyperson to apprentice ratio for three hoisting engineer trades should be maintained.

Local 793 wanted the ratio to remain the same for a number of reasons, one being to ensure that the health and safety of workers on construction sites as well as the public continues to be protected.

The panel said the 1:1 ratio would continue to provide the optimal degree of training and transfer of knowledge.

“Any changes may negatively impact health and safety (and consequently the environment),” the panel noted, “by possibly increasing job site accidents.”

The panel said that local supply and demand needs, including attracting and retaining apprentices, appear to be met with the 1:1 ratio.

Equally important, the panel concluded, it received no objections from employer groups, other unions, or individuals about the existing ratio.

“Therefore, there appears to be no justification for changing the existing 1:1 ratio and the decision of the panel is that it should be continued.”

The review was undertaken as part of the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act 2009 and Ontario Regulation 458/11.

The hoisting engineer trades included in the review were: Mobile Crane Operator-Branch 1, Mobile Crane Operator-Branch 2, and Tower Crane Operator.

Local 793 was the only group to present a written submission to the panel. The submission was endorsed by the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO) and the Hoisting Engineers Trade Board of the Ontario College of Trades.

The review panel weighted the submissions against a number of criteria, including how the journeyperson to apprentice ratio for the trades might affect the health and safety of apprentices and journeypersons.

The panel also examined the economic impact of the journeyperson to apprentice ratio of the trade on apprentices, journeypersons, employers and employer associations and, where applicable, on trade unions, employee associations, apprentice training providers and the public.

Local 793 had noted that accident rates remain low and that for the years 1969-2004, after the implementation of compulsory training, crane and rigging related fatalities expressed as a percentage of total construction fatalities dropped from 19.8 per cent to less than five per cent.

The union and the other two groups asserted that a key to preventing catastrophic accidents is ensuring crane operators learn to operate safely and with full knowledge of the multitude of tasks they undertake on a daily basis.

Supervision by a single, experienced, licensed journeyperson, they maintained, assists the apprentice in gaining the required skills to become a safe and effective operator.

The groups noted that continuation of a 1:1 ratio is supported by industry stakeholders, including the former Provincial Advisory Committee and the trade board on a health and safety basis.

The parties also asserted that the ratio should continue to be determined on a long-term approach rather than reacting to short-term labour or supply shortages because it would jeopardize safety and might promote reaction ratio calculations.

Moreover, since the number of cranes needed would not change, the parties maintained there is no immediate productivity increase to be garnered from increasing the number of apprentices.

The parties indicated there appears to be no shortages of apprentices and journeypersons caused by the current 1:1 ratio, nor does it appear that any will be created by continuing it.

Click here to read the report.

State of the Union is Good: Gallagher

Local 793 is on the right track, business manager Mike Gallagher told a special executive board meeting at head office in Oakville on Sept. 22. With solid financials, a healthy pension plan and plenty of work on the horizon, the “state of the union is good,” he said. Although 2011 was a difficult year for […]

Local 793 is on the right track, business manager Mike Gallagher told a special executive board meeting at head office in Oakville on Sept. 22.

With solid financials, a healthy pension plan and plenty of work on the horizon, the “state of the union is good,” he said.

Although 2011 was a difficult year for investments due to low interest rates, contributions to the pension plan remained solid, he noted.

On the employment front, he said there also appears to be plenty of work on tap for Operating Engineers for the next year.

Gallagher told delegates that Local 793 is one of the fastest growing locals in North America and, with $30 billion in projects slated for Ontario in 2012, the biggest challenge will be supplying enough operators for the projects.

Presently, he said, the union’s dispatch department is barely able to keep up with demand for crane operators.

“We’re running flat out.”

Gallagher addressed a number of issues during a half-hour speech to delegates.

He complimented president Joe Redshaw and the social services department for winning a $340,000 decision at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) for a 69-year-old member who was injured 10 years ago.

The member struck his head on the glass of a tractor-loader-backhoe while working on a project in Toronto.

The union persevered on behalf of the member and won his case.

Gallagher said the local has an “enviable” record of winning appeals at the WSIB and a 90-per-cent success rate of winning CPP appeals for members.

“We’ve definitely looked after our own,” he said. “Like the marines, it’s no man left behind.”

Gallagher noted that Local 793’s banquet hall is also doing well and the union is looking at doubling the size of the present building so it could accommodate 1,000 people.

The local is talking to Michael Spaziani, the architect who designed head office and the present banquet hall, he said.

Gallagher said the banquet hall is making money and expanding the facility would enable much larger events to be held there.

With the possible banquet hall expansion, the local is also looking into the possibility of expanding the head office to accommodate more staff, he said.

Meanwhile, Gallagher said, the union is looking at setting up a memorial to honour Operating Engineers who’ve lost their lives on the job.

The memorial would be in a forested area on the head office property.

At the OETIO in Morrisburg, the union is looking into the possibility of establishing a retirement home on the property.

The union is also looking at the possibility of putting in wind turbines or solar panels at the OETIO.

Company Chosen to Build Three Pan Am Games Venues

Bondfield Construction Company Ltd. has signed an $80.5-million contract to build three venues for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games. The company will build the Markham Pan Am Centre, including a new, 50-metre Olympic-sized pool. The centre will host water polo, table tennis and badminton competitions. Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks. […]

Bondfield Construction Company Ltd. has signed an $80.5-million contract to build three venues for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games.

The company will build the Markham Pan Am Centre, including a new, 50-metre Olympic-sized pool. The centre will host water polo, table tennis and badminton competitions. Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Bondfield will also build a field hockey centre on the downtown St. George campus of the University of Toronto, and undertake renovations and improvements to the Etobicoke Olympium facility, which will be the training site for swimming, water polo, diving and synchronized swimming. The projects are expected to begin next year.

The contract was signed recently with Infrastructure Ontario, the federal government and City of Toronto.

At the peak of construction, it is estimated that 200 workers will be on the sites daily.

Ontario Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli said the announcement is an important step forward for the Games.

“Our investment, along with the contribution of the other private and public sector partners in the Games will ensure that the construction of these world-class sport venues will help stimulate local economies, create jobs and contribute to a high quality of life.”

Following is an update on the status of other projects for the Games:

  • Athletes’ Village: Construction started in January on the athletes’ village in the West Don Lands area of Toronto. The village will be home for 10,000 athletes, coaches and team officials during the Games.
  • Aquatics Centre, Field House and Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO): Construction started in July on the three projects. They’re being built on property owned by the City of Toronto and the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus.
  • Hamilton Soccer Stadium: Construction will begin later this year on a soccer stadium for the Games in Hamilton. The stadium will host soccer competition for the Games and then become a permanent home for the Hamilton Tiger Cats.
  • Athletics Stadium: Construction will begin later this year on the 5,000-seat stadium at York University in Toronto.
  • Milton Velodrome: Construction will begin in early 2013 on the velodrome, which will host track cycling competition during the Games.

General Membership Meeting

A general membership meeting of Local 793 is scheduled for Sunday, September 23, at head office in Oakville. The head office is located at 2245 Speers Road. The meeting begins at 10 a.m.   Click here for map.  

A general membership meeting of Local 793 is scheduled for Sunday, September 23, at head office in Oakville.

The head office is located at 2245 Speers Road.

The meeting begins at 10 a.m.

 

Click here for map.

 

America Without a Union Movement

The Washington Post recently ran an opinion piece on what America would look like without a union movement. The piece was penned by Harold Meyerson, an opinion writer at The Post. The article notes that the economic effects of a union-free America are already glaringly apparent: an economically stagnant or downwardly mobile middle class, a […]

The Washington Post recently ran an opinion piece on what America would look like without a union movement. The piece was penned by Harold Meyerson, an opinion writer at The Post. The article notes that the economic effects of a union-free America are already glaringly apparent: an economically stagnant or downwardly mobile middle class, a steady clawing-back of job-related health and retirement benefits; and ever-rising economic inequality. Meyerson concludes that if Big Labour dies, America’s middle class will die with it.

Click here to view the article.

Longtime Local 793 Member Phil Bertrand Passes Away

Phil Bertrand of Orleans, a 45-year-member of Local 793 and former International representative, passed away Saturday, Sept. 1. He was 65. Phil was hired as a business representative for the Ottawa area in July 1981. He became an International representative in May 1989 and held that position until his retirement in January 2005. He recently […]

Phil Bertrand of Orleans, a 45-year-member of Local 793 and former International representative, passed away Saturday, Sept. 1.

He was 65.

Phil was hired as a business representative for the Ottawa area in July 1981. He became an International representative in May 1989 and held that position until his retirement in January 2005.

He recently served as co-chair of the 2012 election committee.

Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher said Phil will be greatly missed by himself and the union.

“Phil was a staunch supporter of our union and its ideals and was always ready to help out,” said Gallagher. “He was a man of integrity with a quick wit and a keen sense of humour.

“Phil was always ready to lend a helping hand to the union.”

Local 793 president Joe Redshaw said Phil may have been retired but he was still very much involved with the union.

“As co-chair of the 2012 election committee, Phil worked tirelessly to ensure that the election process went smoothly and according to the union constitution and bylaws,” said Redshaw. “He had a great work ethic. We will miss him greatly.”

Union vice president Rick Kerr, area supervisor for Eastern Ontario, said Phil was a warm-hearted person and a true union man.

“He was not a man of big stature but once he believed in a cause he wouldn’t let it go,” said Kerr.

When Kerr started as a business rep with Local 793, Phil took him under his wing and trained him.

One night, Kerr recalls, an operator from Cornwall working on a roadbuilding project in Ottawa let Phil know his vehicle had broken down and he couldn’t get home. Phil drove the member home to Cornwall, then picked him up the next day and drove him back to the jobsite.

“That’s the kind of guy he was,” said Kerr.

Phil, a licensed journeyman crane operator, was initiated into the union on Jan. 16, 1967.

He was originally from Sudbury and moved to Ottawa in the 1970s. He worked for Dulepka Crane Rental in Ottawa.

In 1994 and 1995, Phil, then an International rep, was instrumental in helping Local 793 emerge from supervision under the IUOE. He worked under International supervisor and Canadian regional director Edgar Doull.

As assistant International supervisor, Phil essentially took on the duties of assistant business manager of Local 793 and was very involved in running the union.

During that period, Doull and Bertrand were given the authority in the name of the IUOE to conduct the business, finances, affairs and government of Local 793.

As an operator, Phil spent 14 years on jobsites and had plenty of stories to tell.

In one incident, he was left atop a 1,200-foot-tall smoke stack at a smelter in Sudbury during bad weather.

It was the early 70s and Phil and a crew were working at the top of the stack. The weather was bad. Strong winds had knocked the hoist operator against a wall at ground level. The operator had broken his hip and couldn’t operate the hoist, leaving Phil and other workers stranded atop the stack.

“We just happened to be working up there at the time,” Phil recalled in Local 793’s 90th anniversary publication published in 2009. “That’s the day a big tornado went through Sudbury.”

It was a good three and a half hours before Phil and the workers could be brought down to safety.

“We were up there yelling to get us down,” he recalled in the publication, “but the operator couldn’t get back to the hoist because he had a broken hip, so he couldn’t bring the guys down.

“There were two or three operators stuck up there along with people from other trades. We were just sitting there on the fresh cement.”

A memorial service for Phil was held in Orleans on Sept. 8.

Phil was the beloved husband of Denise; father of Michel (2000) and Angele (Pierre); Papi of Sophie and Nicholas; and brother of Colette (Bill) and Micheline (Wib). He was predeceased by parents Gregoire and Francoise.

Local 793 Participates in Parades

Local 793 operators, retirees and their families participated in six Labour Day parades across the province on Sept. 3. Business manager Mike Gallagher led the parade in Sarnia. President Joe Redshaw led the parade in Toronto, financial secretary John W. Anderson and treasurer Alex Law led the parade in Hamilton, and vice-president Rick Kerr led […]

Local 793 operators, retirees and their families participated in six Labour Day parades across the province on Sept. 3.

Business manager Mike Gallagher led the parade in Sarnia.

President Joe Redshaw led the parade in Toronto, financial secretary John W. Anderson and treasurer Alex Law led the parade in Hamilton, and vice-president Rick Kerr led the parade in Ottawa.

Local 793 participants who marched in the parades wore union hats and golf shirts.

The Toronto parade featured the largest contingent of Local 793 members. The parade started at University Avenue and Queen Street and wound its way to the CNE at Exhibition Place.

 

Click here to see photos from the parades.