Operating Engineers Achieve Highest Provincial Collective Agreement Settlement

Written by Local 793 Staff

The Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) has just released the 4th edition of the ICI Collective Bargaining Bulletin, an up-to-date look at the Ontario Provincial Collective Agreements.  To date, operating engineershave received the highest settlement of all trades across the province, ratifying a $4.25 increase over three years. Below is the ICI Collective Bargaining Bulletin based on information received by the OCS as of end of day May 29, 2019. Trade Status / Details Boilermaker   Bricklayer Tentative Agreement Carpenter General Carpenter Ranges from $2.70 (London) to $3.65 (Toronto) General Carpenter Board Area 8 ($3.65 […]

The Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) has just released the 4th edition of the ICI Collective Bargaining Bulletin, an up-to-date look at the Ontario Provincial Collective Agreements. 

To date, operating engineershave received the highest settlement of all trades across the province, ratifying a $4.25 increase over three years.

Below is the ICI Collective Bargaining Bulletin based on information received by the OCS as of end of day May 29, 2019.

TradeStatus / Details
Boilermaker 
BricklayerTentative Agreement
CarpenterGeneral Carpenter 
Ranges from $2.70 (London) to $3.65 (Toronto)
 
General Carpenter Board Area 8 ($3.65 over 3 years)
Year 1: $1.15
Year 2: $1.30
Year 3: $1.20
 
Formwork Board Area 8 ($3.75 over 3 years)
Year 1: $1.15
Year 2: $1.30
Year 3: $1.30
Cement MasonTentative Agreement
DemolitionTentative Agreement
Electrical$4.05 over 3 years
Year 1: $1.25
Year 2: $1.40
Year 3: $1.40
• Possible post-negotiated wage adjustment of up
to $1.00, depending on the settlements reached with
the eight comparator trades
• Local areas negotiated meaningful changes to their
local agreements
ElevatorYear 1: $1.00 (1.5%)
Wage formula to determine Year 2 and 3
GlazierTentative Agreement
Insulator$4.05 over 3 years
Year 1: $1.50
Year 2: $1.25
Year 3:$1.30
Ironworker 
LabourerTentative Agreement
Millwright$3.98 over 3 years
Year 1: $1.30
Year 2: $1.33
Year 3: $1.35 2% increase to travel and
Board 40 hour work week across the province
OPERATING
ENGINEERS
$4.25 over 3 years
Year 1: $1.50
Year 2: $1.50
Year 3: $1.25
Painter 
Painter
(Taper
Portion)		Toronto ($3.80 over 3 years)
Year 1: $1.20
Year 2: $1.20
Year 3: $1.40
 
Outside Toronto
Varies at lower rate
Plasterer$3.10 over 3 years
PlumberManagement presented final offer on May 27.
Union membership vote to be held on May 30.
PrecastLocal 506 ($3.75 over 3 years)
Year 1: $1.25
Year 2: $1.25
Year 3: $1.25
RefrigerationTentative Agreement
Ratified by Management, Labour ratification expected
by end of June.
RodworkerPrevious tentative agreement voted down
RooferToronto Wage Increase
Year 1: $1.50 includes $0.10 in exchange for
deletion of the WSIB Bill 162 req’t
Year 2: $1.35
Year 3: $1.35
 
Ottawa Wage Increase
Year 1: $1.70 * includes $0.10 in exchange for
deletion of the WSIB Bill 162 req’t
Year 2: $1.25 *
Year 3: $1.00
*includes contributions to Stabilization Fund, Work
Ready Training and Skills Training
 
Provincial Wage Increase
(excluding Toronto and Ottawa)
Year 1: $1.30 includes $0.10 in exchange for deletion
of the WSIB Bill 162 req’t
Year 2: $1.15
Year 3: $1.05
Sheet MetalStrike as of May 6
Sprinkler
Fitter		Tentative Agreement
National agreement, ratification expected by end of June
SteeplejackTentative Agreement
Ratification expected June 1
Teamster 
Tile &
Terrazzo		 

The Honourable Patty Hajdu visits OETIO Oakville campus

Written by Local 793 Staff

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, was a guest of honour at the union’s head office and OETIO campus in Oakville Friday afternoon.  Minister Hajdu was joined by Oakville MP John Oliver, business manager Mike Gallagher, vice-president and government affairs representative Joe Dowdall, director of Toronto area Dave Turple, OETIO executive director Harold McBride and OETIO director of training and apprenticeship Brian Alexander.  The visit was an opportunity for the guests to tour the world-class educational and training facility and a chance to speak to […]

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, was a guest of honour at the union’s head office and OETIO campus in Oakville Friday afternoon. 

Minister Hajdu was joined by Oakville MP John Oliver, business manager Mike Gallagher, vice-president and government affairs representative Joe Dowdall, director of Toronto area Dave Turple, OETIO executive director Harold McBride and OETIO director of training and apprenticeship Brian Alexander. 

The visit was an opportunity for the guests to tour the world-class educational and training facility and a chance to speak to students.

“I want to thank you for choosing a skill trade and investing in yourself,” Hajdu told a classroom of students in the tower and mobile crane apprenticeship program. “Our government is investing heavily in infrastructure, bridges and roads and we can’t actually build the things we need unless we have skilled people like you to do it.

“A skilled trade is a really good middle-class job,” she continued. “You make good money, receive good benefits, pay into a pension and you get unionization, which protects your rights in the workplace. We will always support the critical work unions do in training highly-skilled Canadian labourers as they begin exciting careers in the trades.”

The guests also made a stop at the monument and memorial garden on the union property. The structure was built to honour members of the Local who have died as a result of construction site accidents or due to an occupational illness.

Update on Collective Agreement Ratification Votes

Written by Local 793 Staff

Greater Toronto Sewer & Watermain Collective Agreement – the Agreement was ratified in favour of the settlement. Provincial Utility Collective Agreement – the Agreement was ratified in favour of the settlement. Toronto and Area Road Builders Collective Agreement (TARBA) – the Agreement was ratified at more than 99% in favour of the settlement. Should you have any questions about this information, or the ratification votes, please contact your Local 793 Business Representative. 

Greater Toronto Sewer & Watermain Collective Agreement – the Agreement was ratified in favour of the settlement.

Provincial Utility Collective Agreement – the Agreement was ratified in favour of the settlement.

Toronto and Area Road Builders Collective Agreement (TARBA) – the Agreement was ratified at more than 99% in favour of the settlement.

Should you have any questions about this information, or the ratification votes, please contact your Local 793 Business Representative. 

Status of our Formwork Agreement

Written by Local 793 Staff

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Many of you have been asking about the status of our Formwork Agreement since Local 793 voted in favour of ratification, but our friends at Local 183 turned the offer down. Due to the fact that we are in a council with the Labourers Local Unions, including Local 183, and because Local 183, along with 1059 and us have a “veto” on the council regarding ratifications and strikes, if one of either Local 793, 183 or 1059 fail to vote in favour of ratification, the entire […]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Many of you have been asking about the status of our Formwork Agreement since Local 793 voted in favour of ratification, but our friends at Local 183 turned the offer down. Due to the fact that we are in a council with the Labourers Local Unions, including Local 183, and because Local 183, along with 1059 and us have a “veto” on the council regarding ratifications and strikes, if one of either Local 793, 183 or 1059 fail to vote in favour of ratification, the entire Formwork Agreement remains unratified.

On Tuesday May 21, 2019 the Formwork Council of Ontario convened a meeting to discuss next steps. Local 793 voted in favor of supporting Local 183 members who wished to strike. Local 1059 out of London did not support strike action. Therefore, Local 183’s remaining issues are being submitted to final and binding arbitration. The arbitration will be held on June 14.

Since Local 793 members voted in favor of ratification, we proposed and the OFA agreed that our settlement will not be subject to the arbitration. They have agreed to this same protocol for all of the other LiUNA local unions. This means status quo for everyone except Local 183. It is vital that we protect our best in the industry settlement of $4.25 plus various language improvements. We cannot go backwards and we are not prepared to risk the possibility of losing retro pay.

We were in a similar position back in 2010 when the Labourers Local 183 turned down the proposed settlement. In 2010, the Labourers had a settlement on the table of $3.40 for labourers that was turned down and it went to arbitration. In that round of negotiations Local 793 achieved $3.75 for our Operators. Local 183 was seeking $4.00 from the arbitrator. The Arbitrator upheld the $3.40 settlement.

While it is not a perfect system, we have to navigate the system to the best of our abilities and our number one priority remains protecting our settlement and retro pay. Our focus for the next three years needs to be trying to find a way to overturn the archaic Labour Relations Act Provisions, which restrict our right to strike in the residential sector of the construction industry. Local 793 is committed to exploring all avenues to remove this barrier to a successful strike. As we learn further information, we will update the membership. In the meantime it is business as usual.

Fraternally,
Dave Turple • Director of Toronto Area
IUOE Local 793

Interested in working at Baffinland?

Written by Local 793 Staff

We have had a lot of inquiries from Local 793 members who are interested in working at Baffinland. We are still in the process of putting the BAFFINLAND-SPECIFIC OUT OF WORK LIST together. And there will be additional requirements. For now, please email nunavut@iuoelocal793.org AND be sure to include your  union registration number,  phone number, and  email.  You can apply for a job at Baffinland through their website at www.baffinland.com/jobs Click on the Online Job Application buttonand then follow the instructions to apply online. Please notify Local 793 at nunavut@iuoelocal793.org if […]

We have had a lot of inquiries from Local 793 members who are interested in working at Baffinland.

We are still in the process of putting the BAFFINLAND-SPECIFIC OUT OF WORK LIST together. And there will be additional requirements.

For now, please email nunavut@iuoelocal793.org AND be sure to include your 

  • union registration number, 
  • phone number, and 
  • email. 

You can apply for a job at Baffinland through their website at www.baffinland.com/jobs

Click on the Online Job Application button
and then follow the instructions to apply online.

Please notify Local 793 at nunavut@iuoelocal793.org if you are successful in being hired.

All the best to everyone!

Local 793 members on the DT-CSST Project doing foundational drilling in downtown Ottawa

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 members are seen here displaying the 100th anniversary flag atop a Liebherr LB 36 foundational drilling rig. Marthon Underground Constructors Corp. is working on the DT-CSST Project on the corner of Kent and Slater Streets in Ottawa, a very busy corner in the central downtown area. This team of Local 793 members are using the LB 36 to drill a 4-metre wide man-hole access that is 26.2 metres deep, through three meters of overburden and 23.2 metres of rock. Operations manager Pierre Vallieres from Marathon Underground Constructors commented […]

Travis Emmerson, Sateve Burnham (holding flag), and McGyver Barber.

Local 793 members are seen here displaying the 100th anniversary flag atop a Liebherr LB 36 foundational drilling rig.

Marthon Underground Constructors Corp. is working on the DT-CSST Project on the corner of Kent and Slater Streets in Ottawa, a very busy corner in the central downtown area.

This team of Local 793 members are using the LB 36 to drill a 4-metre wide man-hole access that is 26.2 metres deep, through three meters of overburden and 23.2 metres of rock.

Operations manager Pierre Vallieres from Marathon Underground Constructors commented of the great team he has on this job.

Local 793 members seen in the main photo are (L to R) mobile crane apprentice Travis Emmerson, equipment operator Steve Burnham and crane operator McGyver Barber.

The OETIO’s Top Guns

Written by Local 793 Staff

Three Local 793 mobile crane apprentices were presented with medals for receiving top marks at the 2019 Skills Ontario Competition, held May 7 at the Toronto Congress Centre. The event is the largest skilled trade and technological competition in Canada. It featured 70 skilled trades and technologies contests, with more than 2,400 competitors from high schools, colleges and training centres across Ontario. In the competition, mobile crane apprentices were put through a series of practical exercises and had to complete a written test. L to R (standing): Assistant director of training […]

Three Local 793 mobile crane apprentices were presented with medals for receiving top marks at the 2019 Skills Ontario Competition, held May 7 at the Toronto Congress Centre.

The event is the largest skilled trade and technological competition in Canada. It featured 70 skilled trades and technologies contests, with more than 2,400 competitors from high schools, colleges and training centres across Ontario.

In the competition, mobile crane apprentices were put through a series of practical exercises and had to complete a written test.

L to R (standing): Assistant director of training and apprenticeship Jeff Hewitt, apprentices Jacob Murphy, Jarrod Knight, Jesse Velcich (bronze medal winner), Nick Petitta, Mat Wilhelm (silver medal winner), Ben Gerber (gold medal winner), Kyle Comeau, and Brian Alexander, director of training and apprenticeship for OETIO Oakville.

L to R (kneeling): OETIO Oakville instructors Walter Hollasch and Avery Moodie.

Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. mine employees vote in favour of a first collective agreement negotiated by IUOE Local 793

Written by Local 793 Staff

BAFFIN ISLAND, NUNAVUT April 17, 2019 – What started as an organizing drive in May 2017 has culminated in the successful ratification of a first collective agreement with Baffinland Iron Mine Corp. to represent its production employees, that took effect May 1, 2019. The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 (“IUOE Local 793”) appreciates Baffinland’s decision to sit down and negotiate a fair and reasonable mutual gains partnership agreement. With the goal of increasing Union membership, IUOE Local 793 had set as priorities – in their recently concluded Strategic […]

BAFFIN ISLAND, NUNAVUT April 17, 2019 – What started as an organizing drive in May 2017 has culminated in the successful ratification of a first collective agreement with Baffinland Iron Mine Corp. to represent its production employees, that took effect May 1, 2019.

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 (“IUOE Local 793”) appreciates Baffinland’s decision to sit down and negotiate a fair and reasonable mutual gains partnership agreement.

With the goal of increasing Union membership, IUOE Local 793 had set as priorities – in their recently concluded Strategic Plan – to augment its organizing with mines and continue its efforts to establish representation rights in Nunavut.

The mine itself is located in Mary River in northwest Baffin Island in the territory of Nunavut. It is an open pit iron mine and is said to be the world’s sixth most northerly mine.

As of the date of closing of the ratification vote there were upward of 800 workers employed in various positions within the bargaining unit, including many ore haul truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, skilled trades, and other workers.

IUOE Local 793’s sister organization, the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (“OETIO”), has offered heavy equipment operator training to the Inuit communities of Nunavut since January 2005. IUOE Local 793 itself was granted a Charter to organize and represent employees in Nunavut on behalf of the International Union of Operating Engineers in 2014. 

On behalf of IUOE Local 793’s Executive Board, Mike Gallagher, business manager of IUOE Local 793 has said “We thank the employees of Baffinland for putting their trust in IUOE Local 793 and having the confidence to vote in favour of the tentative agreement. We are committed to providing them with the quality representation they deserve.” 

“Over the last six months, Baffinland and the Operating Engineers have worked closely based on employee feedback to build a partnership that emphasizes collaboration, fully respects our IIBA, and reflects Baffinland’s core value to engage and develop our employees,” said Brian Penney, President and CEO of Baffinland. “Baffinland will continue to explore partnerships that help our employees continue to be successful at Baffinland, and help our company become the lowest cost-producer of high grade iron ore in the world through the safe and efficient operation and ongoing development of the Mary River Mine.”

About the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793
In 2019, IUOE Local 793 is celebrating its 100thanniversary. IUOE Local 793 represents more than 15,300 crane and heavy equipment operators and industrial and production workers in Ontario and Nunavut. Its members work in all sectors of the construction industry, for municipalities, and in industrial establishments. Local 793 members build the roads and bridges you travel on, the subways you ride in, and the offices you work in. Members also build pipelines, stadiums, refineries, subdivisions, and work in mechanics shops, landfills, quarries, and mines.

The International Union of Operating Engineers is dedicated to serving and protecting the needs and interests of its members and their families through the collective bargaining process, legislative action and extensive training and skills improvement programs. IUOE Local 793 has a head office and training campus in Oakville, Ontario, another training campus in Morrisburg, Ontario and district offices around the province of Ontario. 

ATTENTION: Members working under the Provincial Formwork Collective Agreement

Written by Local 793 Staff

Dear Brothers and Sisters:  We have been informed by LiUNA officials that their membership has turned down the memorandum offer to renew the Provincial Formwork Collective Agreement.  While there are likely other issues, I understand that their membership is dissatisfied by the employers’ failure to address concerns around parking costs. They would like that to be further addressed. As a result, we will NOT be scheduling a ratification meeting. Our Formwork Council is informing the residential forming contractors that their offer has been rejected. The next steps are either further […]

Dear Brothers and Sisters: 

We have been informed by LiUNA officials that their membership has turned down the memorandum offer to renew the Provincial Formwork Collective Agreement. 

While there are likely other issues, I understand that their membership is dissatisfied by the employers’ failure to address concerns around parking costs. They would like that to be further addressed.

As a result, we will NOT be scheduling a ratification meeting. Our Formwork Council is informing the residential forming contractors that their offer has been rejected.

The next steps are either further negotiations if the employers are willing, submitting the dispute to arbitration, or holding a strike vote. 

You will be informed once the employer’s position is made clear. 

We remain committed to achieving a settlement that is acceptable to both LiUNA and IUOE Local 793.

If you have any questions, please contact the Toronto office at 905-469-9299 extension 2212.

__________________________________
Fraternally,
Mike Gallagher – Business Manager