Month: April 2020

Local 793 President Joe Redshaw addressed members and staff from the Union’s head office in Oakville, delivering an update on what Local 793 is doing to protect the members’ safety on jobsites. President Redshaw spoke about the new IUOE Local 793 Safety Protocol for Jobsite Measures, which was developed by the Local 793 COVID Task […]

Local 793 President Joe Redshaw addressed members and staff from the Union’s head office in Oakville, delivering an update on what Local 793 is doing to protect the members’ safety on jobsites.

President Redshaw spoke about the new IUOE Local 793 Safety Protocol for Jobsite Measures, which was developed by the Local 793 COVID Task Force Committee due to the urgent need to ensure construction workers were able to go to work and come home safely.

Click image below to watch the video address to members:

The task force committee was established by Business Manager Mike Gallagher immediately following the province of Ontario’s announcement deeming construction an essential service.

Chaired by President Redshaw, the committee includes Vice-President Joe Dowdall, Executive Director and Director of Toronto Area Supervisor Dave Turple, Treasurer and Eastern Ontario Supervisor Rick Kerr, Auditor and South Central Ontario Supervisor Virgil Nosé, Trustee and Director of Organizing Kyle Schutte and Resource Personnel and Local 793 Legal Counsellor Kirsten Agrell.

In his video, President Redshaw reports that the IUOE Local 793 Safety Protocol for Jobsite Measures has been circulated to all employer sectors and all major associations across the province. This includes, but is not limited to, the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, the Ottawa Building Trades Council, and companies like EllisDon, Aecon, Bird Construction and Pomerleau.

Major associations were also sent the protocol measures, including, but not limited to, the Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA), the Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Contractors Association (GTSWCA), the Utility Contractors Association (UCA), the National Capital Road Builders Association (NCRBA), and the Ottawa Construction Association (OCA).

A protocol check list was also created by Local 793’s task force committee in assisting business representatives on jobsites. The check list gives business reps the ability to work with Union members and employers to ensure all safety precautions are being taken.

Members, too, must be vigilant on reporting conditions of work sites. If they feel unsafe or if any of the employers are not following proper health and safety protocols, members must let their business representative know. A contact list with all area reps phone numbers and email addresses can be found on the Union website.

Reporting via video from the OETIO training facility in Oakville, Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher gives an update to members and staff on the lobbying efforts the Union continues to make concerning improvements toward members’ health, safety and financial support. Click image below to watch the video address to members:

Reporting via video from the OETIO training facility in Oakville, Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher gives an update to members and staff on the lobbying efforts the Union continues to make concerning improvements toward members’ health, safety and financial support.

Click image below to watch the video address to members:

On Sunday April 5, 2020, Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher addressed the union with a video update from his hometown of Oakville, ON. In the report, he spoke of concerns with potential tax implications in respect to the newly introduced Local 793 Temporary COVID-19 Top-Up and announced the need to put a hold on […]

On Sunday April 5, 2020, Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher addressed the union with a video update from his hometown of Oakville, ON.

In the report, he spoke of concerns with potential tax implications in respect to the newly introduced Local 793 Temporary COVID-19 Top-Up and announced the need to put a hold on the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant while awaiting clarification from the government.

He talked about the hurdles the union is facing to ensure that the temporary top-up funds were not going to be clawed back by the federal government, and pointed out that if the money was a dollar-for-dollar claw back, members would not see a financial benefit and it would come at an immense cost to the union’s fund.

“As the Business Manager and a Trustee, I cannot release the funds to go to you only to have the HRDC (Human Resources Development Canada), Minister of Finance, or the Minister of Employment and Social Development claw it back,” Gallagher said. “I would not want to have our trust funds going, basically, to pay a tax to the federal government through you.”

Business Manager Gallagher assured members that the Benefit Plan Trustees are working with the government and remain committed to getting the benefits to the members now when they need it the most.

On Monday, a letter was sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Treasury Board President Jean-Yves Duclos and many relevant Ministers requesting changes to the employee benefit related legislation and policy due to the COVID-19 crisis. The letter is requesting immediate interim relief measures under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit Act (“CERBA”) to confirm that any income replacement relief provided to Local 793 members and their families to deal with the devastating impact of income interruption due to the pandemic is treated as a “relief grant” under Section 35 of the Employee Insurance Act Regulations.

Click link below to read the letter to the Government of Canada requesting changes to employee benefit related legislation and policy due to COVID-19:

Letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

A letter was also sent to Finance Minister Bill Morneau last week. The letter, written in conjunction with MEBCO, a non-profit corporation representing the interests of Canadian multi-employer pension and benefit plans, proposes immediate changes or interim amendments that need to be implemented to the Income Tax Act.

Business Manager Gallagher stressed that it is necessary for an interim order from the government that the COVID-19 related top-up qualifies as an emergency relief grant, as written in Relief Grants, Section 35(7), of the Income Tax Act and Canada Revenue Agency Policy:

“Section 35(7) of the EI Regulations exempts certain income from the definition of “earnings” that would otherwise be captured under s. 35(2), including “relief grants in cash or kind” at 35(7)(c)… the type of financial assistance being contemplated by HWTs and ELHTs in the context of a pandemic, fall within the scope and intent of the relief grant provision and should therefore be viewed as not constituting “earnings” for the purpose of s. 35.”
* Health and Welfare Trusts (HWTs) and Employee Life and Health Trusts (ELHTs)

Click link below to read the letter sent to Finance Minister Bill Morneau requesting changes to employee benefit related legislation and policy due to COVID-19:

Letter to Finance Minister Bill Morneau

Business Manager Gallagher said that the union is prepared to challenge the government if their decision is not favourable and stated that he has spoken to union lawyers at Koskie Minsky LLP in preparation for going to court, if necessary.

However, Gallagher believes the government will do their best to give the interim order needed to allow the union to provide these relief grants to members and is hopeful they will address the issue by week’s end.

“I’ve always believed that if you have a number of people of goodwill and working together, you can move mountains. I believe we will be able to move this mountain and be able to get this benefit to you.

“I am optimistic that we’ll resolve this issue.”

In late March, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which aims to help eligible Canadians affected by COVID-19 with a $2,000 per month payment, for up to four months. With so many Canadians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic financially, here’s a brief overview of what you need to know when […]

In late March, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), which aims to help eligible Canadians affected by COVID-19 with a $2,000 per month payment, for up to four months.

With so many Canadians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic financially, here’s a brief overview of what you need to know when it comes to applying online or by the phone for CERB, such as eligibility, requirements, payment schedules and more, based on information from this page of the government website.

When Can I Apply for CERB?

According to the federal government’s website, Canadians can apply for CERB starting April 6, 2020, either online through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or by telephone.

Each time you apply for Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), you are applying for $2,000, paid at $500 per week. The government says, “If your situation continues, you can re-apply for a payment for multiple 4-week periods, to a maximum of 16 weeks (4 periods).”

Each payment of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) covers a 4-week period, beginning March 15, 2020, says the government.

Who is Eligible for CERB? According to the government, it’s for those…

• residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
• who have stopped working because of COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits;who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application (may be from a combination of employment; self-employment;
• maternity and parental benefits under the Employment Insurance program and/or similar benefits paid in Quebec under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan); and
• who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period.

The government says CERB is “only available to individuals who stopped work and are not earning employment or self-employment income as a result of reasons

related to COVID-19. If you have not stopped working because of COVID-19, you are not eligible for the Benefit.”

If you’ve already applied for EI benefits, or are already receiving an EI benefits payout, you do not need to apply.

The government gives examples of stopping to work below, which could include but are not limited to:

• You have been let go from your job or your hours have been reduced to zero;
• You are in quarantine or sick due to COVID-19;
• You are away from work to take care of others because they are in quarantine, sick due to COVID-19; and/or
• You are away from work to take care of children or other dependents whose care facility is closed due to COVID-19.
• You cannot quit your job voluntarily, says the government.

When Can I Apply for CERB?

There is a staggered application process starting April 6, 2020, based on the month you were born in, to prevent the system from being overwhelmed.

Here’s when you can apply…

Mondays: those born in January/February/March
Tuesdays: those born in April/May/June
Wednesdays: those born in July/August/September
Thursdays: those born in October/November/December
Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays: any month
The government says April 6 would be “your best day to apply” if you are part of the Monday group, April 7 for the Tuesday group, April 8 for the Wednesday group, and so forth.

How to Apply for CERB: Two Ways (Online or Phone)

Applications for CERB start Monday, April 6, 2020, through an online application or automated phone service.

a) Online with CRA My Account
Sign in to your CRA Account. Go to COVID-19: Canada Emergency Response Benefit in the alert banner at the top of the page

1. Select the period you want to apply for
2. Declare that you qualify for the benefit
3. Confirm we have the right payment information

b) Over the phone (automated service)

1. You’ll need your social insurance number and postal code
2. Call 1-800-959-2019 and follow instructions to enter the info above, plus the period you are applying for.
3. Declare you are eligible for the benefit

How and When Will I Get Paid from CERB?

• Within 3 business days if you have signed up for CRA direct deposit

Roughly 10 business days if you aren’t signed up for direct deposit (cheque)

Do I Need to Declare my CERB Payments?

CERB benefits are taxable and “you will need to report any payments received on next year’s tax filing.” The government says an information slip will show up for your 2020 tax year in “My Account” under “Tax Information Slips (T4 and more).”

Again, when you apply for CERB benefits, you’re only applying for a 4-week period which gives you $2,000. You’ll have to repeat the process if you need another 4-week payment period, for a maximum of 16 weeks.

As of writing (Sunday, April 5), the government says its online My Account portal will soon be temporarily unavailable starting from 11pm EDT on Sunday, April 5, until 6am EDT on Monday, April 6, in preparation for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) launch. If you’re part of the group applying on Monday, it may be worth signing in right now to double-check your account.