Upgrading the fire suppression systems at Bruce Power

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 steward Dan Vanderveeken seen here working for Bird Construction at the Bruce Power Generating Station in Tiverton, ON. Vanderveeken is standing in front of a Kubota SVL75-2 skid steer loader, which he operates on a project installing water lines to upgrade the fire suppression systems onsite. Pressure-suppression systems are critical to safety and […]

Local 793 steward Dan Vanderveeken seen here working for Bird Construction at the Bruce Power Generating Station in Tiverton, ON.

Vanderveeken is standing in front of a Kubota SVL75-2 skid steer loader, which he operates on a project installing water lines to upgrade the fire suppression systems onsite. Pressure-suppression systems are critical to safety and greatly affect the size of containment in the event of an emergency.

‘Mass layoffs’ could follow Baffinland’s notice to labour board

Written by Local 793 Staff

Baffinland Iron Mines Corp., has taken a formal step toward laying off hundreds of workers at its Mary River mine, filing a notice with the Nunavut Labour Standards Compliance Office on Friday. The move sets the stage for the mining company to possibly lay off more than 1,300 of its workers from its iron mine located […]

Baffinland Iron Mines Corp., has taken a formal step toward laying off hundreds of workers at its Mary River mine, filing a notice with the Nunavut Labour Standards Compliance Office on Friday.

The move sets the stage for the mining company to possibly lay off more than 1,300 of its workers from its iron mine located in northern Baffin Island, near the end of September. At least 209 of those employees are Inuit.

The move comes after Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal’s June 1 rejection of Baffinland chief executive officer Brian Penney’s May 26 request for an emergency order to allow the company to ship six million tonnes of iron ore in 2022, rather than the 4.2 million tonnes allowed under its current permit.

Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher said he is disappointed with the situation and is still hoping layoffs can be avoided.

“We really would like to see this whole thing cleared up as quickly as possible, and the fastest way to do that, I think, is to have the minister approve the emergency application,” he said.

Business Manager Gallagher said employee voices are not being heard by regulators or decision-makers.

“We just feel that, in spite of all of our efforts … the voices aren’t being heard. The members clearly want the mine work to continue,” he said.

CLICK HERE to read more from this article in the Nunatsiaq News.

OETIO digs foundation for new Habitat for Humanity home for family in need

Written by Local 793 Staff

One family’s dream of having a place to call their own is now a step closer to becoming a reality thanks to OETIO. Morrisburg training campus supervisor Greg Runions and instructor Jason Wills joined volunteers from the St Lawrence College (Cornwall) carpentry program on May 9 to dig the foundation of a new Habitat for […]

One family’s dream of having a place to call their own is now a step closer to becoming a reality thanks to OETIO.

Morrisburg training campus supervisor Greg Runions and instructor Jason Wills joined volunteers from the St Lawrence College (Cornwall) carpentry program on May 9 to dig the foundation of a new Habitat for Humanity home in Winchester Springs.

The eventual owners, Zach and Taylor Rumohr-Boisvert and their children Marissa, Zoe, Octavia and Lincoln, currently live in transitional housing and face overcrowding and privacy issues. To qualify for their affordable Habitat home, they must complete 500 hours of volunteer service and fundraise to help offset building costs.

Those costs will now be significantly lower for the Rumohr-Boisverts following Greg and Jason’s expert contribution.

Vow to build Ontario key to Ford’s Ontario PC election win

Written by Local 793 Staff

Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservatives swept to victory in the Ontario provincial elections on Thursday, securing an increased majority government at Queen’s Park. The PCs ended the night with 41 per cent of the vote and 83 of the 124 seats, up from the 76 they won in 2018, ensuring a second term as […]

Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservatives swept to victory in the Ontario provincial elections on Thursday, securing an increased majority government at Queen’s Park.

The PCs ended the night with 41 per cent of the vote and 83 of the 124 seats, up from the 76 they won in 2018, ensuring a second term as Premier for party leader Ford.

In comparison, both the second-placed NDP and the Liberals will begin the hunt for new leaders after Andrea Horwath of the NDP and Steven Del Duca of the Liberals announced they would be stepping down from their roles. Del Duca also lost in his own riding of Vaughan-Woodbridge.

The NDP secured 38 seats on Thursday, two fewer than in 2018, while the Liberals’ eight seats was one better than last time but still not enough to secure official party status at Queen’s Park.

Ford received high marks from voters for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and for his promises to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and spend big on major construction projects should he be re-elected.

The 2022 budget includes $158 billion in spending over 10 years, including $40 billion over 10 years towards hospital infrastructure; $25.1 billion over 10 years to highway and road construction; and $114 million over three years to the Skilled Trades Strategy.

That spending plan helped win him the support of many construction unions during the campaign, including Local 793 which hosted Ford at the Union’s head office in Oakville a week before the election to announce its endorsement of the Ontario PCs.

With Ford now returned to power, it looks like it could be a busy four years for operating engineers right across the province.

Who won in your riding? CLICK HERE for CBC’s full list of election results

Residential construction sites in Ontario reopening after spring strikes

Written by Local 793 Staff

Residential construction in Ontario is getting back on track after a series of strikes virtually shuttered sites across the province throughout May. With six of nine striking unions having recently agreed to new terms with employers, most workers are now back on the job – with high- and low-rise tilers expected to follow as they […]

Residential construction in Ontario is getting back on track after a series of strikes virtually shuttered sites across the province throughout May.

With six of nine striking unions having recently agreed to new terms with employers, most workers are now back on the job – with high- and low-rise tilers expected to follow as they vote to ratify their new deal on June 2.

Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher, whose members ratified new deals on May 20 after a three-week stoppage, said he wants to see a process put in place where workers and employers can raise and address issues before the bargaining process begins.

“I’m optimistic that we can do that and make changes where necessary,” he said.

CLICK HERE to read the full article on the Daily Commercial News.

Local 793 supports Pride Month

Written by Local 793 Staff

June is Pride Month, when the world’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. The “plus” represents other gender identities and sexual orientations that are not specifically covered by the other five initials. The month was chosen to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising […]

June is Pride Month, when the world’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. The “plus” represents other gender identities and sexual orientations that are not specifically covered by the other five initials.

The month was chosen to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement.

On June 28, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, starting a riot among bar patrons and neighbourhood residents with the police. The riot involved hundreds of people and led to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement.

A year later, on June 28, 1970, thousands of people marched from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park in what was then called “Christopher Street Liberation Day” – marking what is now recognized as the first gay pride parade. Since then, LGBTQ+ people across the world have continued to gather in June to march with pride and demonstrate for equal rights.

The first Pride celebration held in Toronto was just three years after the Stonewall riots, an event that sparked the gay liberation movement in Canada. Within a few years, thousands were attending the annual Gay Pride parade, and by 2018 an estimated 1.6 million people attended Pride weekend and more than 1 million attended Pride month events.

Local 793 is a proud advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and is committed to the fight against discrimination and hate in the workplace and in our communities.

“IUOE Local 793 unequivocally respects the rights of LGBTQ+ communities and believes that society needs to stamp out hate and discrimination in all its ugly forms,” Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher said.

Local 793 celebrates National Indigenous History Month; reflects on reconciliation

Written by Local 793 Staff

June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to recognize the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada. It is a time for learning about, appreciating, and acknowledging the contributions they have made in shaping Canada. But as we celebrate the progress made, we must also accept that much […]

June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to recognize the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada. It is a time for learning about, appreciating, and acknowledging the contributions they have made in shaping Canada.

But as we celebrate the progress made, we must also accept that much more remains to be done.

From a full accounting of the horrors of the residential school system, to investigating the disproportionate level of violence experienced by Indigenous women and addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, our journey is far from over.

The appointment of Mary Simon in 2021 as the first Indigenous Governor General of Canada represents an important step forward for this country as it continues to work towards reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. Ms. Simon has spent a great part of her life working on Arctic and Indigenous issues and has been widely recognized for her efforts in advocating for Inuit rights, youth, education and culture.

Pope Francis was moved to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in the residential school system after meeting a delegation of Indigenous peoples in Rome earlier this year. He is expected to address the issue again when he visits Quebec, Edmonton and Iqaluit in July.

Indigenous families remain deeply scarred by the generations of abuse perpetrated within the walls of residential schools. As such, Indigenous peoples are entitled to more than just an apology if true healing is to take place.

The hard work of reconciliation can’t just be left up to religious and political leaders, however. All of us who build our lives in this vast and beautiful country have a responsibility to do our part to keep the process advancing. A great place to start is by educating ourselves and our children about the history of Indigenous peoples.

IUOE Local 793 stands with Indigenous peoples across the country and within our Union membership, as we continue to work together to build a stronger, fairer Canada for all.