Local 793 Operator Featured in Labour Magazine

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 crane operator Justin Wedderburn was featured recently in a magazine called Labour Action published by the Toronto and York Region Labour Council. Justin is a graduate of the Hammerheads program and joined Local 793 in 2013. Click here to read the story.

Local 793 crane operator Justin Wedderburn was featured recently in a magazine called Labour Action published by the Toronto and York Region Labour Council. Justin is a graduate of the Hammerheads program and joined Local 793 in 2013.

Click here to read the story.

Local 793 Participates in Santa Claus Parade

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 staff and members participated in the Oakville Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 19. The union’s float was decorated as a gingerbread house. The contingent included three gingerbread people. Thousands of onlookers lined the parade route in downtown Oakville.

Local 793 staff and members participated in the Oakville Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 19. The union’s float was decorated as a gingerbread house. The contingent included three gingerbread people. Thousands of onlookers lined the parade route in downtown Oakville.

Campaign Launched to Promote Pipeline Work

Written by Local 793 Staff

IUOE locals across the country have launched a #Ready2Work campaign and website aimed at rallying Canadians to tell their MPs it’s time to build pipelines. The campaign is funded by all of the IUOE locals in Canada that have members working in the pipeline industry. Click here to visit the website. “The name says it […]

IUOE locals across the country have launched a #Ready2Work campaign and website aimed at rallying Canadians to tell their MPs it’s time to build pipelines.

The campaign is funded by all of the IUOE locals in Canada that have members working in the pipeline industry.

Click here to visit the website.

“The name says it all,” IUOE Canadian director Lionel Railton said in a press release. “The pipeline proposals currently on the table are undergoing the most rigorous and comprehensive review process in Canadian history. They are ready to go, and we are ready to work.

“There’s no time to delay. It’s time to build. We are asking Canadians to join us in sending that message loud and clear.”

Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher said pipeline projects will create employment for thousands of Operating Engineers and other pipeline trades workers across the country and generate billions of dollars in tax revenues for the federal and provincial governments.

“I am asking that Local 793 members support this important initiative, as building pipelines like the Energy East project will create numerous jobs for our members.

“We have invested in a pipeline-training program at the OETIO in Morrisburg and the IUOE has signed a memorandum of understanding with TransCanada Corp. to build the entire Energy East project using only Operating Engineers, Labourers, Pipefitters and Teamsters.

“Pipeline construction is vital to the Canadian economy and is proven to be the safest and least greenhouse-gas-intensive-way of transporting oil.”

Assistant business manager Alex Law said Local 793 and other Operating Engineer locals across the country have been preparing their members for pipeline projects.

“We have the most skilled workers around and our Operating Engineers are ready, willing and able to build these pipeline projects in a safe and efficient manner,” he said. “There should be no further delays.

“Projects like Energy East will be built to the highest safety standards and the construction work will be done by well-trained and experienced Canadian unionized pipeline trades workers.”

The website notes that 99.999 per cent of crude oil moved by pipeline arrives safely at its destination because of Canadian Operating Engineers – a world-class workforce, trained through programs supported by millions of dollars in investment by IUOE locals.

“But our commitment to safety comes from much more than training,” notes IUOE Canadian director Railton. “Operating Engineers live in the same communities where these pipelines are built. We are your next-door neighbours – so when we build, we build right, we build safe, and we build to last.”

The #Ready2Work campaign is also highlighting the fact that pipelines are the most environmentally responsible choice for moving oil, as shipping it by rail or truck produces more greenhouse gas emissions.

The IUOE says the need for pipeline projects has never been stronger, as the collapse of oil prices has led to an economic crisis.

Canada lost more than 31,000 jobs in July of this year. In Alberta alone, the oil crisis made 2015 the worst year for job losses since 1982. Thousands of working class Canadians are out of work.

“This is a crisis – families can’t put food on the table,” said Railton. “Building pipelines will create thousands of good union jobs, right when Canadians need them most.

“No more delays – I ask Canadians to visit the website and tell their MP we are ready to work.”

IUOE GP Issues Statement on U.S. Election

Written by Local 793 Staff

The following statement was issued by IUOE General President James T. Callahan in response to the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president: Last night, the Operating Engineers and organized labor sustained political losses throughout the country that will change the landscape for labor into the foreseeable future. No one knows for certain what a […]

The following statement was issued by IUOE General President James T. Callahan in response to the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president:

Last night, the Operating Engineers and organized labor sustained political losses throughout the country that will change the landscape for labor into the foreseeable future.

No one knows for certain what a Trump Administration will bring, but if he keeps his campaign promises, many of our sacred labor protections will be truly tested. Many union households voted against their economic futures, which is troubling at best. 

Now that the initial disappointment has been processed, it is time to do what every Operating Engineer in a leadership role has always done. We will stand strong, stand together, and continue to hold off attempts to erode away our collective bargaining rights. 

In the coming days, as we determine where these attacks will develop, rest assured that this administration, staff and the General Executive Board of our great organization is prepared to stand with you on the battlefield that lies before us, wherever our resources are needed.

God Bless you,
God Bless the Operating Engineers, and
God Bless America.

Arbitrator Orders Employer to Develop Social Media Policy

Written by Local 793 Staff

In a recent arbitration decision, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was found to have violated its obligation to provide a workplace which was safe and free of harassment by failing to take steps to protect its employees from social media harassment. The TTC had created a Twitter account to receive and respond to customer service […]

In a recent arbitration decision, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was found to have violated its obligation to provide a workplace which was safe and free of harassment by failing to take steps to protect its employees from social media harassment.

The TTC had created a Twitter account to receive and respond to customer service questions and concerns. The union representing TTC employees filed a grievance claiming that the Twitter account had become a public platform for people to abuse and harass employees. In support of its case, the union introduced into evidence hundreds of offensive, discriminatory and abusive tweets.

The arbitrator decided in favour of the union. By not properly addressing the offensive tweets, the TTC had failed to provide a workplace safe and free of harassment. In the course of his decision, the arbitrator specifically noted that the TTC did not have a social media policy and, as part of his remedy, ordered that the TTC develop one.

Local 793 recently developed a social media policy that was passed by the executive board and reviewed by the membership at the September general membership meeting. By taking proactive steps to address the challenges posed by social media, Local 793 is providing confidence to members by setting out rules for the safe use of social media while protecting its members from online harassment and abuse and ensuring the union is in compliance with Ontario law and the union’s constitution and by-laws.

Click here to review Local 793’s Social Media Policy.

OSWCA Praises Huge Government Water Spend

Written by Local 793 Staff

The following article appeared in Daily Commercial News Sept. 14 was a banner day for Ontario’s water and wastewater construction sector as the provincial government stepped up to announce new funding to supplement federal support previously earmarked for its new Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF). The result is $1.1 billion in joint federal, provincial and […]

The following article appeared in Daily Commercial News

Sept. 14 was a banner day for Ontario’s water and wastewater construction sector as the provincial government stepped up to announce new funding to supplement federal support previously earmarked for its new Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF).

The result is $1.1 billion in joint federal, provincial and municipal spending on 41 Ontario water and wastewater projects, news that thrilled Giovanni Cautillo, executive director of the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association (OSWCA).

The announcement was made by federal Minister of Infrastructure Amarjeet Sohi, provincial Minister of Infrastructure Bob Chiarelli and Toronto Mayor John Tory at Toronto’s Port Lands. The three levels of government will be spending $83 million on flood-protection measures in the area as part of the pre-development phase of the Port Lands.

Calling the news “fantastic,” Cautillo said the provincial portion of the spending was “found money.”

“It was not identified in the provincial budget,” he said. “It was unallocated money.

Click here to see rest of article

 

 

Operating Engineers Ready if Energy East is a Go

Written by Local 793 Staff

The following story appeared Aug. 10 in Daily Commercial News. The Energy East oil pipeline is far from a sure thing as National Energy Board (NEB) hearings get underway this week, but what is certain is that if and when the project gets a green light, hundreds of Ontario’s operating engineers will be ready to […]

The following story appeared Aug. 10 in Daily Commercial News.

The Energy East oil pipeline is far from a sure thing as National Energy Board (NEB) hearings get underway this week, but what is certain is that if and when the project gets a green light, hundreds of Ontario’s operating engineers will be ready to get right to work.

Anticipating the need for trained pipeline operators, the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO) campus in Morrisburg, Ont. launched a three-week training program for operators of dozers, sidebooms and excavators in June 2015. OETIO executive director Harold McBride reported recently that the program has already graduated 174 newly skilled operating engineers since the program debuted, with hopes to match that output in the next 15 months.

McBride acknowledged that Energy East faces opposition that could derail the project but he said the training centre really has no option but to train workers to be ready to go come 2018, when the NEB is scheduled to present its recommendations.

“Here is the way we look at it,” said McBride. “Everyone is sitting on the fence, but if we didn’t prepare ahead, we wouldn’t be able to supply the demand. So if we wait until it is totally confirmed, we won’t have time to train the people needed and it would allow foreign workers to come in.”

Click here for entire story

 

Vote for the OE Banquet Hall

Written by Local 793 Staff

The OE Banquet Hall & Conference Centre at head office in Oakville has been nominated for a 2016 Readers’ Choice Award in The Oakville Beaver newspaper. We have been nominated in the Banquet Facilities category. The public is being invited to cast votes online for the best banquet facility in the Oakville area. Winners of […]

The OE Banquet Hall & Conference Centre at head office in Oakville has been nominated for a 2016 Readers’ Choice Award in The Oakville Beaver newspaper.

We have been nominated in the Banquet Facilities category.

The public is being invited to cast votes online for the best banquet facility in the Oakville area. Winners of each category will be announced in an upcoming issue of the paper.

Our banquet facility received the top award from the newspaper in 2015, 2013 and 2012. We are hoping to continue the tradition.

Please go to the award website and cast a ballot for our banquet facility.

Click here to go to the website.

Once you register, go to the Best Businesses/Services link and scroll down to the Banquet Facilities link. The OE Banquet Hall & Conference Centre is listed there.

Voting ends Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016 at 11:59 p.m.

Oakville is waiting to see who has the best banquet hall. Your vote could put us in the winner’s circle — again.

OETIO Receives Funds for New Equipment

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher was quoted in the following article that appeared recently in Daily Commercial News. With an aging workforce and infrastructure spending ramping up, the need to teach specialty skills such as crane and heavy equipment operation in Ontario has gone past talk and into crunch time. Mike Gallagher, Oakville, Ont. […]

Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher was quoted in the following article that appeared recently in Daily Commercial News.

With an aging workforce and infrastructure spending ramping up, the need to teach specialty skills such as crane and heavy equipment operation in Ontario has gone past talk and into crunch time.

Mike Gallagher, Oakville, Ont. business manager of Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), addressed the gravity of the situation recently as he welcomed funding for seven new pieces of heavy equipment worth close to $1.3 million for the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO) campuses in Morrisburg and Oakville.

The OETIO trains crane operators as well as heavy equipment operators who run dozers, backhoes and excavators but Gallagher said they are barely keeping up with demand.

There are currently 320 crane and tower apprentices training at the Oakville centre but research shows OETIO and the colleges who also train heavy equipment operators are in a race against time as the huge boomer generation reaches retirement age.

The average age of a journeyman mobile crane operator according to Ontario statistics compiled in 2012 was 50; even more pressing, the average tower crane operator was 58.

“We carefully monitor that,” said Gallagher. “We allow retirees to work for a certain amount of time after they retire but you can only keep working for so long at this trade, it is a physically demanding trade.”

“So the opportunity is there for young people considering a career.”

Click here to read full article

Federal Budget Earmarks Money for Infrastructure

Written by Local 793 Staff

The federal budget tabled March 22 by Finance Minister Bill Morneau confirms that the government will make a historic investment of $120 billion over the next decade on infrastructure. As an immediate first step, the government will invest nearly $12 billion over five years in modern and reliable public transit, water and wastewater systems, affordable […]

The federal budget tabled March 22 by Finance Minister Bill Morneau confirms that the government will make a historic investment of $120 billion over the next decade on infrastructure.

As an immediate first step, the government will invest nearly $12 billion over five years in modern and reliable public transit, water and wastewater systems, affordable housing, and in retrofits and repairs to protect existing projects from the effects of climate change.

In the coming months, the government will lay out its longer-term priorities for renewing and modernizing Canada’s infrastructure.

Under the plan:

  • $3.4 billion will be spent over three years to upgrade and improve public transit systems across Canada;
  • $5 billion will be spent over five years for investments in water, wastewater and green infrastructure projects across Canada; and
  • $3.4 billion will be spent over five years for social infrastructure, including affordable housing, early learning and childcare, cultural and recreational infrastructure, and community healthcare facilities on reserves.

The Department of Finance estimates that these and other measures announced in the budget will raise the level of real gross domestic product by 0.5 per cent in the first year and by one per cent in the second year.

In addition to the new funding announced in the budget, the government will:

  • Continue to make available approximately $3 billion each year in dedicated funding for municipal infrastructure projects through the Gas Tax Fund and the incremental Goods and Services Tax Rebate for Municipalities;
  • Work with provincial, territorial and municipal partners to get projects underway, by accelerating spending from the $9 billion available under the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component and other existing infrastructure programs;
  • Transfer remaining uncommitted funds from older federal infrastructure programs to municipalities through the Gas Tax Fund in 2016–17 in order to ensure funds are directed towards municipal infrastructure priorities in the near term; and
  • Ensure that government institutions are aligned to best support infrastructure innovation, including by transferring responsibility for PPP Canada Inc. to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

The budget also proposes to provide $3.4 billion over the next five years to maintain and upgrade federal infrastructure assets such as national parks, small craft harbours, federal airports and border infrastructure. This funding will also support the cleanup of contaminated sites across the country.

Meanwhile, the government also promised in the budget to strengthen union-based apprenticeship training by providing $85.4 million over five years, starting in 2016–17, to develop a new framework to support union-based apprenticeship training.

As well as improving the quality of training through investments in equipment, the framework will seek to incorporate greater union involvement in apprenticeship training and support innovative approaches and partnerships with other stakeholders, including employers.