Memorial Garden to be Built at Head Office

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher has announced that the union is looking at building a memorial garden and monument to honour members who have been killed in construction site accidents or died due to an occupational disease. “This is an important initiative and a respectful way of remembering and honouring our union brothers and […]

Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher has announced that the union is looking at building a memorial garden and monument to honour members who have been killed in construction site accidents or died due to an occupational disease.
“This is an important initiative and a respectful way of remembering and honouring our union brothers and sisters who have died under such circumstances,” Gallagher noted in a statement.
The monument will be similar to those that have been erected in memory of police officers and firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
“We should be doing everything in our power to mark the lives of Operating Engineers who have lost their lives in construction or industrial accidents or because of an occupational illness,” Gallagher said.
Architect Michael Spaziani, who designed Local 793’s head office in Oakville, has put out a request for proposals for a professional artist to design the monument.
The monument will be located at the union’s head office. Names of Local 793 operators who have died in accidents or due to occupational diseases will be part of the monument.
A final design proposal is expected by the end of 2014.
Gallagher said that the proposal will be brought to a general membership meeting for discussion, as input from members on the initiative is essential.
The union would like to hear from anyone who knows of a member who has passed away due to a workplace accident or occupational disease like mesothelioma.
Please contact Crystal Resendes or Debbie Coulson to provide the name and some background on the deceased member. They can be reached at 905-469-9299 or toll free at 1-877-793-4863.

Training Minister Speaks at Fundraiser

Written by Local 793 Staff

Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Brad Duguid says the provincial Liberal government wants to work with labour unions and young people to build a better Ontario. He told an audience in Local 793’s banquet hall Jan. 24 that the Conservatives, meanwhile, are intent on destroying unions. “The Conservatives decided they want to declare war on […]

Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Brad Duguid says the provincial Liberal government wants to work with labour unions and young people to build a better Ontario.
He told an audience in Local 793’s banquet hall Jan. 24 that the Conservatives, meanwhile, are intent on destroying unions.
“The Conservatives decided they want to declare war on labour and we can’t let that happen,” he said.
Duguid was guest speaker at a fundraiser for Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn.
In his remarks, he said the provincial Liberals have worked hard to create a good labour relations climate in Ontario, yet Conservative leader Tim Hudak is intent on destroying that.
Duguid told the audience that if Hudak is elected, labour would go back to the days of Mike Harris and protests on the front law of Queen’s Park.
By contrast, he noted, the Liberals want to “go forward” with labour and young people.
Duguid said the Liberals will stand up for labour and not let the Conservatives drive down wages.
He also spoke about the track record of the provincial Liberals in creating jobs for young people.
He said 6,463 young people have found jobs over the past four and a half years thanks to the Youth Employment Fund, and the program is well on its way to reaching the goal of 24,000.
“We are proud of the fact what we’ve developed here is working.”
The Fund is part of the government’s new Youth Jobs Strategy, which is helping young people across the province get work experience, start a business or build job skills.
Duguid said the provincial government is creating jobs by investing in the education system and Ontario is leading the world when it comes to post-secondary education.
He noted that the corporate tax rate in Ontario is the lowest in North America and, as a result, has helped attract 435,000 jobs to the province since the recession.
He said the Liberal government’s economic plan entails investing in people while the NDP plan is to tax corporations.
Meanwhile, he said, the so-called Million Jobs Plan proposed by Hudak would actually take away job creation and result in jobs being cut in education and health care.
“That’s wrong-headed. It’s bad economics and bad for our community.”
Oakville MPP Flynn told the audience that people keep telling the provincial government to be fiscally responsible and control spending, but also to keep investing in infrastructure.
He said the province is doing that through its economic plan for growth.

Mixed Bag for ICI Construction in Ontario

Written by Local 793 Staff

Investment in industrial and commercial construction projects in Ontario is expected to increase in 2014 while a decline is anticipated in the institutional sector. That’s the bottom line in a forecast released recently by the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS). The OCS says in its March economic outlook that the fortunes of the industrial and commercial […]

Investment in industrial and commercial construction projects in Ontario is expected to increase in 2014 while a decline is anticipated in the institutional sector.
That’s the bottom line in a forecast released recently by the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS).
The OCS says in its March economic outlook that the fortunes of the industrial and commercial sectors will be lifted by growth of the U.S. economy while institutional investment will continue to drop, as it has done for the past two years.
In the industrial sector, forecasters are projecting that acceleration in the U.S. economy will provide a boost to manufacturers in Ontario.
The OCS says that improved manufacturing sales should stimulate increased industrial investment.
The forecast says that the mining sector is difficult to forecast, as evidenced by the recent decision by Cliffs Natural Resources to indefinitely suspend its Ring of Fire project.
However, the forecast notes that conversations with stakeholders in northern Ontario indicate that the mining sector will provide a lift to industrial investment, thanks to projects like the Red Lake and Musselwhite mines in northwestern Ontario.
Large-scale transportation projects will also help boost industrial investment in 2014, the forecast says, one being the $2-billion Ottawa LRT, which is scheduled for completion in 2017.
In the commercial sector, forecasters project investment will increase, albeit at a slower place than in 2013.
Economic conditions are supportive for continued commercial investment, the forecast notes, and company surveys conducted by the Bank of Canada reveal that credit is easily accessible.
The forecast notes that indicators of business sentiment remain around their historical averages, interest rates remain well below historical levels and operating profits as a share of the economy have been normal in 2013. Additionally, economic growth is expected to accelerate and the province’s population will likely increase next year.
Regionally, the forecast says the GTA looks to be the largest contributor to commercial investment, as the region is enjoying an office construction cycle. Within downtown Toronto, seven new office buildings are scheduled to come online between 2014 and 2017.
In the institutional sector, the forecast notes that expenditures have been dropping since 2011, and the question now becomes: How long is the decline going to be in place?
Unfortunately, the forecast says that building permit data – which is a very strong predictor of upcoming institutional investment – is suggesting the downward trend will continue.
The OCS model of institutional investment, which considers building permits and population changes, is pointing to a decline of about five per cent in investment in 2014.

Trades Lobby Against Bill C-377

Written by Local 793 Staff

Skilled trades workers from across Canada converged on Ottawa May 15 to meet with Members of Parliament and lobby against Bill C-377. Local 793 was represented at the event by Eastern Ontario area supervisor Rick Kerr, assistant labour relations manager Brian Alexander and business reps Jim Laginski, André Chenier and Jonathan Sprung. IUOE Canadian director […]

Skilled trades workers from across Canada converged on Ottawa May 15 to meet with Members of Parliament and lobby against Bill C-377. Local 793 was represented at the event by Eastern Ontario area supervisor Rick Kerr, assistant labour relations manager Brian Alexander and business reps Jim Laginski, André Chenier and Jonathan Sprung.
IUOE Canadian director Jim Murphy and IUOE Canadian government affairs director Steven Schumann were also in attendance.
The meetings were organized by the Canadian division of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD).
The meetings provided an opportunity for the trades to voice their concerns about Bill C-377 directly to their MPs.
Bob Blakely, director of Canadian affairs for the BCTD, said skilled trades workers from Vancouver to St. John’s are worried about the implications of the legislation and its costly negative impacts on major oil sands developments and other large-scale energy projects.
“Our workers rely on their unions to provide necessary benefits and training with the dues that they pay,” he said.
“Our partner contractors – and clients they work for – rely on them to use the skilled manpower we provide in a cost-efficient manner.
“C-377 is going to see that money spent on creating more government bureaucracy. It will slow down Canada’s economic recovery in the construction sector.”
Blakely said Bill C-377 is intended to fix a problem that does not exist and endangers the ability of the building trades to build projects across the country and create jobs.
He said it will create an expanded, expensive and redundant bureaucracy and actually duplicate processes that are already in place to provide accountability and transparency for workers.
A survey conducted by Leger Marketing indicated there is strong opposition to Bill C-377 by members of building trades unions across Canada.
Findings released in March show there is a strong sense of unfairness associated with the Bill, particularly around its focus on unions and their requirements to publicly disclose their financial information.
The building trades say the Bill will duplicate processes that are already in place to provide accountability and transparency and that it will create an expanded, expensive and redundant bureaucracy, resulting in increased compliance costs for unions.
The Bill would require labour organizations in Canada to file detailed, annual financial statements that go into much greater depth than your typical income statement and balance sheet.
Once submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency, the complete financial package would be made public for anyone to view by way of the Internet.
Conservative estimates put the additional administration costs for compliance in the neighbourhood of 20 per cent. This can be attributed to increased labour costs associated with statement tracking and preparation, and will increase the expenses of unions.
Meanwhile, union pension and benefit plan administrators would also be faced with additional administrative costs.
A component of the Bill requires that the union disclose any trust fund transaction or disbursement (i.e. health and welfare payment, pension payment, etc.) to a member in excess of $5,000, accompanied with the name and address of the recipient, and the purpose for the payment.

Can PRPPs Save Retirement?

Written by Local 793 Staff

There is a broad consensus that low- and middle-income workers in Canada will face a decline in their standard of living when they retire. Separate reports from three pension experts have each come to the conclusion that Canadians with incomes between $30,000 and $100,000 are not saving enough money for retirement. The publication, Plans & […]

There is a broad consensus that low- and middle-income workers in Canada will face a decline in their standard of living when they retire. Separate reports from three pension experts have each come to the conclusion that Canadians with incomes between $30,000 and $100,000 are not saving enough money for retirement. The publication, Plans & Trusts, recently ran an article on the subject, and the development of Pooled Registered Pension Plans. It was written by Simon Archer, an associate with Koskie Minsky LLP.
Read Article

Training Minister Speaks at Fundraiser

Written by Local 793 Staff

Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Brad Duguid says the provincial Liberal government wants to work with labour unions and young people to build a better Ontario. He told an audience in Local 793’s banquet hall Jan. 24 that the Conservatives, meanwhile, are intent on destroying unions. “The Conservatives decided they want to declare war on […]

Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Brad Duguid says the provincial Liberal government wants to work with labour unions and young people to build a better Ontario.

He told an audience in Local 793’s banquet hall Jan. 24 that the Conservatives, meanwhile, are intent on destroying unions.

“The Conservatives decided they want to declare war on labour and we can’t let that happen,” he said.

Duguid was guest speaker at a fundraiser for Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn.

In his remarks, he said the provincial Liberals have worked hard to create a good labour relations climate in Ontario, yet Conservative leader Tim Hudak is intent on destroying that.

Duguid told the audience that if Hudak is elected, labour would go back to the days of Mike Harris and protests on the front law of Queen’s Park.

By contrast, he noted, the Liberals want to “go forward” with labour and young people.

Duguid said the Liberals will stand up for labour and not let the Conservatives drive down wages.

He also spoke about the track record of the provincial Liberals in creating jobs for young people.

He said 6,463 young people have found jobs over the past four and a half years thanks to the Youth Employment Fund, and the program is well on its way to reaching the goal of 24,000.

“We are proud of the fact what we’ve developed here is working.”

The Fund is part of the government’s new Youth Jobs Strategy, which is helping young people across the province get work experience, start a business or build job skills.

Duguid said the provincial government is creating jobs by investing in the education system and Ontario is leading the world when it comes to post-secondary education.

He noted that the corporate tax rate in Ontario is the lowest in North America and, as a result, has helped attract 435,000 jobs to the province since the recession.

He said the Liberal government’s economic plan entails investing in people while the NDP plan is to tax corporations.

Meanwhile, he said, the so-called Million Jobs Plan proposed by Hudak would actually take away job creation and result in jobs being cut in education and health care.

“That’s wrong-headed. It’s bad economics and bad for our community.”

Oakville MPP Flynn told the audience that people keep telling the provincial government to be fiscally responsible and control spending, but also to keep investing in infrastructure.

He said the province is doing that through its economic plan for growth.

NDP’s Keystone XL Opposition Fails Canadian Construction Workers

Written by Local 793 Staff

In November, the International Union of Operating Engineers issued a press release, objecting to a New Democratic Party Opposition Day motion on the Keystone XL pipeline. Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher, who is an IUOE International vice president, and IUOE general president James T. Callahan were disappointed with the NDP’s motion. IUOE Canadian regional […]

In November, the International Union of Operating Engineers issued a press release, objecting to a New Democratic Party Opposition Day motion on the Keystone XL pipeline.
Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher, who is an IUOE International vice president, and IUOE general president James T. Callahan were disappointed with the NDP’s motion.
IUOE Canadian regional director James Murphy also sent a strongly worded letter to NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair.
The NDP motion stated that:
“In the opinion of the House, the Keystone XL pipeline would intensify the export of unprocessed raw bitumen and would export more than 40,000 well-paying Canadian jobs, and is therefore not in Canada’s best interest.”
Business manager Gallagher noted in the press release that he is disappointed that the NDP chose to completely ignore the benefit of pipeline construction to working Canadians such as members of the Operating Engineers’ union and other construction trades.
“The Keystone XL project would be a net benefit to workers across Canada who depend on the resource sector and construction for their livelihoods,” he stated. “This hasty action by the NDP without consulting major stakeholders will jeopardize our economic recovery and jobs we had been hoping for.”
General president Callahan said thousands of skilled construction jobs – jobs that feed families, pay mortgages and send kids to university – will be generated from building Keystone XL.
“If you are on the side of working people, then you should be for this project.”
In his letter to Mulcair, Canadian regional director Murphy said that Canada does not have the refining capacity to deal with the amounts of raw bitumen that are being developed in Canada’s oil sands, therefore the product must be exported.
He stated that the union supports Keystone XL because Canada must look at expanding and diversifying its markets.
He noted that Keystone XL will allow Canadian oil companies to expand the reach of their product, which will only benefit Canada’s economy.
“Operating Engineers are among the most highly trained and skilled pipeline workers in the world,” he stated in the letter. “Our expertise will ensure that Keystone is built right, built safe and built to last.”

Redshaw Scholarship Winners Announced

Winners of the Jack Redshaw Scholarship have been announced.
A total of 12 scholarships of $2,000 each were awarded. The Crane Rental Association of Ontario donated funds for two of the awards.
Local 793 president Joe Redshaw said in a statement that he would like to thank the Crane Rental Association for making the donation.
The scholarship winners were:

  • Stefanie Bogaert – Sarnia area
  • Devon Coles – Hamilton area
  • Ryan Coulson – Toronto area
  • Mitchell Fedorchuk – St. Catherine’s area
  • Robyn Hansen – Hamilton area
  • Sarah Kazak – Ottawa area
  • Lindsay Kuiack – Cambridge area
  • Darquise Mantha – Sudbury area
  • Alexandra Scandolo – Toronto area
  • Benjamin Schwarz – Toronto area
  • Nicole Selman – Sarnia area
  • Irena Sziler – Windsor area

The criteria for the scholarships is as follows:

  • The awards are available to the sons, daughters and grandchildren of members who are in good standing at the time of selection of the awards.
  • The scholarship recipient must be entering the first or subsequent year of a full-time course of study (at least two years in length) leading to a diploma, certificate or degree from any recognized public Canadian college or university.

Applications must be supported by transcripts of high school achievement and accompanied by a detailed letter of recommendation from an individual with personal academic knowledge of the candidate, outlining reasons why the scholarship should be awarded.
In addition, applicants must submit a 1,000-word essay on the reason(s) why the scholarship will be of assistance and the impact that being a dependent or grandchild of a Local 793 union member has had on the applicant’s life.
Once the recipients have been selected, they will be notified and asked to provide further proof from the Office of the Registrar that they are currently attending full-time studies in their selected program.
Eligible persons are able to apply more than once, however, once they have received a bursary, they are no longer eligible to receive another award.
The deadline for receipt of the application shall be the first Friday in the month of September.
Application forms are available on Local 793’s website or from area offices.

Union Supports Fund-raiser for Anishinabek Nation Charity

Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher, president Joe Redshaw and a number of other union representatives attended a fund-raiser Oct. 17 for the Anishinabek Nation 7th Generation Charity.
The event, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto, provided an opportunity for corporate and government partners to meet and network with leaders of First Nations communities across Ontario.
More than 200 people attended the event. A business networking reception was followed by a panel discussion on issues of importance to the people of the Anishinabek Nation.
Funds raised from the event will go to scholarships and bursaries and to support education, healthcare and other under-funded services in the 39 Anishinabek communities. The Charity has raised $600,000 since 1999.
Dignitaries attending the event included: Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee; former Prime Minister Paul Martin; Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne; former Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine; Ontario Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer; and John Tory, former PC Party leader and host of Live Drive on Newstalk 1010.
Local 793 was the only union that had representatives at the event. Grand Council Chief Madahbee sat at the table with Local 793 representatives.
Business manager Gallagher said it was important for Local 793 representatives to be at the event because the union is working to get more people from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities into training programs at the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO).
“We are working closely with First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities and reaching out to the Aboriginal population to get more youth into our apprenticeship programs and good paying jobs in the construction trades,” he said. “By attending this event we are demonstrating our commitment to work with these communities and Aboriginal leaders.”
During the panel discussion, dignitaries addressed a number of issues, including education and the importance of having a skilled workforce available to fill key positions.
Former Prime Minister Martin complimented the work being done by Local 793 during his remarks.
Martin spoke about some of the things unions like the Operating Engineers are doing and how they are an important part of the fabric of Canada.
Premier Wynne shared her vision on enhancing student success in First Nation communities in Ontario.
Grand Council Chief Madahbee told the audience that First Nations communities support development but only with community control and benefits.
“We have to empower our people … to take control of our lives” and “put in place our way of thinking, our world view,” he said in a story published in Anishinabek News.ca. “We don’t need somebody dictating what we can do and cannot do. We know how to do the job.”
Meanwhile, former Assembly of First Nations National Chief Fontaine said the single most important issue to face Canada is First Nations poverty and how to eradicate it.
“We have to move quickly and … persuasively,” he said in Anishinabek News.ca. “Partnerships are our best option to create a better future for Canada and Aboriginal people.”
The Anishinabek Nation 7th Generation Charity is the official charitable fundraising arm of the Anishinabek Nation. The Charity is committed to improving the quality of life of Anishinabek Nation citizens by providing support where no other funding exists.