Category: Latest Industry News

Local 793 members and their families marched in several Labour Day parades across the province Sept. 2. Participants wore union hats and shirts at the various events. The parade in Toronto was led by Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher. The event started at Queen and University streets and wound its way to the CNE […]

Local 793 members and their families marched in several Labour Day parades across the province Sept. 2.

Participants wore union hats and shirts at the various events.

The parade in Toronto was led by Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher. The event started at Queen and University streets and wound its way to the CNE grounds.

Parades were also held in Sarnia, Timmins, Windsor, Kingston, Ottawa and Hamilton.

In Sudbury, Local 793 members participated in a Labour Day celebration at Bell Park, and in Thunder Bay members gathered for a picnic at the Lakehead Labour Centre.

Click here to see photos from the various parades.

Application deadline for The Jack Redshaw Scholarship awards is Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. The scholarships are available to all sons, daughters and grandchildren of Local 793 members who are in good standing at the time of selection of the awards. Each year, the business manager of Local 793 determines the maximum amount of each scholarship […]

Application deadline for The Jack Redshaw Scholarship awards is Friday, Sept. 6, 2013.

The scholarships are available to all sons, daughters and grandchildren of Local 793 members who are in good standing at the time of selection of the awards.

Each year, the business manager of Local 793 determines the maximum amount of each scholarship and number of scholarships to be awarded.

Applications can be downloaded by clicking here. Applications can also be obtained by contacting any Local 793 area office.

Applications can be emailed to socialservices@iuoelocal793.org or mailed to Social Services Department, Attn: Stephanie Whaley, 2245 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6L 6X8.

The award is named in honour of the late Jack Redshaw, who was a Local 793 member for 42 years. He was a business rep for 20 years and also served as labour relations manager and recording-corresponding secretary of the union.

 

Local 793 members and their families are invited to participate in Labour Day parades and events being held across the province on Monday, Sept. 2. The local is participating in events being held in nine communities. Following is information about the various events: Toronto Meeting time for the Labour Day parade in Toronto is 8:30 […]

Local 793 members and their families are invited to participate in Labour Day parades and events being held across the province on Monday, Sept. 2. The local is participating in events being held in nine communities. Following is information about the various events:

Toronto

Meeting time for the Labour Day parade in Toronto is 8:30 a.m. Meet along University Avenue north of Queen Street. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m.

Hamilton

Meeting time for the Labour Day parade is 10 a.m. at the corner of Strathcona and York Boulevard in Hamilton. Meet in the Realty Association’s parking lot, which is across from Dundurn Park.

Kingston

The Labour Day parade begins at 10 a.m. Members should meet at McBurney Park at Ordnance and Clergy streets in Kingston, also known as Skeleton Park. A free picnic lunch follows at noon.

Ottawa

The Labour Day parade begins at noon at Ottawa city hall at Elgin and Lisgar streets, followed by a picnic from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at McNabb Park at Bronson and Gladstone avenues.

Sarnia

Meeting time for the Labour Day parade is 8:30 a.m. on Julia Street behind the Sarnia Public Library. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. Refreshments will be offered at the union hall following the parade.

Sudbury

There is a Labour Day celebration at Bell Park in Sudbury from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that features games for children.

Thunder Bay

There is a Labour Day picnic at the Lakehead Labour Centre, 929 Fort William Rd., in Thunder Bay. The event runs from noon to 3 p.m. There is a lunch and activities.

Timmins

Meeting time for the Labour Day parade is 10:30 a.m. at Gillies Lake in Timmins. The parade proceeds to Hollinger Park for a picnic from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Windsor

Meeting time for the Labour Day parade is 9 a.m. at CAW Local 444 union hall, 1855 Turner Road, in Windsor. The parade begins at 10 a.m. Local 793 members can gather at the corner of Seneca and Turner Road, in front of St. Francis of Assisi Church.

 

The OE Banquet Hall & Conference Centre at Local 793’s head office in Oakville has won another prestigious award. The facility has been selected as a Diamond Medal Winner for placing first in the banquet facilities category of the 2013 Annual Readers’ Selection Awards sponsored by The Oakville Beaver newspaper. It is the second consecutive […]

The OE Banquet Hall & Conference Centre at Local 793’s head office in Oakville has won another prestigious award.

The facility has been selected as a Diamond Medal Winner for placing first in the banquet facilities category of the 2013 Annual Readers’ Selection Awards sponsored by The Oakville Beaver newspaper.

It is the second consecutive year the banquet hall has won the award.

Local 793 received a congratulatory email from the newspaper, confirming the win.

The newspaper established the awards to show its clients how important they are to the community.

A list of winning businesses will be published in the newspaper on Aug. 30. The winners will also be listed on the newspaper’s website for a year.

The award is important as readers of the newspaper cast votes in the contest. Readers had several banquet facilities to choose from.

 

All Local 793 members are reminded that a general membership meeting of the union is scheduled for Sunday, September 22, 2013 in the Operating Engineers banquet hall, 2245 Speers Road, Oakville. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. Click here for a map.  

All Local 793 members are reminded that a general membership meeting of the union is scheduled for Sunday, September 22, 2013 in the Operating Engineers banquet hall, 2245 Speers Road, Oakville. The meeting begins at 10 a.m.

Click here for a map.

 

Local 793 crane operators and crane apprentices must now pay an annual membership fee to the Ontario College of Trades in order to keep their Certificate of Qualification (C of Q). Payments are due by the day and month of the operator’s anniversary date previously held with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Crane […]

Local 793 crane operators and crane apprentices must now pay an annual membership fee to the Ontario College of Trades in order to keep their Certificate of Qualification (C of Q).

Payments are due by the day and month of the operator’s anniversary date previously held with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Crane operators and apprentices who have a C of Q that is about to expire should have already received a renewal notice from the College in the mail.

Operators who have not yet received a notice, or who want to update their mailing information, should contact the client services department at the College by calling 1-855-299-0028 (toll-free) or 647-847-3000 (Greater Toronto Area).

Membership fees are as follows:

• Crane apprentices – $60
• Crane journeyperson – $120

The membership fees apply only to those practicing compulsory trades in Ontario. Heavy equipment operators do not pay the fees.

The Ministry of Labour (MOL) will be conducting a number of construction safety inspection blitzes in the months ahead. A province-wide safety blitz is now under way in the underground and surface mine sector. Inspectors are looking to ensure that the facilities have an effective internal responsibility system (IRS) in place. The IRS brings together […]

The Ministry of Labour (MOL) will be conducting a number of construction safety inspection blitzes in the months ahead.

A province-wide safety blitz is now under way in the underground and surface mine sector.

Inspectors are looking to ensure that the facilities have an effective internal responsibility system (IRS) in place. The IRS brings together all workplace parties, including employers and supervisors and employees, in a co-operative approach to safety.

As part of the blitz, inspectors will ensure that:

• Employers have a safety policy posted in the workplace that is reviewed at least annually and have a program in place to implement the policy;
• Workers are aware of the safety policy and know their roles and responsibilities; and
• Workplaces have an active joint health and safety committee or, where required, a health and safety representative.

In September and October, inspectors will be targeting fall hazards on construction sites, looking for such things as improper guardrails. Inspectors will also be looking for:

• lack of guardrails
• inadequate or improper use of fall protection
• inadequate fall protection trainingunsafe access to and egress from work platforms
• improper work platforms
• improper construction and use of scaffolds
• improper setup and use of suspended access equipment
• improper use of ladders

In November and December, industrial sites will be in the crosshairs.

In January 2014, inspectors will be looking for infractions on construction projects being done in active workplaces.

In February and March 2014, inspectors will focus on warehousing in the industrial sector.

The MOL has undertaken the inspections as part of its Safe at Work Ontario strategy.

The Ministry says the blitzes allow inspectors to focus on some of the most common root causes of hazards in sectors facing the highest number of injuries. Inspection blitzes are also designed to raise public awareness and increase compliance with health and safety legislation.

The Safe at Work strategy places greater focus on companies that have higher injury rates, or that have a higher risk of incidents due to their industry, size of business, or other factors.

 

There have been some changes to the schedule of district meetings for the summer months. Please check the list below for dates and times. TIMMINS 54 Waterloo Rd., Unit 2, Timmins, 8 p.m., 1st Wednesday of the month. Ph: 705-675-8643 Note: July and August meetings are still scheduled. OSHAWA 1255 Terwillegar Ave., Unit 7, Oshawa, […]

There have been some changes to the schedule of district meetings for the summer months. Please check the list below for dates and times.

TIMMINS
54 Waterloo Rd., Unit 2, Timmins, 8 p.m., 1st Wednesday of the month. Ph: 705-675-8643
Note: July and August meetings are still scheduled.

OSHAWA
1255 Terwillegar Ave., Unit 7, Oshawa, 7 p.m., 1st Thursday of the month. Ph: 905-720-0480
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

THUNDER BAY*
107 Johnson Ave., Boardroom, Thunder Bay, 8 p.m., 1st Thursday of the month. Ph: 807-344-7612
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

ST. CATHARINES*
188 Bunting Rd., Unit 5, St. Catharines, 7:30 p.m., 2nd Tuesday of the month. Ph: 905-227-8211
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

WINDSOR*
3383 Walker Rd., Windsor, 7 p.m., 2nd Tuesday of the month. Ph: 519-250-8877
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

SAULT STE. MARIE*
71 Black Rd., Unit 7, Sault Ste. Marie, 7:30 p.m., 2nd Wednesday of the month. Ph: 705-949-6860
Note: July and August meetings are still scheduled.

KITCHENER*
100 Sheldon Dr., Unit 10, Cambridge, 7:30 p.m., 2nd Wednesday of the month. Ph: 519-621-6344
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

SUDBURY*
430 Westmount Ave., Unit H, Sudbury, 8 p.m., 3rd Tuesday of the month. Ph: 705-675-8643
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

TORONTO*
2245 Speers Rd., Oakville, 7:30 p.m., 3rd Wednesday of the month. Ph: 905-469-9299 or Toll Free: 1-877-793-4863
Note: July and August meetings are suspended. Meeting time has been moved to 7:30 p.m. from 8:00 p.m.

BELLEVILLE*
43 Pine St., Belleville, 7 p.m., 4th Tuesday of the month. Ph: 613-968-3363
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

LONDON*
523 First St., London, 7 p.m., 4th Tuesday of the month. Ph: 519-451-7430
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

HAMILTON*
35 Goderich Rd., Unit 5, Hamilton, 7:30 p.m., 4th Wednesday of the month. Ph: 905-544-1851
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

OTTAWA*
Best Western Macies Hotel, Ottawa, 1274 Carling Ave., 7 p.m., 4th Wednesday of the month. Ph: 613-228-1759
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

NORTH BAY
Voyager Inn, Greenery Room, 123 Delaware Ave., North Bay, 8 p.m., 4th Wednesday of the month. Ph: 705-675-8643
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

BARRIE*
240 Bayview Dr., Unit 15, Barrie, 8 p.m., 4th Thursday of the month. Ph: 705-734-2494
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

SARNIA*
1390A Lougar Ave., Sarnia, 7 p.m., 4th Thursday of the month. Ph: 519-337-2053
Note: July and August meetings are suspended.

* District hiring hall present

 

The federal government is falling short on training the next generation of Canadians, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau told an audience in Local 793’s banquet hall in Oakville on June 20. “I feel that this current government is going in the wrong direction in its training program,” he said. “The federal government has to make sure […]

The federal government is falling short on training the next generation of Canadians, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau told an audience in Local 793’s banquet hall in Oakville on June 20.

“I feel that this current government is going in the wrong direction in its training program,” he said. “The federal government has to make sure Canadians have the skills to do the jobs that are out there. We need to have a pan-Canadian conversation on that.”

Trudeau was at the Gary O’Neill Learning Centre adjacent to Local 793’s head office to meet union officers, staff and apprentices and learn more about the training campus. Inside, he spent time on virtual reality simulators. Outside, he tried his hand at the controls of a crawler crane, all under the careful supervision of an OETIO instructor, of course.

In the banquet hall, Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher introduced Trudeau to the audience and thanked him for visiting the training centre.

“I am very happy to have you here to meet with some of our apprentices and talk about what we need to do going forward.”

Gallagher noted that the union and its contractor partners have invested a lot of money in training and “it absolutely works.”

He told the audience that the Operating Engineers are committed to training and building the country.

“From our perspective, we are interested in partnerships, we are interested in building this province, we are interested in bringing people together and building a great nation.”

In his remarks to the audience, Trudeau criticized the federal government’s approach to training issues, noting that far too many young people today end up dropping out of programs because of financial difficulties or because they don’t have a clear path to employment.

He noted the labour force is more mobile now and the federal government should be in the business of making sure that Canadians have the skills necessary to do the jobs that are out there.

“That’s why we have to have a Canadian conversation about how we’re making sure that those people in the workforce now and those who are heading towards the workforce right out of high school are given the opportunity to contribute,” he told the audience.

Trudeau said the federal government must pay more attention to training young people because jobs of the future will require more skills.

“If we know that in the coming years seven out of 10 jobs that are created are going to require some form of post-secondary education, whether it be university, trade schools or skills diplomas, certification programs or apprenticeships, we need to make sure that the achievement of training and post-secondary education of all sorts happens.”

Trudeau said he’s extremely sensitive to the fact that education is an area of provincial authority, and he is not going to “bust in” to the province’s jurisdiction, but he noted it’s important that the federal government build partnerships and work with the provinces to ensure young people are trained.

After Trudeau’s speech, business manager Gallagher asked what the Liberal leader would do to change the channel and get on with business if he’s elected.

Trudeau replied that he’s spent six months talking to people across the country and that has given him a good handle on what they want.

He also said he’s disclosed his personal financial details “above and beyond” what’s required in an effort to earn the trust of Canadians.

The current government, meanwhile, said Trudeau, is more focused on wielding power than helping Canadians.

On another note, business manager Gallagher told Trudeau that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is “essentially a failed government policy” and that First Nations communities have young people who can be trained for jobs, but the government allows companies to bring in foreign workers.

“It’s not fair,” Gallagher said.

Trudeau agreed with the assessment, noting the TFWP “is a program that’s become so badly managed.”

Afterwards, Trudeau took questions from the media.

He said Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised to be transparent and competent but has failed on both counts.

“They bring down a veil of secrecy on everything they do,” he said. “Canadians deserve better than this current gang in office.”

Special called ratification vote meetings have been called for Thursday, June 27, 2013 for Local 793 members currently working under the Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Collective Agreement and also the Provincial Utility Contractors Collective Agreement. Both meetings begin at 8 p.m. and are being held in the banquet hall at Local 793’s head office […]

Special called ratification vote meetings have been called for Thursday, June 27, 2013 for Local 793 members currently working under the Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Collective Agreement and also the Provincial Utility Contractors Collective Agreement. Both meetings begin at 8 p.m. and are being held in the banquet hall at Local 793’s head office in Oakville.

Click here for the official meeting notice on the Greater Toronto Sewer and Watermain Collective Agreement.

Click here for the official meeting notice on the Provincial Utility Contractors Collective Agreement.