Category: Union News

Two important amendments to Ontario Regulation 213/91 for Construction Projects come into force on January 1, 2026, that directly effect the health and safety of Local 793 members. The first mandates that a Health Canada-licensed defibrillator must be available on projects where 20 or more workers are regularly employed for three months or longer. The regulation requires constructors to maintain a supply of items to support the use of the defibrillator and prescribes where it must be located and how it must be maintained. Crucially, the amendment also requires at […]

Two important amendments to Ontario Regulation 213/91 for Construction Projects come into force on January 1, 2026, that directly effect the health and safety of Local 793 members.

The first mandates that a Health Canada-licensed defibrillator must be available on projects where 20 or more workers are regularly employed for three months or longer.

The regulation requires constructors to maintain a supply of items to support the use of the defibrillator and prescribes where it must be located and how it must be maintained. Crucially, the amendment also requires at least one worker who has been trained in CPR and defibrillator operation to always be on site while work is in progress.

Local 793 supports the new defibrillator requirement and remains optimistic that constructors of projects which don’t meet the requirement thresholds of the new provision will nevertheless follow suit and make defibrillators available on smaller, shorter-duration projects as well.

It has been shown that when used together with CPR in the first few minutes after a cardiac arrest, defibrillators can improve cardiac arrest survival rates by more than 50 percent.

The second amendment relates to washroom facilities and requires that constructors must maintain a record of servicing washroom facilities and any associated cleaning and sanitizing for the previous six months or the duration of the project, whichever is shorter.

For more information on the changes made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, click HERE.

The Operating Engineers Benefits Administration Corporation (OEBAC) extends warm wishes for a joyful, healthy, and safe holiday season! To ensure our members receive the support they need, please note the OEBAC Call Centre will be available during the following holiday hours:

The Operating Engineers Benefits Administration Corporation (OEBAC) extends warm wishes for a joyful, healthy, and safe holiday season!

To ensure our members receive the support they need, please note the OEBAC Call Centre will be available during the following holiday hours:

Please note that all Local 793 offices will be closed on December 25, 2025, for the holiday season. Regular office hours will resume on January 5, 2026. Wishing everyone a safe and joyful Holiday Season!

Please note that all Local 793 offices will be closed on December 25, 2025, for the holiday season. Regular office hours will resume on January 5, 2026.

Wishing everyone a safe and joyful Holiday Season!

Today, the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 celebrates its 106th birthday. Ever since 11 men gathered in Toronto on December 19, 1919, to form a new hoisting engineers local in Ontario, the mission of this Union has remained the same: to bring positive change and safe working conditions in the construction industry while providing a high standard of living for its members and their families. For 106 years, Local 793 has grown its membership decade by decade. Today, our Union has grown from those 11 founding fathers to […]

Today, the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 celebrates its 106th birthday.

Ever since 11 men gathered in Toronto on December 19, 1919, to form a new hoisting engineers local in Ontario, the mission of this Union has remained the same: to bring positive change and safe working conditions in the construction industry while providing a high standard of living for its members and their families.

For 106 years, Local 793 has grown its membership decade by decade. Today, our Union has grown from those 11 founding fathers to more than 20,000 men and women operating cranes and heavy equipment throughout the province of Ontario and the territory of Nunavut.

That’s 20,000 Brothers and Sisters who:

• Trust Local 793 to fight to keep them safe
• Take home better pay
• Enjoy industry-leading health benefits for them and their families
• Know that their pension pots grow with every hour they work
• Understand that together we are stronger

Since 1919, Local 793 has achieved milestones with the trust of our members:

• 14 Area offices across Ontario
• Built three training facilities in Morrisburg, Oakville and Oro-Medonte
• Established our own benefits administrator, OEBAC
• Introduced and grown a pension fund for our retirees
• Representing members in new sectors and industries in Nunavut

Local 793 will always stick to the principles our organization was founded on – this year, next year, and for all the years to come.

Local 793 arm-wrestling sensation Curtis Cameron has finished the year undefeated after securing four victories at the East Vs West 21 promotion in Atlantic City. East Vs West is a global pay-per-view series devised to pit the best arm-wrestlers in the world against each other. Brother Cameron, who featured in the latest edition of Making Tracks magazine, has been arm-wrestling for seven years and is now targeting the sport’s biggest stars. On Friday at Harrah’s Atlantic City Casino, Brother Curtis, known as Pork Chop, beat Roger Kangingham, Paul Cruz and […]

Local 793 arm-wrestling sensation Curtis Cameron has finished the year undefeated after securing four victories at the East Vs West 21 promotion in Atlantic City.

East Vs West is a global pay-per-view series devised to pit the best arm-wrestlers in the world against each other.

Brother Cameron, who featured in the latest edition of Making Tracks magazine, has been arm-wrestling for seven years and is now targeting the sport’s biggest stars.

On Friday at Harrah’s Atlantic City Casino, Brother Curtis, known as Pork Chop, beat Roger Kangingham, Paul Cruz and Frank Prez to win his 231 lb class and was then selected to face the winner of the 253 lb class in a Super Match on the preliminary card the following day.

In no mood to lose his winning streak on the big stage, Curtis overpowered the South African champion Duvan Bornman to secure a 3-0 win and an unbeaten 2025.

You can follow Brother Curtis’s arm-wrestling journey on Instagram and YouTube.

Crane operators are working night and day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to keep the redevelopment of government buildings on track. Synergy Formwork has two tower cranes working on the Centre Block portion of the project, with Brothers Nicholas Linhares and Andree-Anne Pare working the night shift and Brothers Frans Vereyken, James Hamilton and apprentice Cameron Moir taking over during the day. Local 793 members Umberto Pelloni, Jonathan Drouin and Dominique Masson are operating three cranes for Bellai Alliance as excavations continue for the new underground Welcome Centre. Our members […]

Crane operators are working night and day on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to keep the redevelopment of government buildings on track.

Synergy Formwork has two tower cranes working on the Centre Block portion of the project, with Brothers Nicholas Linhares and Andree-Anne Pare working the night shift and Brothers Frans Vereyken, James Hamilton and apprentice Cameron Moir taking over during the day.

Local 793 members Umberto Pelloni, Jonathan Drouin and Dominique Masson are operating three cranes for Bellai Alliance as excavations continue for the new underground Welcome Centre.

Our members are helping to ensure the largest, most complex rehabilitation of a heritage building ever undertaken in Canada remains on track for completion by 2031.

Ratification Meeting: Greater Hamilton & Niagara Construction Association (GHNCA) When: Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. Where: Casablanca Inn – 4  Windward Dr., Grimsby, ON L3M 4E8 Dear Member: Your Union will be holding a Ratification Vote on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 7:00 pm at the Casablanca Inn, 4 Windward Dr., Grimsby, ON, L3M 4E8, for all members who work under the Greater Hamilton & Niagara Construction Association (GHNCA) Collective Agreement. Your Future is at Stake! Be sure you attend this important meeting. Should you have any questions, […]

Ratification Meeting: Greater Hamilton & Niagara Construction Association (GHNCA)

When: Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.

Where: Casablanca Inn – 4  Windward Dr., Grimsby, ON L3M 4E8

Dear Member:

Your Union will be holding a Ratification Vote on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 7:00 pm at the Casablanca Inn, 4 Windward Dr., Grimsby, ON, L3M 4E8, for all members who work under the Greater Hamilton & Niagara Construction Association (GHNCA) Collective Agreement.

Your Future is at Stake!

Be sure you attend this important meeting. Should you have any questions, please contact the Hamilton Union Hall at 905-544-1851 or any of the following contacts:

Andrew Saunders, Area Supervisor
289-772-5987
asaunders@iuoelocal793.org

Mike Schutte
416-509-0997
mschutte@iuoelocal793.org

Salvatore Tuttolomondo
365-228-6443
stuttolomondo@iuoelocal793.org

Aaron Pede
905-481-4058
apede@iuoelocal793.org

Fraternally,

Mike Gallagher
Business Manager, Local 793

Local 793 showed its commitment to the community at the Brad May Celebrity Hockey Classic, held at Oakville’s Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. More than 30 union business reps, organizers, and staff traded work boots for skates and raised $136,000 for Easter Seals. The Union, also an event sponsor, entered two teams in the tournament: Union Strong with former NHL winger Matt Beleskey, and Smooth Operators with Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Ray Bourque. In total, the event raised over $615,000 to support Easter Seals, Canada’s largest local provider of programs […]

Local 793 showed its commitment to the community at the Brad May Celebrity Hockey Classic, held at Oakville’s Sixteen Mile Sports Complex.

More than 30 union business reps, organizers, and staff traded work boots for skates and raised $136,000 for Easter Seals.

The Union, also an event sponsor, entered two teams in the tournament: Union Strong with former NHL winger Matt Beleskey, and Smooth Operators with Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Ray Bourque.

In total, the event raised over $615,000 to support Easter Seals, Canada’s largest local provider of programs and services that help children and youth with disabilities live fuller lives.

  Meet Tanner Atkinson, former OETIO Pre-Apprentice and Apprentice, who switched careers from working at a recycling yard to becoming an operating engineer! Better pay, health insurance, pension and benefits – that’s what you get once you become an OE. Are you looking for a career change? Join our information session or visit oetio.com for more information today!

Meet Tanner Atkinson, former OETIO Pre-Apprentice and Apprentice, who switched careers from working at a recycling yard to becoming an operating engineer!

Better pay, health insurance, pension and benefits – that’s what you get once you become an OE.

Are you looking for a career change? Join our information session or visit oetio.com for more information today!

Through the Local 793 Life and Health Benefits Plan, members and their families* have free access to convenient and personalized healthcare by a team of licensed doctors and mental health professionals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, that’s always just a call or click away. Program Highlights                                                                            […]

Through the Local 793 Life and Health Benefits Plan, members and their families* have free access to convenient and personalized healthcare by a team of licensed doctors and mental health professionals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, that’s always just a call or click away.

Program Highlights                                                                                

Instant Access: Speak directly with doctors, specialists, surgeons, and mental health professionals – anytime, anywhere.
Comprehensive Support: Medical and mental health experts work together to support you and your dependants.
Urgent Mental Health Support: Therapists available 24/7 for crisis and urgent concerns.

Services

✅ Schedule medical appointments
✅ Talk to mental health professionals
✅ Prescription refills
✅ Specialist referrals
✅ Request lab work requisitions
✅ and more!

Why Choose Members Health?                                               

Follow-Up Care: Every visit includes a 24–48 hour post-care follow-up call.
Save Time & Money: Skip the walk-in clinic or ER.

How to Register and Book an Appointment

• Go to the Members Health website at membershealth.ca
• Call: 1-800-484-0152

* Certain conditions apply.