IUOE Locals from across the country gathered in St John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, on September 7 for the 65th IUOE Annual Canadian Conference. Local 793 was led by Business Manager Mike Gallagher and was well represented with 21 delegates. The agenda was filled with many great speakers, including John Zerucelli, Canada’s Secretary of State (Labour), who discussed the federal government’s mandate to create jobs – anchored by nation-building projects such as major energy corridors. He also discussed his government’s 2022 commitment to double funding available through the Union Training and […]
IUOE Locals from across the country gathered in St John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador, on September 7 for the 65th IUOE Annual Canadian Conference. Local 793 was led by Business Manager Mike Gallagher and was well represented with 21 delegates.
The agenda was filled with many great speakers, including John Zerucelli, Canada’s Secretary of State (Labour), who discussed the federal government’s mandate to create jobs – anchored by nation-building projects such as major energy corridors.
He also discussed his government’s 2022 commitment to double funding available through the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP), adding that the Liberal government intends to “build big, build bold, build now.”
Following the Etobicoke North MP’s address to delegates, Business Manager Gallagher pressed him on the details, commending him on the government’s plan to build major energy corridors, but demanding a commitment that these projects be built exclusively by actual trade unions like the Operating Engineers and not employer-friendly sham unions such as CLAC.
The Business Manager pointed out that the building trade unions provide top tier pensions for members and invest heavily in training and improving health & safety for both union and non-union tradespeople across this country.
He also reminded the Secretary of State that the Operating Engineers were the first of only two trade unions to support the Liberals during their general election campaign – at a time when the odds strongly favoured a Conservative majority government – insisting that failing to make a commitment to build new infrastructure with union workers would be seen as a real betrayal.
In response, Zerucelli insisted that he is not a fan of CLAC – they don’t provide good pensions and they drive down the price of labour. He promised to continue to fight every day to make sure these new projects would be union ones.
Another noteworthy guest was Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini. Business Manager Gallagher introduced the minister, noting that Local 793 had never endorsed a Conservative government before the current one, but that since doing so the administration of Doug Ford had proven to be strong supporters of Ontario’s trade unions, training and getting things done.
Minister Piccini opened his remarks by emphasizing his government’s $200 billion infrastructure investment before describing the talent pipeline being opened through its support of training centres, citing the multi-million-dollar investment it has made in Local 793’s state-of-the-art facility currently under construction in Oro-Medonte.
He ended by listing the many improvements made to health and safety on job sites during his tenure as Minister of Labour, stating that “because of union advocacy, job site conditions have improved for both union and non-union workers.”
Also in attendance for the conference was Local 793 President Dave Turple, who brought the following emergency resolution forward in support of our members working at the Mobilex Terminal in Thunder Bay:
“The IUOE Canadian Conference of Operating Engineers encourages the Transport Minister, Chrystia Freeland, to collaborate immediately to resolve any and all issues impacting the current waterways of the Port of Thunder Bay, including current draft amendments for the 2025 shipping season, further standardizing draft requirements, and provide ongoing maintenance, scheduling and future planning involving shipping corridors with the Port of Thunder Bay.”
Business Manager Mike Gallagher welcomes Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini to the podium at the IUOE Canadian Conference in St John’s.
Business Manager Mike Gallagher welcomes Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini to the podium at the IUOE Canadian Conference in St John’s.
Business Manager Mike Gallagher addresses delegates at the 65th IUOE Annual Conference.
