Local 793 members invited to 2022 Labour Day parades held across the province

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 members and their families are being encouraged to march in a number of Labour Day parades and attend events being held across the province on Sunday, September 4th and Monday, September 5th, 2022. Adults will receive a jacket and hat and children will receive a t-shirt. Please review the following details about the parades and events in various districts: Toronto The parade begins promptly at 9:30 a.m., Monday, September 5th, 2022. Assemble by 8:30 a.m. on University Avenue between Dundas Street West and Queen Street West. Union apparel […]

Local 793 members and their families are being encouraged to march in a number of Labour Day parades and attend events being held across the province on Sunday, September 4th and Monday, September 5th, 2022. Adults will receive a jacket and hat and children will receive a t-shirt. Please review the following details about the parades and events in various districts:

Toronto
The parade begins promptly at 9:30 a.m., Monday, September 5th, 2022. Assemble by 8:30 a.m. on University Avenue between Dundas Street West and Queen Street West. Union apparel will be supplied upon identification of being a Local 793 member. The parade route will head west on Queen Street West to Dufferin Street then south to the Canadian National Exhibition. At the end of the parade, members will be admitted free to the CNE grounds.

Hamilton
Please assemble by 10 a.m. on Monday, September 5th, 2022 at Stuart Street at Caroline Street North. Bay Street North will likely close to traffic around 10 a.m., so if you plan on arriving after that, you will have to come down another access route. The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. and heads south on Bay Street, east on Main Street to James Street, north on James Street to Strachan Street, west on Strachan to Harbour Front Drive and into Bay Front Park. There is a picnic hosted by the Hamilton and District Labour Council (HLDC) in Bayfront Park and members are free to attend if they wish. The Local will not have a tent or booth at the park. Local 793 Representatives will be on-site at 8:00 am. Members should look for Local 793 flags and banners to find us on Stuart Street.

Ottawa
Ottawa’s Labour Council Labour Day Parade with depart at 12 p.m., Monday, September 5th, 2022 from Ottawa City Hall at Elgin and Lisgar streets. The parade route will follow South on Elgin, West on Somerset, North on Bank and East on Laurier ending back at City Hall by 1 p.m.

Kingston
The Kingston & District Labour Council is hosting a barbeque at Skeleton Park (Ordnance and Alma) starting at 10 a.m., Monday, September 5th, 2022. There will be great food, live music, children’s games and more!

Oshawa
Members are invited to the Lindsey & District Labour Council Labour Day picnic at Old Mill Park 16 Kent St. E. Lindsay. The picnic runs from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 4, 2022. There will be food, live music, refreshments, door prizes and information booths. Please bring your own water bottles.

London
Local 793 is sponsoring a barbeque for members and their families at East Park, 1275 Hamilton Road, in London. The picnic runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, September 5th, 2022. The food being provided is barbequed hot dogs and sausage, as well as pizza, chips, and refreshments.

Windsor
Marshalling will begin at 9 a.m., Monday, September 5th, 2022 from the Local 200/444 Union Hall, located at 1855 Turner Road. From there, the parade will start at 10 a.m. The parade route is along Walker Road before turning on the E.C Row Service Road towards the Fogolar Furlan Club. Members should plan to meet from 9-9:30 am at the corner of Seneca and Turner so we can hand out hats and jackets.

Sarnia
Members are to meet behind the Sarnia Public Library, located at 124 Christina Street South at 8:30 a.m., Monday, September 5th, 2022. Members will then line up in front of the library on Christina Street to march in the parade. Following the parade, we will be coming back to the Union Hall, located at 1390A Lougar Ave, for lunch and refreshments.

Sault Ste. Marie
Members can meet at the Roberta Bondar Pavillon at 65 Foster Drive. Sault Ste. Marie, On. P6A 5N1 at 10:30 a.m., Monday, September 5th, 2022 and from there assemble for the parade which starts at 11:30 a.m.

Sudbury
Members are invited to a Labour Day barbeque at the Sudbury office at 430 Westmount Avenue, Unit H. The barbeque runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, September 5th, 2022.

Timmins
Members can meet at our Timmins office at 54 Waterloo Road, #2. Timmins, On. P4N 8P3 at 10:00 a.m. for a marching on Monday, September 5th, 2022.

Thunder Bay
Members can attend a Labour Day picnic at the Current River Park off Hodder Avenue and Cumberland Street from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, September 5th, 2022. Food will be served until 3 p.m. The event is organized by the Thunder Bay District Labour Council.

Offices Closed on Labour Day Monday

Written by Local 793 Staff

Please be advised that all Local 793 offices across the province will be closed for Labour Day on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022. Have a happy Labour Day Weekend from Local 793!

Please be advised that all Local 793 offices across the province will be closed for Labour Day on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022.

Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022.

Have a happy Labour Day Weekend from Local 793!

Gordie Howe International Bridge Project

Written by Local 793 Staff

Jason Henry (in the machine) operates a Liebherr LR-1300 with the assistance of apprentice Brendyn Gibbs at the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project in Windsor. The bridge will connect Detroit and Windsor by linking Interstate 75, 94 and 96 in Michigan with Highway 401 in Ontario.

Jason Henry (in the machine) operates a Liebherr LR-1300 with the assistance of apprentice Brendyn Gibbs at the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project in Windsor.

The bridge will connect Detroit and Windsor by linking Interstate 75, 94 and 96 in Michigan with Highway 401 in Ontario.

Wide shot of members working on site, one operating a excavator to the left with the bridge in behind

$2,000 GPMC/ NMC Post-secondary Bursary Contest

Written by Local 793 Staff

Back to school is fast approaching, and that means new bursary applications. Enter the GPMC and NMC Canada Educational Bursary contest and you could win 1 of 25 available $2,000 bursaries! Applications are open on September 1, 2022. The deadline to apply is October 15, 2022. This contest is open to students currently attending post-secondary school full-time for the 2022-2023 academic year. Available to union members’ dependants whose local union has, within its jurisdiction, a General Presidents’ Maintenance Agreement or National Maintenance Agreement. Support your child’s education today! Visit www.gpmccanada.com […]

Back to school is fast approaching, and that means new bursary applications. Enter the GPMC and NMC Canada Educational Bursary contest and you could win 1 of 25 available $2,000 bursaries!

Applications are open on September 1, 2022. The deadline to apply is October 15, 2022.

This contest is open to students currently attending post-secondary school full-time for the 2022-2023 academic year. Available to union members’ dependants whose local union has, within its jurisdiction, a General Presidents’ Maintenance Agreement or National Maintenance Agreement.

Support your child’s education today! Visit www.gpmccanada.com for more information.

Hundreds of Baffinland workers receive termination letters due to regulatory delays over increase in production

Written by Local 793 Staff

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 (“Local 793”) urges the Nunavut Impact Review Board (“NIRB”) and the federal Minister of Northern Affairs to act immediately to approve Baffinland’s request to allow the company to increase production to 6 million tonnes at the Mary River Mine through to the end of 2022. This urgent action is needed to ensure that the jobs of hundreds of skilled unionized workers, many of whom are residents of Nunavut, are protected. (Image courtesy of Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation.) On July 31, 2022, Baffinland […]

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 (“Local 793”) urges the Nunavut Impact Review Board (“NIRB”) and the federal Minister of Northern Affairs to act immediately to approve Baffinland’s request to allow the company to increase production to 6 million tonnes at the Mary River Mine through to the end of 2022. This urgent action is needed to ensure that the jobs of hundreds of skilled unionized workers, many of whom are residents of Nunavut, are protected.

(Image courtesy of Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation.)

On July 31, 2022, Baffinland took the drastic step of issuing hundreds of termination notices to employees. In an update notice to employees Brian Penney, CEO stated: “For a number of reasons, the regulatory process is moving more slowly than is necessary to meet Baffinland’s operational requirements. As a result, Baffinland must continue to take preparatory steps to rescale its operation in the event that it is not successful in renewing its permit. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I am writing to inform you that in the coming hours, impacted employees will be receiving termination notices. These terminations are NOT immediate and will only take effect on two dates: September 25th and October 11th, 2022.”

Local 793 represents workers in a wide variety of occupational categories in the construction, industrial and mining sectors. At the Mary River Mine this includes over 1,000 heavy machinery operators, haul truck drivers, millwrights, electricians, welders, mechanics, crane operators, labourers, warehouse technicians and other occupations. In total, Baffinland employs over 2,500 employees and contractor workers.

The Mary River Mine has long provided well-paying jobs for highly trained and skilled Canadian workers from across the country, including hundreds of workers from Nunavut who continue to be prioritized for training opportunities. The mine provides royalties and community benefits that directly benefit local Inuit communities. We understand that the mine represents nearly 23% of the GDP for Nunavut and is a vital component for Nunavut’s future economic growth. Local 793’s primary responsibility remains protecting the jobs and welfare of our members.

“We feel both anger and disappointment that our members are being let go, in our view unnecessarily, because of constant delays at the NIRB in making timely decisions, and also at the federal government with more delays on making decisions based on what we already know that it will cost our members their livelihood,” said Mike Gallagher, Local 793 Business Manager.

“The whole regulatory process is unfair to the workers as their wishes don’t seem to be important to anyone,” said Gallagher. “The very fact that termination notices have now been sent has had an immediate and devastating impact on employees at the mine, including many Inuit, and their ability to provide for themselves, their families and their communities.”

Losing skilled jobs when the cost of living has skyrocketed right across the country makes receiving termination notices even harder to cope with. “Recovery from the pandemic requires maintaining and more importantly growing quality jobs, not losing them, especially in the impacted communities closest to the mine,” said Gallagher.

For the sake of the hundreds of skilled employees whose livelihoods depend on working at quality jobs at Baffinland’s mine, Local 793 urges the NIRB and federal government to do the right thing and approve Baffinland’s request to increase production to 6 million tonnes. Local 793 members need certainty of their continued and future employment at the mine.

Better Roads Ahead

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 members are busy resurfacing Mississauga Road in the City’s effort to keep the streets in good repair. Brother Angelo Caruso operates the grinder with the help of experienced operator Sam Draycott (on the ground). Brother Draycott, a grinder operator of 14 years, said he has enjoyed being part of the Union since he joined in 2016. While appreciating the Union’s ease of access to health plans and benefits, Draycott expressed that the user experience of the OEBAC app is “hands-down amazing.” The equipment pictured is a 2-meter asphalt […]

Local 793 members are busy resurfacing Mississauga Road in the City’s effort to keep the streets in good repair. Brother Angelo Caruso operates the grinder with the help of experienced operator Sam Draycott (on the ground).

Brother Draycott, a grinder operator of 14 years, said he has enjoyed being part of the Union since he joined in 2016. While appreciating the Union’s ease of access to health plans and benefits, Draycott expressed that the user experience of the OEBAC app is “hands-down amazing.”

The equipment pictured is a 2-meter asphalt grinder with wheels underneath that use sharp teeth to break up asphalt allowing for new.
GC: D Crupi & Sons Ltd.

Member operating a grinder with other member on the ground directing

 

 

Building Sustainably

Written by Local 793 Staff

Amid this housing shortage, Berczy Warden Holding Inc. is developing over 800 residential units in North Markham near Elgin Mills and Warden Avenue. In the photo below is Brother Domenic Baldesarra, operating a Volvo rock truck, diligently clears the ground for the foundation of the units. The project is taking a more sustainable and green approach to cultivate healthy and resilient communities throughout the City. General contractor is Condrain.

Amid this housing shortage, Berczy Warden Holding Inc. is developing over 800 residential units in North Markham near Elgin Mills and Warden Avenue.

In the photo below is Brother Domenic Baldesarra, operating a Volvo rock truck, diligently clears the ground for the foundation of the units. The project is taking a more sustainable and green approach to cultivate healthy and resilient communities throughout the City.

General contractor is Condrain.

Local 793 member operates a rock truck on site.

Aiding the Upgrade

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 member Brittany Beard has been actively working on the Highway 400 and Innisfil Beach Road overpass replacement with Fermar Paving Limited. Innisfil’s main interchange is getting this much-needed revamp to accommodate the future 10-lane widening of the main highway, expected to be complete by 2031. Sister Brittany is operating a Volvo EC480E excavator in the second picture.

Local 793 member Brittany Beard has been actively working on the Highway 400 and Innisfil Beach Road overpass replacement with Fermar Paving Limited.

Innisfil’s main interchange is getting this much-needed revamp to accommodate the future 10-lane widening of the main highway, expected to be complete by 2031.

Sister Brittany is operating a Volvo EC480E excavator in the second picture.

Local 793 member Brittany Beard poses on her Volvo EC480E excavator. Member Brittany Beard operating a Volvo excavator at theHighway 400 and Innisfil Beach Road overpass replacement for Fermar Paving Limited.

Paving the Way

Written by Local 793 Staff

Widening and repaving of Highway 401 across the GTA continue, possibly until years-end, keeping Local 793 members busy. The project involves reconstructing and widening approximately 18 km of Highway 401 in the western GTA, including widening the six-lane configuration to 10-lane or 12-lane segments to improve traffic. Seen below are Brothers Mauricio De Assis (operating the roller) and Danny Meneses (operating the shuttle buggy) working on the highway improvements in the Milton area this past Monday.

Widening and repaving of Highway 401 across the GTA continue, possibly until years-end, keeping Local 793 members busy.

The project involves reconstructing and widening approximately 18 km of Highway 401 in the western GTA, including widening the six-lane configuration to 10-lane or 12-lane segments to improve traffic.

Seen below are Brothers Mauricio De Assis (operating the roller) and Danny Meneses (operating the shuttle buggy) working on the highway improvements in the Milton area this past Monday.

Brother Mauricio De Assis operates a roller.
Mauricio De Assis
Member Danny Meneses operates the shuttle buggy.
Danny Meneses

Improving Toronto’s Wastewater Infrastructure

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 members work as a team to construct 445m of tunnels and 153m of shafts near Leslie Street that will carry treated wastewater from the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant back into Lake Ontario. This job involves excavating and lining two shafts, 24m and 30m in diameter, at depths from 26m to 65m below the ground surface for the pumping station. The project, awarded to STRABAG, will help manage downpours, increase capacity and improve the water quality of Toronto’s waterways. Below are Local 793 members (left to right) Marc […]

Local 793 members work as a team to construct 445m of tunnels and 153m of shafts near Leslie Street that will carry treated wastewater from the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant back into Lake Ontario.

This job involves excavating and lining two shafts, 24m and 30m in diameter, at depths from 26m to 65m below the ground surface for the pumping station.

The project, awarded to STRABAG, will help manage downpours, increase capacity and improve the water quality of Toronto’s waterways.

Below are Local 793 members (left to right) Marc Noel, Scott Vedder, Shawn McLeary Sr., Matthew Lorefice, Dan Kelly, Tamas Szabo, Nick Crozier.

Local 793 members Marc Noel, Scott Vedder, Shawn McLeary Sr., Matthew Lorefice, Dan Kelly, Tamas Szabo, Nick Crozier are working on the wastewater project.