OETIO digs foundation for new Habitat for Humanity home for family in need

Written by Local 793 Staff

One family’s dream of having a place to call their own is now a step closer to becoming a reality thanks to OETIO. Morrisburg training campus supervisor Greg Runions and instructor Jason Wills joined volunteers from the St Lawrence College (Cornwall) carpentry program on May 9 to dig the foundation of a new Habitat for Humanity home in Winchester Springs. The eventual owners, Zach and Taylor Rumohr-Boisvert and their children Marissa, Zoe, Octavia and Lincoln, currently live in transitional housing and face overcrowding and privacy issues. To qualify for their […]

One family’s dream of having a place to call their own is now a step closer to becoming a reality thanks to OETIO.

Morrisburg training campus supervisor Greg Runions and instructor Jason Wills joined volunteers from the St Lawrence College (Cornwall) carpentry program on May 9 to dig the foundation of a new Habitat for Humanity home in Winchester Springs.

The eventual owners, Zach and Taylor Rumohr-Boisvert and their children Marissa, Zoe, Octavia and Lincoln, currently live in transitional housing and face overcrowding and privacy issues. To qualify for their affordable Habitat home, they must complete 500 hours of volunteer service and fundraise to help offset building costs.

Those costs will now be significantly lower for the Rumohr-Boisverts following Greg and Jason’s expert contribution.

Vow to build Ontario key to Ford’s Ontario PC election win

Written by Local 793 Staff

Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservatives swept to victory in the Ontario provincial elections on Thursday, securing an increased majority government at Queen’s Park. The PCs ended the night with 41 per cent of the vote and 83 of the 124 seats, up from the 76 they won in 2018, ensuring a second term as Premier for party leader Ford. In comparison, both the second-placed NDP and the Liberals will begin the hunt for new leaders after Andrea Horwath of the NDP and Steven Del Duca of the Liberals announced […]

Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservatives swept to victory in the Ontario provincial elections on Thursday, securing an increased majority government at Queen’s Park.

The PCs ended the night with 41 per cent of the vote and 83 of the 124 seats, up from the 76 they won in 2018, ensuring a second term as Premier for party leader Ford.

In comparison, both the second-placed NDP and the Liberals will begin the hunt for new leaders after Andrea Horwath of the NDP and Steven Del Duca of the Liberals announced they would be stepping down from their roles. Del Duca also lost in his own riding of Vaughan-Woodbridge.

The NDP secured 38 seats on Thursday, two fewer than in 2018, while the Liberals’ eight seats was one better than last time but still not enough to secure official party status at Queen’s Park.

Ford received high marks from voters for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and for his promises to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and spend big on major construction projects should he be re-elected.

The 2022 budget includes $158 billion in spending over 10 years, including $40 billion over 10 years towards hospital infrastructure; $25.1 billion over 10 years to highway and road construction; and $114 million over three years to the Skilled Trades Strategy.

That spending plan helped win him the support of many construction unions during the campaign, including Local 793 which hosted Ford at the Union’s head office in Oakville a week before the election to announce its endorsement of the Ontario PCs.

With Ford now returned to power, it looks like it could be a busy four years for operating engineers right across the province.

Who won in your riding? CLICK HERE for CBC’s full list of election results

Residential construction sites in Ontario reopening after spring strikes

Written by Local 793 Staff

Residential construction in Ontario is getting back on track after a series of strikes virtually shuttered sites across the province throughout May. With six of nine striking unions having recently agreed to new terms with employers, most workers are now back on the job – with high- and low-rise tilers expected to follow as they vote to ratify their new deal on June 2. Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher, whose members ratified new deals on May 20 after a three-week stoppage, said he wants to see a process put […]

Residential construction in Ontario is getting back on track after a series of strikes virtually shuttered sites across the province throughout May.

With six of nine striking unions having recently agreed to new terms with employers, most workers are now back on the job – with high- and low-rise tilers expected to follow as they vote to ratify their new deal on June 2.

Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher, whose members ratified new deals on May 20 after a three-week stoppage, said he wants to see a process put in place where workers and employers can raise and address issues before the bargaining process begins.

“I’m optimistic that we can do that and make changes where necessary,” he said.

CLICK HERE to read the full article on the Daily Commercial News.

Local 793 supports Pride Month

Written by Local 793 Staff

June is Pride Month, when the world’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. The “plus” represents other gender identities and sexual orientations that are not specifically covered by the other five initials. The month was chosen to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement. On June 28, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, starting a […]

June is Pride Month, when the world’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. The “plus” represents other gender identities and sexual orientations that are not specifically covered by the other five initials.

The month was chosen to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement.

On June 28, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, starting a riot among bar patrons and neighbourhood residents with the police. The riot involved hundreds of people and led to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement.

A year later, on June 28, 1970, thousands of people marched from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park in what was then called “Christopher Street Liberation Day” – marking what is now recognized as the first gay pride parade. Since then, LGBTQ+ people across the world have continued to gather in June to march with pride and demonstrate for equal rights.

The first Pride celebration held in Toronto was just three years after the Stonewall riots, an event that sparked the gay liberation movement in Canada. Within a few years, thousands were attending the annual Gay Pride parade, and by 2018 an estimated 1.6 million people attended Pride weekend and more than 1 million attended Pride month events.

Local 793 is a proud advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and is committed to the fight against discrimination and hate in the workplace and in our communities.

“IUOE Local 793 unequivocally respects the rights of LGBTQ+ communities and believes that society needs to stamp out hate and discrimination in all its ugly forms,” Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher said.

Local 793 welcomes Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford to training centre

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher, alongside officers, executive board members, staff and students, welcomed Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford to the Union’s head office and training facility in Oakville on Friday, May 27. His visit was to officially accept the Union’s endorsement of his party ahead of the June 2 provincial election. Having backed the Liberal Party for many years, Business Manager Gallagher gave three reasons why the Union has switched its support to Ford’s PC Party this time around. “The number one reason would be his leadership,” […]

Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher, alongside officers, executive board members, staff and students, welcomed Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford to the Union’s head office and training facility in Oakville on Friday, May 27.

His visit was to officially accept the Union’s endorsement of his party ahead of the June 2 provincial election.

Having backed the Liberal Party for many years, Business Manager Gallagher gave three reasons why the Union has switched its support to Ford’s PC Party this time around.

“The number one reason would be his leadership,” Gallagher said. “Doug Ford has shown his leadership throughout the last two years where we had an unprecedented pandemic, and he was able to adapt to changing circumstances that happened very quickly. The ability to keep everyone informed on a weekly basis as Premier Ford did at the time was absolutely essential to the safety of the people here in the province of Ontario and to our members of Local 793.

“Another reason would be the unprecedented $158 billion investment in much-needed infrastructure. We need to keep the economy going, especially with the impact of inflation and the pandemic that we went through. We fully support the investment in needed infrastructure and the commitment to affordable housing which has been made.

“Last but not least, is the commitment to skills training, compulsory certification and mandatory training,” Gallagher added. “Here today we have a graduating class of our students who will go out into the industry and help build it for the future and we need jobs. We need jobs for them and we need support for our skills training. So, it’s definitely hats off to the Premier and his team.”

During his visit, Ford shook hands and chatted with apprentices and grabbed the chance to operate a Liebherr HS 8050 crawler crane (under the careful supervision of Local 793 Vice-President Dave Turple), fulfilling, in the words of Local 793 President Joe Redshaw, “every little boy’s dream.”

Ford, who was joined by Ontario Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton, Oakville MPP Stephen Crawford and Mayor Rob Burton for the event, has already picked up several endorsements from construction unions during his election campaign.

“Each of these organizations knows what it takes to build and each of these unions are lining up behind our plan to build Ontario,” he said.

“Every day more and more people are lending their support for our plan to build Ontario and nowhere is that support growing more than among our women and men who work in the skilled trades. I’ve been so proud to welcome the support of a growing number of unions representing the women and men who are building Ontario.”

Pointing to the apprentices lined up behind him, he added, “Make no mistake, each and every one of these folks, they’re helping to build Ontario. We couldn’t build anything if it wasn’t for the cranes right here, so I am very, very grateful.”

Business Manager Gallagher urged all members to cast a vote in Thursday’s election and ended his comments by adding, “We look forward to working with Doug Ford when he is returned as Premier of the province of Ontario on June 2.”

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IUOE Local 793 endorses Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario in 2022 Election

Written by Local 793 Staff

Following is a press release issued by IUOE Local 793 regarding IUOE Local 793 endorsing the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario in the 2022 Election. OAKVILLE, ON, May 27, 2022 /CNW/ – The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 (“Local 793”) announced its full endorsement of Doug Ford and the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party for the June 2 provincial election. Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher stated the endorsement in a letter sent to Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, writing that the backing is centred […]

Following is a press release issued by IUOE Local 793 regarding IUOE Local 793 endorsing the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario in the 2022 Election.

OAKVILLE, ON, May 27, 2022 /CNW/ – The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 (“Local 793”) announced its full endorsement of Doug Ford and the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party for the June 2 provincial election.

Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher stated the endorsement in a letter sent to Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, writing that the backing is centred on the Progressive Conservative government’s clear commitment to the skilled trades in Ontario, their strong emphasis on safety and training, and promise to invest in infrastructure.

“Your Party has focused on the recruitment of young workers into the skilled trades and emphasized significant highway, transit, and infrastructure spending to grow our economy, keep employment high and ultimately build our economy back stronger than it was pre-pandemic,” Business Manager Gallagher stated in the letter.

Business Manager Gallagher noted that the decision to endorse the Ontario Progressive Conservatives is also based on Minister McNaughton’s legislative approach to preserve the compulsory and voluntary trades and understanding the importance of having properly trained and licensed tradespeople doing dangerous work to ensure all workers and the public are protected.

Business Manager Gallagher added that the Party’s continued effort to tackle affordability and the housing crisis is of particular importance to the more than 18,000 members of Local 793.

“These government priorities align closely with what Local 793 and my members value the most, and we look forward to working cooperatively with you and Leader Doug Ford when the PC Party of Ontario is successfully re-elected on June 2, 2022,” said Business Manager Gallagher.

The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 is a long-established trade union which received its original Charter in 1919. Today, we proudly represent over 18,000 crane and heavy equipment operators and other skilled workers employed in all sectors of the construction industry, industrial and mining sectors across the province of Ontario and the territory of Nunavut. Members of Local 793 operate mobile cranes, tower cranes, concrete pumps, bulldozers, excavators, graders, tractor loader backhoes, heavy haul trucks and many other types of heavy equipment.

SOURCE International Union Of Operating Engineers – Local 793

For further information: Local 793 Business Manager, Mike Gallagher, 905-469-9299, ext. 2202

Press Release: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/iuoe-local-793-endorses-progressive-conservative-party-of-ontario-in-2022-election-839433630.html

Operators Ratify Formwork Agreement

Written by Local 793 Staff

Following is a press release issued by Local 793, regarding ratification of the Formwork Collective Agreement. OPERATING ENGINEERS RATIFY FORMWORK AGREEMENT WITH CONTRACTORS OAKVILLE — After a successful strike, members of Local 793 will be returning to work after the Formwork Council of Ontario has successfully ratified a new three-year Formwork Agreement with contractors.  The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 is a member of the Formwork Council of Ontario, along with all LIUNA locals. Local 793 members voted strongly in favour of the agreement at ratification meetings held across […]

Following is a press release issued by Local 793, regarding ratification of the Formwork Collective Agreement.

OPERATING ENGINEERS RATIFY FORMWORK AGREEMENT WITH CONTRACTORS

OAKVILLE — After a successful strike, members of Local 793 will be returning to work after the Formwork Council of Ontario has successfully ratified a new three-year Formwork Agreement with contractors.  The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793 is a member of the Formwork Council of Ontario, along with all LIUNA locals.

Local 793 members voted strongly in favour of the agreement at ratification meetings held across the province on May 20, 2022.

The agreement affects the majority of tower crane operators in the province and covers well over 10,000 LIUNA members.

The agreement runs from May 21, 2022 to April 30, 2025. For local 793 members, it provides for a total monetary package increase of $9 an hour over three years. Operators’ wages will rise by $3 an hour each year of the agreement.

“Though this was a challenging round of negotiations, we are very pleased that our members have voted in favor of accepting the employers’ last offer,” said Virgil Nosé, Chair of the Highrise Forming Council. “Our members will be returning to work right away.”

LIUNA locals have separate schedules with different increases.

The settlement includes a single wage schedule for all operators across the province regardless of where they work, an increase in parking reimbursement, and increases to travel, room and board allowances. All of these items were key priorities for members.

“No one wants to strike but sometimes it is necessary to ensure that a fair offer is brought to the table – an offer that members can feel confident ratifying,” said Nosé. “We thank the employer’s for recognizing this and coming back to the table to bargain a fair deal.”

“Members are excited to get back to work building much-needed housing”.

Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers represents more than 17,900 highly skilled crane and heavy equipment operators across Ontario. The union has a head office, banquet hall and training campus in Oakville, and another training campus in Morrisburg.

For additional information contact:
Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher
905-469-9299, ext. 2202

Highrise Forming Agreement Successfully Ratified Across The Province

Written by Local 793 Staff

Friday, May 20, 2022 Dear Members: We had a record turnout of members across the province at today’s meeting.  I am pleased to advise you that the Formwork Agreement has been successfully ratified by an overwhelming majority of members.  You may now return to work right away. Congratulations on an excellent settlement and thank you for the solidarity you have shown over the past three weeks which has enabled us to achieve this record settlement for members. Fraternally, Mike Gallagher, Business Manager

Friday, May 20, 2022

Dear Members:

We had a record turnout of members across the province at today’s meeting.  I am pleased to advise you that the Formwork Agreement has been successfully ratified by an overwhelming majority of members.  You may now return to work right away.

Congratulations on an excellent settlement and thank you for the solidarity you have shown over the past three weeks which has enabled us to achieve this record settlement for members.

Fraternally,
Mike Gallagher,
Business Manager

Provincial Collective Agreement Successfully Ratified Across The Province

Written by Local 793 Staff

Friday, May 20, 2022 Dear Members: We had a record turnout of members across the province at today’s meeting.  I am pleased to advise you that the Provincial Collective Agreement has been successfully ratified by an overwhelming majority of members.  You may now return to work right away. Congratulations on an excellent settlement and thank you for the solidarity you have shown over the past three weeks which has enabled us to achieve this record settlement for members. Fraternally, Mike Gallagher, Business Manager

Friday, May 20, 2022

Dear Members:

We had a record turnout of members across the province at today’s meeting.  I am pleased to advise you that the Provincial Collective Agreement has been successfully ratified by an overwhelming majority of members.  You may now return to work right away.

Congratulations on an excellent settlement and thank you for the solidarity you have shown over the past three weeks which has enabled us to achieve this record settlement for members.

Fraternally,
Mike Gallagher,
Business Manager

Strike Success: Operators Ratify Provincial Collective Agreement

Written by Local 793 Staff

Following is a press release issued by Local 793, regarding ratification of the Provincial Collective Agreement. OPERATING ENGINEERS RATIFY NEW AGREEMENT WITH CONTRACTORS OAKVILLE — After a successful strike, members of Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers have ratified a new three-year Provincial Collective Agreement with contractors. Union members voted strongly in favour of the agreement at ratification meetings held across the province on May 20, 2022. The agreement affects operators who work on cranes and heavy equipment at construction sites across the province and who are involved […]

Following is a press release issued by Local 793, regarding ratification of the Provincial Collective Agreement.

OPERATING ENGINEERS RATIFY NEW AGREEMENT WITH CONTRACTORS

OAKVILLE — After a successful strike, members of Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers have ratified a new three-year Provincial Collective Agreement with contractors.

Union members voted strongly in favour of the agreement at ratification meetings held across the province on May 20, 2022.

The agreement affects operators who work on cranes and heavy equipment at construction sites across the province and who are involved in activities such as steel erection and mechanical installations, foundation piling, caisson boring and excavation, general construction and surveying.

The agreement runs from May 21, 2022 to April 30, 2025. It provides for a total monetary package increase of $9 an hour over three years. Wages rise by $3 an hour each year of the agreement. The agreement also contains many language improvements and increases to travel, room and board and meal allowances. The travel, room and board allowance will increase 19% over three years. Meanwhile, room and board allowances will now be paid daily for all schedules.

The union made no concessions on any of its proposals. The wage settlement is the highest of any of the trades so far in the ICI construction sector.

“Our members have spoken on the provincial strike and have accepted the employers’ last offer,” said Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher. “Members across the province in every area voted to accept the settlement and go back to work.”

Notably, the agreement adds a new provision to ensure that employers will provide parking or a refund to employees working within the downtown area of Toronto for up to $15 per day effective May 1, 2024.

“We appreciate all the hard work of our legal staff and business representatives, the organizers and every member who supported the strike, stood together, and held the line,” Gallagher said.

“We look forward to getting back to building our province’s much-needed schools, hospitals and highways, and other vital infrastructure.”

Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers represents more than 17,900 highly skilled crane and heavy equipment operators across Ontario. The union has a head office, banquet hall and training campus in Oakville, and another training campus in Morrisburg.

For additional information contact:
Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher
905-469-9299, ext. 2202