Category: Union News

Please note that your Monthly Pension Payments, via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), will be processed on the 1st of every month which correlates with your official Retirement Date. However, if the 1st of the month falls on a weekend or on a Statutory Holiday, the Banks can only process payment into your respective bank accounts on the next Business Day. (For example, January 1, 2021 falls on a Statutory Holiday, therefore, your Monthly Pension Payment will be in your Bank Account on Monday January 4, 2021).

Please note that your Monthly Pension Payments, via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), will be processed on the 1st of every month which correlates with your official Retirement Date.

However, if the 1st of the month falls on a weekend or on a Statutory Holiday, the Banks can only process payment into your respective bank accounts on the next Business Day.

(For example, January 1, 2021 falls on a Statutory Holiday, therefore, your Monthly Pension Payment will be in your Bank Account on Monday January 4, 2021).

I’d like to wish all brothers and sisters of Local 793 a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This year has not been an easy one. Last New Years’ when we rang in 2020, we certainly did not expect to face such enormous challenges a short 3 months later. December 2019 was the first time we heard the term “coronavirus”. Although, strictly contained to the Wuhan province of China at the time, it was not something we concerned ourselves with. But as we know, by March 2020 that false sense […]

I’d like to wish all brothers and sisters of Local 793 a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This year has not been an easy one. Last New Years’ when we rang in 2020, we certainly did not expect to face such enormous challenges a short 3 months later. December 2019 was the first time we heard the term “coronavirus”. Although, strictly contained to the Wuhan province of China at the time, it was not something we concerned ourselves with. But as we know, by March 2020 that false sense of security was shattered, as we swiftly found ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic.

What we now call “COVID-19”, has impacted us in an unparalleled way. The world as we knew it ground to a halt around mid-March when both the Ontario and Nunavut governments began ordering the closure of non-essential businesses, and we have not resumed a ‘normal state of operation’ since that time. Things we had come to take for granted like visiting with friends and family, going to a restaurant, concert, movie, or even seeing an unobstructed view of someone’s face – these things were all taken from us, seemingly overnight.

Many businesses and organizations like our own were shut down for months. Many families struggled financially as employees, ours included, began being laid off. Yet some people were not given the option of taking shelter at home and were obligated to carry on working due to the essential nature of their job. These people – grocery store staff, healthcare workers, etc. – are our frontline workers and I hope we never forget their enormous contribution to our country, as they kept us fed and cared for during a time of great fear.

As an organization representing more than 17,000 workers in the construction, mining and industrial sectors, we have to count ourselves lucky. When the virus hit Canada there was much uncertainty, and I did not know whether the government was going to allow our members to keep on working. During this extremely stressful time I sat at my kitchen table with a pen and pad of paper, contacting each and every one of our signatory contractors to inquire whether or not they were going to shut their jobs down. This is also when I started my “vlog” style videos in an effort to keep the membership informed on industry news with regards to COVID-19.

After much deliberation, Ontario Premier Doug Ford ultimately announced that a large majority of the construction industry would remain up and running as an essential service, and fortunately, the mining industry in Nunavut remained up and running as well. This was no small thing and has allowed Local 793 to survive the economic devastation of COVID-19. Upon hearing this good news I was able to turn my attention to the COVID-19 Local 793 Safety Protocol for Jobsite Measures which was set up to ensure members were best protected from the virus. After being re-elected to serve my 7^th term as business manager in September, I was able to hire back much of our staff, and shortly thereafter our training schools were reopened with strict COVID-19 contingency measures.

Some organizations were not as lucky as ours, and many will not survive this pandemic. As we ring in the New Year and celebrate the end of a very hard one, we should think of those less fortunate than ourselves.

Like the many before, this chapter in Local 793’s story will be one of resilience. Chronicled in the 100^th anniversary journal sent out to the membership, is a pattern of hard times followed by big victories. The challenges presented by COVID-19 have seemed insurmountable at times, and they are far from over. Yet as always, this incredible organization will come out on top, all thanks to you – our hard-working members that never quit.

When this is all over, may the things that we could not do bring new meaning and value to us all. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2021! Remember, the best is yet to come!

Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table and Modelling Consensus Table as of December 21, 2020. Key Findings • Cases continue to grow and overall case levels are twice the “red” level. Percent positivity is flattening. Our ability to control case growth is still precarious. • Continuing case growth will increase outbreaks in long-term care homes and other congregate settings. • Under all scenarios, ICU occupancy will be above 300 beds within 10 days. Worst case scenarios show occupancy above 1,500 beds by mid-January. • Based on experience in France and Australia, “hard […]

Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table and Modelling Consensus Table as of December 21, 2020.

Key Findings
• Cases continue to grow and overall case levels are twice the “red” level. Percent positivity is flattening. Our ability to control case growth is still precarious.
• Continuing case growth will increase outbreaks in long-term care homes and other congregate settings.
• Under all scenarios, ICU occupancy will be above 300 beds within 10 days. Worst case scenarios show occupancy above 1,500 beds by mid-January.
• Based on experience in France and Australia, “hard lock-downs” of 4–6 weeks can reduce case numbers in Ontario to less than 1,000 per day and possibly much lower with increased testing and support.
• With lower case numbers we can maintain safe ICU care for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients who require it.
• As noted in previous briefings, public health restrictions will require more resources(e.g. testing, isolation/quarantine support) in communities and essential service workplaces where exposure is higher.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE:

Source: https://covid19-sciencetable.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Evidence-on-COVID-19-Pandemic_2020.12.18-Final-1.pdf

Welcome to the first digital edition of Making Tracks, the magazine. We are very excited about the advantages of digitizing and enhancing the user experience. Digital magazines are dynamic. They can be instantly accessed and read on tablets, smartphones, and other digital platforms, anywhere and anytime. They can be digitally stored and shared immediately with a single click. Digital magazines are interactive, offering links to important resources and information for quick access, as well as video content! Utilizing current technology is a more-environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach to publishing and […]

Welcome to the first digital edition of Making Tracks, the magazine. We are very excited about the advantages of digitizing and enhancing the user experience.

Digital magazines are dynamic. They can be instantly accessed and read on tablets, smartphones, and other digital platforms, anywhere and anytime. They can be digitally stored and shared immediately with a single click. Digital magazines are interactive, offering links to important resources and information for quick access, as well as video content!

Utilizing current technology is a more-environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach to publishing and keeping Local 793 members informed.

Enjoy the digital edition debut of Making Tracks:

CLICK IMAGE TO OPEN MAKING TRACKS, THE MAGAZINE

Please be advised that all Local 793 offices across the province will be closed over the Christmas holiday period, December 24 at Noon to December 31, 2020 and on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2021. Offices will re-open at the regular time on January 4, 2021.

Please be advised that all Local 793 offices across the province will be closed over the Christmas holiday period, December 24 at Noon to December 31, 2020 and on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2021.

Offices will re-open at the regular time on January 4, 2021.

On Thursday, November 5, 2020, the Ontario Minister of Finance, Rod Phillips, released the 2020 Budget titled Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support and Recover. The Budget contains some initiatives and spending plans that are of interest to Local 793 and OETIO: Retraining and Skilled Trades: The Province is planning to invest an additional $180.5 million, to help people retrain and upgrade their skills, over three years in micro-credentials, employment services and training programs, including apprenticeships. COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Skills Plan: Through Employment Ontario, the Province committed to fund $100 million in […]

On Thursday, November 5, 2020, the Ontario Minister of Finance, Rod Phillips, released the 2020 Budget titled Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support and Recover.

The Budget contains some initiatives and spending plans that are of interest to Local 793 and OETIO:

• Retraining and Skilled Trades: The Province is planning to invest an additional $180.5 million, to help people retrain and upgrade their skills, over three years in micro-credentials, employment services and training programs, including apprenticeships.
• COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Skills Plan: Through Employment Ontario, the Province committed to fund $100 million in 2020-21 for skills training programs for workers most affected by COVID-19. This dedicated funding will help more workers receive the guidance and assistance they need to upgrade their skills and find good jobs.
• Ontario’s Skilled Trades Strategy: The province came out with 3 pillars of Ontario’s Skilled Trades Strategy, designed to modernize Ontario’s skilled trades and apprenticeship system, and help enable the province’s economic recovery.

 

The 3 Pillars of Ontario’s Skilled Trades Strategy 

1) Break the stigma attached to a career in the skilled trades and attract and train youth by:

• $17 million increase in awareness of careers in the skilled trades through Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
• $6 million boost in funding through Skills Ontario
• Investing $21 million in Ontario’s Pre-Apprenticeship Training program
• Providing an additional $500,000 to pre-apprenticeship training service providers
• Appointing three Youth Advisors
• Investing $42 million in Specialist High Skills Major programs

2) Make it easier for people to be part of the skilled trades with an investment of $75 million over the next two years by:

• Appointing a five-member Skilled Trades Panel to provide recommendations on ways to modernize the system
• Investing $2.5 million this year and $7.5 million next year to launch the new non-repayable Tools Grant
• Investing $5.8 million in the Apprentice Development Benefit, including a $1.3 million boost this year and next
• Investing $24 million in the Apprentice Development Benefit to supplement EI benefits, including a $4 million boost this year and next
• Investing $4.7 million in 2021-22 in multi-year commitment to develop new digital portal to support skilled trades and apprenticeship system in Ontario
• Committing a total of $211.9 million to the In-class Enhancement Fund in 2020-21 and 2021-22, including a boost of $11.8 million this year and $22.3 million next year
• Investing an additional $10 million in 2021-22 in the Apprenticeship Capital Grant for a total investment of $24 million
• Investing $5.4 million to assist training delivery agents with implementing COVID-19 health and safety measures

3) Increase employer participation in sponsoring and hiring trained apprentices by:

• Establishing a new Skills Development Fund which will provide $30 million over two years beginning in 2020-21
• Investing $21 million in 2020-21 to support a new Achievement Incentive Grant for employers
• Supporting business participation by investing $20 million in 2020-21 for a new Group Sponsorship Grant to encourage small to medium sized employers to provide full scope training
• Working with industry on workforce planning for major infrastructure projects

Ontario’s Infrastructure Plan

The “Recover” component of the government’s action plan includes $4.8 billion in new spending. Highlights include an additional $680 million over four years for broadband infrastructure, and an extra $1.3 billion over three years to reduce electricity costs to industrial and commercial employers.

In addition to the new $680 million broadband infrastructure funding, Ontario’s capital plan currently includes:

• $62.7 billion over ten years for public transit projects including the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Yonge North Subway Extension, and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. The Province indicated that it is accelerating the delivery of its subway expansion projects and calling on the federal government to put up 40% of the total costs.
• $27.2 billion over ten years for hospital projects including the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority New Replacement Hospital, Unity Health — St. Joseph’s Health Centre Redevelopment project, the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, and the South Bruce Grey Health Centre — Kincardine Site Phase 1 Redevelopment project.
• $1 billion for the newly established COVID-19 Resilience stream, which provides for the accelerated delivery of priority municipal infrastructure projects, school retrofits, and long-term care facilities.

 

Ontario’s Infrastructure Spending Outlook ($ Millions)

	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23	10-Year Total
Transit	4,799	5,457	5,844	62,708
Provincial Highways	2,587	2,561	2,764	22,017
Hospitals	2,064	2,573	2,557	27,229
Education	2,392	2,567	2,388	20,073
Postsecondary Education	634	629	486	4,225
Social	168	232	192	2,351
Justice	615	822	850	4,348
Total*	15,767	17,571	18,007	162,679

Source: 2020 Ontario Budget

*Total includes several smaller sector categories excluded from this table; Total also includes third-party investments primarily in hospitals, colleges and schools.

 

For a complete copy of the Ontario Budget, visit https://budget.ontario.ca/2020/pdf/2020-ontario-budget-en.pdf 

 

 

The Local 793 SUB Plan is a separate Trust Fund designed to provide Employment Insurance (EI) top-up benefits to members for a maximum of 6 weeks (in a calendar year). The top-up benefit will be up to $250 per week, in addition to any EI benefits the member receives from Service Canada. The maximum SUB Plan top-up benefit is $1,500 per calendar year. Effective November 1, 2020, eligible members can start applying for SUB Plan top-up benefits. Having a registered SUB Plan with the federal government will ensure the top-up […]

The Local 793 SUB Plan is a separate Trust Fund designed to provide Employment Insurance (EI) top-up benefits to members for a maximum of 6 weeks (in a calendar year).

The top-up benefit will be up to $250 per week, in addition to any EI benefits the member receives from Service Canada. The maximum SUB Plan top-up benefit is $1,500 per calendar year.

Effective November 1, 2020, eligible members can start applying for SUB Plan top-up benefits.

Having a registered SUB Plan with the federal government will ensure the top-up benefit of up to $250 per week does not reduce members’ EI benefits and the top-up benefit is not subject to EI contributions or CPP contributions.

LOCAL 793 SUB PLAN DETAILS

• The Local 793 SUB Plan will start on November 1, 2020.
• The Local 793 Relief Grant Portal/interface on the Union website has been reprogrammed to allow members to also apply for the SUB Plan benefit payments (see image below).
• Local 793’s database has already been programmed to segregate and calculate all SUB Plan contributions from employers as of May 1, 2020.
• All 15 contractor associations and 131 independent contractors have signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) to participate. Remember, if your company has not signed a LOU, the Union cannot provide you with SUB Plan top-up benefit payments.

WILL I BE ELIGIBLE?
Members will be eligible if:

1. Their employer(s) remits to the Local 793 SUB Plan.
2. The member has at least 500 hours remitted* on their behalf.
3. The member is in receipt of EI benefits as a result of:
– Temporary work stoppage;
– Training;
– Illness or injury;
– Maternity or parental leave

You will not be eligible for the SUB Plan if you are receiving Local 793 pension benefits or are a surviving spouse or in receipt of Local 793 long-term disability benefits.

* You must have worked a minimum of 500 hours in the last 12 months prior to your claim to be eligible. The minimum 500 hours is applicable to the 2020 calendar year only.

HOW DO I APPLY TO THE SUB PLAN?

Effective November 1, 2020, the Local 793 SUB Plan top-up benefit will be accessible on the Union website via your member profile. Once logged in to your member account profile, scroll down to RELIEF GRANT AND SUB PLAN and click the APPLY HERE button.

Members were hard at work today dismantling the Terex Peiner SN 86 luffing tower crane at OETIO’s Oakville campus in order to make room for a new Liebherr 190 HC-L 8/16 Litronic luffing tower crane. The Terex Peiner SN 86 luffing tower crane is being shipped and erected at OETIO’s Morrisburg campus. When both cranes are erected, OETIO will have increased training capacity for tower crane training. Members Sylvain Chartrand, Stephen Cumberbatch, Dario Diaz, Daniel Gabrielli, Nicholas Gabrielli, Corey Jensen, Andy McFadden, Brett Nicholson and Roderick Sullivan were all on […]

Members were hard at work today dismantling the Terex Peiner SN 86 luffing tower crane at OETIO’s Oakville campus in order to make room for a new Liebherr 190 HC-L 8/16 Litronic luffing tower crane. The Terex Peiner SN 86 luffing tower crane is being shipped and erected at OETIO’s Morrisburg campus. When both cranes are erected, OETIO will have increased training capacity for tower crane training. Members Sylvain Chartrand, Stephen Cumberbatch, Dario Diaz, Daniel Gabrielli, Nicholas Gabrielli, Corey Jensen, Andy McFadden, Brett Nicholson and Roderick Sullivan were all on site and helped with the dismantling of the tower crane.

In March, the Benefit Plan Trustees established the Local 793 Emergency Relief Grant to assist eligible plan members and their families in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Local 793 Emergency Relief Grant will now be extended for the months of October to December 31, 2020 for those members who are newly affected or continue to be affected in the months of October to December 31, 2020, with the extension of $250 per week top-up for those that meet the existing criteria. The extended Emergency Relief Grant will now expire […]

In March, the Benefit Plan Trustees established the Local 793 Emergency Relief Grant to assist eligible plan members and their families in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Local 793 Emergency Relief Grant will now be extended for the months of October to December 31, 2020 for those members who are newly affected or continue to be affected in the months of October to December 31, 2020, with the extension of $250 per week top-up for those that meet the existing criteria.

The extended Emergency Relief Grant will now expire on December 31, 2020. Additionally, the previously passed COVID-19 Life and Health Benefit Freezing is scheduled to expire September 30, 2020. Extension of “Benefit Freezing” will continue for only those members who will fall out of benefits in the months of October to December 2020 as a result of NIL (zero) contributions coming from their respective employers.