IUOE GP Issues Statement on U.S. Election

Written by Local 793 Staff

The following statement was issued by IUOE General President James T. Callahan in response to the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president: Last night, the Operating Engineers and organized labor sustained political losses throughout the country that will change the landscape for labor into the foreseeable future. No one knows for certain what a Trump Administration will bring, but if he keeps his campaign promises, many of our sacred labor protections will be truly tested. Many union households voted against their economic futures, which is troubling at best.  Now […]

The following statement was issued by IUOE General President James T. Callahan in response to the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president:

Last night, the Operating Engineers and organized labor sustained political losses throughout the country that will change the landscape for labor into the foreseeable future.

No one knows for certain what a Trump Administration will bring, but if he keeps his campaign promises, many of our sacred labor protections will be truly tested. Many union households voted against their economic futures, which is troubling at best. 

Now that the initial disappointment has been processed, it is time to do what every Operating Engineer in a leadership role has always done. We will stand strong, stand together, and continue to hold off attempts to erode away our collective bargaining rights. 

In the coming days, as we determine where these attacks will develop, rest assured that this administration, staff and the General Executive Board of our great organization is prepared to stand with you on the battlefield that lies before us, wherever our resources are needed.

God Bless you,
God Bless the Operating Engineers, and
God Bless America.

Arbitrator Orders Employer to Develop Social Media Policy

Written by Local 793 Staff

In a recent arbitration decision, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was found to have violated its obligation to provide a workplace which was safe and free of harassment by failing to take steps to protect its employees from social media harassment. The TTC had created a Twitter account to receive and respond to customer service questions and concerns. The union representing TTC employees filed a grievance claiming that the Twitter account had become a public platform for people to abuse and harass employees. In support of its case, the union […]

In a recent arbitration decision, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was found to have violated its obligation to provide a workplace which was safe and free of harassment by failing to take steps to protect its employees from social media harassment.

The TTC had created a Twitter account to receive and respond to customer service questions and concerns. The union representing TTC employees filed a grievance claiming that the Twitter account had become a public platform for people to abuse and harass employees. In support of its case, the union introduced into evidence hundreds of offensive, discriminatory and abusive tweets.

The arbitrator decided in favour of the union. By not properly addressing the offensive tweets, the TTC had failed to provide a workplace safe and free of harassment. In the course of his decision, the arbitrator specifically noted that the TTC did not have a social media policy and, as part of his remedy, ordered that the TTC develop one.

Local 793 recently developed a social media policy that was passed by the executive board and reviewed by the membership at the September general membership meeting. By taking proactive steps to address the challenges posed by social media, Local 793 is providing confidence to members by setting out rules for the safe use of social media while protecting its members from online harassment and abuse and ensuring the union is in compliance with Ontario law and the union’s constitution and by-laws.

Click here to review Local 793’s Social Media Policy.

Fall Photo Contest Winners Announced

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher has announced winners of the union’s fall photo contest. Winner of the Best Fall Photo of a Jobsite in Ontario or Nunavut was Mark Askew. Winner of the Best Fall Photo in Ontario or Nunavut was Roy Nobre. Union members were invited to submit their best photos. Deadline was Nov. 3. The photos were judged by a three-member committee consisting of director of communications Grant Cameron, IT manager Armand Dowdall, and labour relations rep Daveen Lidstone. $100 VISA gift cards will be awarded to […]

Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher has announced winners of the union’s fall photo contest.

  • Winner of the Best Fall Photo of a Jobsite in Ontario or Nunavut was Mark Askew.
  • Winner of the Best Fall Photo in Ontario or Nunavut was Roy Nobre.

Union members were invited to submit their best photos. Deadline was Nov. 3.

The photos were judged by a three-member committee consisting of director of communications Grant Cameron, IT manager Armand Dowdall, and labour relations rep Daveen Lidstone.

$100 VISA gift cards will be awarded to the two first place winners.

Thanks to everybody for submitting entries.

Mark Askew won for best fall photo of a job site.
Mark Askew
Roy Nobre won for his picture of a river scene.
Roy Nobre

Bulletin Issued on Use of Mobile Devices

Written by Local 793 Staff

We all know the dangers associated with distracted driving. But what about the distractions caused by mobile devices on construction worksites? The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) has issued a safety talk bulletin on the use of mobile devices on worksites. Local 793 members should check their collective agreement or company policy on the use of such devices or talk to their union steward. Click here to view the IHSA bulletin.

We all know the dangers associated with distracted driving. But what about the distractions caused by mobile devices on construction worksites?

The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA) has issued a safety talk bulletin on the use of mobile devices on worksites.

Local 793 members should check their collective agreement or company policy on the use of such devices or talk to their union steward.

Click here to view the IHSA bulletin.

Local 793 Fall Photo Contest Announced

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 is sponsoring a fall photo contest. All union members are invited to submit their best photos to be judged in three categories. The categories are: Best fall photo in Ontario or Nunavut Best fall photo of a jobsite in Ontario or Nunavut Best Halloween photo Following are the rules: All entries must be emailed to gcameron@iuoelocal793.org, along with union registration number, by midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016. Please include description of the photo, where it was taken and who is in the photo. Otherwise, the photo will […]

Local 793 is sponsoring a fall photo contest.

All union members are invited to submit their best photos to be judged in three categories.

The categories are:

  • Best fall photo in Ontario or Nunavut
  • Best fall photo of a jobsite in Ontario or Nunavut
  • Best Halloween photo

Following are the rules:

  • All entries must be emailed to gcameron@iuoelocal793.org, along with union registration number, by midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016. Please include description of the photo, where it was taken and who is in the photo. Otherwise, the photo will not qualify.
  • Entrants can submit only one photo per category.
  • All photos must be high resolution, at least 5×7 inches at 300 DPI.
  • Judges selected by the union will evaluate and choose winners in each category.
  • Gift cards will be awarded to first place winners in each category.
  • Winning entries have a chance of being printed in the union’s 2017 planner booklet.

Committee to Draft Brief on Green Energy Project Benefits

Written by Local 793 Staff

A committee of employer and union representatives has been formed to put together a brief on the number of jobs and benefits that wind, solar and biomass projects bring to Ontario. The committee will hire a consultant to prepare the brief. It will be presented to the provincial government during upcoming consultations on Ontario’s new Long-Term Energy Plan. Mike Gallagher, business manager of Local 793, is on the industry committee. Others on the committee include: IUOE business rep Andre Chenier; Tom Rankin, CEO of Rankin Construction; Ken Williams Jr., president […]

A committee of employer and union representatives has been formed to put together a brief on the number of jobs and benefits that wind, solar and biomass projects bring to Ontario.

The committee will hire a consultant to prepare the brief. It will be presented to the provincial government during upcoming consultations on Ontario’s new Long-Term Energy Plan.

Mike Gallagher, business manager of Local 793, is on the industry committee. Others on the committee include: IUOE business rep Andre Chenier; Tom Rankin, CEO of Rankin Construction; Ken Williams Jr., president of Pumpcrete and also the Crane Rental Association of Ontario; Jason Dashney of Surespan Wind Energy Service; Bill Barbosa of LIUNA Local 183; and Brandy Giannetta of the Canadian Wind Energy Association.

The decision to form the committee was made at a meeting held Oct. 13 at Local 793’s head office in Oakville.

The meeting was arranged by business manager Gallagher to discuss the industry’s response to government plans to scrap $3.8 billion in future wind, solar and biomass projects across the province. The projects are under the Large Renewable Procurement 2, or LRP2 program.

More than two dozen representatives of employers and unions attended the meeting, along with Sara Monture, a representative of the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario.

Business Manager Gallagher said the industry was caught off guard by the government’s announcement and cancellation of the green energy projects is a concern to both employers and unions because of the investment in equipment and training for the work.

He provided a synopsis of a 45-minute meeting he and other Local 793 representatives had with Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault at the union’s district office in Sudbury on Oct. 11.

At the meeting, Gallagher noted that Local 793 and signatory contractors who may have purchased equipment in anticipation of the work are concerned about the decision to cut the green energy projects and the fact they were not consulted in advance of the announcement.

Minister Thibeault apologized for missing the union in the consultation. He said that LRP2 has been suspended but projects under an earlier program, known as LRP1, will still go forward, and that Feed-in Tariff and microFeed-in Tariff projects won’t be affected.

The minister indicated there are still four years of building left for contracts that have been signed and he noted that all projects that have a signed contract will continue as planned.

Thibeault said the Long-Term Energy Plan which will be completed in 2017 will outline future needs.

Interestingly, the minister said that, contrary to what’s been widely reported in the media, Ontario is not losing money when it sells its electricity to the U.S., Manitoba and Quebec. In fact, Thibeault said the government is $230 million in the black each year on those sales.

In the meeting, the minister explained that Ontario must produce more electricity than it uses because standards set by the North American Electricity Reliability Council require that Ontario has to maintain between eight and 15 per cent in excess power. This was set to avoid another blackout such as occurred in August 2003 in Ontario and the eastern U.S.

While wind, solar and biomass projects are presently, and by far, the cheapest way of producing energy today, the minister noted that Ontario is at a “tipping point” in finding power storage solutions for renewable energy generation.

At the meeting at Local 793’s head office, Gallagher said it’s good that the government is still going ahead with LRP1 projects but the decision to postpone LRP2 projects is bad news and the message about the importance of renewable energy is not getting through.

Tom Rankin of Rankin Construction had the same message and noted, for example, that 18 studies have been done worldwide that show there are no ill health effects from wind turbines.

Rankin noted the government is not sending a good message by cancelling the green energy projects.

Shane McCarthy of Surespan Wind Energy Service said the public is forming opinions on wrong information and does not understand the importance of projects like wind turbines.

He said there are no figures on items such as how much taxes from wind turbines go to municipalities to show taxpayers how the green energy industry is contributing to growth.

Gallagher suggested that a committee be formed to put together a brief for the upcoming Long-Term Energy Plan consultations. The suggestion was accepted by those at the meeting.

“We’ve got some work to do on the attitude of the general public and, quite frankly, the government,” he said.

Other representatives at the meeting included:

  • Frank Newman of Pumpcrete
  • Ian Smythe of Northern Mat and Bridge
  • Peter Lulecmis of Northern Mat and Bridge
  • Lee Spalding of Liebherr Canada
  • Bill Finkle of Cropac Equipment
  • Jeremy Asher of Mammoet
  • Jenifer Fitzpatrick of Mammoet
  • John Maclellan of Rankin Construction
  • Shawn Tyler of Rankin Construction
  • Jason Hanna of All Canada Crane
  • Aaron Hanna of All Canada Crane
  • Jeffrey Atkins of BIK Hydraulics
  • Brad Thomson of Thomkess Crane
  • Alex Law, assistant business manager at IUOE Local 793
  • Joe Redshaw, president at IUOE Local 793
  • Bob Turpin, northeastern Ontario area supervisor at IUOE Local 793
  • Ken Lew, labour relations manager at IUOE Local 793
  • Grant Cameron, director of communications at IUOE Local 793
  • Larry Richard, EPSCA business rep at IUOE Local 793

2017 Ray Goodfellow Scholarship Fund

Written by Local 793 Staff

Deadline for applications for the Ray Goodfellow Scholarship Fund is March 31, 2017. The award is sponsored by the Crane Rental Association of Ontario and International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793. The award is named after the late Ray Goodfellow, owner of Whiskey Jack Cranes Inc. Ray was president of the Crane Rental Association of Ontario, a 24-year member of Local 793, and a management trustee on the union’s training and life and health benefits trust funds. The scholarships are available to the dependents and grandchildren of employees of […]

Deadline for applications for the Ray Goodfellow Scholarship Fund is March 31, 2017.

The award is sponsored by the Crane Rental Association of Ontario and International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793.

The award is named after the late Ray Goodfellow, owner of Whiskey Jack Cranes Inc. Ray was president of the Crane Rental Association of Ontario, a 24-year member of Local 793, and a management trustee on the union’s training and life and health benefits trust funds.

The scholarships are available to the dependents and grandchildren of employees of active members of the Crane Rental Association of Ontario working in the crane rental and concrete pump sectors.

Each year, a committee appointed by the Crane Rental Association of Ontario board of directors will determine the amount and number of scholarships to be awarded. Initially, two awards of $4,000 each will be awarded.

The scholarship recipient must be entering the first or subsequent year of a full-time course of study (at least two years in length) leading to a diploma, certificate or degree from any recognized public Canadian college or university

Eligible persons are able to apply more than once. However, once they have received a bursary they are no longer eligible to receive another award.

Applications must be supported by:

  • Transcripts of high school/ post-secondary achievement, and
  • Accompanied by a detailed letter of recommendation from an individual with personal academic knowledge of the candidate, outlining reasons why the bursary should be awarded.

Applicants must also submit an essay of 1,000 words on either:

  • The reason(s) why the scholarship will be of assistance, or
  • The impact of being a dependent of an active member of the Crane Rental Association of Ontario working in the crane rental and concrete pump sectors.

Click here to download an application.

Resolutions Passed at IUOE Canadian Conference

Written by Local 793 Staff

Three important resolutions were passed at the IUOE Canadian Conference held recently in Edmonton. One resolution was passed in support of the Energy East pipeline project, a second opposed the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, and a third dealt with organ donor and tissue awareness. Click here to read the resolutions

Three important resolutions were passed at the IUOE Canadian Conference held recently in Edmonton.

One resolution was passed in support of the Energy East pipeline project, a second opposed the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, and a third dealt with organ donor and tissue awareness.

Click here to read the resolutions

Executive Board & Trustee Changes

Written by Local 793 Staff

Changes have been made to the Local 793 executive board and trustee positions. Click here to view notice from business manager Mike Gallagher.

Changes have been made to the Local 793 executive board and trustee positions.

Click here to view notice from business manager Mike Gallagher.

Local 793 is growing, Gallagher says

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 has grown considerably over the years and the officers have big plans for the future. That was one of the messages delivered by business manager Mike Gallagher at a general membership meeting of the union in Oakville on Sept. 25. “This is your union,” he said in remarks to more than 120 members at the meeting. “Our only desire is to keep building it.” Today, he noted, there are more than 14,500 active and retired members, the pension plan has grown to more than $2.3 billion, the benefit […]

Local 793 has grown considerably over the years and the officers have big plans for the future.

That was one of the messages delivered by business manager Mike Gallagher at a general membership meeting of the union in Oakville on Sept. 25.

“This is your union,” he said in remarks to more than 120 members at the meeting. “Our only desire is to keep building it.”

Today, he noted, there are more than 14,500 active and retired members, the pension plan has grown to more than $2.3 billion, the benefit plan is doing extremely well, and the union now has close to 160 staff working in offices across the province.

“We’re growing and building the local in a healthy way.”

Gallagher said members’ equity was $87.7 million as of June 30, 10.4 per cent higher than the previous year, and consolidated assets of the union were $95 million.

With lots of construction projects planned and on the go, he said the work picture looks bright for members.

He noted that more work is expected in the nuclear sector with refurbishment of reactors at Darlington starting up and similar work at Bruce Power planned for the future.

Gallagher said he hopes that work will also pick up soon for Operating Engineers at the Gordie Howe International Bridge over the Detroit River at Windsor.

On the training front, he said, the OETIO received $1.5 million from the federal government last December under the Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training Program and an additional $1.38 million under the Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and University to buy five pieces of heavy equipment and a tower crane.

The union purchased a new Liebherr 85 EC-B5 tower crane for the Oakville campus which has bottom and top climbing capabilities, he said.

Going forward, Gallagher said the plan is to hire four more organizers in each of the next three years to keep the union growing.

He said Local 793 has a good crew of organizers who have been working hard and are achieving results, bringing in some good companies.

To do the job, he said, union organizers have to have courage and be a true believer in the cause.

As for future plans, Gallagher said that he hopes to double the size of the OE Banquet Hall in Oakville and has been talking to Michael Spaziani, the architect who designed the head office.

Meanwhile, he said he also wants to build a residence of at least 40 rooms for students who come for training at the OETIO in Oakville.