Members Can Vote for Banquet Hall

Written by Local 793 Staff

The OE Banquet Hall & Conference Centre at Local 793’s head office in Oakville has been nominated in the banquet facilities category of the Oakville Beaver Readers Choice 2015 Awards. The competition encourages readers to vote for their top picks in various categories via an online poll. Winners will be published in an upcoming special section of The Oakville Beaver. Voting opened July 31 and closes Aug. 16 at 11:59 p.m. You can go to the online site and cast a ballot in support of our banquet hall. To vote, […]

The OE Banquet Hall & Conference Centre at Local 793’s head office in Oakville has been nominated in the banquet facilities category of the Oakville Beaver Readers Choice 2015 Awards.

The competition encourages readers to vote for their top picks in various categories via an online poll.

Winners will be published in an upcoming special section of The Oakville Beaver.

Voting opened July 31 and closes Aug. 16 at 11:59 p.m.

You can go to the online site and cast a ballot in support of our banquet hall.

To vote, click here and register.

You will receive a message via email, asking you to confirm your account. Once that is done, log in to your account and click on ‘Best Businesses/Service’ then click on the ‘Banquet Facilities’ link and cast your vote for ‘O.E. Banquet Hall.’

Let’s show everybody that our banquet hall is the best!

Heat Stress Signs and Signals

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 operators should be on the lookout for signs of heat-related illnesses during periods of especially hot weather. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety warns that heat-related illnesses can strike with little warning. Construction workers are especially susceptible because they’re often exposed to direct sunlight and humidity. Heat stress and exhaustion can cause myriad problems from rashes and cramps to exhaustion and full-blown heat stroke. Symptoms of heat stress can include sunburn, fainting, heavy sweating, headaches and dizzy spells. It’s important, then, for operators as well as […]

Local 793 operators should be on the lookout for signs of heat-related illnesses during periods of especially hot weather.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety warns that heat-related illnesses can strike with little warning.

Construction workers are especially susceptible because they’re often exposed to direct sunlight and humidity.

Heat stress and exhaustion can cause myriad problems from rashes and cramps to exhaustion and full-blown heat stroke.

Symptoms of heat stress can include sunburn, fainting, heavy sweating, headaches and dizzy spells.

It’s important, then, for operators as well as employers to prepare ahead of time, recognize symptoms of heat stress and know how to treat it when problems arise.

Heat stress occurs when the body can no longer maintain its normal temperature. The body’s internal thermostat maintains a constant inner temperature by pumping more blood to the skin and by increasing sweat production. But in very hot environments the body temperature can rise, resulting in heat stress. When the body can no longer cope, a number of illnesses can occur, including:

  • Heat Rash: This is characterized by tiny red spots on the skin that can cause a prickling sensation. It’s a result of inflammation when the ducts of sweat glands become plugged.
  • Heat Cramps: These are sharp pains in the muscles caused by an imbalance resulting from failure to replace salt lost with sweat.
  • Heat Exhaustion: This is caused by loss of body water and salt through excessive sweating. Symptoms include weakness, dizziness, visual disturbances, intense thirst, headaches, vomiting, muscle cramps and diarrhea.
  • Heat Stroke: This condition requires immediate medical attention and is characterized by an elevated body temperature. Signs of heat stroke include dry, hot skin, a high body temperature and complete or partial loss of consciousness.

Prolonged exposure to heat can cause other problems such as sleep disturbances and susceptibility to minor injuries and sicknesses.

The Ontario Ministry of Labour recommends that workers in a hot environment should try to drink a cup of water every 20 minutes and that workers also:

  • – avoid working in direct sunlight
  • – reduce the pace of work
  • – increase the number of breaks
  • – take breaks in a cool or shaded area
  • – schedule heavy work for cooler periods
  • – wear light-coloured clothing
  • – reduce the physical demands of work

Employers have a duty under clause 25(2)(h) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker. This includes developing policies and procedures to protect workers in environments that are hot because of hot processes and/or weather.

Any Local 793 operators with concerns about employers not taking appropriate steps to help workers avoid heat stroke and exhaustion should contact their business rep.

Click here for more information about heat exhaustion and heat stroke from the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association.

Click here for more information from the Ontario government.

Facebook Site for Local 793 Members

Written by Local 793 Staff

A Facebook page has been set up for active and retired members of Local 793. To find the site, search for ‘International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 793 Members Only’ or click here. This is the only site endorsed by the union. On the site, members can write posts and upload photos and videos that might be of interest to other members. If you join the group, you’ll receive items on your news feed when they’re posted to the Local 793 site. To join the site, send a ‘friend’ request to the site. You will eventually be sent […]

A Facebook page has been set up for active and retired members of Local 793.

To find the site, search for ‘International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 793 Members Only’ or click here.

This is the only site endorsed by the union.

On the site, members can write posts and upload photos and videos that might be of interest to other members.

If you join the group, you’ll receive items on your news feed when they’re posted to the Local 793 site.

To join the site, send a ‘friend’ request to the site. You will eventually be sent a message, asking for your union registration number. The number appears on the front of your union card. Once that is received and checked out in our system, you’ll be approved to the group.

The site is private and only for union members and IUOE staff.

Bill C-377: Letter from CLC President Hassan Yussuff

Written by Local 793 Staff

June 30, 2015 To: Members of the CLC Canadian Council RE: Bill C-377 Greetings: Today, the Prime Minister used his Conservative Senate majority to re-write Senate rules, shut down debate and force through Bill C-377. I want to thank all of you for your dedication and hard work over the last four years to try and defeat this fatally flawed Bill. Of course, the labour movement was not alone in our criticisms. We worked with many other individuals and organizations to coordinate our messages and opposition to C-377, including: seven […]

June 30, 2015

To: Members of the CLC Canadian Council

RE: Bill C-377

Greetings:

Today, the Prime Minister used his Conservative Senate majority to re-write Senate rules, shut down debate and force through Bill C-377.

I want to thank all of you for your dedication and hard work over the last four years to try and defeat this fatally flawed Bill.

Of course, the labour movement was not alone in our criticisms.

We worked with many other individuals and organizations to coordinate our messages and opposition to C-377, including: seven provincial governments; Canada’s Privacy Commissioner; constitutional and labour lawyers; the Canadian Bar Association; the insurance and mutual fund industries; benefits and pension plan managers; medical associations; and academic experts.

We also worked closely with legislators in both the House of Commons and the Senate to highlight the Bill’s flaws and ensure it had a rocky ride through Parliament from the start. In particular, the NDP in the House of Commons, and the Liberals in the Senate, did all they could to oppose, delay and defeat this flawed Bill.

Although the Conservative majority rigged the game and forced Bill C-377 through the Senate, this is not the end of our fight.

Bill C-377 is unconstitutional, undemocratic, discriminatory, and an invasion of personal privacy. The Bill will be subject to a constitutional challenge in the courts in the future.

In the meantime, we must not forget why this fatally flawed Private Member’s Bill was ultimately able to get through Parliament: From the start, C-377 was orchestrated directly by the heavy hand of the Prime Minister.

Bill C-377 is Stephen Harper’s partisan political attack on unions. He ordered Conservatives in the House of Commons and the Senate to ignore the evidence, ignore the experts, ignore the critics, break the rules and pass the Bill.

It is clear what we are up against. Stephen Harper is prepared to do whatever it takes to silence the voice of our labour movement.

As we head towards the federal election on October 19, 2015, it is critical that we remind our members, and others, about Harper’s partisan political attack on our labour movement.

The best way we can ensure this Bill is repealed is to defeat Stephen Harper and elect a new federal government this October.

We have a lot of hard work ahead of us. Harper broke the rules to force C-377 through the Senate. What is he prepared to do to win the next election?

In solidarity,

Hassan Yussuff
President

Click here to see the original letter in PDF format

Summer District Meeting Schedule

Written by Local 793 Staff

Please note that monthly district meetings have been cancelled in all areas for July and August. Following is a schedule of the monthly district meetings: TIMMINS 54 Waterloo Rd., Unit 2, Timmins, 8 p.m., 1st Wednesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled. OSHAWA 1255 Terwillegar Ave., Unit 7, Oshawa, 7 p.m., 1st Thursday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled. THUNDER BAY* 107 Johnson Ave., Boardroom, Thunder Bay, 8 p.m., 1st Thursday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled. ST. […]

Please note that monthly district meetings have been cancelled in all areas for July and August.
Following is a schedule of the monthly district meetings:

TIMMINS
54 Waterloo Rd., Unit 2, Timmins, 8 p.m., 1st Wednesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

OSHAWA
1255 Terwillegar Ave., Unit 7, Oshawa, 7 p.m., 1st Thursday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

THUNDER BAY*
107 Johnson Ave., Boardroom, Thunder Bay, 8 p.m., 1st Thursday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

ST. CATHARINES*
188 Bunting Rd., Unit 5, St. Catharines, 7:30 p.m., 2nd Tuesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

WINDSOR*
3383 Walker Rd., Windsor, 7 p.m., 2nd Tuesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

SAULT STE. MARIE*
432 Great Northern Rd., Suite 203, Sault Ste. Marie, 7:30 p.m., 2nd Wednesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

KITCHENER*
100 Sheldon Dr., Unit 10, Cambridge, 7:30 p.m., 2nd Wednesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

SUDBURY*
430 Westmount Ave., Unit H, Sudbury, 8 p.m., 3rd Tuesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

TORONTO*
2245 Speers Rd., Oakville, 7:30 p.m., 3rd Wednesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

BELLEVILLE*
43 Pine St., Belleville, 7 p.m., 4th Tuesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

LONDON*
523 First St., London, 7 p.m., 4th Tuesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

HAMILTON*
35 Goderich Rd., Unit 5, Hamilton, 7:30 p.m., 4th Wednesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

OTTAWA*
Best Western Plus, 1274 Carling Ave., 7 p.m., 4th Wednesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

NORTH BAY
Voyager Inn, Greenery Room, 123 Delaware Ave., North Bay, 7:30 p.m., 4th Wednesday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

BARRIE*
Community Wholeness Centre, 59 Maple Avenue, Barrie, 7:30 p.m., 4th Thursday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

SARNIA*
1390A Lougar Ave., Sarnia, 7 p.m., 4th Thursday of the month. Note: July & August meetings are cancelled.

* – District hiring hall present

 

Member Assistance Program

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 has a Member Assistance Program (MAP) for Local 793 members, their spouses and dependent children under 21 (or up to 25 if enrolled in accredited educational programs). The union has teamed up with Great-West Life and Schepell.fgi to offer the program. The MAP is completely confidential within the limits of the law. No one, including the union, will know that you have used the service unless you choose to tell them. Local 793 members and immediate family members have access to the MAP at no cost. To ensure your privacy […]

Local 793 has a Member Assistance Program (MAP) for Local 793 members, their spouses and dependent children under 21 (or up to 25 if enrolled in accredited educational programs).

The union has teamed up with Great-West Life and Schepell.fgi to offer the program.

The MAP is completely confidential within the limits of the law. No one, including the union, will know that you have used the service unless you choose to tell them.

Local 793 members and immediate family members have access to the MAP at no cost. To ensure your privacy and confidentiality, fees for the MAP service have been paid in advance by the union.

Following are the services that the MAP includes:

  • Short-term Professional Counseling for Personal and Emotional Issues: Choose from a variety of delivery methods to best suit your comfort level and lifestyle, including in-person, telephonic, e-counseling, first chat (instant online chat with a counselor), video, and text-based self-paced.
  • Family Support Services: This service connects you with a family support specialist for personalized assistance with family planning, parenting, childcare, eldercare, homecare support and more.
  • Legal Support Services: This service provides consultation with professional lawyers to answer legal questions surrounding divorce, custody, adoption, real estate, debt, bankruptcy, landlord/tenant issues, and more.
  • Financial Support Services: This service provides consultation with financial professionals to answer financial questions about budgeting, debt management, tax issues, and more.
  • Naturopathic Services: This service provides consultation with naturopathic doctors on choices related to physiology, diet, lifestyle, and well-being, including illness prevention strategies.
  • Nutritional Services: This service offers consultation with registered dieticians on any nutritional matter or concern.
  • Health Coaching: Registered nurses can provide information and advice, co-ordination and support, and coaching on any health risk or concern.
  • Fitness Coach Connects: This is a personalized and interactive program designed to improve your physical health through education, behavior change and fitness.
  • Specialized Counseling and Online Programs: These assist with career challenges, managing stress, tobacco cessation, enhancing your relationships, separation and divorce, and financial planning.

The MAP is available 27/7/365 with simple access:

For crisis situations requiring immediate attention, call 911 or the Shepell·fgi Care Access Centre at 1-800-387-4765.

Financial Assistance Available to Students

Written by Local 793 Staff

The Jack Redshaw Scholarship and IUOE Canadian Conference Bursary are available to dependents of IUOE Local 793 members. The Jack Redshaw Scholarship Deadline for applications is Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. The scholarships are available to all the sons, daughters and grandchildren of Local 793 members who are in good standing at the time of selection of the awards. The award is named in honour of the late Jack Redshaw, who was a Local 793 member for 42 years. He was a business rep for 20 years and also served as labour […]

The Jack Redshaw Scholarship and IUOE Canadian Conference Bursary are available to dependents of IUOE Local 793 members.

The Jack Redshaw Scholarship

Deadline for applications is Friday, Sept. 11, 2015.

The scholarships are available to all the sons, daughters and grandchildren of Local 793 members who are in good standing at the time of selection of the awards.

The award is named in honour of the late Jack Redshaw, who was a Local 793 member for 42 years. He was a business rep for 20 years and also served as labour relations manager and recording-corresponding secretary of the union.

Each year, the business manager of Local 793 determines the maximum amount of each scholarship and number of scholarships to be awarded.

Applications must be supported by:

  • Transcripts;
  • Other evidence of potential ability to succeed in the post-secondary program; and
  • A letter of recommendation from an individual with personal academic knowledge of the person making the application as well as why a scholarship should be awarded.

In addition, applicants must submit an essay of not more than 1,000 words on either:

  • Reasons why this scholarship will help me.
  • The impact on my life of being a dependent of a Local 793 union member.

Applications can be downloaded from the members section of the Local 793 website by clicking here. Applications can also be obtained by contacting any Local 793 area office.

The Jack Redshaw Scholarship applications can be emailed to socialservices@iuoelocal793.org or mailed to Social Services Department, Attn: Stephanie Whaley, 2245 Speers Rd, Oakville, ON, L6L 6X8.

IUOE Canadian Conference Bursary

Deadline for applications is Aug. 1, 2015.

The Canadian Conference of the International Union of Operating Engineers is calling for applications for 10 bursaries of $750 each. The bursaries are intended to provide financial assistance to dependents of IUOE members.

The bursary 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. Each bursary will be payable at the start of the first or subsequent term of the student’s year of at least a two-year program.

Applications are considered from four regions:

  • Atlantic Canada
  • Quebec and Ontario (Gary O’Neill Bursary)
  • Saskatchewan and Manitoba (Brian Woznesensky Memorial Bursary)
  • Alberta

Applications must be supported by transcripts of high school 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. In addition, applicants must submit a 1,000-word essay on the reason why the bursary will be of assistance or the impact that being a dependent of a union member has had on the applicant’s life.

The decision process will be handled internally by a committee from the executive of the Canadian Conference of Operating Engineers.

Applications can be downloaded from the members section of the Local 793 website by clicking here.  Applications can also be obtained by calling the IUOE Local 772 office at 905-527-5250. They can be mailed to Greg Hoath, Secretary-Treasurer, Canadian Conference, c/o IUOE Local 772, 1030 Upper James Street, Suite 401, Hamilton, ON, L9C 6X6.

Stop the Attacks on Labour

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 members may receive automated phone calls from the International Union about Bill C-377 and other anti-union legislation being proposed by Canada’s federal Conservative government. Bill C-377 is a Conservative private members bill that attacks freedom of association and free speech and infringes on individual privacy. Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher, who is a vice-president on the IUOE general executive board, has lobbied for support from the International about issues that impact Canadian operators and their families. The automated calls from the International are part of that initiative. […]

Local 793 members may receive automated phone calls from the International Union about Bill C-377 and other anti-union legislation being proposed by Canada’s federal Conservative government. Bill C-377 is a Conservative private members bill that attacks freedom of association and free speech and infringes on individual privacy. Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher, who is a vice-president on the IUOE general executive board, has lobbied for support from the International about issues that impact Canadian operators and their families. The automated calls from the International are part of that initiative.

Click here for more information.

Union Dues to Increase

Written by Local 793 Staff

A dues increase goes into effect July 1, 2015 for all members of Local 793 and bargaining unit employees working under an IUOE Local 793 collective agreement. Click here to see the notice.

A dues increase goes into effect July 1, 2015 for all members of Local 793 and bargaining unit employees working under an IUOE Local 793 collective agreement.

Click here to see the notice.

Ministry of Labour says Blitzes Coming

Written by Local 793 Staff

The Ministry of Labour (MOL) has announced several blitzes that will be taking place throughout the next few months focusing on various aspects of the industry. In May and June, MOL construction inspectors will visit workplaces where vehicles, mobile construction equipment and pedestrian workers may be present. Click here to see story in Daily Commercial News Click here for a full schedule of blitzes

The Ministry of Labour (MOL) has announced several blitzes that will be taking place throughout the next few months focusing on various aspects of the industry. In May and June, MOL construction inspectors will visit workplaces where vehicles, mobile construction equipment and pedestrian workers may be present.

Click here to see story in Daily Commercial News

Click here for a full schedule of blitzes