OETIO to Offer E-learning at Training Facility

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 president Joe Redshaw spoke at an event in Mississauga on Aug. 19 to celebrate the grand opening of the Remote Training Centre (RTC) in the Neskantaga community in northern Ontario. He told the audience that Local 793 and the OETIO understand the importance of education and training and were pleased to be part of the celebration. “Recognized training certification and education is the stepping stone to employment and, more importantly, a career,” he said in his remarks. Redshaw said that Local 793 and the OETIO are working towards […]

Local 793 president Joe Redshaw spoke at an event in Mississauga on Aug. 19 to celebrate the grand opening of the Remote Training Centre (RTC) in the Neskantaga community in northern Ontario.

He told the audience that Local 793 and the OETIO understand the importance of education and training and were pleased to be part of the celebration.

“Recognized training certification and education is the stepping stone to employment and, more importantly, a career,” he said in his remarks.

Redshaw said that Local 793 and the OETIO are working towards a made-in-Canada solution to meeting the skills gap for the heavy equipment and crane operator industry and the RTC will help further that goal.

“We see First Nations people as one of the made-in-Canada solutions, particularly in this region of Ontario.”

Redshaw’s comments were heard via satellite feed by Neskantaga Chief Peter Moonias and attendees at the RTC. Provincial Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer also joined the conference via a satellite feed from London, Ont.

Local 793 and the OETIO have supported the RTC, an innovative facility which enables training services to be delivered to the remote community. The union and training centre worked with Aecon and the Matawa First Nations Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Centre (KKETS).

The RTC is outfitted with two-way video communications technology which enables students at the facility to take safety training and courses via a satelitte uplink. The OETIO will be delivering e-learning courses to students at the centre.

In his remarks, Redshaw said the future looks bright for First Nations students, given the need for heavy equipment operators to build roads, airport strips and rail lines in support of projects in the Ring of Fire area in northern Ontario.

He thanked KKETS for its belief in the OETIO as the training delivery agent of choice for heavy equipment operating training.

Redshaw said Local 793’s office in Thunder Bay is doing what it can to place KKETS heavy equipment graduates from the OETIO in Morrisburg, and Aecon has clearly demonstrated its commitment to work with KKETS by recruiting OETIO graduates and providing them an opportunity to work on projects in Thunder Bay.

Redshaw said the opening of the RTC is a proud and exciting moment for Neskantaga.

“IUOE Local 793 and the OETIO believe in First Nations as a solution and plan to continue building and enhancing our partnership relationship for the future.”

Neskantaga Chief Moonias said the RTC will have a positive impact on the people of Neskantaga for many years to come.

“This is an integral step in the right direction – providing access to higher learning directly in our community so that our youth have the opportunity to succeed.”

Teri McKibbon, president and CEO at Aecon, said development of the RTC was made possible through the collaboration and contributions from many companies and organizations, including the OETIO.

“Training and education are keys to success and we are very proud to be a part of bringing such opportunities to Matawa First Nation communities.”

 

 

 

 

 

Construction Begins on Memorial to Honour Workers

Written by Local 793 Staff

Construction has begun on a memorial garden and pavilion at Local 793’s head office in Oakville. A groundbreaking ceremony was held June 9 to mark the beginning of construction. The structure is being built to honour members of the local who have died as a result of construction site accidents or due to an occupational illness. More than 150 dignitaries, union staff, business reps and officers, health and safety officials, building trades representatives and construction employers attended the morning event, along with family of four Local 793 operators who died […]

Construction has begun on a memorial garden and pavilion at Local 793’s head office in Oakville.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held June 9 to mark the beginning of construction.

The structure is being built to honour members of the local who have died as a result of construction site accidents or due to an occupational illness.

More than 150 dignitaries, union staff, business reps and officers, health and safety officials, building trades representatives and construction employers attended the morning event, along with family of four Local 793 operators who died under such circumstances.

Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher gave opening remarks at the ceremony. He spoke about the significance of the garden and pavilion and also the importance of industry partners and government agencies working together to make construction sites safer.

He noted that in Ontario 225 workers were killed on construction sites between 2003 and 2013, and that in 2013 alone 17 construction workers were killed.

“I really think the time has come for the construction industry as a whole to come together and put some mettle behind the words,” he said. “Nobody should go to work and not come home.”

He said Local 793 hopes to work with health and safety agencies and its partners in government to re-double efforts to make sure such tragic accidents don’t ever happen again.

Gallagher told the audience that the groundbreaking was important because the garden and pavilion will be a fitting tribute to honour those who have died in construction accidents.

“We are proud to be one of the few trades that has constructed a memorial garden like this,” he said, noting that the goal of the local is to never add another name going forward.

Gallagher provided an overview of the garden and pavilion, noting it was designed by Hamilton-area artist Patrick Bermingham, who’s been showing his sculptures professionally since he was 14.

Bermingham’s design was chosen from among four finalists that were presented first to the union’s executive board and then to members at the general membership meeting in March.

“We are especially pleased to have Patrick design the monument and I know he is especially excited about the project,” Gallagher said.

The pavilion will consist of three outer arches and two inner arches, creating a quiet place for reflection for Local 793 members, and the families of those who have died. The two inner arches represent the union’s supporting role in the construction of infrastructure in Ontario and the three outer arches were inspired by the Burlington Skyway bridge.

Names of the deceased members will be engraved on the arches. The structure should be completed by September.

Gallagher noted that Dufferin Construction is contributing $40,000 to help with the costs of building the pavilion foundation, while Bermingham Construction is donating $25,000 and the Crane Rental Association of Ontario is giving $10,000 for construction costs.

A number of dignitaries spoke at the event.

Patrick Bermingham told the audience that he shares the union’s desire to have a perpetually safe workplace.

He thanked the members of Local 793 for commissioning him to design the pavilion, noting it’s a “great honour.”

Bermingham said he has always looked up to Operating Engineers, as “they are the men and women who build this country.”

Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn, who is MPP for Oakville, said Local 793 is a quality organization that has had such a profound impact on the community of Oakville.

He said the union is always trying to get to the magic number of zero injuries but, sadly, the number of construction deaths has remained stubbornly high.

He noted that industry stakeholders must work together to ensure the fatalities are stopped.

“We owe it to the families who’ve come out here today to re-double our efforts,” he said, referring to family members of the deceased operators who attended the ceremony.

Elizabeth Witmer, chair of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), said stakeholders must focus their efforts on health and safety “every minute of every day” in an effort to get the number of injuries to zero.

She said the garden and pavilion will have an impact on elevating the importance of health and safety.

“It’s going to have a lasting impact on so many people,” she said.

Witmer congratulated the union on its commitment to making worksites safer and noted that business manager Gallagher, who is on the WSIB, has a passion for health and safety and she welcomes his input.

Patrick Dillon, business manager of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, congratulated the officers of Local 793 for their foresight in building the pavilion.

“This is really a step forward in prevention,” he said.

Dillon noted it is possible to achieve zero injuries because inquests into the deaths of construction workers have all concluded that the tragedies could have been prevented if better health and safety practices were in effect.

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton said workers have a right to be safe and refuse work when they feel their lives are in danger.

He said Oakville is committed to safer workplaces, and 800,000 square feet of building space was erected last year in the town with no injuries.

“We can have a safe workplace,” he said.

Golf Tournament Raises $100,000 for Cancer Research

Written by Local 793 Staff

More than 230 golfers participated in the third annual Gary O’Neill Memorial Golf Tournament held at RattleSnake Point Golf Club in Milton on June 16. The event, sponsored by Local 793, raised $100,000 for the esophageal cancer program at University Health Network. At a luncheon following the golf tournament, Local 793 president Joe Redshaw thanked the sponsors, contractors, officers, members, executive board and staff of the union for once again making the event a success. “I would like to thank everybody for their contributions and helping us raise money for […]

GolfMore than 230 golfers participated in the third annual Gary O’Neill Memorial Golf Tournament held at RattleSnake Point Golf Club in Milton on June 16.

The event, sponsored by Local 793, raised $100,000 for the esophageal cancer program at University Health Network.

At a luncheon following the golf tournament, Local 793 president Joe Redshaw thanked the sponsors, contractors, officers, members, executive board and staff of the union for once again making the event a success.

“I would like to thank everybody for their contributions and helping us raise money for this great cause,” he said.

Dr. Tom Waddell, head of thoracic surgery at University Health Network (UHN), also spoke at the luncheon, telling golfers that the money from the tournament enables vital research to be done.

“We’re putting your money to good use in developing new programs for patients and scientific research to make the whole care of these patients much better.”

Dr. Waddell said the funds have helped the UHN make significant strides in research and clinical programs to detect and prevent esophageal cancer.

He said Dr. Gail Darling, director of thoracic surgery clinical research at Toronto General Hospital, is making excellent use of the money raised at the tournament.
Dr. Darling is evaluating a new screening test to help bolster early detection efforts, published a landmark study concerning esophageal tumors, and is working with Dr. Armand Keating to develop the world’s first clinical trial of immunotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer.

Dr. Waddell said early detection is key and with esophageal cancer that can be challenging because it’s hidden deep in a patient’s chest and is difficult to cure when the cancer reaches its later stages.

The doctor thanked golfers for participating in the event held annually in honour of O’Neill.
“He sounds like a remarkable man who is still, years after his passing, able to bring this many people together.”

O’Neill was president of Local 793 for 13 years until he passed away in 2011 due to cancer.

Competition Medals Awarded to Local 793 Apprentices

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 is successful in large part because of the investments made by the union in training and turning out skilled operators, business manager Mike Gallagher told a group of 40 tower and mobile crane apprentices May 21 in the union’s banquet hall in Oakville. “If we didn’t have the investment in training like we do and we didn’t have the skilled operators that we have, young people like yourselves coming forward and building our bench, we wouldn’t be able to have that type of success,” he explained. Gallagher, along […]

Local 793 is successful in large part because of the investments made by the union in training and turning out skilled operators, business manager Mike Gallagher told a group of 40 tower and mobile crane apprentices May 21 in the union’s banquet hall in Oakville.

“If we didn’t have the investment in training like we do and we didn’t have the skilled operators that we have, young people like yourselves coming forward and building our bench, we wouldn’t be able to have that type of success,” he explained.

Gallagher, along with union president Joe Redshaw, vice-president Joe Dowdall, and treasurer Alex Law, spoke to the group and handed out medals to three mobile crane level 2 and 3 apprentices who placed in the top three in their category at the Ontario Skills Competition held May 5, 6 and 7 at RIM Park in Kitchener.

The top three students were:

  • First place – Nicholas Mireault
  • Second place – Devin Killoran
  • Third place – Scott MacEachern

The students were evaluated on pre-operational inspection, control operation and accuracy, post-operation, efficiency, a simulation exercise, and theory test.

Eight Local 793 apprentices participated in the competition.

Gallagher congratulated the apprentices and noted that the competition was a very important first step in having mobile cranes recognized in the Skills Canada National Competition.

He noted that the Canadian Operating Engineers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Council (COEJATC) recently decided to get involved in supporting Skills Canada and the first step in that initiative was to get involved in the Ontario program.

Now that the apprentices have been recognized at the Ontario level, he said, the next step is to be recognized at the national level with Skills Canada.

“So, consider yourselves in this group as pioneers,” Gallagher said.

The Skills Canada National Competition is important because it brings together young people from all regions of Canada to compete in more than 40 trade and technology areas.

The competition provides an opportunity for those studying a skilled trade or technology to be tested within exacting standards and against their peers from across the nation.

Gallagher told the apprentices that he’s proud of the training provided at the OETIO.

“Everywhere I go as a manager I feel very good about the qualifications of our apprentices.”

Gallagher said it makes his job easier when he goes out to meet with non-union contractors in an effort to promote Local 793.

For example, during a meeting with representatives from Surespan and DLB Cranes, which are erecting a lot of wind turbines in Ontario, he touted the reputation and skills of Local 793 operators. DLB Cranes ended up signing a voluntary recognition agreement.

“When I met with them one of the strongest cards that I held in my hand was our skills as Operating Engineers, as crane operators, our safety record and our reputation.”

Gallagher reminded the apprentices that they represent the union when they go into the field.

“Remember that you’re a 793 member and you’re carrying that badge,” he said.

“It helps us maintain one of the strongest reputations in North America, if not the world. So, take that very seriously please because we’ve got to protect that. All of us own that.”

Union Dues Increased

Written by Local 793 Staff

A dues increase went into effect July 1, 2014 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 went into effect July 1, 2014 for all members of Local 793 and bargaining unit employees working under an IUOE Local 793 collective agreement.

Click here to see the notice.

Operators Can Refuse Dangerous Work

Written by Local 793 Staff

Over the last few months, some of our members have expressed concerns about unsafe working conditions on various sites in Ontario. There have also been a number of workplace injuries and fatalities this summer and the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario has issued a call for increased worksite safety. Section 43 (3) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act states that a worker may refuse to work in a situation where there is a reasonable belief that the equipment, machine or device the worker is to use […]

Over the last few months, some of our members have expressed concerns about unsafe working conditions on various sites in Ontario.

There have also been a number of workplace injuries and fatalities this summer and the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario has issued a call for increased worksite safety.

Section 43 (3) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act states that a worker may refuse to work in a situation where there is a reasonable belief that the equipment, machine or device the worker is to use or operate is likely to endanger himself, herself or another worker, or the condition of the workplace.

Click here to see a checklist from the Ministry of Labour that outlines the proper procedures that must be followed when refusing to work due to unsafe working conditions.

 

Union Members Invited to Design Emblem

Written by Local 793 Staff

Union members are being invited to design an emblem for Local 793. “This is a very special year for our union, as we are celebrating our 95th anniversary,” said Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher. “I believe that a competition to design a union emblem is a good way to stir up interest in the history of our proud union and get members and their families involved.” The competition is open to all Local 793 members in good standing, along with their children and grandchildren. Deadline for submissions is Dec. […]

Union members are being invited to design an emblem for Local 793.

“This is a very special year for our union, as we are celebrating our 95th anniversary,” said Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher. “I believe that a competition to design a union emblem is a good way to stir up interest in the history of our proud union and get members and their families involved.”

The competition is open to all Local 793 members in good standing, along with their children and grandchildren.

Deadline for submissions is Dec. 31, 2014.

The prize is $1,000.

The winner will be announced at the union’s general membership meeting on Sunday, March, 22, 2015 in the union’s banquet hall, 2245 Speers Rd., Oakville.

The emblem will be used on future promotional items that are distributed by Local 793.

Gallagher encouraged union members, their children and grandchildren to get involved in the competition and send in their best emblem designs.

“Our local is one of the largest and most respected construction unions in the province,” he said. “I hope that members and their families participate in this competition.”

Emblems can be emailed to executive@iuoelocal793.org. JPG, PDF or EPS files are preferred.

Emblems can also be mailed to:

Union Emblem Competition
IUOE Local 793
2245 Speers Road
Oakville, Ontario, L6L 6X8

Please include your name, phone number and union registration number when submitting an emblem.

Local 793 Supports Locked-out JemPak Workers

Written by Local 793 Staff

Business reps and staff from Local 793’s head office attended a rally and walked a picket line with locked-out soap factory workers at the JemPak plant on Speers Road in Oakville today. About 30 representatives of the union were at the event, carrying signs that read: Operating Engineers, Local 793 supports Unifor members locked out by JemPak. The rally was held in support of 22 workers, members of Unifor Local 132-0, who have been locked out for two weeks in a dispute over the future of the union at the […]

JemPakBusiness reps and staff from Local 793’s head office attended a rally and walked a picket line with locked-out soap factory workers at the JemPak plant on Speers Road in Oakville today.

About 30 representatives of the union were at the event, carrying signs that read: Operating Engineers, Local 793 supports Unifor members locked out by JemPak.

The rally was held in support of 22 workers, members of Unifor Local 132-0, who have been locked out for two weeks in a dispute over the future of the union at the plant. The company is demanding a rollback in the union’s rights.

Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) president Hassan Yussuff and Unifor national president Jerry Dias attended the afternoon rally.

Both labour leaders thanked Local 793 and the Operating Engineers for their support and showing solidarity with the workers.

Dias told the rally that management at JemPak is messing with the wrong union if it thinks Unifor members are going to give up.

The union is intent on winning the battle, he said, and it will not allow its hard-won rights to be rolled back by the company.

“One thing they need to understand is that we’ll last one day longer than them.”

Dias said the company is intent on breaking the union, but Unifor will make it tough on JemPak.

“This is not going to be a cakewalk for this organization. I can tell you right now.”

Dias said the union is going to fight the company everywhere and he told those at the rally to “hang on to your socks.”

Yussuff of the CLC told the rally that the dispute might take some time to resolve but the union is not going away.

“We’re not going to roll over and play dead,” he said, noting that what the employer is trying to do will not be tolerated.

“It may be a long dispute but the employer had better understand one thing – they picked on the wrong union.”

Yussuff said JemPak is trying to shut the union down and that will not happen.

Despite attempts by Unifor to keep contract talks going, workers at JemPak were locked out by the company May 15.

At issue is a company demand that the union agree that any new hires are not members of the union, that managers be able to do work currently done by union members and an end to seniority rights.

The company has also demanded significant economic concessions. JemPak makes laundry and dish detergent sold at Costco and Walmart, among others.

The collective agreement between the company and the union expired May 15.

Hudak Can’t be Trusted: Gallagher

Written by Local 793 Staff

Ontario PC Party leader Tim Hudak may have backed off on right-to-work (RTW) proposals but he still can’t be trusted. That was one of the messages Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher delivered in remarks at a special executive board meeting in the union banquet hall March 22. Gallagher said Hudak has bounced back and forth on RTW, announcing recently that he’s backtracking on an earlier white paper that proposed the idea. However, Gallagher added, “I can tell you there’s enough other garbage in his white paper that even without […]

Ontario PC Party leader Tim Hudak may have backed off on right-to-work (RTW) proposals but he still can’t be trusted.
That was one of the messages Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher delivered in remarks at a special executive board meeting in the union banquet hall March 22.
Gallagher said Hudak has bounced back and forth on RTW, announcing recently that he’s backtracking on an earlier white paper that proposed the idea.
However, Gallagher added, “I can tell you there’s enough other garbage in his white paper that even without that, there’s enough to do damage to the union.”
Hudak has been touting his RTW plan since 2012, telling Toronto’s Economic Club last December that he would implement the proposals. He dumped Essex candidate Dave Brister who challenged him on the policy.
Recently though, he told a business breakfast in Toronto that he would not undo the Rand formula. His climbdown came only after the Tories failed to win a crucial byelection in Niagara Falls near his own riding.
Gallagher said if the Tories are elected, it wouldn’t be good for Ontario.
Workers in RTW states in the U.S. make about $5,700 less than workers in Ontario, he said, and if the Tories take over the balance in labour relations will be upset, resulting in fights with contractors.
The trades have done well with infrastructure under the Liberal government, he said, and although the party was criticized for the gas plant cancellation in Oakville the money lost there is nowhere near the money wasted by Mike Harris when the Tories gave away Highway 407 to a private company.
The cost to Ontario for that giveaway, he noted, was about $108 billion when the land and future highway tolls are taken into consideration.
Gallagher touched on a number of topics in his remarks.
He said 2014 is the 95th anniversary of the union and a number of events are planned, culminating with a dinner-dance at The Royal York Hotel in Toronto on Dec. 6.
He encouraged members and their families to get involved and attend the activities.
“Come out and celebrate our great local,” he said.
On the financial front, Gallagher said the union is in good shape with $68 million in members’ equity as of Dec. 31, 2013, and is a leader in the industry.
He said the union plans to spend about $10 million this year on improving its facilities, with most of that earmarked for the OETIO campus in Morrisburg.
Renovations are planned at the Morrisburg campus later this year, he said. Rooms at the OETIO are double occupancy and once the renovations are complete there will be single occupancy accommodations.
The plan, he said, is to demolish a wing of the existing building and erect a two-storey, 70-room facility and also add a store.
The OETIO, he said, is successful and it’s time to invest in the facility.
The union also plans to replace the carpet in the banquet hall with carpet tiles at a cost of $37,000.
Gallagher said if work levels remain strong the union hopes to expand the banquet hall before its 100th anniversary in 2019, and the flooring in the addition will be matched by merely adding carpet tiles.
Meanwhile, Gallagher said, the union is looking at building rooms for apprentices at the OETIO campus in Oakville so trainees don’t have to stay in hotels.
Money earmarked for the hotels would go to the union.
Also at the meeting: President Joe Redshaw thanked the committee that dealt with changes to the union’s bylaws.
He said the committee was appointed in November 2013 and took proposals at meetings early in 2014. A mailout was done and ballots were counted on Feb. 18 and the results were posted in the spring issue of 793 Operator.
He said there was overwhelming support for the bylaw changes. Redshaw said the bylaws have been approved by IUOE General President James T. Callahan and new booklets will be sent soon to area offices.
EPSCA business rep Larry Richard reported that up to 100 operators are still employed at the Lower Mattagami hydroelectric generating project.
He noted that letters have been sent to contractors about earlier wage increases that were approved in EPSCA contracts.
He said operators at Darlington are busy with a number of projects, one being building new roads.
At Pickering, he said, the plant is scheduled to be shut down in 2021 and the property restored to its original state.
OETIO executive director Harold McBride reported that the training campuses in Oakville and Morrisburg are extremely busy, as more people are being trained to replace retiring members.
He noted that 207 to 304 members are expected to retire in 2014 and the union needs to bring young people into the trades. 2

Union Numbers Continue to Grow

Written by Local 793 Staff

Local 793 is in good shape and membership numbers continue to grow, business manager Mike Gallagher told a general membership meeting in the union banquet hall March 23. “We now have 12,539 initiated members and more than 900 waiting to be processed,” he told nearly 200 union members at the meeting. By the end of the year, he noted, the union will have more than 13,000 initiated members. “This really shows our strength as an organization.” Gallagher said the growth is a tribute to the organizers who work so hard […]

Local 793 is in good shape and membership numbers continue to grow, business manager Mike Gallagher told a general membership meeting in the union banquet hall March 23.
“We now have 12,539 initiated members and more than 900 waiting to be processed,” he told nearly 200 union members at the meeting.
By the end of the year, he noted, the union will have more than 13,000 initiated members.
“This really shows our strength as an organization.”
Gallagher said the growth is a tribute to the organizers who work so hard and are often put in difficult situations when trying to bring new companies into the fold.
“They are doing their job and we are adding members, so that’s a good thing.”
Gallagher noted that hours worked by members is also up, and members’ equity is $68 million, up from $2.5 million when he was first elected in 1996.
The defence fund, meanwhile, is at $4.6 million, he said, 9.2 per cent higher than the previous year.
He also reported that the pension and life and health benefits plan are also healthy.
The ‘solvency’ windup situation has improved to $864 million and the ‘going concern” shortfall is now at $103 million, an improvement from $192 million at December 2012, he said.
“Obviously, we’ve had a very good year with the pension.”
Gallagher said the life and health benefits plan is also faring well and trustees recently announced a number of improvements, including a new Member Assistance Plan, that were announced in the 793 Operator magazine and have been posted on the union website.
Gallagher addressed a number of other topics at the meeting as well.
For example:
On recent bylaw changes approved by union members, Gallagher said they will ensure the local remains healthy in future.
One big change, he said, is that members would be disqualified from serving as an officer or on the executive board if they’ve been convicted of certain serious violent crimes and a record suspension has not been obtained.
Another change makes it an offence for any member or officer to publish via social media or online slanderous or libelous material against other members of the local.
Gallagher said people who represent a multi-million-dollar organization like the Operating Engineers should have a clean record.
“I’ve always believed that being a member of the Operating Engineers is a privilege,” he said, adding that when members join a union they also make a pledge as to how they’re going to treat each other.
With the advent of social media, Gallagher said it’s easier for people to express opinions on the Internet for everybody to see.
However, he advised members to be careful what they post because it could provide fodder for non-union groups and political parties.
On jurisdictional disputes (JDs), he said the union is presently embroiled in 14 JDs involving five trades, and the labour relations department is working to ensure Local 793 protects its jurisdiction.
Some contractors, he said, have opened up their books and are helping the union on the disputes.
On recruiting Aboriginals, Gallagher told the audience that the union has been working with companies like Aecon to get more people from First Nations communities into the trades.
“It’s the right thing for us and our contractors,” he said.
Presently, 10 Aboriginal communities in the Ring of Fire area are in the process of purchasing training from the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario, he said, because they recognize the union offers the best training out there.
On communications, Gallagher told members that a new union website is nearing completion and, once finished, members will have greater access to information.
Once the website is finished, members will be able to see in real time what they’ve used in benefits and also pay their dues online at any time.
“Basically, we’ll have 24/7 coverage,” he said.
Also at the meeting, Gallagher and president Joe Redshaw presented a cheque to Local 793 operator Gerry Lukasiewicz of Sarnia who was injured in a construction site accident in 2012 and is now in a wheelchair.
A fundraiser was held for Gerry in Sarnia last December. The event raised $65,337 to help pay for the cost of a specially-equipped van for Gerry.
In presenting the cheque, Gallagher thanked Lukasiewicz for being such a strong member.
Lukasiewicz, meanwhile, thanked Gallagher and retired Southwestern Ontario area supervisor Bob McQueen and the union for the fundraiser.
“You can’t get a better union than this,” he said.