Category: Union News

Canada has regressed in the past five decades and there is now a greater divide between the rich and poor, says former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent. He told the 56th Canadian Conference of the International Union of Operating Engineers in Toronto that instead of people becoming more equal, precisely the opposite has happened. “Instead of moving forwards we’re moving backwards.” Broadbent was one of the speakers at the Aug. 25 session of the conference. He is chair of the Broadbent Institute, a non-partisan organization exploring social democratic policies and […]

Canada has regressed in the past five decades and there is now a greater divide between the rich and poor, says former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent.

He told the 56th Canadian Conference of the International Union of Operating Engineers in Toronto that instead of people becoming more equal, precisely the opposite has happened.

“Instead of moving forwards we’re moving backwards.”

Broadbent was one of the speakers at the Aug. 25 session of the conference. He is chair of the Broadbent Institute, a non-partisan organization exploring social democratic policies and ideas.

In the late 1950s, he said, there were plenty of jobs and trade unions were flourishing, and in the 1970s laws were adopted that provided new freedoms to women, gays and ethnic minorities.

But today, he said, affordable housing is no longer available to thousands of families across the country, most workers have no private pensions, students graduate with an average debt of $25,000, and child poverty has become a serious issue.

Canada also used to be admired for its vigorous debate and civil liberties, he said, but the government of Stephen Harper has trampled on the rights of the country’s workers.

“Not in over 60 years has Canadian government worked so hard to undermine the rights of the trade union movement. It’s been right wing ideology of the most intolerant kind that has shattered Canada’s reputation.”

Broadbent said a “rich minority” has also emerged that pays a smaller portion of the tax burden than they did a decade ago.

He said the Liberal government slashed federal programs in the 1990s and Harper’s Conservatives later brought in tax cuts that favoured the rich.

“It was Robin Hood in reverse,” he said, noting that under Harper “rich Canadians have never had it so good.”

He said Canadians need to put an end to the fundamentalist way of thinking and create a more balanced approach.

With a federal election looming in 2015, he said, there is no better time.

“Canadians are now open to change and they want a federal government that leads.

“They want a fair share of income.”

Broadbent said there is no better way to address that inequality than strengthening trade unions.

“Trade unions in Canada are good for everyone and we must get that message out,” he said to resounding applause. “Workers’ rights are human rights.”

Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher said Broadbent’s message might sound bleak but it’s one that unions should take to heart.

He noted that it’s nice to have a sane voice amidst all the other right-wing think tanks that are out there spewing their messages.

The work of Local 793 and the Operating Engineers was praised by Premier Kathleen Wynne and Labour Minister Kevin Flynn at the 56th Canadian Conference of the International Union of Operating Engineers held at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. Premier Wynne said the local was “very instrumental” in convincing Ontarians that the Liberals were the right party in the spring provincial election. “You supported us in every area of the province,” she said. Wynne also acknowledged the work that the Operating Engineers do in training apprentices and working with […]

The work of Local 793 and the Operating Engineers was praised by Premier Kathleen Wynne and Labour Minister Kevin Flynn at the 56th Canadian Conference of the International Union of Operating Engineers held at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.

Premier Wynne said the local was “very instrumental” in convincing Ontarians that the Liberals were the right party in the spring provincial election.

“You supported us in every area of the province,” she said.

Wynne also acknowledged the work that the Operating Engineers do in training apprentices and working with First Nations communities, something that’s top of mind as she deals with Ottawa over the problems faced by Aboriginal youth in northern Ontario.

Labour Minister Flynn, who is MPP for Oakville, said Local 793 has had a tremendous impact on the community – as well as on an orphanage in Kenya thousands of miles away.

He told the audience that a few years back he committed to getting a bulldozer to an orphanage in Kenya and spoke to Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher about the idea.

Just three minutes into a presentation, Gallagher and the union officers said they would do it, he recalled. The union then went about raising money to send the bulldozer to Kenya.

Meanwhile, Flynn noted, the Operating Engineers have given a lot back to the community.

“You continue to build on the generations of hard work that make the province what it is.”

The premier and labour minister both spoke about the importance of unions in building Ontario and the intention of the Liberals to invest in infrastructure.

Premier Wynne said the Conservatives were undermining organized labour in the last provincial election and unions had to band together to put a stop to it.

“I believe in organized labour and the gains they have made over the decades,” she noted.

Wynne said the province will be investing $130 billion into Ontario’s aging infrastructure over the next 10 years and she hopes the federal government will also step up to the plate.

“Since 2003 we have been catching up and our commitment is we will continue to make those investments.”

Labour Minister Flynn said while investing in infrastructure, the province is also committed to ensuring that workers go home from work safely every day.

He noted there’s a lot more work to be done to bring the construction fatality rate to zero and, in order to accomplish that, the province needs a mix of enforcement and prevention.

Flynn also told the audience that the province is still committed to making traning mandatory for operators of rotary drill rigs.

He said substantial progress has been made in developing a standard and the province is continuing to consult with Local 793 on the issue.

“It is my commitment to you that we will push this over the finish line in a way that you can be proud of.”

The future looks bright for Operating Engineers across the country but there are challenges on the horizon. That was the message delivered by Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher on Aug. 25 at the 56th Canadian Conference of the International Union of Operating Engineers in Toronto. “Moving forward we have some significant challenges ahead of us,” he said in opening remarks at the event. One of those challenges, he noted, is the right-wing agenda of the federal Conservative government. Gallagher, who was president of the Conference, said the Operating Engineers […]

The future looks bright for Operating Engineers across the country but there are challenges on the horizon.

That was the message delivered by Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher on Aug. 25 at the 56th Canadian Conference of the International Union of Operating Engineers in Toronto.

“Moving forward we have some significant challenges ahead of us,” he said in opening remarks at the event.

One of those challenges, he noted, is the right-wing agenda of the federal Conservative government.

Gallagher, who was president of the Conference, said the Operating Engineers should be concerned because the Tories are intent on destroying unions and passed 11 anti-union resolutions at their convention last year in Calgary.

One of those resolutions called for a law that would allow unionized workers to opt out of paying dues to support political activism while another stated that mandatory union membership – and mandatory dues – limit the economic freedom of Canadians.

With a federal election set for next year, Gallagher encouraged business managers across the country to step up the campaign against the Conservatives.

He noted that unions are dealing with a prime minister that’s established and it won’t be as easy as some people think to uproot Stephen Harper.

Gallagher said that some locals across the country – including Local 793 – have passed resolutions to contribute to a federal political action campaign and he urged others to follow suit.

“This is a very, very important initiative,” he said. “It’s going to be vitally important to our future in Canada.”

Gallagher told the audience that the Working Families Coalition was recently successful in ensuring Tim Hudak was not elected in Ontario.

He said that Hudak got some of his ideas from Conservative Grover Norquist in the U.S. and, had the election swung in favour of the Conservatives, it would have had a domino effect that would have continued across the country.

The province was facing a “bleak future” under then Conservative Party leader Tim Hudak because his vision was an Ontario without labour unions, Gallagher said.

During the campaign, Local 793 freed up business reps to knock on doors and put up signs – and it paid dividends, he said.

The outcome, he said, is that “we are going to be building and building union here in Ontario, incuding the Ring of Fire.”

As for other challenges, Gallagher said the Operating Engineers must continue to meet labour demands with work picking up in the pipeline and energy sectors.

“We have seen work in Ontario that we haven’t seen in quite some time.”

He noted that training centres across the country must continue to turn out new operators and locals have to keep recruiting youth.

“We have to really get at it in terms of training. We need to have the 28 to 35 year olds come on in and train for the future.”

Gallagher noted there is reason for optimism, as the Operating Engineers in Canada are growing and will continue to grow.

He also said the Canadian IUOE office is close to reaching a statement of partnership with Aboriginal communities in Canada.

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) agreed in principle last November to enter into a statement of partnership with the IUOE but reached a hiccup when the AFN chief stepped down.

A new leader will be chosen in December and Gallagher said he is hoping the statement will be signed then, resulting in a partnership with the AFN.

“That will be a good thing because we’ll be respected and trusted a little bit more,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Gallagher said, a Remote Learning Centre which was opened recently in Neskantaga is an example of how the Operating Engineers can work with Aboriginal communities. Local 793 supported the centre and the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario will be providing e-learning opportunities to Aboriginals via the centre.

“There’s no reason we can’t replicate that in every territory and every province if it works,” said Gallagher. “I was very proud we got to be pioneers and were able to do that.”

IUOE general president James T. Callahan and IUOE general secretary-treasurer Brian E. Hickey also spoke at the conference.

Callahan reported that the financial status of the International is in great shape both in the U.S. and Canada.

He also noted that the International is available to help Canadian locals, as the issues they face are often the same as those faced by locals south of the border.

“I don’t see a border when it comes to Operating Engineers. As far as I’m concerned it makes no difference.”

Fighting the right-to-work movement in Ontario is no different than in Ohio, he noted. “It’s a battle we will fight to the end.”

General secretary-treasurer Hickey said the fact that the IUOE is in great shape is “great news” that is worth repeating.

With membership on the uptake in Canada, the country is doing a large part to keep the International whole, he said.

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.