IUOE News - Fall 2011
IUOE News - Fall 2011
IUOE News - Fall 2011
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Publications Mail Agreement No. 40011378<br />
L O C A L 1 1 5<br />
Serving members for 80 years<br />
<strong>News</strong><br />
Operating Engineers<br />
building the province<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> www.iuoe115.com
Serving members for 80 years<br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> <strong>News</strong> is the official<br />
publication of the International<br />
Union of Operating Engineers<br />
Local 115.<br />
Local Executive Board<br />
Business Manager<br />
Brian Cochrane<br />
President<br />
Lionel Railton<br />
Vice-President<br />
Brad Randall<br />
Recording Secretary<br />
Don Swerdan<br />
Financial Secretary<br />
Wayne Mills<br />
Treasurer<br />
Frank Carr<br />
Guard<br />
Bob Higgs<br />
Conductor<br />
Dave Hannis<br />
Trustees<br />
Tim Cullen<br />
Brian Moore<br />
Curtis Wright<br />
Auditors<br />
Craig McIntosh<br />
Don Swerdan<br />
Patrick Watson<br />
District Executive Board<br />
1—Al Cooper<br />
2—Tim Cullen<br />
3—Brad Gerow<br />
4—Herb Conat<br />
5—Mike Spiruda<br />
6—Brian Lefebvre<br />
Publication Committee<br />
Brian Cochrane<br />
Wayne Mills<br />
Lionel Railton<br />
Editorial Services<br />
Susan Armstrong, COPE 378<br />
Face 2 Face Communications,<br />
CFU 2040<br />
4333 Ledger Avenue,<br />
Burnaby, B.C., V5G 3T3<br />
Telephone: 604-291-8831<br />
Fax: 604-473-5235<br />
Website: www.iuoe115.com<br />
E-mail: iuoe@iuoe115.com<br />
Please<br />
Recycle<br />
COVER PHOTO:<br />
Work continues on<br />
the Waneta Dam Project.<br />
Photo by Member Rep<br />
Brian Lefebvre<br />
FEATURES<br />
Younger members offer their ideas for increasing membership 11<br />
They “manned up and did “er” 16<br />
REPORTS<br />
Business Manager<br />
This year’s accomplishment can be added to those of the first 80 1<br />
President<br />
The executive is ready for whatever the future holds 2<br />
District 1<br />
Open house enlightens contractors and WorkSafeBC case workers 6<br />
List of problems must be addressed 8<br />
Ready for the challenges that come with being a member rep 8<br />
A good year for members in most areas 9<br />
Negotiations under way with many companies 9<br />
Project labour agreements secure work for members 10<br />
District 2<br />
Collective agreements being ratified 14<br />
District 3<br />
Once the weather improved, work picked up 15<br />
District 4<br />
Project labour agreements providing good union work 18<br />
District 5<br />
Industrial work steady 18<br />
District 6<br />
Mine industry going strong 19<br />
Union Organizing<br />
Welcome to our members from Harbour International Truck Sales 19<br />
Dispatch<br />
Consider upgrading—the demand is growing 19<br />
Benefits Plans<br />
Plans to well in spite of the marketplace 20<br />
Training Association<br />
Annual open house 21
This year’s accomplishments can be added to those of the first 80<br />
Brian Cochrane, Business Manager<br />
It has been almost a full year since I took on the<br />
role of Business Manager of the Local Union. The<br />
<strong>2011</strong> Election of Officers is over and the new team of<br />
Executive Board Members is in place. I can say, with<br />
confidence, that your Executive Board is committed to<br />
preserving the gains we have made during our rich history<br />
and ready to lead our organization forward to meet<br />
the challenges of today. Our 80th anniversary reminds us<br />
that we have many accomplishments to celebrate.<br />
This year, we have seen many areas in North America<br />
grappling with economic disaster. However, we have been<br />
fortunate to secure increases and decent employment<br />
opportunities for our membership. Our Local Union staff<br />
have been busy securing project labour agreements for<br />
major projects such as:<br />
• the Endako Mill expansion<br />
• Rio Tinto’s aluminum smelter modernization<br />
project in Kitimat<br />
• BFI’s project for the Mount Milligan gold mine<br />
• McNally/Aecon’s pipeline crossing in the Lower<br />
Mainland<br />
• Point Hope Shipyards expansion and<br />
construction of a new graving dock in Victoria<br />
We have had some challenges finalizing the Paving<br />
Agreement in District 1 and the provincial Crane Rental<br />
Agreement but they should be concluded soon.<br />
Projects under way in other parts of B.C. and<br />
Alberta are putting great demands on crane operators.<br />
This is the year that crane certification is required for all<br />
crane operators. We take great pride in the work we did<br />
to raise the issue and help create a safer environment for<br />
construction workers in this province.<br />
Increasing our market share and organizing continue<br />
to be our highest priority. I couldn’t be more proud of the<br />
work that our members and staff have been doing in this<br />
Business Manager<br />
regard. In many cases, our members have initiated the<br />
campaigns to join the Local Union or move to Local 115<br />
from an employer-friendly association.<br />
One of our most satisfying campaigns was bringing<br />
in the new members from Westlake Paving in Kelowna<br />
and Vernon Paving. They rejected the Christian Labour<br />
Association of Canada. You can read about it on Pg. 16.<br />
President Lionel Railton and I recently went to Kelowna<br />
to meet these members and we had a very productive<br />
meeting.<br />
The Officers of the Local Union have been actively<br />
engaged with our provincial politicians, both Liberal<br />
and NDP, to make sure that they understand the issues<br />
important to Operating Engineers.<br />
We have three main areas of concern and we want<br />
to see:<br />
1. balance restored to the Labour Relations Code<br />
and specific and constructive changes that will<br />
support our industry.<br />
2. support for the development of Site C and<br />
a project labour agreement that will ensure<br />
qualified tradespeople are hired and receive<br />
union-scale wages and benefits.<br />
3. project labour agreements for all major public<br />
construction projects so that tax dollars don’t<br />
go to supporting contractors who exploit foreign<br />
workers as we saw on the Canada Line SkyTrain<br />
project.<br />
A provincial election is around the corner and we<br />
need to elect a government that will support these issues.<br />
We have had some staff changes within the Local<br />
Union. I would like to wish District 3 Member Rep Gary<br />
Kinnear and his wife Linda a long, happy and welldeserved<br />
retirement. I also want to welcome aboard<br />
Lynda Arland, our new office manager, and Jared<br />
Hamlin, our new organizer in District 1.<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 1
President<br />
I am humbled and proud to once<br />
again be given the opportunity to<br />
serve you and your family as president<br />
of our Local Union. I have<br />
always held the conviction that serving<br />
the membership is a privilege,<br />
not a right. I will do my utmost to continue the advancement<br />
of our great Local Union and the members it<br />
serves. Please accept my sincere gratitude for your continued<br />
support.<br />
The confidence that you have shown Brother Brian<br />
Cochrane and your Executive Board will bode well as<br />
we continue the restructuring and growth of our great<br />
organization. Brian’s 20-plus year commitment to Local<br />
115 has never been more focused or evident through his<br />
first year as Business Manager. In addition to the priorities<br />
of renewing relationships with our industry partners,<br />
strategic political alliances, our Local Union’s internal<br />
infrastructure and member support programs, Brian<br />
has sought out and brought together a team dedicated<br />
to the advancement of Local 115. In light of the global<br />
economic challenges we continue to face, you will be well<br />
served over the next four years.<br />
I am pleased to report your pension and benefits<br />
plans continue to perform well, despite the challenges<br />
of the marketplace. Your Board of Trustees continually<br />
seek risk adverse opportunities to enhance yield on the<br />
funds that you rely upon. The asset and liability matching<br />
investment strategy that your Board of Trustees<br />
began in 2002 continues to protect your Pension Plan<br />
during these volatile times. The assets of your Operating<br />
Engineers’ Pension Plan have now reached approximately<br />
$847 million and, at the date of filing, your plan was<br />
fully funded with small surpluses. Our Special Edition of<br />
the <strong>IUOE</strong> <strong>News</strong> disclosing the audited financial health of<br />
your Plans will be out later this year.<br />
The plans’ Board of Trustees have engaged PBI<br />
Actuarial Ltd. to conduct a review of the benefits.<br />
Information will be forwarded to the membership regarding<br />
future benefits improvements and enhancements.<br />
We continue to lobby the politicians about issues<br />
important to Operating Engineers.<br />
I am very impressed by the energy and commitment<br />
of Adrian Dix during the recent HST referendum.<br />
Adrian threw himself at this issue and was seen in every<br />
corner of the province debating the merits and pitfalls<br />
of the HST while cutting through the redbrick of the<br />
BC Liberals “Stickman” politics. Since the HST was<br />
introduced, we have paid more for most of our everyday<br />
needs, and our new premier, as was the case in her by-<br />
2 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong><br />
The executive is ready for whatever the future holds<br />
Lionel Railton, President<br />
election, was conspicuous by her absence.<br />
Through a membership motion, your Executive<br />
Board allocated substantial resources to political action<br />
during the upcoming provincial election and to assist<br />
candidates who support issues important to Operating<br />
Engineers. We will provide resources to help those who<br />
are committed to standing up for the working families<br />
and bringing balance back to the labour relations in B.C.<br />
We have had several meetings with Adrian Dix<br />
and key members of his team. He has shown a good<br />
understanding of our Local Union and is supportive of<br />
the valuable work Operating Engineers do to build the<br />
province.<br />
The upcoming provincial election will be crucial to<br />
the advancement of a working family agenda and must<br />
not be taken for granted. We all pay the price for complacency.<br />
Be informed, be engaged and be active.<br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115 <strong>2011</strong> election<br />
Officers and trustees of the OE<br />
Benefits and Pension Plan<br />
This is a report of the Election Committee charged<br />
with conducting and overseeing the <strong>2011</strong> Election of<br />
Officers. The committee reviewed the eligibility of all<br />
nominees and the results are as follows. The following 23<br />
positions have been filled by acclamation.<br />
Business Manager: Brian Cochrane<br />
President: Lionel Railton<br />
Vice President: Brad Randall<br />
Recording Secretary: Don Swerdan<br />
Financial Secretary: Wayne Mills<br />
Treasurer: Frank Carr<br />
Guard: Bob Higgs<br />
Conductor: Dave Hannis<br />
Trustee (3): Tim Cullen<br />
Brian Moore<br />
Curtis Wright<br />
Auditor (3): Craig McIntosh<br />
Don Swerdan<br />
Pat Watson<br />
District 1 Executive Board Member: Al Cooper<br />
District 2 Executive Board Member: Tim Cullen<br />
District 3 Executive Board Member: Brad Gerow<br />
District 4 Executive Board Member: Herb Conat<br />
District 5 Executive Board Member: Mike Spiruda<br />
District 6 Executive Board Member: Brian Lefebvre<br />
OE Benefits & Pension<br />
Plans Trustees: Brian Cochrane<br />
Frank Carr<br />
Brad Randall
Out<br />
with<br />
the<br />
old...<br />
Step 1: Demolition<br />
When ships are loaded with coal or potash, the conveyor belt<br />
has to be repositioned several times. However, the materials<br />
from the stockpile run continuously. The surge bin holds the<br />
material while the conveyor belt is moved.<br />
The demo division at the Pacific Group of Companies had to<br />
remove an outdated surge bin at Neptune Terminals in North<br />
Vancouver in preparation for a new one soon to arrive.<br />
—Photos by Peter Palm<br />
Turn the page to see Step 2: Replacement<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 3
...and in with the new<br />
4 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong>
Step 2: Replacement<br />
The new 350-ton (700,000 lbs) surge bin was put into place by the crew at<br />
Apex. The bin required 128 tires to move it in place and then rotate it to the<br />
correct position.<br />
This was another joint effort of the Pacific Group of Companies, Pacific<br />
Blasting and Demolition and Apex, a division of Pacific Industrial Movers.<br />
—Photos by Peter Palm<br />
Brother Doug Murdy<br />
Brother Chad Barker<br />
Brother Dennis Braun Brother Mark “Smitty” Smith Brother Jarrett Young<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 5
District 1<br />
This year marked the 16th annual Training<br />
Association open house at our Maple Ridge Training site.<br />
This event has become a great family day for members,<br />
relatives and friends who want to try out our equipment<br />
and enjoy a lunch.<br />
Even though the weather did not cooperate, we still<br />
had over 500 people come out. We also collected a record<br />
$1,400 in donations for DADs Day (Dollars Against<br />
Diabetes). Thank you for your support!<br />
This year, we set the site up a day early and invited<br />
out-of-town contractors to tour the facilities. They were<br />
very impressed. We also invited WorkSafeBC case managers<br />
to leave their offices and give the equipment a go.<br />
Case managers’ duties include identifying retraining<br />
opportunities for injured workers, so it was an educational<br />
day for them. I’m sure more than a few of them<br />
were taken aback by the physical demands of operating<br />
heavy equipment.<br />
On May 12, I attended the <strong>2011</strong> WorkSafeBC public<br />
hearing in Richmond on proposed changes to regulations<br />
and gave a presentation in support of adopting the new<br />
CSA Standard Z151-09 for concrete pumps. If approved<br />
by the WorkSafeBC Board of Directors, regulation<br />
changes would come into effect in August 2012. The proposed<br />
amendments provide requirements for the design,<br />
manufacture, installation, operation, inspection, testing<br />
and maintenance of concrete pumps as well as placing<br />
booms and delivery systems.<br />
The majority of the presentations at the hearing<br />
focused on the proposed changes to Grant’s Law. Grant’s<br />
Law is named after Grant De Patie. In 2005, Grant was<br />
dragged to his death when he tried to stop a customer<br />
from leaving without paying at the gas station where he<br />
worked. As a consequence of Grant’s death, new regulations<br />
came into effect in 2008, including:<br />
• pay before you pump (oil companies are<br />
adhering to this regulation)<br />
• late night work regulations that prohibit<br />
employees from working alone in retail premises<br />
without safeguards between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.<br />
More than one worker must be present or else a<br />
locked door or barrier must be in place to protect him<br />
or her. Some retailers are not complying. They want this<br />
6 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong><br />
Open house enlightens contractors and WorkSafeBC case workers<br />
Craig McIntosh, Member Representative<br />
regulation repealed. Can you imagine that the cost of a<br />
locked door or a second worker at night would be considered<br />
too much for some employers?<br />
A number of WorkSafeBC’s regulations result from<br />
worker injury or death. At the hearing, Grant’s father<br />
and grandfather pleaded with WorkSafeBC to not give<br />
in to business interests after they had worked so hard to<br />
get this regulation into place after Grant’s horrific death.<br />
Common sense tells us that if there is any good coming<br />
from Grant’s death, it is this regulation to protect workers.<br />
It must be left in place.<br />
Work safely.<br />
Final stages of construction of the BC Place Stadium. More<br />
photos on Pg. 12.—Photo by Peter Palm
The way we were<br />
Brother Ed Hamson submitted<br />
these photos of various projects<br />
that he has worked on. This was<br />
taken at the Island Copper Mine<br />
in Port Hardy during his first<br />
year as a member in 1975.<br />
Hamson in Merritt working on the Coquihalla Highway in<br />
1985.<br />
Hamson during construction of the Deroche pit in 2005.<br />
Brother Bill Hencheroff submitted this photo of an Adams leaning wheelgrader that was used to<br />
build the Alaska Highway during World War II. These machines were manufactured until 1940<br />
and were still in service until 1954.<br />
Do you have historical<br />
photos of Operating<br />
Engineers at work?<br />
We’d like to run them<br />
in the future editions<br />
of <strong>IUOE</strong> <strong>News</strong>. Please<br />
send them by post to<br />
Office Manager Lynda<br />
Arland or by email to:<br />
larland@iuoe115.com<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 7
District 1<br />
Recently, I attended an NDP<br />
function where Adrian Dix, the<br />
Opposition leader, addressed the<br />
audience. Part of his message included<br />
support for the building trades<br />
unions. Even with this encouraging<br />
sign, it is still important for us to remind our MLAs about<br />
the constant challenges we have to endure.<br />
We must all make the NDP understand that when<br />
it forms government, it must make the changes that will<br />
support us, the true builders of British Columbia. It is<br />
of paramount importance that it conduct a review of<br />
the Labour Code. Labour legislation must be rebalanced<br />
so workers can easily choose to be represented by a real<br />
union, rather than CLAC.<br />
The new government must also ensure that major<br />
public projects in B.C. are built under project labour<br />
agreements with the trades.<br />
There is an extensive list of changes needed to reverse<br />
the anti-worker agenda we have lived under for more<br />
than 10 years.<br />
Please remember: When you vote in the next provincial<br />
election, a change in government is the only way we<br />
will be able to get the changes we need.<br />
At the municipal level, elections are coming up this<br />
fall. Educate yourself. Understand who the labourfriendly<br />
candidates are. They will need our support.<br />
Bargaining update:<br />
• Crane Rental—We have had a number of<br />
bargaining sessions with the Construction<br />
Labour Relations Association and the<br />
employers. If all goes well, we may have a<br />
8 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong><br />
List of problems must be addressed<br />
Frank Carr, Member Representative<br />
I’m looking forward to my<br />
new assignment as a member<br />
representative.<br />
I started on staff with the<br />
Operating Engineers as an organizer.<br />
As a member rep, I will be serving<br />
members in Surrey, North Delta,<br />
Tsawwassen and Richmond. I’m looking forward to<br />
meeting the shop stewards and members at the signatory<br />
companies I’ll be representing.<br />
tentative agreement in place this year.<br />
• Paving—Our most recent meeting was in June.<br />
Many of the owners and all of the unions were<br />
in attendance. We were not able to secure a<br />
settlement and are looking for dates to meet<br />
again.<br />
• Hydraulic Dredging—A four-year agreement<br />
was ratified by 87% of the members. There is no<br />
retroactive increase for 2010, but the increase for<br />
the remaining three years averages 3% per year.<br />
Thanks to Brothers Ken Vallance, Mike Gillis<br />
and Steve Arcand for their participation on the<br />
negotiating committee.<br />
• Seaspan International—We have exchanged<br />
proposals, had two meetings with the employer<br />
and will be meeting again in September. There<br />
are still a number of issues on the table.<br />
Arbitration over owed wages and benefits began<br />
in August.<br />
Over the last few months I have met with a number<br />
of members and company representatives at Brandt<br />
Tractor and SMS Equipment in the Lower Mainland. I<br />
look forward to working with them in the future.<br />
In closing, congratulations to Brother Wayne Mills<br />
on his move to Superintendent of Staff Operations, and<br />
Brother Brett Chapman on his new appointment as a<br />
member representative. Also, welcome to Brother Jared<br />
Hamlin as an organizer and congratulations to Brother<br />
Gary Kinnear on his retirement.<br />
Work safely, and thank you from all of us for your<br />
ongoing support. See you at the general membership<br />
meeting on Sept. 17.<br />
Ready for the challenges that come with being a member rep<br />
Brett Chapman, Member Representative<br />
I would like to thank Brother Brian Cochrane for<br />
giving me this opportunity to move forward and grow<br />
within the Local Union.<br />
The representatives and organizers have been very<br />
supportive during my job transition and I thank them<br />
as well. I’m looking forward to learning from their<br />
experience.<br />
Lastly, thank you to Brother Rob Duff, for all that<br />
you taught me about organizing. You have a wealth of<br />
knowledge. See you in the field.
A good year for members in most areas<br />
Bob Higgs, Member Representative<br />
Hours of work were up across the board in most<br />
areas this summer. In some industries it was hard to find<br />
bodies to fill the seats.<br />
One factor is the impact of the baby boom generation.<br />
There are many senior employees with the maximum<br />
allowable vacation time. Naturally, everyone wants<br />
vacation in the summer and it can get difficult for companies<br />
to cover them off.<br />
We’re about to enter the fourth quarter of the year<br />
hoping for a strong finish to what has been a fairly good<br />
year for most members. As the economy continues to<br />
improve, we should see the number of hours increase.<br />
Aggregate sales are still down from their peak a few<br />
years ago, but continue to improve as time goes on. There<br />
has even been talk of reopening some pits that have been<br />
dormant for some time.<br />
Road work is still going flat out with all employers<br />
scrambling for good workers. The bigger projects are eating<br />
up a large percentage of our experienced road build-<br />
District 1<br />
ers, leaving the smaller crews shorthanded. This situation<br />
has a bright side: it opens up positions for entry level<br />
workers to gain the experience needed to advance to the<br />
major project crews.<br />
If you have been to Delta recently you can’t help<br />
but see the progress on the South Perimeter Road. Many<br />
months of work are still ahead. Work on this project has<br />
been steady and has gone quite smoothly.<br />
On the bargaining front, I have not yet received a<br />
final offer from International Bulk Services, although<br />
I recently sent a wake-up letter. Despite this delay, the<br />
employees’ attitude remains positive. They are just as<br />
united as they were in January when they joined Local<br />
115. We have applied to the Labour Board under section<br />
55 and hope an agreement is in place by the time these<br />
new members get this edition of <strong>IUOE</strong> <strong>News</strong>.<br />
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at the general<br />
membership meeting on Sept. 17.<br />
Negotiations under way with many companies<br />
Chip Dhaliwal, Member Representative<br />
I’m in bargaining with Atlas<br />
Copco, BC Conveying, Pacific<br />
Radiator and Williams Machinery<br />
and I’m assisting Brother Don<br />
Swerdan with Owen G. Carney. In the coming months,<br />
I should be bargaining with Hertz, Hiway Refrigeration,<br />
Hiway Fuel Services and Clean Harbors with Brother<br />
Swerdan.<br />
Members at Pacific Radiator voted down the company’s<br />
last offer and the company refuses to meet for<br />
further bargaining. We will be taking another ratification<br />
vote and possibly a strike vote.<br />
At Atlas Copco we’re working on the final piece of<br />
the puzzle—a new letter of understanding regarding the<br />
members’ pension contributions and overtime rates.<br />
When I came aboard, I inherited a few shops that,<br />
for a variety of reasons, didn’t have any shop stewards.<br />
We now have members at some of those facilities who<br />
have stepped up to serve as shop stewards. I have recently<br />
posted sign-up sheets at three other facilities. Thanks to<br />
everyone who has stepped up so far to serve their fellow<br />
members. I look forward to working with these members.<br />
I’ve now had some time to develop good working relationships<br />
with most of the employers. It makes the job<br />
a lot easier when you can deal quickly with a member’s<br />
issue with just a phone call to the right person.<br />
In closing, welcome to Brother Brett Chapman in his<br />
new role as member representative. I have no doubt he<br />
will do a fine job while bringing his own unique style to<br />
our Local Union.<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 9
District 1<br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115<br />
10 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong><br />
Project labour agreements secure work for members<br />
Everett Cummings, Member Representative<br />
In my last article, I mentioned that we had signed<br />
a project labour agreement for the McNally Aecon<br />
JV Fraser River Crossing. Since then, the Operating<br />
Engineers and Labourers Local 1611 have signed another<br />
agreement on the Fraser River crossing with Bencor<br />
Canada (Bencor Group of America). Bencor will be doing<br />
the slurry walls on each side of the river and employing<br />
crane operators and heavy duty mechanics.<br />
Local 115 and other building trade affiliates have also<br />
signed an agreement with Aecon for the construction of<br />
compressor stations in the northern part of the province.<br />
Aecon will be building them for Spectra, which traditionally<br />
builds with non-union or CLAC companies. Keeping<br />
our members working and securing work often done by<br />
Christmas Dance<br />
Saturday, Dec. 10<br />
OE Auditorium<br />
4333 Ledger Avenue<br />
Burnaby<br />
Cocktails: 6:30 p.m.<br />
Deluxe Smorgasbord: 7:30 p.m.<br />
Dancing: 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.<br />
Advance sales only<br />
Tickets: $35 per person<br />
(Pensioners $30 per person)<br />
To purchase your tickets,<br />
call 604-291-8831.<br />
the unorganized sector is a great achievement for the OEs<br />
and the building trades unions.<br />
Out in the Fraser Valley, we’ve signed up a new<br />
welding company, RDM Metal Works. RDM does the<br />
same work as RMW did on all types of plants, including<br />
preventative maintenance service work with millwrights.<br />
The addition of RDM will be appreciated by<br />
our other signatory companies who require a welding sub<br />
contractor.<br />
I would like to congratulate Brother Brett Chapman<br />
on making the change from organizer to member<br />
representative. Brett was a steward for me at Frontier<br />
Kemper, and I know he will do a great job for the<br />
membership in this new role.
Younger members<br />
offer their ideas for<br />
increasing membership<br />
By Leslie Dyson<br />
Members under the age of 30 were invited to come to<br />
the union hall in Burnaby in June to talk about strategies<br />
to increase membership in the Local Union.<br />
Working in small groups, they said there are many<br />
persuasive reasons for people to want to become members<br />
of Local 115. They said that membership:<br />
• opens the door to a variety of trades, projects<br />
and employers<br />
• leads to good wages with regular pay increases<br />
• means more attention to job safety<br />
• gives access to a dispatch system<br />
• comes with apprenticeships and upgrading<br />
training<br />
• brings better working conditions, representation,<br />
mentoring and dignity<br />
• leads to camaraderie with other members<br />
They were supportive of the decision to create a series<br />
of promotional<br />
videos. They said<br />
the videos should<br />
stress exciting<br />
careers, BIG<br />
equipment and<br />
pride in the beautiful<br />
things that<br />
are built by operating<br />
engineers.<br />
“Go back to<br />
how fun it was and<br />
is to build and create<br />
things,” wrote<br />
Doug Suffield.<br />
“Show that this<br />
is a complex,<br />
problem-solving,<br />
Taping for a series of promotional videos<br />
took place over the summer.<br />
think-on-yourfeet<br />
career.”<br />
Younger members of the Local Union were invited to come to<br />
a meeting in June to talk about ways to connect with members<br />
and help develop strategies to increase membership.<br />
They recommended a good soundtrack and showing<br />
attractive people.<br />
Taping for the videos began shortly after with visits<br />
to the training site and several OE contractor companies.<br />
The Local Union thanks everyone who came out for<br />
the meeting and especially everyone who’s participated<br />
in the production of the videos.<br />
If you want to be among the first to see what the<br />
videos will look like, come to the general membership<br />
meeting at the OE hall at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 17.<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 11
Long before the Lions or Whitecaps play a<br />
single game in the new stadium, another team<br />
has been at work. Photos by Peter Palm, Pacific Group of Companies<br />
12 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong>
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 13
District 2<br />
Collective agreements being ratified<br />
Tim Cullen, Member Representative<br />
Like most British Columbians, we waited for months<br />
for summer to kick into high gear. It was cool and wet<br />
for far too long. Hopefully, we will have a dry fall to look<br />
forward to.<br />
In bargaining, we have ratified collective agreements<br />
at the District of Port Hardy, Upland Excavating Ltd.,<br />
OK Group of Companies (Tayco Paving, OK Upper<br />
Island, Haylock Bros. Paving Ltd., Duncan Paving,<br />
Island Crushing and Island Asphalt) and Hub City<br />
Paving. We are either still in discussions or ratifying with<br />
Hazelwood Construction Services Inc., BFI, Morningstar<br />
Golf Club and EPCOR.<br />
We are already planning for next year’s bargaining<br />
with Northwest Sealcoating Ltd., WEQ (Old Country<br />
Rentals), BFI—Victoria, Brandt Tractor Ltd., Walco<br />
Industrial and Waste Management—Vancouver Island.<br />
Members who are working for these companies should be<br />
getting their proposal notices soon.<br />
We have also been very busy with Brandt Tractor at<br />
the Labour Relations Board.<br />
In addition, I met with the Ralmax crew to extend<br />
the agreement to support the Point Hope shipyard<br />
expansion.<br />
As for construction work on the Island, Chew has<br />
almost completed the Uptown excavation work and<br />
the project at Six Mile. Hazelwood is going full bore<br />
on Bowen Road in Nanaimo, has almost finished the<br />
Ahousat project, and has started on the run of the river<br />
project in Tahsis.<br />
14 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong><br />
The happy Port Hardy EPCOR crew: (front) Brothers Kenn Oliver,<br />
Kris Hagen, Sister Jamie Matson and Dennis Dugas; (back)<br />
Brother Justin Reusch, Manager Trevor Kushner, Brothers Joe<br />
Jewell, Roland Lefort, Cory Henschke and Sean Mercer; and (not<br />
shown) Sister Emily Cox. Everyone assembled for the contract<br />
approval just before a key game in the Stanley Cup finals. Things<br />
wrapped up in time for just about everyone to watch the game.<br />
Upland Excavating is having a very slow season this<br />
year.<br />
The wind farm at the north end of the Island went<br />
to Borea, with which we have no affiliation. However,<br />
we hope to get the crane work on the approximately 55<br />
windmills that are going in.<br />
Stay safe.<br />
If all OE members and their families voted in the<br />
upcoming November 19th municipal election, we could<br />
elect civic councillors who care about our issues.<br />
VOTENov19 OUR VOTES COUNT
Once the weather improved, work picked up<br />
Brad Gerow, Member Representative<br />
After a long winter that wouldn’t<br />
let go, the construction season finally<br />
got under way. It is turning out to be<br />
a good year with some projects from<br />
last year remaining to be finished.<br />
• Brentwood Enterprises is completing its job<br />
in Sorrento; Dawson Construction will do the<br />
paving.<br />
• Dawson’s paving crew is busy with jobs on<br />
the Coquihalla Highway and in Gold Bridge.<br />
Dawson also has crushing and other projects on<br />
the go.<br />
• Conex is busy with waterlines, parking lots and<br />
subdivisions in Sorrento, Aberdeen, Thompson<br />
Rivers University and Juniper Ridge.<br />
• In Kamloops, B.A. Blacktop has a few projects<br />
around town.<br />
• Kamloops Augering is working all over the<br />
province, including the North and on the coast.<br />
• The long-awaited Pritchard job is out to tender<br />
and we hope one of our contractors has the<br />
successful bid.<br />
Because of the mining industry, our shops are doing<br />
well. Mining is taking up the slack for the losses we’ve<br />
had from the forest industry slowdowns. The shops are<br />
looking for skilled and qualified technicians, but they are<br />
harder to find with the mines now pulling them away.<br />
On the organizing front, we would like to welcome to<br />
Local 115 the crews from Vernon Paving and Westlake<br />
Paving. After many years, these people now have representation<br />
from the Operating Engineers. The ballots<br />
were counted on July 5 and they voted out CLAC. (See<br />
article, Pg. 16)<br />
This campaign lasted a long time. The votes were cast<br />
in February, but they sat sealed at the Labour Relations<br />
Board until the decision was made in our favour to open<br />
the box and count the ballots. There were many people<br />
involved in this and I say “Good job!” to our members<br />
and all the others who made this campaign a success.<br />
Organizing in the Okanagan Valley has been difficult<br />
over the years. Maybe this is the foothold we need to get<br />
some momentum.<br />
I would also like to say thank you to Brother Gary<br />
Kinnear for his many years of dedication to this organization.<br />
He made the difficult decision to retire and move<br />
District 3<br />
on to the next phase of his life. To Gary and his wife,<br />
Linda, we wish you many years of happy retirement so<br />
that you can enjoy the other things in life, like the view<br />
from your deck at the lake, the open rode from the seat<br />
of your motorcycle and good times with your grandson.<br />
Thanks, Gary, for all the years of hard work and dedication<br />
to the members.<br />
Don’t forget to get out to the district meetings in<br />
your area or wherever you are working, because you keep<br />
this union strong!<br />
We’re looking for photos<br />
Send us your action photos from the sites where<br />
you’re working. If your photo is used, you will<br />
receive an <strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115 logo item.<br />
Include your name and a description identifying who<br />
is in the picture and what is taking place. We’ll make<br />
sure we get your prints or CDs back to you.<br />
Traditional glossy colour prints —<br />
Send them to your district office c/o Susan<br />
Armstrong, <strong>IUOE</strong> <strong>News</strong>, 4333 Ledger Avenue,<br />
Burnaby, B.C., V5G 3T3.<br />
Digital images —<br />
Use the highest quality setting (“Fine/Superfine”<br />
or “Large”) on your digital camera. Drop off a CD<br />
at your district office or e-mail your photos to<br />
sarmstrong@iuoe115.com. (You will only be able<br />
to e-mail 1 or 2 at a time because the files will be<br />
large.) Large files can also be sent to this email<br />
address via www.yousendit.com. One large file<br />
or compressed folder at a time can be sent at no<br />
charge.<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 15
Moving from CLAC to <strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115<br />
By Leslie Dyson<br />
They “manned up and did ‘er”<br />
The International Union of Operating Engineers<br />
Local 115 is welcoming nearly 40 new members<br />
from Vernon Paving and Westlake Paving<br />
in Kelowna. They are former members of the<br />
Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC).<br />
The two companies had long-standing agreements<br />
with CLAC. Vernon’s agreement goes back to 1993.<br />
However, Westlake was certified by the association in<br />
1977. David De Sousa, special representative for the<br />
operating engineers, said it was likely one of CLAC’s first<br />
agreements in B.C.<br />
Attempts to reach the CLAC rep Quentin Steen or<br />
other association spokesperson were unsuccessful.<br />
Frankie Potvin, a batch plant operator from Westlake,<br />
transferred from a sister company in Prince George. He<br />
went from a collective agreement with Local 115 to<br />
one with CLAC. All that CLAC had negotiated for the<br />
employees was small RRSP contributions.<br />
He said, as a 30-year member of Local 115, “I knew<br />
what the wages should have been and what the benefits<br />
should have been...I have a pension with the OEs. The<br />
OE pension is one of the best that I know of. And some<br />
of those guys [at Westlake] have worked just as long as<br />
me and you look at what they’ll get…it’s just sad.”<br />
The word spread to key people at Vernon Paving.<br />
Shop Foreman Roy Giger said Vernon has some very<br />
long-serving employees. “There’s 90 years of experience<br />
among three of the guys. And yet you look at what they<br />
have in their RRSPs and there’s maybe enough for four<br />
years [after retirement].”<br />
Giger also saw that the younger members wanted<br />
training. “I don’t really think it [CLAC] is a construction<br />
union. There’s no real training.<br />
“I asked about a tool allowance and I was told ‘We<br />
don’t do that kind of stuff.’ I thought to myself, ‘So what<br />
do you do?’”<br />
16 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong><br />
Tom McMahon, a heavy duty mechanic, was one of<br />
the people at Westlake who didn’t like what was going on.<br />
He said CLAC did not represent the workers during grievances.<br />
When negotiations in the past came to a standstill,<br />
the employees asked if mediation was an option.<br />
McMahon said they were told by the CLAC rep that<br />
mediation and arbitration are not done in this province.<br />
“I asked about a tool allowance and<br />
I was told ‘We don’t do that kind of<br />
stuff.’ I thought to myself,<br />
‘So what do you do?’”<br />
As the case against CLAC continued to build,<br />
McMahon went to the Internet to do some research.<br />
That led him to make a call to De Sousa in June 2010. He<br />
learned a lot about CLAC and found out that the soonest<br />
the organizing drive could be held was between January<br />
and February <strong>2011</strong>. The winter months are usually a<br />
dead time of year in the paving industry. Fortunately<br />
for the employees at Westlake, the company had a batch<br />
plant upgrade under way over the winter and many were<br />
called in to work. But just three employees were available<br />
to vote at Vernon Paving.<br />
On Feb. 4, a certification application was made to the<br />
Labour Relations Board for both companies. The vote<br />
was held on Feb. 16 and 18.<br />
There was a lot of activity leading up to the vote.<br />
CLAC scheduled a meeting to “tell the truth about the<br />
OEs,” said McMahon. “It was hilarious.”<br />
Expecting the worst, McMahon took along the actuarial<br />
valuation report of the Operating Engineers’ pension<br />
plan and Potvin brought his personal pension plan<br />
statement. It was clear to everyone in the room what the<br />
employees were missing.<br />
“To our pleasant surprise, all the young guys wanted
Loader operator Doug Petrie and plant operator Vaughan<br />
McIndoe work with Vernon Paving, and were among those<br />
workers who voted to move from CLAC to <strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115.<br />
a pension rather than a crappy RRSP,” said McMahon.<br />
“The young guys jumped all over that. They [CLAC]<br />
were just demolished at their own meeting and they cancelled<br />
the Vernon meeting for the next night.”<br />
It was nerve-racking work getting everyone to sign a<br />
second time and many were concerned about losing their<br />
jobs, said McMahon. “But we manned up and did ‘er.”<br />
Then CLAC opposed Local 115’s application at the<br />
LRB. This delayed the count of the ballots. “They postponed<br />
it and kept collecting the dues,” said Potvin, “but<br />
they weren’t really doing anything for us.” It amounted<br />
“To our pleasant surprise,<br />
all the young guys wanted<br />
a pension rather than a<br />
crappy RRSP.”<br />
to between $80 and $90 a person per month.<br />
The ballot box was finally opened on July 5. When<br />
the votes were counted, the vast majority had voted in<br />
favour of joining the Operating Engineers.<br />
Under CLAC, McMahon said, “Everybody was afraid<br />
to say anything. You had no recourse because you knew<br />
CLAC wouldn’t speak up for you. But now the bosses<br />
have tamed down and everyone’s more confident. Before<br />
we were a whole bunch of individuals. We’re united now.”<br />
Loader operator Chris Bennett and plant operator Frankie Potvin<br />
from Westlake Paving, which also became a Local 115 signatory<br />
in July.<br />
Roy Bertram, general manager of both paving<br />
companies, said, “nothing that has really changed.” An<br />
official meeting with Local 115 had not yet taken place.<br />
Local 115 Member Rep Brad Gerow said he expected<br />
that “we’re going to have a good working relationship<br />
[with the employers] as we do with our other employers.<br />
We’re going to see what we can do to keep the waters<br />
calm.” A get-acquainted meeting was being scheduled for<br />
August (before press time).<br />
Gerow said the new members he’s spoken to are looking<br />
forward to the change in representation. They told<br />
him they were pleased that they’d seen more of their<br />
Local 115 rep in the first month after the vote than they<br />
had of their CLAC rep over several years.<br />
McMahon said that the move to Local 115 “won’t<br />
have much effect on me, but it will for the younger guys.<br />
The biggest thing for me is proper representation for<br />
everyone.”<br />
Giger said, “It will be really great for the new guys<br />
coming in. If they have any ambition and they’re intelligent,<br />
there’s lots of opportunity.<br />
“As a crew, nothing will really change,” he said, “but,<br />
hopefully, we’ll have a better life when we retire.”<br />
The story isn’t over. In late July, CLAC submitted an<br />
application to have the Labour Relations Board overturn<br />
the Operating Engineers’ successful organizing drive. A<br />
LRB decision could take weeks or months.<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 17
District 4<br />
Project labour<br />
agreements providing<br />
good union work<br />
Herb Conat and Wayne Kemp,<br />
Member Representatives<br />
We’re extremely busy in District 4 this<br />
year.<br />
The Kitimat Modernization Project<br />
(Bechtel Canada) has kicked off again. Fifteen<br />
contractors are working on several projects on<br />
the site and the demolition of the Rio Tinto<br />
Alcan pot lines 7 and 8 has begun.<br />
New camp facilities, with 440 Jack &<br />
Jill beds, are due to open this fall and two<br />
additional phases of construction will be<br />
completed this year. Up to 1,500 workers will<br />
be accommodated. This site is covered by a<br />
project labour agreement(PLA) modeled on<br />
the Heavy Construction Agreement.<br />
Lockerbie Hole’s work on the Endako Mines expansion is<br />
almost complete. It is also covered by a PLA. The Operating<br />
Engineers will be finished this winter.<br />
BFI Constructors has picked up the civil work, with 18 to 24<br />
months of construction, at the Mount Milligan Gold & Copper<br />
Mine. BFI has signed an agreement with five of the building<br />
trades unions.<br />
This new mine is owned by Thompson Creek covered by a<br />
PLA. Work has been contracted to a couple of the building trades<br />
contractors.<br />
We have not seen any projects of this magnitude in the past 20<br />
years. This should be the start of good things to come, including<br />
many jobs and increased market share!<br />
In closing, we would like to thank our stewards, organizers<br />
and safety committee members who provide leadership in your<br />
work places. Work safely.<br />
ThinkSafety<br />
18 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong><br />
District 5<br />
Industrial<br />
work steady<br />
Mike Spiruda<br />
Member Representative<br />
The work picture<br />
has been steady in the<br />
Northeast throughout the<br />
summer.<br />
The local crane companies<br />
were busy with shutdowns, gas plant<br />
construction and projects in the oil and gas<br />
industry.<br />
Premay Pipeline Hauling have been unloading<br />
and stockpiling 50 km of 36” mainline pipe<br />
at Chetwynd, Hudsons Hope and Groundbirch.<br />
Premay will also unload and stockpile approximately<br />
75 km of pipe near Fort Nelson in the<br />
fall.<br />
Louisbourg Pipeline will construct the 23<br />
km of 36” pipe for Trans Canada Pipeline’s<br />
Saturn project west of Dawson Creek.<br />
BC Hydro has initiated the environmental<br />
assessment phase for the proposed Site C<br />
hydroelectric project. Upgrades in the design<br />
of the dam such as foundation stability, seismic<br />
protection and improved generating capacity<br />
have now pegged construction costs at $7.9 billion.<br />
Field research carried on throughout the<br />
summer.<br />
During the summer months, we were in<br />
negotiations with Peace River Coal in Tumbler<br />
Ridge. We’re hopeful that the company will<br />
recognize that the many issues on the table<br />
are a priority that must be resolved in order to<br />
move forward.<br />
Work safely.<br />
L O C A L 1 1 5<br />
It’s not just a slogan. It’s a way of life.
District 6<br />
Union Organizing<br />
Welcome to our members from Harbour International Truck Sales<br />
Rob Duff, Organizer<br />
Mine industry<br />
going strong<br />
Gordon Chaisson, Member<br />
Representative<br />
Work in the Elk Valley was very busy this summer.<br />
The mines are going full out with no scheduled shutdowns.<br />
The companies that do business with the mines<br />
are keeping pace.<br />
We negotiated a first agreement with KMC Mining in<br />
early June and it was ratified by 70%. To our new members<br />
at KMC: Welcome aboard! It should be noted that<br />
our dispatch system in our Cranbrook office supplies the<br />
workforce for this company. Many individuals, interested<br />
in hiring on with this company, have come to see us.<br />
The Line Creek operation is still going steady. There<br />
have been dozens of new hires since January.<br />
The workers at Sparwood Finning Tractor branch<br />
were on strike for several weeks, but members gave<br />
the Sparwood unit their full support. Solidarity is our<br />
backbone.<br />
I wish everyone at Peace River Coal the best of luck<br />
with this round of negotiations. As we all know, bargaining<br />
is a process that can’t be rushed.<br />
Maxam Explosives has had its contract renewed with<br />
Teck Coal Ltd. That should ensure some well-earned job<br />
security for those members. Nothing moves until the rock<br />
is blasted!<br />
In solidarity...<br />
A warm welcome to our new members at<br />
Harbour International Truck Sales and Service,<br />
located in Langley. The mechanics and shop<br />
employees voted overwhelmingly in favour of<br />
being represented by the Operating Engineers<br />
Local 115. This has sent a strong message to the<br />
employer.<br />
I wish to thank members for promoting<br />
Local 115 to non-union workers and CLAC members.<br />
I know that people are listening because I<br />
have been hearing about it on the various job<br />
sites that I visit. Your pride in being members<br />
Dispatch<br />
Consider<br />
upgrading—<br />
the demand<br />
is growing<br />
Jim Flynn, Dispatcher<br />
I hope everyone enjoyed our late-arriving<br />
summer.<br />
This year has seen more dispatches than<br />
last year. We are still short of crane operators.<br />
If you know of operators who are working<br />
non-union or under CLAC, please encourage<br />
them to give us a call.<br />
If you have a chance to take some upgrading<br />
in the sewer and water side of excavator<br />
work, take advantage of the opportunity.<br />
Schools are back in session, so please take<br />
extra care on the roads.<br />
DISPATCH REPORT<br />
Orders Received 103<br />
Cancelled 0<br />
Referred 0<br />
Orders Completed 103<br />
Members Booked In 175<br />
of Local 115 is coming through loud and clear to<br />
non-union workers. Keep up the good work! It<br />
makes us all stronger.<br />
Congratulations to Doug Fisher from Rempel<br />
Concrete for winning the Name the Rat Contest.<br />
The winning name is Festus.<br />
I would also like to welcome Brother Jared<br />
Hamlin to our organizing team. Jared comes<br />
with a great deal of enthusiasm and experience<br />
and he will be a great asset to Local 115. Welcome<br />
Jared.<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 19
Benefit Plans<br />
Operating Engineers’ Pension plan<br />
The unaudited financial results for your pension plan<br />
have been presented to the Board of Trustees. The report<br />
shows Market Value of Assets for the Plan Year Ending<br />
April 30, <strong>2011</strong> of approximately $ 847,610,522<br />
The Plan received a total of 7,826,995 hours of contributions<br />
from employers and self-payments, for a total<br />
of $28,509,185 in contributions for the 2010/11 Plan Year.<br />
The Plan paid a total of $44,378,908 in Pension,<br />
Death and Cash Termination Benefits for the 2010/11<br />
Plan Year.<br />
Operating Engineers’ Benefits Plan<br />
The audited financial results for the Operating<br />
Engineers’ Benefits Plan reflect total assets, as at<br />
December 31, 2010, of $34,216,220.<br />
The Plan received $13,377,710 in contributions for<br />
the 2010 Plan Year and paid $14,723,834 for benefits for<br />
the membership and their dependents. The Plan saw a<br />
$284,842 increase in reserves for members’ future benefits<br />
and total administrative disbursements of $837,022.<br />
Watch for a full report of the audited financial standings<br />
of both your Operating Engineers’ Benefits and<br />
Pension Plan in the 37th Annual Special Edition of the<br />
Operating Engineers <strong>News</strong> to be published later this year.<br />
Members find help through Family<br />
Assistance Program:<br />
Since its introduction in December of 1998 members<br />
and their families have had the ability to seek assistance<br />
for personal problems through the Family Assistance<br />
Program.<br />
The assistance program is available to those members<br />
and their families who have benefit coverage through the<br />
Operating Engineers’ Benefits Plan.<br />
The program is strictly confidential and is provided<br />
through Wilson Banwell Ltd.<br />
Wilson Banwell offers professional services on a 24-<br />
hour, 7-day a week, 365 days per year basis for a wide<br />
range of personal and family problems.<br />
Human Solutions can be reached in the Vancouver<br />
area at 604-689-1717 or throughout the province at<br />
1-800-663-1142.<br />
20 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong><br />
Plans do well in spite of the marketplace<br />
Lionel I. Railton, CEB, PPAC Administrator<br />
If you or your family needs help, please do not hesitate<br />
to call Human Solutions and find the assistance you<br />
require.<br />
Please note: all counseling benefits are provided<br />
through Human Solutions – counseling benefits are not<br />
covered under your Extended Health Benefits Plan.<br />
Pensions awarded<br />
April <strong>2011</strong> to June <strong>2011</strong><br />
Avtar Basra<br />
Ronald Bealey<br />
Daniel Bell<br />
Bert Broeckx<br />
Ronald Burbee<br />
John Bush<br />
Dave Cardin<br />
Guy Champagne<br />
Robert Clark<br />
James Cooper<br />
Cameron Dunn<br />
Keith Edmondson<br />
John Engelland<br />
Garry Espeseth<br />
Rick Gill<br />
Ken Gunderson<br />
Mikhael Harruthoonyan<br />
Ronald Heinrichs<br />
Jerry Higgins<br />
Bradley Hippensteel<br />
Rae Johnstone<br />
Michael Keel<br />
Craig Kinnear<br />
Charles Kleij<br />
Allan Klus<br />
Kenneth Kornelson<br />
Leonard Lomond<br />
Antonio Lourenco<br />
Donald Mackenzie<br />
Ashley Macleod<br />
Dale Macrobbie<br />
Robert Magee<br />
John Mathers<br />
Jim McIntosh<br />
Gordon Miskulin<br />
Larry Odland<br />
Louis Paul<br />
Edward Pazur<br />
Richard Pellerin<br />
Gerald Penner<br />
Eldon Petrescue<br />
John Pineau<br />
Albert Poirier<br />
Darcy Price<br />
Gary Procknow<br />
Elmer Quiding<br />
Kenneth Robinson<br />
Nick Samsonoff<br />
Robert Severinski<br />
John Shomody<br />
Michael Stephenson<br />
Keith Street<br />
Robert Tanner<br />
Garey Tomlinson<br />
David Turnbull<br />
Arnold Usher<br />
Clement Vaillancourt<br />
Henry Van Epp<br />
James Warner<br />
James Wilson
Annual open house<br />
Brad Randall, Administrator<br />
June 18 marked our 16th annual open house and<br />
heavy equipment rodeo at our Maple Ridge training site.<br />
We also celebrated the Local Union’s 80th anniversary<br />
with a large display of balloons to mark the occasion.<br />
Close to 600 attended, including members, their<br />
families and the general public. They had a great time<br />
operating equipment and enjoyed the hamburgers and<br />
hotdogs that the Training Association provided. Our very<br />
own Kim Monfee, dressed as a clown, and provided face<br />
painting and blew up balloons to entertain the kids. Once<br />
again, we had our popular six-person golf cart to shuttle<br />
people up the hill to the equipment.<br />
It was a wet day but that did not stop people from<br />
coming. We had fewer people than last year but that<br />
made for shorter lineups and more opportunity for seat<br />
time on the equipment.<br />
Several dealers and contractors provided additional<br />
equipment again this year. Thanks to SMS Equipment<br />
for providing three mini excavators and Great West<br />
Equipment for providing two mini excavators. Thanks<br />
also to Brother Eric Kan, owner of Kansen Crane<br />
Service, for providing the new 120-ton Liebherr with<br />
Brothers John Sleigh, Mike Anderson, Miles Evans, Mike<br />
Weber and Rod Barclay. Thanks to Gastaldo Concrete<br />
for providing its 58-meter Putzmeister concrete pump<br />
along with Brother Rick Dallas. A huge thank you to the<br />
80-plus volunteers who came out to make the day a great<br />
success. Without their tireless effort, there would be no<br />
such event. I would also like to thank Brother Marvin<br />
Salvail for doing such a good job of taking the photos<br />
of the event. Of course the Training Association staff<br />
did another fantastic job of organizing and running the<br />
Open House. Thanks!<br />
In conjunction with the open house, donations were<br />
accepted for Dollars Against Diabetes Day. We broke<br />
our record and raised $1,420 for this worthwhile charity.<br />
Thanks to Brother Mike Suzberic for selling 50/50 tickets<br />
to assist in raising the funds. Brother Barry Conroy was<br />
the winner and graciously donated his $345 winnings<br />
back to the cause. Thanks Barry and to all who donated.<br />
WorkSafeBC<br />
On the Friday before our open house, we had over<br />
40 WorkSafeBC entitlement officers, case managers,<br />
Training Association<br />
WorkSafeBC employees at the Training site prior to the open<br />
house.<br />
vocational rehabilitation consultants, medical advisors<br />
and client services managers come out to the site to see<br />
at first-hand what an equipment operator goes through<br />
on a daily basis. Practical demonstrations were provided<br />
on an excavator and a mobile crane, showing them that<br />
operators don’t just sit in the seat all day and pull levers.<br />
They were shown the physical aspects of the job such as<br />
changing buckets, cleaning the tracks on an excavator<br />
and putting heavy wooden pads under the outriggers of<br />
a crane. After the demonstrations, everyone was sent out<br />
in the field to try operating the equipment.<br />
For the past few years, the Local Union has been<br />
meeting with WorkSafeBC on a regular basis to discuss<br />
health and safety issues relevant to the construction<br />
industry. Brother Craig McIntosh, a member rep and<br />
training association trustee, came up with the idea of<br />
having WorkSafeBC staff come out to the site. The day<br />
was a huge success and gave the participants a better<br />
understanding of the physical aspects of our work.<br />
Here’s what some of the participants said:<br />
“It was a total blast,” said Jason Jang, vocational<br />
rehab consultant. “But not only was it fun, it gave me<br />
an understanding of whether or not an injured worker<br />
looking for a new line of employment might be able to be<br />
trained, and then find work in this field.”<br />
“The hands-on experience was invaluable,” said<br />
Medical Advisor Mary-Louise O’Driscoll. “It will really<br />
help when I have to give an opinion on the causation of<br />
an injury, or when commenting on job-specific limitations<br />
and restrictions.”<br />
Entitlement officer Andria Sutton agreed: “I learned<br />
there’s quite a lot of prep work involved before a job can<br />
even start. It’s not just about sitting in a cab moving<br />
levers and pedals.”<br />
Thanks to everyone who came out on that Friday<br />
and for the staff who did another great job organizing<br />
the event.<br />
continued next page<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 21
Training Association<br />
continued from previous page<br />
Contractors visit training site<br />
Member Reps Herb Conat and Brian Lefebvre<br />
arranged to have representatives from Integrated<br />
Contractors Ltd (ICL) and Selkirk Paving, part of the<br />
YCS Group, tour the training site on the Friday before<br />
the open house.<br />
ICL is from the Prince George area and Selkirk is<br />
based in the Castlegar area. The employers saw the kind<br />
of programs we provide, the equipment we use and the<br />
content of the courses and were able to meet with the<br />
instructors and staff to discuss their wants and needs.<br />
I was very pleased to have our employers come to the<br />
site. We welcome more contractors to see what we do and<br />
the services we can provide for them.<br />
Training Coordinator Jeff Gorham, Administrator Brad Randall,<br />
Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton and Minister Pat Bell at<br />
the training site.<br />
Minister of Advanced Education<br />
Pat Bell, the minister of Jobs, Tourism and<br />
Innovation, and Marc Dalton, MLA for Maple Ridge-<br />
Mission, visited our training site recently.<br />
One of Bell’s responsibilities is the Industry Training<br />
Authority (ITA). It is through the ITA that we provide<br />
our heavy equipment operator and crane training<br />
programs.<br />
They were very impressed with the amount of equipment<br />
we have, the layout of the site and the different<br />
programs we offer. Their visit gave us an opportunity to<br />
discuss training issues. Bell has been very supportive of<br />
the Training Association in the past and we look forward<br />
to his continued support in the future.<br />
22 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong><br />
International Rep Allan Bruce, Organizer Rob Duff, Member<br />
Rep Brad Gerow, Training Coordinator Jeff Gorham, Training<br />
Coordinator Randy Grisewood, Member Rep Brett Chapman,<br />
International Rep Dave De Sousa, Administrator Brad Randall<br />
and Member Rep and training trustee Craig McIntosh at the<br />
Skills Canada Competition.<br />
Skills Canada B.C. Competition<br />
Once again, the Training Association participated<br />
at the Skills Canada Competition at the Tradex Centre.<br />
Participants were winners of regional competitions.<br />
Contests, developed by Skills Canada BC, are practical<br />
challenges designed to test skills required in trades and<br />
technology occupations. Top contestants went off to the<br />
nationals.<br />
We set up a display booth with a working model<br />
crawler crane. Our simulator trailer was also a big hit<br />
with the students.<br />
Equipment Purchases<br />
We recently purchased a used 2007 Volvo EC240B<br />
excavator with 1,800 hours from Great West Equipment<br />
and traded in our 1993 690E-LC. We also purchased a<br />
used 2006 John Deere 450J dozer with 2,100 hours from<br />
Progressive Contracting and traded in our 1992 John<br />
Deere 450G dozer.<br />
Milan Ilich<br />
Milan Ilich, owner of Progressive<br />
Contracting, passed away on June<br />
29.<br />
Progressive Contracting has had<br />
a collective agreement with Local<br />
115 since 1972.<br />
Milan was a good employer who<br />
treated his employees well. Our condolences<br />
go out to his family.<br />
Work safely.
Sister Cheryl Lucyk receives her Mobile Crane-<br />
Lattice Boom Friction BC Certificate of Qualification<br />
with Red Seal Endorsement. Sheryl completed her<br />
apprenticeship with Fraser River Pile & Dredge.<br />
Brother Darcy White with his BC Heavy Duty<br />
Mechanic Certificate of Qualification with Red Seal<br />
endorsement. Darcy served his apprenticeship at<br />
the United Rentals Burnaby location.<br />
Brother Dave McConnell (centre) receiving<br />
his Heavy Duty Mechanic BC Certificate of<br />
Qualification with Red Seal Endorsement from<br />
Training Association Trustee Dave Reynolds and<br />
Foreman Lambert Head. Dave completed his<br />
apprenticeship working at Traxxon Rock Drill and<br />
Pacific Blasting and Demolition.<br />
Training Association<br />
The Training Association’s 65-ton American truck crane assisting with Tall<br />
Crane Equipment’s repair of the tower crane power cable.<br />
The Training Association went to Kamloops to give members at Dawson<br />
Construction a three-day crane refresher course in preparation for their B.C.<br />
crane certification assessment. Instructor Gordon Lindberg with Brothers<br />
Steve Ramsey, Dustin Wishnowski, Ben Hystad, Russel Blanc and Mitch<br />
Amies.<br />
Brothers Jason Copp, Douglas Murdy, Mark Smith, Chris Dickey, Chad<br />
Barker, Jarrett Young and Mark Friesen, working for Apex Industrial Movers,<br />
in a rigging course instructed by Brother Gordon Lindberg.<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 23
16th annual open house<br />
Close to 600 people attended this year’s annual open house<br />
in June at the Training Association’s site.<br />
24 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong>
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 25
Honouring Members<br />
Welcoming our new Local 115 members April to June, <strong>2011</strong><br />
Jeffrey J. Aeichele<br />
Christopher A. Allbee<br />
Ron Allen<br />
Steve B. Allen<br />
Dean Amendt<br />
Brittney Antosko<br />
Noel S. Aragones<br />
Justin Arnason<br />
Frederick W. Ayers<br />
Larry Baker<br />
Steven Barron<br />
Steven Barron<br />
Matthew Bayley<br />
Ryan Beeson<br />
Michael J. Beiderwieden<br />
Donald Bigcharles<br />
Quinn Blanchard<br />
Mitchell J. Blokhuizen<br />
John K. Bonevitch<br />
Nicholas L. Bowman<br />
Dale Brooks<br />
Jason Brousseau<br />
Thomas C. Brown<br />
James Bruder<br />
Charles Burton<br />
Chris R. Campbell<br />
Bryce Cassidy<br />
Kerry Chamberlin<br />
Reid J. Chartrand<br />
Reuben Chernekow<br />
Ryan Clark<br />
Thomas Clarke<br />
Jessy Clarkson<br />
Reginald A. Cleave<br />
James D. Colbeck<br />
Vitor Jose A. Conceicao<br />
Travis Condin<br />
Jordan S. Coombs<br />
Stacey L. Cunliffe<br />
Joel C. Currie<br />
Shan Davis<br />
Nicolas De Montigny<br />
Joseph A. Delos Reyes<br />
Remi Desroches<br />
Lyle T. Dixon<br />
Christopher Dokkie<br />
Amber Doonan<br />
Ashley M. Dupuis<br />
Colin K. Eckert<br />
Randy L. Enns<br />
Ashton <strong>Fall</strong>on<br />
Roger Faucher<br />
Hanz Fischer<br />
Cody D. Fisher<br />
Donna Flaman<br />
James Flanagan<br />
Keli G. Fontaine<br />
Justin Fournier<br />
Gordon J. Fuller<br />
Halisi Giddings<br />
Chris Gorbett<br />
Brendan Grace<br />
Miles R. Green<br />
Liam Greig<br />
Stefan Grumpner<br />
Richard J. Guinevan<br />
Jeff Hall<br />
Mitchell Hall<br />
Mark Halliday<br />
Michael B. Hanney<br />
Dusty Hansen<br />
Flemming Hansen<br />
Derek Hanson<br />
Larry Heigh<br />
Chris Hemmelgarn<br />
Mike Herring<br />
Jeffrey H. Hill<br />
Jody Hoefels<br />
Brent Hoehne<br />
Tony Hoffmann<br />
Former Member Rep Gary Kinnear presents<br />
Brother Jack Hammond with a 40-year pin.<br />
26 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong><br />
Barry Hore<br />
Kevin House<br />
Shane Hoyt<br />
Don W. Hunt<br />
Corrienne Hunter<br />
William Jensen<br />
George A. Jobb<br />
Taylor Johansen<br />
Dawn K. Johnson<br />
Marcus S. Johnston<br />
Mel Johnston<br />
Warren P. Johnston<br />
Bradley Jones<br />
Melanie E. Jones<br />
Justin Karbowski<br />
Blair Keddy<br />
Chris P. Kelly<br />
Troy J. Kelly<br />
Stephen J. Kennedy<br />
Darin V. Keraiff<br />
Steven M. Kerr Lazeski<br />
Adam Kirk<br />
Ritchie Knight<br />
Randy A. Kulyk<br />
Dion M. L Hirondelle<br />
Aaron K. Lachapelle<br />
James Lafleur<br />
Weng Lee<br />
Russell W. Legge<br />
Kevin Lekei<br />
Kurtis Leney<br />
Shane E. Leslie<br />
Michael Lievers<br />
Sean Lightle<br />
Tsai T. Lu<br />
James Lutman<br />
Will Macburney<br />
Dale V. Maier<br />
Clayton Mallette<br />
Joel Marcer<br />
Brother Lloyd Neil receives his 30-year<br />
membership pin from Member Rep Wayne<br />
Kemp.<br />
Ken B. Mason<br />
Mike McCauley<br />
Dennis McCutcheon<br />
Walter D. McCutcheon<br />
Melinda McIntosh<br />
Michelle R. McJunkin<br />
Brett McMillan<br />
Edward A. Meier<br />
Thomas Methner<br />
Karl Mikkola<br />
Ryan Miller<br />
Brent A. Milne<br />
Cody J. Milton<br />
Catia Miotto<br />
Bill Mitchell<br />
Robert Mogielka<br />
Glen Monds<br />
Dallas Moore<br />
Barry Munroe<br />
Chris M. Murphy<br />
Kent Nesbitt<br />
Lenard Newton<br />
Angela B. Nikirk<br />
Sean Noseworthy<br />
Ed Novak<br />
Brian O’Rourke<br />
Daniel Ohmenzetter<br />
Wayne Orbell<br />
Luke Panagopoulos<br />
Lee Parker<br />
Zachary Patrick<br />
Gerry D. Penney<br />
Mark Peters<br />
Rory Procknow<br />
Damian Radzik<br />
James Reading<br />
Martin Reid<br />
Dante Revereza<br />
David Richards<br />
Lee Richter<br />
Nadine Richter<br />
Melvin M. Ricketts<br />
Dean Riggs<br />
William G. Sallenback<br />
Todd S. Salway<br />
Kevin D. Saunders<br />
Joshua Scheck<br />
Ray Scheerschmidt<br />
Brady Schultz<br />
Nathan Senior<br />
Ronald Seward<br />
Aaron Shlakoff<br />
Eamonn Shortt<br />
Jason Sousa<br />
Allan Spetch<br />
Michael Stevens<br />
Bryn Tarasenko<br />
Ken C. Thomson<br />
Kory Tianen<br />
Craig Tytler<br />
Tom Van Steele<br />
Peter Vanderwielen<br />
Jonathan Viergever<br />
Rheal Vincent<br />
Keith R. Watson<br />
Tracey Weeks<br />
Terrance Wenaas<br />
Anthony Wiebe<br />
Scott Wiebe<br />
Aaron Willison<br />
Stephen Woods<br />
Clayton C. Wright<br />
Mike Yaskowich<br />
Candida Young<br />
Kane Zeabin<br />
Luis Zeledon<br />
Brother Bruno Flora receiving his 40-year<br />
pin from Member Rep Tim Cullen.
Michael Fulop receives one of the 2010 Mike Parr Bursaries from<br />
Member Rep Everett Cummings. Michael is the son of Brother Ed<br />
Fulop. The second recipient was Emily McMaster, daughter of Brother<br />
Greg McMaster. Mike and Emily received $1,000 each.<br />
Brother David Jasske is presented with his 20-year membership<br />
pin by Brother Frank Slyman.<br />
From the archives: Backfilling a domestic water supply tunnel<br />
from a dam in 1922.<br />
Honouring Members<br />
In MeMorIAM<br />
We remember Local 115 members who<br />
have recently passed away.<br />
March, <strong>2011</strong> age<br />
BIBERDORF, Edward 78 March 23<br />
April, <strong>2011</strong><br />
HEADRICK, Robert C. 84 April 2<br />
HALMANS, Hugh J. 71 April 14<br />
ZEILER, Reinhold D. 81 April 15<br />
JONES, Frank R. 69 April 17<br />
MILLS, N. Kern 90 April 18<br />
CHANNELL, Samuel A. 84 April 21<br />
BATCH, Lawrence 88 April 25<br />
CHUBBY, Marvin J. 77 April 25<br />
BUSKEY, Donald A. 72 April 26<br />
FORTUNE, John A. 84 April 29<br />
May, <strong>2011</strong><br />
GALLA, John T. 74 May 1<br />
HERBERT, John E. 68 May 3<br />
HEILING, Harold M. 72 May 17<br />
LOCHRIE, Robert M. 83 May 21<br />
SEIFERT, Ralph S. 56 May 23<br />
TOCHER, Terrance N. 67 May 23<br />
PITMAN, Hubert L. 84 May 24<br />
YARETZ, Shane B. 55 May 25<br />
KERELUK, Malcolm 72 May 28<br />
STUART, Kenneth M. 73 May 28<br />
June, <strong>2011</strong><br />
POPOFF, Dennis P. 63 June 3<br />
CUMMINGS, Charles C. 85 June 11<br />
DANVERS, Alex C. 85 June 13<br />
FRASER, Verne T. 58 June 18<br />
ROGERS, Carl A. 79 June 21<br />
HIK, Mike 64 June 23<br />
PACHECO, Victor M. 62 June 23<br />
GOW, Doug C. 59 June 27<br />
HORCHUK, Adam 84 June 27<br />
July, <strong>2011</strong><br />
MASSON, Jim W. 70 July 1<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 27
Show your Local Union pride<br />
28 <strong>News</strong> September <strong>2011</strong><br />
Toques navy $ 8<br />
Hat $ 15<br />
Navy or black, embroidered logo<br />
Navy “Safety” T-Shirt (L – 4XL) $ 20<br />
Long sleeve, logo on back,<br />
“Safety” on right sleeve<br />
Navy “Organizing” T-Shirt (L - 4XL) $ 20<br />
Long sleeve, logo on back,<br />
“Organize” on right sleeve<br />
Hooded Sweatshirt (L - 3XL, navy) $ 38<br />
Pullover, logo on front left<br />
Hooded Sweatshirt (L - 3XL, navy) $ 40<br />
Full zip, logo on front left<br />
Microfibre Vest (M - 4XL, black) $ 45<br />
Logo embroidered on front left<br />
Cool-Max Golf Shirt (S - 4XL) $ 38<br />
Charcoal grey, black—embroidered<br />
“Operating Engineers, Local 115” on front left<br />
Golf Shirt (M - 4XL) $ 38<br />
Navy, logo front left and rise above on right sleeve<br />
Bomber Jacket (M - 4XL, black) $ 70<br />
Logo embroidered on front left<br />
Custom Bomber Jacket (M – 4XL, black) $100<br />
Logo embroidered across back<br />
Union Pulsar Watch (men’s and women’s) $125<br />
All prices include tax and shipping charges.<br />
Make cheque or money order payable to <strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115 and send to:<br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115<br />
4333 Ledger Ave.<br />
Burnaby, B.C.<br />
V5G 3T3
Local Union Offices<br />
District 1 and Main Office<br />
4333 Ledger Ave., Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3T3<br />
Phone: 604-291-8831 Toll Free: 1-888-486-3115<br />
Fax: 604-473-5235<br />
E-mail: iuoe@iuoe115.com<br />
Business Manager: Brian Cochrane<br />
President: Lionel Railton<br />
Office Manager: Lynda Arland<br />
Superintendent—Staff Operations: Wayne Mills<br />
Member Representatives:<br />
Frank Carr Brett Chapman Everett Cummings<br />
Chip Dhaliwal Bob Higgs Craig McIntosh<br />
Don Swerdan<br />
Dispatcher: Jim Flynn<br />
Organizing Representatives:<br />
Rob Duff & Jared Hamlin 604-473-5206<br />
Benefits and Pension Plans:<br />
Lionel Railton, Administrator, CEB, PPAC<br />
Direct line: 604-299-8341 Fax: 604-473-5236<br />
Training Association:<br />
Brad Randall, Administrator<br />
Direct line: 604-299-7764 E-mail: oetp@iuoe115.com<br />
District 2<br />
Vancouver Island:<br />
Tim Cullen, Member Representative<br />
35 Wharf Street<br />
Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2X3<br />
Phone: 250-754-4022 Fax: 250-754-5513<br />
District 3<br />
Kamloops-Revelstoke-Okanagan:<br />
Brad Gerow, Member Representative<br />
785 Tranquille Road<br />
Kamloops, B.C. V2B 3J3<br />
Phone: 250-554-2278 Fax: 250-554-1766<br />
District 4<br />
Central Interior-Yellowhead:<br />
Herb Conat, Wayne Kemp, Member Representatives<br />
#115 - 513 Ahbau Street<br />
Prince George, B.C. V2M 3R8<br />
Phone: 250-563-3669 Fax: 250-563-3603<br />
District 5<br />
Peace River and Yukon Territory:<br />
Mike Spiruda, Member Representative & Organizer<br />
Site 20, Comp 19 SS2<br />
Fort St. John, B.C. V1J 4M7<br />
Phone: 250-787-9594 Fax: 250-787-9491<br />
Tumbler Ridge Mining Office<br />
Suite# 205 – 235 Front Street, Tumbler Ridge<br />
Phone: 250-242-3888 Fax: 250-242-3881<br />
District 6<br />
East and West Kootenays:<br />
Brian Lefebvre, Member Representative<br />
#102 - 105 9th Avenue S.<br />
Cranbrook, B.C. V1C 2M1<br />
Phone: 250-426-4562 Fax: 250-426-6882<br />
Gordon Chaisson, Member Representative<br />
103 Centennial Square<br />
Sparwood, B.C. V0B 2G0<br />
Mailing Address: PO Box 1567, Sparwood, B.C. V0B 2G0<br />
Phone: 250-425-2161 Fax: 250-425-2166<br />
Meeting Notices for <strong>2011</strong><br />
General Membership<br />
September 17<br />
9:30 a.m. at 4333 Ledger Ave., Burnaby<br />
District 1<br />
BURNABY—1st Thursday of every month<br />
EXCEPT: March & September (because of general<br />
membership meetings)<br />
7:30 p.m. at 4333 Ledger Ave., Burnaby<br />
District 2<br />
Monthly meeting locations alternate:<br />
NANAIMO— 2nd Monday of odd months, 7:30 p.m.<br />
at the Coast Bastion Inn, 11 Bastion St.<br />
VICTORIA—2nd Wednesday of even months, 7:30 p.m.<br />
at the Pro Pat Legion Branch 31, #292—411 Gorge Rd. E.<br />
CAMPBELL RIVER/COURTENAY— Members will be advised<br />
of meeting dates.<br />
District 3<br />
Monthly meeting locations alternate:<br />
KAMLOOPS—2nd Thursday of even months<br />
7:30 p.m. at the Union Hall, 785 Tranquille Rd.<br />
KELOWNA—2nd Tuesday of odd months<br />
7 p.m. at the Teamsters Hall, 185 Froelich Rd.<br />
District 4<br />
PRINCE GEORGE—2nd Wednesday of each month,<br />
8 p.m. at the Days Inn, 600 Quebec St.<br />
PRINCE RUPERT, TERRACE, KITIMAT, SMITHERS<br />
—Members will be advised of meeting dates.<br />
District 5<br />
Monthly meeting locations alternate:<br />
FORT ST. JOHN—2nd Tuesday of odd months,<br />
7:30 p.m. at the Masonic Hall, 10441 100th Ave.<br />
DAWSON CREEK—2nd Tuesday of even months,<br />
7:30 p.m. at the Carpenters Hall, 900 118th Ave.<br />
TUMBLER RIDGE/PEACE RIVER COAL—<br />
Date, time and place will be posted.<br />
WHITEHORSE—Members will be advised of<br />
meeting dates and times. Teamsters Hall, 407 Black St.<br />
District 6<br />
Monthly meeting locations alternate:<br />
CASTLEGAR—1st Wednesday of odd months<br />
7 p.m. at the Super 8 Inn, 651 18th St.<br />
CRANBROOK—1st Tuesday of even months<br />
7 p.m. at the Labour Centre (Boardroom),<br />
105 9th Ave. South<br />
ELK VALLEY COAL CORP.—Line Creek Mine—<br />
Date, place and time as posted.<br />
Member Information<br />
September <strong>2011</strong> <strong>News</strong> 29
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(604) 654-2000 • Burnaby • New Westminster • Port Coquitlam • Surrey • Vancouver • Victoria