IUOE News Winter 2013

District Two
With work on the Island steady, we must
reinforce the importance of organizing.
Curtis Harold and Tim Cullen,
Member Representatives
Vancouver Island is waking up from the slumber after the
HCL Inland Island Highway project. But before we look
ahead, reflecting back on 2013 is a pleasing task.
The membership has had a steady year in most sectors.
Forestry continues to run at full-tilt, which has kept our shops
busy. Our civil contractors have been securing work and positioning
themselves for more to come, thanks to the
membership’s skill making sure the job is done right the first
by the time this article reaches you.
We would like to bring attention to the crew on Vancouver
Island at Brandt Tractor; they are in for yet another very
aggressive fight from the company during bargaining.
At the time of writing, the crew at Brandt has shown great
solidarity. They are aware of the need to stand together and
the importance of getting a collective agreement in place, and
not leave their futures up to “the Company’s sole discretion as
time and winning repeat business.
amended from time to time”. Try to stop
“When we talk to the
Paving had a slow start to the season,
and show support for the crew if you see
but once started the crews did an excellent
job on the many roads, bridges and embrace and educate them paths cross. We will keep you updated on
‘unorganized’ we must them at different sites or wherever your
subdivisions they worked on this year.
There is no comparison to our members’
highly skilled paving hands, thanks in no
on how to change the
conditions they are in”
how this goes!
The first phase of the Cape Scott Wind
Farm has been completed. Port Hardy
small part to their access to our Training Association’s facilities,
courses and people. Whenever we drive around this
island and our vehicle starts shaking on freshly laid asphalt,
we know that the non-union contractor is the likely culprit—
just look at the widening of the Malahat for an example of the
dire need for more training in some contractors’ ranks.
We have finished bargaining and ratified new agreements
with United Rentals and Victoria Materials Depot. Bargaining
with our utility and paving contractors will also be underway
Bulldozing, Advantage Crane, RKM Crane, United Rentals
and Trimac have all contributed to the project, which provided
some good work. Phase one saw 55 massive V100 Vestas
turbines go up, and more will be added during the project’s
second phase, slated for the new year. The procurement
process for more wind power projects on Vancouver Island is
already in the works.
Point Hope Maritime is continuing to deal with the hurdles
before them on the expansion of their facility. The dynamics
Upland Excavating crews working at the Campbell River quarry.
The Tayco Paving crew from Vancouver Island.
16 News December 2013