IUOE News Winter 2013

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On the cover: IUOE Local 115 Brothers Chris Rowan (driver) and Colin Herbert from Mainland Sand and Gravel in Abbotsford. IUOE News is the official publication of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115. Local Executive Board Business Manager Brian Cochrane President Wayne Mills Vice-President Brad Randall Recording Secretary Brian Lefebvre Financial Secretary Don Swerdan Treasurer Frank Carr Guard Bob Higgs Conductor Dave Hannis Trustees Brett Chapman Brian Moore Curtis Wright Auditors Chip Dhaliwal Goretti Guibault Craig McIntosh District Executive Board 1 - Al Cooper 2 - Tim Cullen 3 - Brad Gerow 4 - Herb Conat 5 - Mike Spiruda 6 - Brian Lefebvre Publication Committee Brian Cochrane Wayne Mills Lynda Arland Don Swerdan Editorial Services Susan Armstrong, COPE 378 Contact Details 4333 Ledger Avenue, Burnaby, B.C., V5G 3T3 Telephone: 604-291-8831 Fax: 604-473-5235 Website: www.iuoe115.com E-mail: iuoe@iuoe115.com Mainland Sand and Gravel has been a long time supporter of IUOE Local 115 and provided many of our members with work. The family-owned business is proudly B.C. based and operated, was established over 40 years ago, and operates two quarries and four distribution yards across the Lower Mainland. Features News Updates 4 Right to Work: Doing nothing to improve worker rights 15 Unions across Canada: A brief history of who we are 26 Member Profile: Ed & Marcel Dupuis 33 Reports Business Manager There is much we can celebrate, and much to look forward to 1 President The new kid on the block is a sleeping resource giant 3 District 1 Ups and downs in 2013, but promising year lies ahead 5 Being involved and doing a small part can make big changes 6 Work opportunities across BC continue to grow for Operating Engineers 7 Negotiations, bargaining and agreements lead to positive change 8 It’s been a good year for us 9 Growth in organizing and BC jobs is encouraging 10 A successful year past, a busy one ahead 11 2014 could be one of BC’s most promising years yet 13 Union Organizing Operating Engineers have done themselves proud this year 14 Dispatcher’s Report Get ready for even more work in the coming years 14 District 2 With work on the Island steady, we must reinforce the importance of organizing 16 District 3 A steady year of work closes as projects begin to wrap up 18 District 4 Everyone has had their fair share of work, which will get better through organizing 19 District 5 2013 has set the stage for large projects in the coming year 21 District 6 Large projects forge ahead, with more to come 22 We should never stop appreciating our members and their hard work 23 Benefit Plans We need to tighten our belts to keep enjoying our good benefits 24 Training Association Accreditation proves your Training Centre is the best in BC 29 Regulars Member Service Awards 37 Welcome to our new members 39 Pensions Awarded 40 Deceased Members 40 Contact Information and District Meetings 41 Please Recycle 2 News December 2013
There is much we can celebrate, and much to look forward to. Business Manager Brian Cochrane, Business Manager As we close off the year, I am proud to say that your Local Union is 11,569 members strong. This is thanks to a number of organizing successes this year, and to respond to this growth we have also been able to add more staff to build on and service our growing market share going forward. It is unlikely that the provincial government will be making any changes to the labour code in the near future which would make our jobs a bit easier; but with the ongoing demand for a skilled workforce in B.C. there are some good opportunities going forward which political leaders are at least finally paying some attention to. We have had many meetings over the last few months with government officials and major players in the oil and gas industries. All indications are that we are in the beginning phase of a major upswing in the construction cycle in B.C., and your Officers and Executive Board are working on many fronts to make sure that your Union is prepared to meet the needs and opportunities of this possible future. This has been a year of transition, as we prepare for the upcoming challenges that will come with developing the skilled operators that will be required to meet the projected demand in British Columbia. As part of addressing this, your President Brother Wayne Mills and IUOETA Administrator Brother Brad Randall have been working on a Northern B.C. strategy to increase training opportunities and engagement for local residents and First Nations. Both of these groups are important to the success of future Project Labour Agreements and we must develop initiatives to make sure we have valuable working relationships with them when the work comes. Pacific Blue Cross has been providing extended health care benefits along with the pay-direct drug card for almost 12 months now, and the results of a membership survey indicate that our members are overall satisfied with the service that is being delivered. This is very encouraging to the Benefits and Pension Plan Board. Providing the pay-direct card has incurred a substantial cost to the Benefits Plan, and we are glad to see that our “By the end of 2013 our Pension Plan will have paid out around $40 million in benefits to our retirees“ IUOE Local 115 Business Manager Brian Cochrane joined B.C. Premier Christy Clark as part of a delegation of labour leaders during a Jobs and Trade Mission to China and Japan. The joint mission demonstrates the need for government and labour to work together with foreign investors to protect, grow, and create jobs for the local work force. membership has seen an overall increase in convenience and benefits reimbursement for their families. These improvements and modernization of providing benefits to our membership is one area that the Local will continue to work on going forward, to attract and retain the next generation of members. Our ability to provide benefit coverage to retirees is one aspect that separates Local 115 from most other Building Trades unions in Canada—the Local Union Officers and Trustees of the plan take great pride in providing this benefit to our members. By the end of 2013 our Pension Plan will have paid out around $40 million in benefits to our retirees. This is the largest amount in the plan’s history and something we can all be very proud of. As the demographic bubble continues to shift through Canada and our membership, health care costs are becoming more important to both the members and the health care benefit providers. Both need to manage their costs wisely to ensure they are able to receive and deliver ongoing, quality benefits. One easy way members can assist in managing these News December 2013 1
Page 1: News Operators look forward to a po
Page 5 and 6: The “new kid on the block” is a
Page 7 and 8: Ups and downs in 2013, but a promis
Page 9 and 10: Work opportunities across B.C. cont
Page 11 and 12: It’s been a good year for us. Ste
Page 13 and 14: A successful year past, a busy one
Page 15 and 16: Operating Engineers have done thems
Page 17 and 18: Feature Article Right to Work Doing
Page 19 and 20: District Two continue to shift in t
Page 21 and 22: Everyone has had their fair share o
Page 23 and 24: 2013 has set the stage for large pr
Page 25 and 26: We should never stop appreciating o
Page 27 and 28: Benefits Plan Pharmacy Dispensing F
Page 29 and 30: Feature Article based on the law, t
Page 31 and 32: Accreditation proves your Training
Page 33 and 34: Training Association Making up our
Page 35 and 36: Member Profile Union Brothers - Lit
Page 37 and 38: “I bought this small property in
Page 39 and 40: Member Recognition Honouring our me
Page 41 and 42: Member Recognition Welcome to 285 n
Page 43 and 44: Contact Details Local 115 District

IUOE News Winter 2013

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