IUOE News Winter 2013

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District One Being involved and doing a small part can make big changes. Everett Cummings, Member Representative As winter comes around and we look back, it has been another great year of work for the members. This year some members had their industry agreements expire; the road building agreements for paving, and the utility sector agreements were both negotiated and ratified. Many members work under these two revised agreements, and now they have contractual increases scheduled over the next three years added to their package. These type of improvements in our agreements cannot be achieved unless the members affected by them realize how important it is to get involved in the bargaining process, and ensuring that they vote on the proposed agreements. That vote is your voice—always remember that there are many people out there who do not work in a unionized environment, and simply do not enjoy the opportunity to be part of a democratic voting system, so make the most of your opportunity to be heard. Speaking of voting, next year will see the return of the civil elections. These are just as important as the provincial and federal elections. There are many positions that come up that you could consider running for. You could be the person getting workers and labour on your side to stop or slow down the right-wing agenda. “During your Christmas shopping this year, consider supporting your local businesses, and buy Canadian made gifts” Many decisions are made at the civil level that affect our workers. One example is the Fair Wage Act that cities and municipalities used to have in place and enforce. This made sure that workers were paid appropriately under reasonable hours; but now, Burnaby is the last city to actually apply it, and even so, it is not being done as a proactive policy, but rather only reactive to complaints. Instead we are seeing growing cases of “lowest bid” policy being applied, which is creating a race to the bottom. Contractors are undercutting wherever they can to win the lowest bid war, and end up adjusting the wages they pay their employees from site to site, or apply other cost cutting measures like not paying overtime. All of this makes our task as the voice of the workers tougher, but even more important. You can do your part, even in simple ways. During your Christmas shopping this year, consider supporting your local businesses, and buy Canadian made gifts. Many smaller, local businesses sell products or gift cards that, when you buy them, would benefit the little guy far more than the big box stores. The benefits will be felt in your local community and even the environment. At the end of the year, when you’re trying to figure out a New Year’s resolution, remember your local Union. Set a goal on getting more involved, and make a resolution to participate in the monthly meetings, or at least attend the General Membership Meetings held in March and September. These dates are marked in your OE calendar included in this issue. I would like to thank all of the Shop Stewards for the work they do throughout the year, helping our members and their representatives. Your work is much appreciated by your co-workers and the Union. In closing I would like to wish your families a merry Christmas, and a safe and prosperous New Year. Work safe! Brothers Karl Walden and Leonard Shaw working on the road building of Highway 1 through Pritchard. 6 News December 2013
Work opportunities across B.C. continue to grow for Operating Engineers. Bob Higgs, Member Representative The end is near! The end of 2013 that is. This year has been one of the most memorable years since I’ve been on staff. We had some great victories as well as some disappointing losses. From the draw of skilled operating engineers to the north to the Temporary Foreign Worker issues to the provincial election, we have been kept busy. These are just a few of the very important topics we’ve dealt with this year. Just when we think construction is slowing down, another tower crane goes up to accommodate a new high rise project. If you look at the skyline anywhere in the Lower Mainland you can’t help seeing a crane in every direction. Although traditionally the Operating Engineers don’t have a large number of members working on high rise developments, the spinoff work is where we see most of our hours. With all the towers going up, the need for concrete increases, putting a lot of pressure on our aggregate mines to supply. “If you look at the skyline anywhere in the Lower Mainland, you can’t help seeing a crane in every direction” District One Aggregate production is still flat-out as mines try to meet or exceed their yearly quotas, and the demand for the material is ever increasing. One of the mines actually applied to load out on a 24 hour schedule, as they are producing more than they can load out in a normal work day. Recently the provincial government has been hinting at a number of projects to be started in the near future. This is great news for Operating Engineers. The big buzz is the LNG plants proposed for the northern region. Closer to home we have the twinning of the Kinder Morgan line. This project could be started quite soon as the new line will run parallel to the existing one and it is so much easier to follow an existing right of way than to create a new one. This project alone will draw heavily on our dispatch. With the existing projects being pushed to completion and all the new proposed projects gearing up to start in the new year, now is truly a great time to be an Operating Engineer. As an Operating Engineer, there are some things you may want to do. Upgrading and training are essential to our industry and we encourage all operators to take all the upgrading and training offered to you. Every additional skill makes you that much more valuable to our contractors. All in all, it has been a great year and I’m looking forward to an even better 2014. Have a great holiday season and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on the job sites in the new year! The team at Atlas Copco Thiessen, which has grown exponentially in recent years. News December 2013 7
Page 1 and 2: News Operators look forward to a po
Page 3 and 4: There is much we can celebrate, and
Page 5 and 6: The “new kid on the block” is a
Page 7: Ups and downs in 2013, but a promis
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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