IUOE News Spring 2014

District Four
New premises, new challenges, and new
opportunities await us all
Herb Conat and Wayne Kemp,
Member Representatives
District 4 is excited to announce that after 33 years at the
513 Ahbau St. location in Prince George, the office has moved!
The new office is located at Unit B, 3339 8th Ave., just down
the street from where we were, at the corner of 8th and Ahbau.
Many dedicated people have worked out of that office and
have served the membership of Local 115 very well. Reflecting
back on these people over the past years reads like a ‘who’s
who’ of Union pride and dedication: Frank Slyman, John
Patton, Ken Thom, Gary Crossman,
Frank Harmon, Wayne Mills, Helen
Bealey, and many more.
This new office demonstrates the
foresight of the organization and the
leadership of Business Manager Brian Cochrane, who is
preparing for the future growth of the Local, steadily evolving
the Local, including into the northern half of the province
The Northern B.C. Strategy will increase training opportunities
and engagement for local residents and First Nations. It
is good to see that we, as members and representatives, are
part of this. It will feature in the coming decade which will no
doubt see many shifts in the construction industry, including
the opportunity for the members of Operating Engineers to
increase our market share.
This year there are several Collective Agreements up for
The new office demonstrates
the foresight of the organization
and its leadership
negotiation. As always, it is a challenge to be the leaders within
an industry when we have so much competition from the
non-union sectors and employer-dominated unions that
always rear their ugly heads.
This also means there are great opportunities to organize
the unorganized. This will ensure greater market share within
our industry that will improve our working conditions, our
voice in industry and political decision-making, and especially
our Collective Agreements.
As spring is just around the corner,
there are many projects waiting to be
given the green light. We are anticipating
another busy year within the
District; as in previous years, Kitimat and Prince Rupert are
two areas that are employing many Operating Engineers.
With the next wave of large projects around the corner,
members should ensure that all of their ticket requirements
are up to date and current.
If you have any concerns about the renewal of your tickets
or upgrading of your skills to make yourself more employable,
contact the Training Association.
In closing, we would like to thank our stewards, safety reps,
and their spouses for the endless hours of hard work they put
in on behalf of the membership. Work safe.
20 News March 2014
Sterling Crane trucks
heading Home From
Zellstoff Pulp Mill in
Castlegar.