Operating Engineer - Summer 2013

Local Spotlight
Apprentice Operators Team with Local Fire Fighters for Training
Roland Gosselin, an 18 year
member of IAFF Local 1363 in Rhode
Island wrote in recently to express
his appreciation for the assistance he
received from IUOE Local 57.
A class of 20 new IAFF members
were nearing the end their recruit
training program. These recruits
went through 20 weeks of extensive
training, which included all facets
of firefighting, technical rescue and
emergency medical training. One of
their technical rescue classes included
trench rescue training.
Gosselin reports that logistically
speaking, the training would not have
been accomplished without a lot of
outside assistance and one group in
particular was Local 57 Operating
Engineers. “They were instrumental in
providing us a facility to dig trenches for
our trench rescue operations training,”
Gosselin says.
The fire fighters reached out to
Local 57 Business Manager Jim White
for assistance and “without hesitation
committed to helping us.” By involving
Local 57 apprentices at their training
facility, both training programs
benefited. “It was truly a win-win for
both parties,” says White. The fire
fighters had a controlled site to teach
their program and at the same time
Local 57 apprentices earned hours
towards their operating credentials.
“Without their commitment to our
recruit class, it would have made this
training impossible,” Gosselin added.
“I’m wondering if something could
be placed in the IOUE magazine to
show our great thanks to Local 57 and
to also show how unions support other
unions,” Gosselin requested.
International Operating Engineer is
happy to oblige. Our hats off to IUOE
Local 57 and IAFF Local 1363. This is
what solidarity looks like!
[photo] Roland Gosselin, IAFF Local 1363
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international operating engineer