Operating Engineer - Summer 2013

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Canadian News Local 115 Open House Reaches Out to Future Operating Engineers Local 115 hosted their 18th Annual Open House and Heavy Equipment Rodeo at their fully equipped 40-acre facility in Haney, British Columbia. Local 115’s Training Association features over 25 pieces of fully operational heavy equipment along with mobile computer simulation classrooms situated on an open site that replicates real-life working conditions. There were also numerous pieces of equipment sponsored by Union Contractors on display. The crowd of over 1,000 visitors enjoyed a day of operating the machines, great food and fun contests, and learning more about the role of the Union, and the need for the development of future trades skills within the province. Local 115 Business Manager Brian Cochrane says that the importance of hosting the Open House cannot be overlooked. ”British Columbia’s economy is in the midst of a massive and ongoing expansion in the residential and industrial sectors that calls for an increasing number of skilled tradespeople and operating engineers. Local 115 and our Training Association are here to ensure that we are able to meet and make the best of these growing needs with skilled, qualified workers”, says Cochrane. British Columbia is indeed seeing large amounts of investment in skills-intensive, large scale projects over the coming decade. Worldclass LNG plants and pipelines are being fast tracked by the Provincial Government to meet the growing energy demands in Asia. “Site C”, a proposed $8 billion hydroelectric dam, is currently completing an environmental review process and will produce around 5,100 GW hours of electricity each year once in operation. Vancouver’s Skytrain rapid transit system is undergoing a $1.4 billion extension, major highway improvements total over $3.3 billion over the next few years, and the $6.5 billion Northern Gateway oil pipeline project represents the largest private investment capital in the province’s history. Even Donald Trump sees the potential in Vancouver and has announced a $360 million investment into an iconic 63-storey hotel and condo development in the downtown core. While this translates into thousands of potential job opportunities for trades workers in B.C., academics and labour organizations warn that a major shortage of trades and professional skills will see demand outstrip supply by 2016. Increased investment and accessibility to training programs is going to be crucial in meeting demand, and Local 115 is making significant investments to make sure that Operating Engineers are well positioned to secure these opportunities. British Columbia is well known for historically utilising migration policies to address its seasonal and short term labour demands. Neighbouring inland provinces assist in filling the gap where possible, but with the continued “red hot” job market in Alberta, skilled tradespeople are competing with one another across Canada. The Canadian Federal Government’s controversial Temporary Foreign Worker program has been called on to supply labour as well, mostly from Asia, where some employers are trying to access cheap labour. With national unemployment rates at over 7 per cent, providing skills training and relocation is the preferred option for Operating Engineers! “All of these developments, these challenges and opportunities, point squarely at the importance of developing a skilled workforce right here within BC,” continues Cochrane. He believes that their Open House is more than just a way to showcase their Local’s training abilities and equipment to members; it’s a way to secure the future of their existing and future members, and contribute towards the continued prosperity of B.C. “By getting potential future apprentices, journeypersons and operators out to our training facility and actually running the machines, we can get them excited about their futures as a qualified worker in a province that desperately needs their skills.” 18 international operating engineer
Political Leaders Come Calling at Local 793 Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and federal Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau paid separate visits to Local 793 facilities in Oakville in June. Wynne attended a Liberal Party fundraiser in Local 793’s banquet hall on June 13. Five high-ranking Liberal cabinet ministers also attended the event which was sponsored by the union. On June 20, Trudeau was at the Gary O’Neill Learning Centre adjacent to Local 793’s head office and tried his hand on virtual reality simulators and at the controls of a crawler crane. He also met with union officers and apprentices and spoke to staff. Both Wynne and Trudeau spoke at the respective events. Wynne said she wants to work with contractors and unions to build Ontario and make the province a better place to live. “We need to build this province up together,” she said. “I want to work with you, your sector, to solve the province’s problems. We need to build on our strengths and your industry is a big part of that.” The premier received standing ovations before and after she spoke, signaling that she’s on the right track. The audience included representatives of contractors and labour organizations. Local 793 Business Manager and International Vice President Mike Gallagher provided closing remarks at the event and noted that it’s time for Ontarians to focus on building a better province. [L to R] Local 793 president Joe Redshaw with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Local 793 business manager/IUOE VP Mike Gallagher at a Liberal Party fundraiser in the union banquet hall. “It’s time for us in Ontario to change the channel and get down to the business of making a better society for our families and our kids,” he said. “We need to roll up our sleeves and build the infrastructure that needs to be built.” Gallagher said Ontarians shouldn’t forget the lessons learned from the debacle of the so-called Common Sense Revolution that came to the province under former Premier Mike Harris. [L to R] Harold McBride, executive director of the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario, Local 793 business manager/IUOE VP Mike Gallagher and federal Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau. Meanwhile, a week later, Liberal Party Leader Trudeau told an audience that the federal government is falling short on training the next generation of Canadians. “I feel that this current government is going in the wrong direction in its training program,” he said. “The federal government has to make sure Canadians have the skills to do the jobs that are out there. We need to have a pan-Canadian conversation on that.” Trudeau said too many young people today end up dropping out of programs because of financial difficulties or because they don’t have a clear path to employment. He noted Canada’s labour force is more mobile now and the federal government should be in the business of making sure Canadians have the skills necessary to do the jobs that are out there. “That’s why we have to have a Canadian conversation about how we’re making sure that those people in the workforce now and those who are heading towards the workforce right out of high school are given the opportunity to contribute,” he told the audience.” After Trudeau spoke, Gallagher raised the issue of the government’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), noting it’s “essentially a failed government policy.” He said First Nations communities have young people who can be trained for jobs, but the government allows companies to bring in foreign workers. “It’s not fair,” Gallagher said. Trudeau agreed with the assessment, noting that the TFWP “is a program that’s become so badly managed.” summer 2013 19
Page 1 and 2: i n t e r n at i o n a l Operating
Page 3 and 4: i n t e r n at i o n a l Operating
Page 5 and 6: From the General President [James T
Page 7 and 8: Enhanced Training Meets Industry’
Page 9 and 10: * * Actual benefits vary by IUOE He
Page 11 and 12: Passing of Frank Lautenberg Tempora
Page 13 and 14: summer 2013 13
Page 15 and 16: Feature Viewed from above, it could
Page 17: [clockwise from top] Ivanpah’s th
Page 21 and 22: summer 2013 21
Page 23 and 24: IUOE Local 150—Tayler Miller Tayl
Page 25 and 26: Death benefits paid May - June 2013
Page 27 and 28: The historical Construction Equipme

Operating Engineer - Summer 2013

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?