IUOE News September 2014

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ON THE COVER Brother Grant Ferguson loading trucks in Savona for Dawson Construction. IUOE News is the official publication of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115. Local Executive Board Business Manager Brian Cochrane President Wayne E. Mills Vice-President Brad Randall Recording Secretary Brian Lefebvre Financial Secretary Don Swerdan Treasurer Frank Carr Trustees Brett Chapman Brian Moore Curtis Wright Auditors Chip Dhaliwal Goretti Guibault Craig McIntosh District Executive Board 1 - Al Cooper 2 - Curtis Harold 3 - Brad Gerow 4 - Herb Conat 5 - Mike Spiruda 6 - Rob Foskett Publication Committee Brian Cochrane Wayne Mills Lynda Arland Don Swerdan Editorial Services Sarita Stad, COPE 378 Design and Layout www.workingdesign.net 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 Please Recycle Contents Business Manager Let’s remember the importance of safety and regulations.............................................................. 1 President Let’s remember to be vigilant about safety................................................................................... 2 District 1 Crane Rental Association conference features news about Kitimat projects and cleaner air.............. 3 Working steady with a number of smaller projects........................................................................ 4 Ratification vote slated for Urban Wood Waste ............................................................................. 4 Lots of work and lots going on this summer.................................................................................. 5 Tough bargaining continues as coal prices fall............................................................................... 6 Bargaining, negotiations and ratification votes are keeping us busy............................................... 7 Union Organizing Our organizers have what it takes................................................................................................. 8 Finding a strong and louder voice through organizing.................................................................. 9 Dispatch A reminder to check in with the dispatch office at least every 60 days.......................................... 10 District 2 Things are happening on Vancouver Island................................................................................. 11 District 3 Lots of work means lots of organizing opportunities................................................................... 12 District 4 Up in smoke: lots of fire and lots of foreign bother...................................................................... 14 District 5 Steady work and looking at Site C opportunities......................................................................... 15 District 6 The dangers of using social media: when you publish online, you’re writing to the world.............. 16 Benefits Plan Pension Plan investment policy passes stress test........................................................................ 17 Training Association Activity all across the province and a successful Open House....................................................... 18 2014 Annual Open House and Heavy Equipment Rodeo.............................................................. 25 Regular Features Remembering Members............................................................................................................ 28 Membership Service Awards ..................................................................................................... 29 Welcome to our 326 new Local 115 members............................................................................. 30 Pensions Awarded..................................................................................................................... 32 Local 115 District Offices and Meeting Notices............................................................................ 33
Let’s remember the importance of safety and regulations Business Manager Brian Cochrane, Business Manager The recent state of emergency declared in the Cariboo Regional District because of the Mount Polley mine tailings pond failure reinforces the need to ensure that proper oversight and regulations are in play at all times. There is never a substitute for good engineering, quality construction, government regulations and oversight when it comes to protecting our environment. With over 10 billion litres of water and 4.5 million cubic meters of metal-laden sand contaminating the region’s waterways, this disaster will be ranked on a worldwide scale. As Operating Engineers and trade unionists, our hearts are with those affected in the areas. Your Executive Board will be reviewing how best to assist the local labour councils and community. This tragedy will no doubt increase scrutiny on other mining operations and the integrity of tailings ponds throughout British Columbia. It will also put a microscope on other major industrial projects planned for the province. The timing could not be worse as there will be delays in approvals of new projects. We hope for a positive outcome in finding a proper balance between protecting our environment and creating jobs. Many of the area’s affected residents have come forward to say that the mine has created jobs, a community, and good economic benefits. We need to remember that as the environmentalists and anti-development forces try to stop mining in BC. Local 115 supports many of the future planned infrastructure, mining and industrial projects in the province. We’re confident that with strong environmental regulations and proper oversight, we can continue to have good job opportunities for our membership, world class environmental standards and a strong economy to help fund the public We hope for a positive outcome in finding a proper balance between protecting our environment and creating jobs. services we enjoy and rely on. Many of these regulations will require the province to step up its game immediately, and we will be working on sending that message. There is no better place to start than by having a highly skilled, qualified workforce to construct and maintain these projects. With over 6.4 million hours in construction alone this year, we have been doing well and slightly better than last year because of more work in Northern BC. This has created some good opportunities for the IUOE Training Association which currently has 458 apprentices indentured to the plan. Building the next generation of workers is crucial to the success of many of the future planned projects. We’ve made considerable efforts meeting with contractors and government to ensure Local 115 members have solid opportunities. The building trades unions recently met with BC’s minister responsible for labour, Shirley Bond, to discuss the importance of apprenticeship, and funding for programs especially for high demand trades and occupations. While the government has stepped up with some new programs, we have a long way to go to meet projected demand. Our ability to work with our local unions in the US to import skilled members to meet peak demands will help us as we try and secure work for many of these projects. At the General Membership Meeting being held September 20, at 9:30 am in Burnaby, the General President of the IUOE, James T. Callahan, will address the meeting and participate in the official reopening of the renovated Burnaby union office. I look forward to seeing you there, and celebrating in completing this project which will create a strong foundation for future generations of Operating Engineers. News September 2014 1
Page 1: News PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT AND
Page 5 and 6: Crane Rental Association conference
Page 7 and 8: District One Lots of work and lots
Page 9 and 10: Bargaining, negotiations and ratifi
Page 11 and 12: Finding a strong and louder voice t
Page 13 and 14: Things are happening on Vancouver I
Page 15 and 16: some additional work to do and one
Page 17 and 18: Steady work and looking at Site C o
Page 19 and 20: Benefits Plan Pension Plan investme
Page 21 and 22: Training Association How the Tool A
Page 23 and 24: Training Association Brother Brad R
Page 25 and 26: Training Association Brother Brad R
Page 27 and 28: Training Association Training Assoc
Page 29 and 30: Training Association News September
Page 31 and 32: Membership Service Awards May 2014
Page 33 and 34: Tyler Pankhurst Kelly Parkinson Kur
Page 35 and 36: Contact Details Local 115 District

IUOE News September 2014

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