IUOE News February 2015
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<strong>News</strong><br />
Instilling<br />
pride and<br />
activism<br />
Passing the history<br />
onto the next<br />
generation of<br />
Operating Engineers<br />
March <strong>2015</strong><br />
www.iuoe115.com
<strong>IUOE</strong> <strong>News</strong> is the official<br />
publication of the International<br />
Union of Operating Engineers<br />
Local 115.<br />
Local Executive Board<br />
Business Manager<br />
Brian Cochrane<br />
President<br />
Wayne E. Mills<br />
Vice-President<br />
Brad Randall<br />
Recording Secretary<br />
Brian Lefebvre<br />
Financial Secretary<br />
Don Swerdan<br />
Treasurer<br />
Frank Carr<br />
Guard<br />
Everett Cummings<br />
Conductor<br />
Doug Fisher<br />
Trustees<br />
Brett Chapman<br />
Curtis Wright<br />
Auditors<br />
Chip Dhaliwal<br />
Goretti Guilbault<br />
Craig McIntosh<br />
District Executive Board<br />
1 - Al Cooper<br />
2 - Curtis Harold<br />
3 - Brad Gerow<br />
4 - Herb Conat<br />
5 - Mike Spiruda<br />
6 - Rob Foskett<br />
Publication Committee<br />
Brian Cochrane<br />
Wayne Mills<br />
Lynda Arland<br />
Don Swerdan<br />
Editorial Services<br />
Jen Rasmussen, COPE 378<br />
Design and Layout<br />
www.workingdesign.net<br />
Contact Details<br />
4333 Ledger Avenue,<br />
Burnaby, B.C., V5G 3T3<br />
Telephone: 604-291-8831<br />
Fax: 604-473-5235<br />
Website: www.iuoe115.com<br />
E-mail: iuoe@iuoe115.com<br />
Please<br />
Recycle<br />
Contents<br />
ON THE COVER As part of Local 115’s<br />
Membership Engagement Strategy, January<br />
13th’s District 3 Meeting in Kelowna saw<br />
one of the largest turnouts in history for<br />
that area. Pictured are Business Manager<br />
Brother Brian Cochrane and District 3<br />
Organizer Brother Bryan Railton in front of<br />
our members.<br />
Business Manager<br />
Delays could provide breathing room for training and preparation................................................ 1<br />
President<br />
Looks like a rocky ride, but we have hope for the future................................................................. 3<br />
District 1<br />
Taking a look at what <strong>2015</strong> will bring us........................................................................................ 4<br />
It’s important to keep big projects like Site C built by skilled workers.............................................. 5<br />
Operating Engineers have a role to play in future of construction................................................... 6<br />
Talking to employees of non union companies is key .................................................................. 9<br />
Some project updates and labour union activities ...................................................................... 10<br />
Declining economy a challenge for jobs and bargaining.............................................................. 11<br />
Our bargaining committees have been standing strong ............................................................. 12<br />
Union Organizing<br />
Why organizing is important to expand our market share............................................................ 13<br />
Dispatch<br />
LNG projects going on back burner due to oil prices................................................................... 14<br />
District 2<br />
Members need to voice our concerns to government.................................................................. 15<br />
District 3<br />
Take this time to focus on union density and work share for future............................................... 16<br />
District 4<br />
Northern ingenuity will help us survive coal downturn................................................................ 18<br />
District 5<br />
Site C Dam project begins 18 month preparation phase ............................................................. 19<br />
District 6<br />
If you have questions, make sure you ask a real union member.................................................... 20<br />
Benefits Plan<br />
Benefits Plan 2014 Year in Review............................................................................................... 21<br />
Training Association Report<br />
Training Association busy providing upgrading around the Province........................................... 23<br />
<strong>News</strong><br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> shows its heart.................................................................................................................... 7<br />
New Red Seal Apprentice Initiative announced by Federal Government ........................................ 8<br />
OE member for 57 years .............................................................................................................. 8<br />
AN <strong>IUOE</strong> Member has some straight talk for his MP..................................................................... 11<br />
Construction industry discussed with Liberal Leader................................................................... 17<br />
Remembering four who died on the job..................................................................................... 21<br />
Regular Features<br />
Remembering our members...................................................................................................... 30<br />
Honouring our members........................................................................................................... 31<br />
Scholarships awarded................................................................................................................ 33<br />
New Local 115 members............................................................................................................ 34<br />
Membership Service Awards...................................................................................................... 35<br />
Pensions Awarded..................................................................................................................... 36<br />
Local 115 District Offices............................................................................................................ 37<br />
Meeting Notices........................................................................................................................ 37
Delays could provide<br />
breathing room for<br />
training and<br />
preparation<br />
Business Manager<br />
Brian Cochrane,<br />
Business Manager<br />
For most of us, the thought of seeing the price of oil below $50<br />
per barrel or gas at under a $1 per litre ever again in our lifetime<br />
seemed pretty farfetched. While it is a big benefit for us<br />
as consumers, unfortunately it has certainly changed the timelines<br />
for many of the large scale projects in BC. Many of the<br />
big oil and gas giants are quickly trying to shut down planned<br />
development and are throwing the switches off to preserve<br />
cash flow.<br />
This will no doubt continue to cause some delay in the final<br />
investment decisions for the Proposed LNG work.<br />
Depending on which analyst you read, we could be in for a<br />
12 - 18 month correction before things stabilize again. On the<br />
positive side, this will soften some of the critical labour shortage<br />
issues that we were facing for some trades, and will provide<br />
a little breathing room for training<br />
and to prepare for the future demand.<br />
How long it takes is still unclear, there<br />
has been significant investment in LNG,<br />
and this opportunity will eventually<br />
come on stream, however the green light<br />
is probably a few months away. We will<br />
continue to stay on top of these developments closely and<br />
report out details in future OE <strong>News</strong>, as I have been appointed<br />
to the Premier’s LNG Advisory Council.<br />
Site C<br />
On December 16th BC Hydro announced the approval of the<br />
Site C Dam project, which is scheduled to begin construction<br />
in the summer of this year. While there will no doubt be some<br />
roadblocks along the way, this project will create 10,000<br />
person-years of direct employment during construction, and<br />
approximately 33,000 total person-years of employment<br />
through all stages of development.<br />
This Project was not covered under the Allied Hydro<br />
Council Agreement which would ensure that it would be a<br />
Building Trades Project, so we have been meeting with BC<br />
Hydro, and Government officials to explain the benefits of<br />
extending the Agreement to cover the entire scope of the job.<br />
We are continuing to meet with all senior leaders involved to<br />
explain the benefits that a Project Labour Agreement (PLA)<br />
would provide to one of the largest public projects we will see<br />
in our lifetime.<br />
The most recent Project Labour Agreement for large Hydro<br />
work is the John Hart Dam upgrade in Campbell River. This<br />
upgrade is worth over one billion dollars, and the consortium<br />
realized the benefits of a Project Labour Agreement, employing<br />
skilled Operating Engineers. It would only make sense for<br />
Hydro to see the value in a PLA for a project with 8 times the<br />
cost!<br />
Pipeline Campaign<br />
At a recent meeting with the major OE Pipeline Locals across<br />
the Country it was agreed that we must work more aggressively<br />
and collectively to support the industry in the eyes of<br />
the public. Pipelines are the safest,<br />
most reliable and cost effective way<br />
to move our natural resources and<br />
the industry has been under intense<br />
scrutiny over the last several years.<br />
It was decided that it is time that we<br />
increase the volume on behalf of<br />
our membership and the sector.<br />
Some of the environmentalists don’t seem to understand<br />
that moving product by rail or truck creates both more risk<br />
and cost. However, compared to pipelines there is little regulation<br />
or public debate on this method of transport and it will<br />
become a default position if pipelines aren’t approved.<br />
There will be more on this in the months ahead as we<br />
develop a plan to get the message out.<br />
Some of the environmentalists<br />
don’t seem to understand that<br />
moving product by rail or truck<br />
creates both more risk and cost.<br />
Federal Election<br />
<strong>2015</strong> is a Federal Election Year, and we have been meeting<br />
with all parties to make sure that the interests of Operating<br />
Engineers are heard. The new Federal Government Apprentice<br />
Loan was announced in January, and will allow Apprentices<br />
registered in Red Seal Trades the opportunity to apply for<br />
loans up to $4,000 per year. This is long overdue, giving<br />
apprentices additional support to complete their trades<br />
training.<br />
continued on next page<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 1
from previous page<br />
However we cannot forget that this is the same Federal<br />
Government that has been working overtime to weaken<br />
unions by changing the laws to make it more difficult to Organize<br />
by Introducing Bill C-525.<br />
The current Conservative Government has also been<br />
relentless in trying to pass Bill C-377 which would add unnecessary<br />
costs, restrictions and bureaucracy to your Local<br />
Union.<br />
As if those two issues weren’t enough, the Government’s<br />
lack of attention to protecting Canadian jobs by allowing over<br />
300,000 Temporary Foreign Workers into Canada, including<br />
the 201 Chinese coal miners approved to work in Tumbler<br />
Ridge, should be enough to make sure we have a change in<br />
direction.<br />
As it is clear that the Federal Conservative Party is trying to<br />
destroy free collective bargaining, the Canadian Building<br />
Trades will be promoting an A-B-C campaign later this year<br />
(Anything But Conservative).<br />
Training and Organizing<br />
In <strong>2015</strong>, the Local will be working on different strategies to<br />
train/educate and organize throughout the province. We need<br />
strong leadership and mentors to provide the next generation<br />
of Operating Engineers with the skills to grow and strengthen<br />
our Local Union. We know these efforts will help to create<br />
stronger Union members and better activists.<br />
As many of our long time members know, we have come a<br />
long way in our 84 year history, and none of it was handed to<br />
us, we had to work together to influence and adapt to change.<br />
We need to pass that history along to the next generation,<br />
and instill the pride and activism of being a part of a great<br />
Union .<br />
Local 115 Heritage Room opening<br />
After doing a quick review of an old Local 115 Collective<br />
Agreement from 1959-1960 with the Heavy Construction<br />
Association a few weeks ago, it was a good reminder of how<br />
far we have come and the improvements we have made for<br />
Operating Engineers and all workers in BC.<br />
There is a very long list of people that have put effort into<br />
making that happen over generations and it is important that<br />
we recognize all of those successes.<br />
At the March <strong>2015</strong> General Membership Meeting we will<br />
be showcasing our history with the Official opening of our<br />
Heritage Room here in Burnaby. If you have any pictures or<br />
pieces of history from any of the jobs worked on over the years<br />
that you may wish to share, please let us know.<br />
To close, I want to say that <strong>2015</strong> should turn out to be a<br />
good year for our membership. Your Executive Board and<br />
staff have been working hard to focus on all areas of the Organization<br />
to improve Agreements, Benefits and services and to<br />
create new programs to strengthen the future of our Organization,<br />
and I thank you for your continued support.<br />
Dawsons Paving Crew at Spences Bridge.<br />
2 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Looks like a rocky<br />
ride, but we have<br />
hope for the future<br />
Wayne E. Mills,<br />
President<br />
Welcome to the brave new world of <strong>2015</strong> as we look towards<br />
resource development. I was listening to a radio show the<br />
other day and it says that, percentage wise, BC has more than<br />
twice the number of people who classify construction as their<br />
livelihood than any other province in Canada. This makes<br />
organizing interesting.<br />
Site C<br />
The first RFP went out and the scope of work<br />
under the contract will generally include the<br />
following site preparation activities:<br />
• Excavation and disposal of approximately<br />
3,000,000m3;<br />
• Quarry development, including riprap<br />
production, of approximately 100,000m3<br />
• Building of approximately 7.25 kilometres of access roads,<br />
and<br />
• Clearing and grubbing of approximately 115 hectares.<br />
We have had meetings with CLR regarding the Turbines<br />
and those CLR contractors that have been shortlisted.<br />
It is my opinion that the First Nations issues must be<br />
addressed before the work will be allowed to proceed<br />
smoothly.<br />
KMP is heading towards hot metal this spring with final<br />
hot metal in the fall. Job completion, de-mob, load out and<br />
landscaping will be after that, but you can see it winding down<br />
as the pot lines are nearing completion.<br />
President’s Message<br />
LNG and NGP<br />
With Petronas, LNG Canada, Kitimat LNG and now Exxon<br />
entering the picture, the talk of building in the North West<br />
gets more interesting. We had thought that one or two would<br />
have had the go ahead to build but with the World economy<br />
and the $46 per barrel for crude, things have slowed a tad.<br />
Upstream of the LNG plants is the Gas Plants and the<br />
trades have had PLA discussions with CLR and Fluor regarding<br />
some of those plants that EnCana is proposing.<br />
PLA discussions with Enbridge are still proceeding, and we<br />
will continue them at the end of March. The permitting process<br />
requires they start by the third quarter of 2016. It took<br />
over a year of negotiations with the trades and contractors to<br />
get the first PLA into place, and that is the blueprint to keep<br />
them all going forward with consistency.<br />
As we shake the dust off <strong>2015</strong> to see what she looks like we<br />
have hope for the future. Will<br />
all these projects come together<br />
at the same time, or will the<br />
resource sector start to stumble?<br />
At this time it is anyone’s<br />
guess. Just remember to hang<br />
on tight cause she is going to be one hell of a ride this year.<br />
With the leadership of Business Manager, Brother Brian<br />
Cochrane, the Table Officers and your Executive Board, we<br />
are prepared to take on whatever comes our way.<br />
In closing, a special thanks to the Shop Stewards up at KMP<br />
for the work they do. I know how frustrating it can be herding<br />
cats, and that is what seems to be happening there some days.<br />
Thanks to all Shop Stewards and safety representatives.<br />
I apologize to their families, as sometimes there are frustrations<br />
as they deal with me in the evenings. It may sound corny<br />
but we do it for the greater good of our craft.<br />
Always remember to be safe, not just at work but at home<br />
too. Take care, have a good spring, and may the frost get out of<br />
the ground quickly so everyone can get back to work!<br />
It is my opinion that the First<br />
Nations issues must be addressed<br />
before the work will be allowed<br />
to proceed smoothly<br />
Brother Dan Charron<br />
with Gwil working at the<br />
Industrial Development<br />
Site at 196th Avenue and<br />
32nd Avenue in Langley<br />
putting up side panels.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 3
District One<br />
Taking a look<br />
at what <strong>2015</strong><br />
will bring us<br />
Craig McIntosh,<br />
Business Representative<br />
Cheaper gas. Who would have thought gas in Vancouver<br />
would drop from $1.54 a litre last June to $1.03 as I write this?<br />
Low gas prices are great for consumers, but Alberta and all the<br />
skilled tradespeople working in the oil patch don’t like it when<br />
a barrel of oil goes below $50 down from $105 last July.<br />
Many of the proposed oil sand projects have been put on<br />
hold. Tradespeople are being laid off as the cost of producing<br />
oil from the oil sands is more expensive<br />
than traditional drilling. When<br />
tradespeople get laid off they chase<br />
the work, and a lot of Alberta tradespeople<br />
may be looking for work outside<br />
the province for the first time in<br />
many years.<br />
The province of Alberta has put new contracts on hold and<br />
has instituted a hiring freeze due to budget issues associated<br />
with the declining oil prices. Alberta has also decided not to<br />
exercise the option to extend a firefighting contract with<br />
Conair to supply 6 Fireboss air tankers and a bird dog plane.<br />
This will affect seven Local 115 members who are pilots at<br />
Conair.<br />
A lot of Alberta tradespeople<br />
may be looking for work<br />
outside the province for the<br />
first time in many years.<br />
Site C Dam<br />
In December the BC government gave the green light for the<br />
Site C Dam in Fort St. John. BC Hydro say it is hoping<br />
construction can start in July. That is optimistic, given how<br />
many legal challenges have been filed with the courts. The<br />
lawyers for the landowners and affected First Nations are set<br />
to fight. The court decisions will likely not be completed<br />
before July.<br />
Transit Plebiscite<br />
In March you will be mailed the Metro Vancouver Transit<br />
Plebiscite Vote. The mail-in ballot question will ask whether<br />
you support a 0.5 percent PST hike to help fund a Broadway<br />
Skytrain extension in Vancouver, light rail in Surrey and a<br />
new Pattullo Bridge.<br />
This will receive a lot of media attention over the next few<br />
months. The “no” side will say Translink doesn’t manage<br />
transportation in the Lower Mainland very well at all, and<br />
they don’t deserve any more money. The “yes” side will say<br />
hold your nose and vote for the tax hike because population<br />
and congestion continue to grow in the Lower Mainland.<br />
These major projects do create a lot of jobs for Operating<br />
Engineers, and if the vote is “no” it will delay these projects for<br />
years while we talk about how to fund them.<br />
<strong>2015</strong> will bring more protests against<br />
major projects such as Site C, LNG, pipelines<br />
and the transit vote. The challenge this<br />
year will be finding work for our skilled<br />
tradespeople. You hear lots of talk about a<br />
possible shortage of skilled tradespeople, but<br />
it’s hard to know if there will be enough work to employ them.<br />
Bentall Commemoration<br />
Each year on January 7th the Building Trades meet at a memorial<br />
by the Burrard Street Skytrain Station to remember the<br />
four carpenters who died in 1981 when their flyform broke<br />
away from the 36th floor of the Bentall Tower IV. It is a sobering<br />
reminder at the beginning of the year of the dangers of<br />
construction work.<br />
Some of the carpenters’ families attend each year and talk<br />
about how their lives changed when their loved ones went to<br />
work that day and never came home.<br />
Work Safe.<br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> LOCAL 115<br />
GENERAL<br />
MEMBERSHIP<br />
MEETING NOTICE<br />
Saturday<br />
March 21<br />
9:30am<br />
The OE Hall in Burnaby,<br />
4333 Ledger Avenue<br />
4 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
It’s important to keep<br />
big projects like Site C<br />
built by skilled workers<br />
Everett Cummings,<br />
Business Representative<br />
Eurova<br />
There are quite a few things in full swing. Eurova (the parent<br />
company of BA Blacktop and Martens Asphalt) purchased<br />
Imperial Paving some time ago. The companies will be into<br />
one building for office space and the mechanical shop in<br />
March.<br />
The new location for all three companies will be in Port<br />
Kells at the old Volvo Truck location.<br />
This location will be central<br />
for all companies for commuting<br />
to the plants instead of spanning<br />
five locations across the Lower<br />
Mainland, from North Vancouver<br />
to Chilliwack. This will also<br />
provide highway access to get to<br />
With no other large paving<br />
projects like South Fraser<br />
Perimeter road and Highway 1<br />
on the books it’s looking to be<br />
slower for <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
job sites via Highway 1 and the South Fraser Perimeter road.<br />
Imperial Paving’s plant in Aldergrove and BA Blacktop’s<br />
shops are running winter maintenance, which is providing a<br />
lot of work for our paving industry members who would<br />
usually be experiencing a slow time in these winter months.<br />
After these plants are completed, Imperial Paving’s River<br />
Road plant in Delta will be shut down for maintenance.<br />
BA Blacktop will be completing the Highway 1 paving<br />
project in the Spring, which resulted in many man hours for<br />
District One<br />
our members. With no other large paving projects like South<br />
Fraser Perimeter road and Highway 1 on the books it’s looking<br />
to be slower for <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
Taplow Feeds<br />
Bargaining with Taplow Feeds will be under way in the Spring.<br />
Located in Chilliwack, Taplow Feeds is a pet food feed mill<br />
that produces dog and cat food with a high fish meal quality<br />
product.<br />
International Crushing Contractors<br />
International Crushing Contractors agreement will be coming<br />
up for renewal; they are a blasting company that works out of<br />
our signatory gravel pit mines.<br />
On another note, the membership needs to do their part to<br />
get some big projects moving forward. You need to start<br />
contacting your government officials to let them know you<br />
support projects such as Site C Dam.<br />
This project is the largest in B.C. history,<br />
and would create a lot of man hours of work<br />
for years to come. All previous dams have<br />
been under the Allied Hydro Agreement and<br />
you need to be vocal so this doesn’t continue<br />
to happen.<br />
Open site with union, non-union, or other<br />
union is not the way to go. Help to ensure the higher paid jobs<br />
go to the skilled workers, not to the cut-rate contractors. The<br />
more voices that speak up, the more it helps keep these projects<br />
built by trained skilled workers who have gone through<br />
apprenticeships or certified training courses.<br />
If you want to contact the government but are unsure how,<br />
get in touch with your Business Representative and they will<br />
provide you with the information.<br />
Work Safe!<br />
Brother Ray Degiusti who is a Heavy Duty<br />
Mechanic at Wajax, also volunteers as a Fire<br />
Fighter for the Township of Langley.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 5
District One<br />
With winter behind us, spring upon us and summer around<br />
the corner, it is time to look to the future of construction in<br />
B.C. and the role Operating Engineers can play.<br />
With the opportunity of major projects in natural resource<br />
and electric generation slated for the near future, it is important<br />
our government officials hear our voice and ensure these<br />
projects are constructed under a Project Labour Agreement<br />
ensuring they are built by Union Building Trades, and do not<br />
fall to the rats in an open shop environment. We must continue<br />
to grow through Organizing and Apprenticeships to<br />
ensure demand is filled, and YOU have a role by being an<br />
active member.<br />
Filling the increasing demand<br />
for workers is just one of the<br />
challenges facing the <strong>IUOE</strong> 115<br />
moving forward in large construction<br />
project growth within<br />
B.C. Another challenge is replacing the rising number of retiring<br />
construction workers. Age demographic pressures grow<br />
steadily across our current construction growth period, with<br />
the number of retirements rising in all trades and<br />
occupations.<br />
This challenge requires a different solution, as the permanent<br />
loss of older workers requires the equivalent addition of<br />
a younger and permanent workforce. This can be attained<br />
through our Training and Apprenticeship programs, organizing<br />
and education.<br />
Large industrial and engineering projects provide the main<br />
labour market changes in our sector. British Columbia has a<br />
long and diverse list of current, planned and announced<br />
projects.<br />
A recent construction hiring report, wrote to a scenario<br />
including mining, infrastructure, LNG terminals, pipelines<br />
and renewable, electricity generation and transmission projects.<br />
It showed there was a short pause in overall hiring in<br />
2013, as a number of major engineering projects were past<br />
their peak employment levels and winding down. Industrial<br />
and mining projects continue to forecast hire, and account for<br />
more than half of the 18,000 jobs created in the non-residential<br />
sector from 2014 to 2017. Employment growth predicts<br />
accelerated growth each year to 2017, as four LNG projects,<br />
with related pipeline work, are assumed to start up.<br />
6 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong><br />
Operating Engineers<br />
have a role to play in<br />
future of construction<br />
Tom Kinnear,<br />
Business Representative<br />
Age demographic pressures<br />
grow steadily …with the<br />
number of retirements rising in<br />
all trades and occupations.<br />
This coincides with a series of mining and electricity generation<br />
and transmission projects. These project requirements<br />
are centered on a group of skilled and specialized trades and<br />
occupations, and much of the work is in the northern and<br />
more remote regions of the province. These are all characteristics<br />
that we as Operating Engineers hold.<br />
A recent Market Demand Report and Rankings displayed<br />
that the demand for Operating Engineers will remain high in<br />
upcoming years with the growth in natural resource and electric<br />
generation predicted. Shown below are a few Operating<br />
Engineer trades and their demand ranking within B.C.<br />
Market rankings as of 2014<br />
Level 1<br />
Workers meeting employer qualifications are available in local<br />
markets to meet an increase in demand at the current offered<br />
rate of compensation and other current working conditions.<br />
Excess supply is apparent and there is a risk of losing workers<br />
to other markets.<br />
Level 2<br />
Workers meeting employer qualifications are<br />
available in local markets to meet an increase<br />
in demand at the current offered rate of<br />
compensation and other working conditions.<br />
Level 3<br />
The availability of workers meeting employer qualifications in<br />
the local market may be limited by large projects, plant shutdowns<br />
or other short-term increases in demand. Employers<br />
may need to compete to attract needed workers. Established<br />
patterns of recruiting and mobility are sufficient to meet job<br />
requirements.<br />
Level 4<br />
Workers meeting employer qualifications are generally not<br />
available in local markets to meet any increase. Employers will<br />
need to compete to attract additional workers. Recruiting and<br />
mobility may extend beyond traditional sources and<br />
practices.<br />
Level 5<br />
Needed workers meeting employer qualifications are not<br />
available in local markets to meet current demand so that<br />
projects or production may be delayed or deferred. There is<br />
excess demand, competition is intense and recruiting reaches<br />
to remote markets.<br />
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics (5)<br />
Employment is concentrated in non-residential construction.<br />
Demand requirements related to major resource projects<br />
drive tighter labour market conditions over the medium term<br />
continued on next page
District One<br />
to 2018. Conditions return to balance in 2019 as projects peak<br />
and wind down.<br />
Consecutive years of high rankings for this group signal a<br />
potential role for non-resident workers from out of the province<br />
to help meet local construction requirements during<br />
peak periods. The age profile for this group is about average.<br />
Replacement demand requirements are not expected to be<br />
met by new entrants into the labour force.<br />
Crane operators (3)<br />
Employment is concentrated in non-residential construction.<br />
Demand requirements related to industrial and major engineering<br />
projects rise steadily and create tight labour markets<br />
between <strong>2015</strong> and 2017. Consecutive years of high rankings<br />
for this trade signal a potential role for non-resident workers<br />
from out of the province to help meet local construction<br />
requirements during peak periods. The age profile for this<br />
trade is younger than average. New entrants into the labour<br />
force are expected to meet replacement demand requirements,<br />
but workers from outside the local market will be<br />
required to meet increased demand midway through the<br />
scenario period.<br />
Heavy equipment operators (except crane) (3).<br />
Employment is concentrated in non-residential construction.<br />
Demand requirements related to civil and other engineering<br />
projects rise steadily from current levels and create tight<br />
labour market conditions in 2016 and 2017. Conditions are<br />
generally balanced across the remainder of the scenario<br />
period as major projects peak and then wind down. Retaining<br />
workers as labour markets weaken later in the scenario period<br />
may pose challenges. The age profile for this trade is younger<br />
than average. Replacement demand requirements are not<br />
expected to be met by new entrants into the labour force.<br />
Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics (4)<br />
Employment is concentrated in non-residential construction.<br />
Demand requirements related to civil and other engineering<br />
projects keep labour market conditions tight over the medium<br />
term to 2017. Labour markets return to balance in 2018 as<br />
some major projects peak and begin to wind down. The age<br />
profile for this trade is younger than average. Replacement<br />
demand requirements are not expected to be met by new<br />
entrants into the labour force.<br />
Welders and related machine operators (4)<br />
Employment is concentrated in non-residential construction.<br />
Demand requirements related to major resource projects<br />
drive tighter labour market conditions over the medium term<br />
to 2017. Conditions return to balance in 2018 and then<br />
weaken as projects end.<br />
Consecutive years of high rankings for this group signal a<br />
potential role for non-resident workers from out of the province<br />
to help meet local construction requirements during<br />
peak periods. Retaining workers as labour markets weaken<br />
later in the scenario period may pose challenges. The age profile<br />
for this group is younger than average. Replacement<br />
demand requirements are notexpected to be met by new<br />
entrants into the labour force. Workers from outside the local<br />
market may be required to meet increased demand midway<br />
through the scenario period. (Source: BuildForce Canada)<br />
With this projected high demand of our skilled trades, we<br />
must strive to have them built by Operating Engineers, and<br />
other BC Building Trades. Be active with your local government<br />
and have your voice heard! Let your municipal leaders,<br />
M.L.A. and M.P. know that you are a voting constituent in<br />
their riding, make it known that these jobs are critical in the<br />
economic and social development of your community, and<br />
they need to be built UNION. Work Safely.<br />
VARIETY TELETHON<br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> shows its heart<br />
Local 115 donated $10,000 again to this<br />
year’s Show of Hearts Telethon supporting<br />
Variety the Children’s Charity which<br />
was held the weekend of <strong>February</strong> 14th.<br />
Along with the $10,000 donation,<br />
fourteen of Local 115’s staff and family<br />
members also donated time on Sunday<br />
<strong>February</strong> 15th by answering phones and<br />
taking donations at the telethon. Gary<br />
Kroeker, past Business Manager, was on<br />
the Gold Panel answering phones as<br />
well. We would like to thank them for<br />
donating their time on behalf of <strong>IUOE</strong><br />
Local 115.<br />
Organizations and British Columbians<br />
came together that weekend to raise<br />
an incredible $5.9 million for the 49th<br />
Variety Show of Hearts telethon for<br />
children who have special needs in B.C.<br />
The charity disburses funding to children<br />
and their families throughout the<br />
province. It gives grants to families for<br />
medical emergencies, therapies, specialized<br />
equip ment, drugs, out of town<br />
accommodation and travel costs.<br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115 at the 49th Variety<br />
Show of Hearts Telethon donating<br />
$10,000.00. From left to right: Brother<br />
Brian Lefebvre Recording Corresponding<br />
Secretary, Sister Lynda Arland Manager<br />
Administration and Special Projects,<br />
Brothers Brian Cochrane Business<br />
Manager, and Frank Carr Treasurer.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 7
New Red Seal Apprentice Initiative<br />
announced by Federal Government<br />
Business Manager Brian Cochrane was<br />
invited to a very hush hush Government<br />
Announcement event on January<br />
8th, <strong>2015</strong> at the BCIT Annacis Island<br />
Campus in Delta.<br />
Prime Minister Stephen Harper was<br />
at the BCIT Campus where he<br />
announced a new program for the one<br />
million new trades jobs expected by<br />
2020.<br />
He announced that the Canada<br />
Apprentice Loan initiative is now open<br />
for business and accepting applications.<br />
The initiative will help those already<br />
apprenticing to complete their training<br />
and encourage more Canadians to pursue<br />
a career in the skilled trades, allowing<br />
participants to take advantage of the<br />
many job opportunities across Canada.<br />
The Prime Minister was accompanied<br />
by The Honourable Jason Kenney,<br />
Minister of Employment and Social<br />
Development and Minister for Multiculturalism,<br />
The Honourable Kerry-<br />
Lynne Findlay, Minister of National<br />
Revenue, The Honourable James<br />
Moore, Minister of Industry, The Honourable<br />
Alice Wong, Minister of State<br />
for Seniors, Dan Albas, Parliamentary<br />
Secretary to the President of the Treasury<br />
Board, Nina Grewal, Member of<br />
Parliament for Fleetwood–Port Kells,<br />
John Weston, Member of Parliament for<br />
West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea<br />
to Sky Country, and Senator Yonah<br />
Martin.<br />
The Canada Apprentice Loan, which<br />
was introduced in Economic Action<br />
Plan 2014, will provide apprentices in<br />
Red Seal trades across Canada with<br />
access to interest-free loans.<br />
These loans will help apprentices<br />
address the costs they encounter during<br />
technical training, including educational<br />
fees, tools and equipment, living<br />
expenses and forgone wages. It will be<br />
managed by the Canada Student Loans<br />
Program, within Employment and<br />
Social Development Canada.<br />
Apprentices registered in a Red Seal<br />
trade apprenticeship will be able to<br />
apply for loans of up to $4,000 per period<br />
of technical training.<br />
The loans are interest-free until after<br />
loan recipients complete or leave their<br />
apprenticeship training program, up to<br />
a maximum of six years.<br />
Those interested in applying for the<br />
Canada Apprentice Loan can do so<br />
through the Canada Apprentice Loan<br />
Online Service which is available<br />
through Canada.ca/apprentice.<br />
See more at: http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/<strong>2015</strong>/01/08/pm-announces-canadaapprentice-loan-program-now-accepting-applications#sthash.6fubCcxz.dpuf<br />
OE MEMBER<br />
FOR 57 YEARS<br />
Jim Biddle joined the <strong>IUOE</strong> in 1957.<br />
It is with heavy hearts that we announce<br />
the sudden passing of Jim (James)<br />
Biddle on December 4th, 2014.<br />
Jim was a devoted family man and<br />
was always there with love, support and<br />
a good laugh. Jim was a longtime member<br />
of the <strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115 and earned<br />
the respect of many as he worked hard<br />
and climbed the ladder of success.<br />
Mike Parr hired Jim as a dispatcher<br />
on January 15, 1965, 8 years after being<br />
initiated into the union (April 18, 1957).<br />
Jim was only in that position for 2 years<br />
before he became a Business Representative<br />
covering Burnaby and Vancouver;<br />
expanded to North Vancouver and the<br />
Sunshine Coast in 1974.<br />
Elected to the Executive Board as<br />
Treasurer in August 1968; then as Trustee<br />
of the Operating Engineers’ Welfare<br />
and Pension Plans in September 1974<br />
and then elected in August 1980 as the<br />
Vice President.<br />
In January 1982, Jim went to work as<br />
an International Representative to look<br />
after BC and the Yukon Territory, and<br />
then later became the Canadian Regional<br />
Director of the International.<br />
Jim retired January 1, 1995 and<br />
moved to Qualicum Beach where he<br />
could enjoy his golf, socializing with<br />
friends and staying active as a club<br />
member with the Shriners and Masons.<br />
Jim was a large part of the <strong>IUOE</strong> 115<br />
history and will be greatly missed by all<br />
that knew him!<br />
8 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Talking to employees<br />
of non union<br />
companies is key<br />
Don Swerdan,<br />
Business Representative<br />
At the time of writing this newsletter I am in negotiations with<br />
Hiway Refrigeration and Rempel Bros. Concrete. In both<br />
cases the Companies have identified similar problems. The<br />
non-union Companies in their respective industries are under<br />
cutting our signatory contractors by a significant margin.<br />
In the case of Hiway Refrigeration, there are a number of<br />
these non-union “Companies” who are currently working in<br />
this Province that are from Alberta<br />
and points east. These Companies<br />
quite often are one and two man<br />
operations working out of their personal<br />
vehicles. In some cases they<br />
are not qualified to do the work,<br />
and they charge out at a rate substantially<br />
less than our contractors.<br />
In many cases the work accomplished by these Companies<br />
is so poor that it results in a call to our contractors to repair<br />
the sub-standard work. The fact that these non-union Companies<br />
even get a call is having a devastating effect on the<br />
refrigeration industry as a whole.<br />
Collectively, we need to get out and find out where these<br />
In many cases the work<br />
accomplished by these<br />
Companies is so poor that it<br />
results in a call to our contractors<br />
to repair the sub-standard work.<br />
District One<br />
Companies are operating at and from, and have a conversation<br />
with the employees for the purpose of organizing them.<br />
With respect to Rempel Bros. Concrete, there are a number<br />
of similarities in that the non-union element out in the trade<br />
is, in many cases, paying less in wages and benefits.<br />
While there are Companies that pay a comparable wage,<br />
the employees, more often than not, do not receive any variety<br />
of pension and have an inferior Health and Welfare Plan, if<br />
they have one at all.<br />
Additionally, all Companies including the non–union are<br />
in the midst of attempting to establish a lower rate of pay for<br />
those employees working in the Fraser Valley (Langley eastward).<br />
This comes as a direct result of certain non-union<br />
Companies who have already instituted this circumstance<br />
which is wreaking havoc with the industry.<br />
Again, we as a collective group need to be speaking to the<br />
employees of these Companies and have a serious discussion<br />
on the benefits of being under a Collective<br />
Agreement and working Union.<br />
In both cases, we as Business Representatives,<br />
our signatory contractors and our<br />
organizers, Brothers Rob Duff and John<br />
Munro, need your assistance. If you know<br />
anyone working in either of the industries<br />
referenced that you can contact, please<br />
task them to contact the hall to talk to one of us. We will be<br />
happy to answer any question they might have.<br />
The same assistance is available for anyone you might know<br />
in any industry in B.C. that has questions about becoming<br />
Union.<br />
‘Till next time.<br />
Gemco Construction Ltd.<br />
working on the future Mitchell<br />
Road in Coquitlam on Burke<br />
Mountain doing sewer and sani.<br />
PICTURE COURTESY OF BROTHER<br />
MITCHEL LOOR.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 9
District One<br />
Some project updates<br />
and labour union<br />
activities<br />
Additionally, we are waiting for their response and proposal<br />
regarding the new log loading equipment they have introduced<br />
into the industry. We will have more to report on in<br />
future articles.<br />
Frank Carr,<br />
Business Representative<br />
Fairview Terminal Expansion Project<br />
Fraser River Pile and Dredge and Bel Pacific are the preferred<br />
contractors for the Fairview Terminal Expansion Project in<br />
Prince Rupert. The vision of the project is to quadruple the<br />
capacity of the facility, to move and store up to 2 million<br />
containers to meet the demand of continued growth in Asia-<br />
Pacific traffic trade.<br />
It is reported that when this phase and an additional phase<br />
are complete the projects will extend the wharf to 800 metres,<br />
achieve an 18 metre (59 feet) minimum<br />
water depth, increase the dock area to 56<br />
hectares (139 acres), and support eight<br />
post-panamax cranes.<br />
It is estimated that this phase of the<br />
project will take two years to complete at<br />
a cost of over $150 million. We will<br />
report further details as we receive them.<br />
Last year, 31 workers in<br />
the construction industry<br />
died … These statistics<br />
are unacceptable. The<br />
bottom line should be:<br />
Kill a Worker – Go To Jail.<br />
Vancouver Pile Driving<br />
Vancouver Pile Driving was awarded a fourth stone column<br />
project in Richmond for Cressey, giving them roughly 10<br />
weeks work.<br />
In tandem the Union has filed a jurisdictional claim for<br />
work that is normally done by a crane operator or crane<br />
apprentice which was awarded to the Bridgemen by Vancouver<br />
Pile. This is the <strong>IUOE</strong>’s core jurisdiction and area practice<br />
which is part of our argument to protect our work.<br />
F&G Delivery<br />
Members working at F&G Delivery are steady right now with<br />
many hours being worked on the new Telus Gardens Building<br />
in downtown Vancouver.<br />
Seaspan<br />
Seaspan International is having a slower start to the year. The<br />
company has made the decision to lay off all but one barge<br />
crew. There are a few issues related to the layoffs and we are in<br />
discussions with the company to resolve them.<br />
Phoenix Enterprises<br />
I am happy to report we now have an agreement with Phoenix<br />
Enterprises. Thanks to Brother Jim McLean for steering the<br />
company in the right direction and unionizing them. Phoenix<br />
has been involved in the demolition and asbestos removal<br />
business for roughly 30 years.<br />
Bentall Tower Commemoration<br />
Bentall Tower Commemoration took place on January 7 this<br />
year. It honours a tragic accident in 1981, where four carpenters<br />
plunged 36 floors to their deaths when a fly form used for<br />
pouring concrete broke away from the top of Bentall Centre’s<br />
Tower IV.<br />
The workers killed on the job were: Gunther Couvreux, 49;<br />
Brian Stevenson, 21; Donald W. Davis, 34; and<br />
Yrjo Mitrunen, 46.<br />
At the Commemoration it was reported that<br />
the B.C. construction industry continues to see<br />
an average of 29 deaths a year since the accident.<br />
Last year, 31 workers in the construction<br />
industry died (12 trauma; 19 exposure) and a<br />
total of 898 workers in B.C. have lost their lives<br />
since the accident. These statistics are unacceptable.<br />
The bottom line should be: Kill a Worker – Go To<br />
Jail.<br />
Jim Sinclair retires from BC Fed<br />
After 15 years, BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair<br />
retired, and in November Irene Lanzinger was elected<br />
President.<br />
On January 10th a tribute was held for Brother Sinclair at<br />
the Maritime Labour Centre, with many affiliates and hundreds<br />
of private and public sector union members in attendance.<br />
The speakers’ list was extensive and the recognition<br />
speeches were well delivered and well deserved.<br />
The event was a testament to the accomplishments and legacy<br />
Jim has left for the labour movement in B.C. and across<br />
Canada. All spoke of his unfettered determination in standing<br />
up for the rights of all workers in the province thoughout his<br />
life. Jim is definitely an inspiration to us all. Good luck in your<br />
retirement, Brother!<br />
10 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Declining economy<br />
a challenge for jobs<br />
and bargaining<br />
Brett Chapman,<br />
Business Representative<br />
As we move forward into the new year of <strong>2015</strong>, I have several<br />
bargaining sessions lined up. Starting off I will be assisting<br />
Brother Lefebvre with H.M. Trimble and Sons (Trimac),<br />
Wajax Equipment, then Deere/Hitachi, First Truck formally<br />
known as (Freightliner) and Harbour International.<br />
I suspect that negotiations will be a<br />
challenge due to the declining economy.<br />
With potential projects on the table set to<br />
commence this year, hopefully the impact of<br />
the weakening economy doesn’t have quite the effect it did<br />
back in 2008.<br />
Peace River Coal has now completely shut down. Two of<br />
our members remain as part of the Care and Maintenance<br />
District One<br />
team, maintaining the equipment and the water system to<br />
fight against the bitter cold in the great white north.<br />
This is a far cry from the 300 of our members previously<br />
working. It is extremely disappointing considering HD Mining<br />
and the Murray River project is still in full swing. Other than<br />
the Canadian contractors HD Mining is using to deliver fuel,<br />
building materials etc., only two Canadians (from what I<br />
understand) have been hired. However, there are still 51<br />
Temporary Foreign Worker’s completing work that could be<br />
done by Canadians.<br />
The Operating Engineers will keep our eye on this project<br />
and continue to put pressure on the company to do the right<br />
thing and hire as many local Brothers and Sisters that make up<br />
the large labour pool that is available to them.<br />
In the meantime Tumbler Ridge<br />
is now struggling to keep people in<br />
town as there is no work for the<br />
locals. Many of our members are<br />
doing an extensive amount of<br />
travel, leaving their families behind in order to find gainful<br />
employment to keep food on the table.<br />
We wish all our members the best in <strong>2015</strong>, stay safe and we<br />
will see you in the field.<br />
Tumbler Ridge is now struggling<br />
to keep people in town as there<br />
is no work for the locals.<br />
AN <strong>IUOE</strong> Member has some straight talk for his MP<br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115 Member Brother<br />
Alfred Regehr wrote to his MP Mark<br />
Stahl on December 8th, 2014 asking<br />
him to stop Bill C377 and Bill C525.<br />
Along with his letter he sent a copy of<br />
an article that OE <strong>News</strong> featured in<br />
the December 2014 publication on<br />
LNG in BC for reference.<br />
Thank you Brother Regehr for your<br />
continued efforts and support and we<br />
hope that you inspire other Brothers<br />
and Sisters to get the pen out and write<br />
to their MPs and MLAs on this issue.<br />
Dear Mark,<br />
Enclosed are copies of an article on<br />
LNG in B.C. — very interesting.<br />
My main reason for this letter is to<br />
ask you to stop Bill C377 and C525.<br />
They will be yours and the conservatives<br />
Gov. defeat next election specifically<br />
in the west. Mulcair & Trudeau<br />
will make this a real issue specifically<br />
for the NDP. Surely your people can<br />
see this as the bill only goes after union<br />
labour. Why not lawyers, doctors and<br />
large corporations, let’s make it fair.<br />
If you want our union’s financial<br />
statements? I will send them to you free<br />
of charge every year, imagine postage<br />
free.<br />
Now getting to the protesters against<br />
Kinder Morgan and Pipelines and Site<br />
C dam, I have a solution.<br />
(1) Ask David Susuki how he got to<br />
Burnaby mountain from Salt<br />
Spring Island? Did he take a handmade<br />
boat and walk from<br />
wherever?<br />
(2) Stop all the TV networks from<br />
broadcasting all these protests.<br />
(3) Where are the protesters getting<br />
there funding from to get to all<br />
these sites?<br />
God put the tar sands, the trees, the<br />
water and gas into this great country.<br />
He also gave us technology to develop<br />
it, surely some politician will have the<br />
courage to tell Canadians this.<br />
Again stop Bill C377 and C525 they<br />
will only destroy and cost hard workers<br />
and pensioners money.<br />
Yours Truly<br />
Alfred Regehr<br />
CC: Laurie Throness, MLA<br />
Christy Clark, Premier BC<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 11
District One<br />
Our bargaining<br />
committees have<br />
been standing strong<br />
Chip Dhaliwal,<br />
Business Representative<br />
Brother Ben Proudley at<br />
bargaining with Hertz<br />
Equipment Rental.<br />
Brothers and Sisters, collective bargaining continues to take<br />
up the lion’s share of my time.<br />
Collective Agreements have been ratified at Carney’s Waste<br />
Systems and Atlas Copco Canada. The Carney’s crew stood<br />
tall and proud right to the end for what they felt was fair. They<br />
were stoic in the face of a very tough bargaining round. In<br />
particular Shop Steward and Brother Aaron Gruber should be<br />
commended for his contributions at the bargaining table.<br />
The crew at Atlas Copco Canada similarly fought to the<br />
end for the rights, benefits and wages of future members.<br />
Negotiations had stalled as only the contentious issues were<br />
left.<br />
The Company and the Union met at the B.C. Labour Board<br />
with a mediator. We were able to get close enough that we<br />
could take a proposed agreement to the crew, and the new<br />
Collective Agreement was ratified. Shop Steward and Brother<br />
Wayne O’Neill was again an intelligent and strong voice for<br />
his crew.<br />
Hertz Equipment Rental also has a new Collective Agreement.<br />
This round of bargaining dealt with the more traditional<br />
issues for wages and benefits, and<br />
a fair agreement was reached and<br />
ratified. Shop Steward and Brother<br />
Ben Proudley brought a level headed<br />
approach along with his vast<br />
working knowledge of the industry,<br />
which was indispensable during<br />
these negotiations.<br />
Young Ben added to his personage<br />
by coming to bargaining in a<br />
dapper suit and tie. Ben informed<br />
me that the purpose for his haberdashery<br />
was to let the company<br />
know he was all business and very<br />
serious about these negotiations.<br />
Indeed, the company was duly<br />
impressed.<br />
At the time of print, we are in<br />
process of voting a new Collective<br />
Agreement for Williams Machinery in Surrey, Prince George,<br />
Kelowna and Vernon. Bargaining with both Catalyst Lubricants<br />
and Atlas Copco Theissen is winding down and we<br />
should have something of substance for the crews to vote on<br />
shortly.<br />
Congratulations to Brother Tom Kinnear on his move from<br />
the Training Association to his role as a Business Representative.<br />
I know that Tom’s passion for the Operating Engineers<br />
and all the skills and abilities he possesses will serve the membership<br />
well. Good Luck Brother!<br />
In closing, be safe and thank you for your continued support,<br />
it is much appreciated!<br />
Geopac working at the TFN Mills site in Tsawwassen installing<br />
10,000 wic drains. From left to right; Brothers Brent Daggit,<br />
David Arnott, Kyle Taylor, Brad Slyman and Business<br />
Representative Frank Carr. PICTURE COURTESY OF BROTHER KYLE<br />
TAYLOR.<br />
BA Blacktop and Imperial Paving’s Mechanics. From left to right,<br />
Brothers Business Representative Everett Cummings, Nick Eyford,<br />
Shane Leslie, Sean Collico, Ray McNeil, Dave Dywak, Scot Stroup,<br />
and John Shortridge.<br />
12 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Why organizing is important to<br />
expand our market share<br />
John Munro,<br />
Organizer<br />
Unionization rate by region, 2012<br />
(Percentage of employees)<br />
CANADA 31.5<br />
Union Organizing<br />
The reason we need to constantly be out organizing new<br />
members into our Union is plain and simple. All Unions are<br />
losing market share in every industry across this province and<br />
country.<br />
Since 1981 unionization has declined from 38% to 31.5% in<br />
Canada. In all the provinces in Canada, B.C. has taken the<br />
largest hit when it comes to union density, dropping from<br />
45% in 1981 to 31.3% in 2012.<br />
We are not last but we should work hard to increase this<br />
number to beat Quebec and become the leader in Union density<br />
in Canada.<br />
When it comes to our Union it is very important to keep<br />
organizing to continue to expand our market share in construction,<br />
mining, waste industry and mechanical shops. This<br />
would help us grow our voice at the bargaining table and in<br />
the labour movement in B.C.<br />
I read in one report that for Unions in North America to<br />
have the same membership as back in the 1950s they would<br />
need to organize 1 million new members every year for the<br />
next 25 years. The report also said that for Unions to maintain<br />
their current membership numbers, they would need to organize<br />
25,000 new members a year.<br />
Those are some staggering numbers for all Unions to<br />
achieve. But with a constant presence and voice out on every<br />
jobsite, I believe we can achieve bringing in large numbers of<br />
new members.<br />
As members of the Union you are the front line organizers.<br />
Talk with people at your jobsite, home or anywhere you are.<br />
Give people information about your Union, how to get<br />
involved with your Union, and who to contact if they are<br />
interested in joining. With your help we can continue to grow<br />
our great Union.<br />
NL<br />
PE<br />
NS<br />
NB<br />
QC<br />
ON<br />
MB<br />
SK<br />
AB<br />
BC<br />
36.9<br />
34.2<br />
30.6<br />
29.8<br />
39.9<br />
28.2<br />
36.0<br />
35.4<br />
23.5<br />
31.3<br />
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40<br />
The organizing department is always looking for active<br />
leads for non-union and CLAC companies to organize. Please<br />
pass on information you have. It will help us and the Union.<br />
You have boots on the ground every day in areas we may not<br />
get to and do not know about. Help us reach these workers.<br />
No matter how big or the small the company is, the workers<br />
there have a right to have a voice in their workplace and not<br />
get pushed around by the company. By organizing they can<br />
have the voice they deserve with the company and make a better<br />
living for themselves and their families.<br />
Executive Board Member<br />
Brother Doug Fisher with<br />
Rempel Bros. Concrete Ltd.<br />
working at the Industrial<br />
Development Site at 196th<br />
Avenue and 32nd Avenue in<br />
Langley.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 13
Dispatcher’s Report<br />
LNG projects going<br />
on back burner due<br />
to oil prices<br />
Jim Flynn,<br />
Dispatcher<br />
Hopefully this report finds everyone healthy! With the low<br />
price of oil, many of the LNG projects have been put on the<br />
back burner for the time being.<br />
There are some rumblings of the Site C Dam project possibly<br />
getting started later this year. We encourage all members<br />
to be vocal about how important these projects are to our<br />
members and their families.<br />
There are some of our contractors bidding on possible<br />
mine work in the northern part of British Columbia. This<br />
will employ many of our members if our contractors are<br />
successful and the projects go forward. I encourage all<br />
members to get out to their District meetings and get the<br />
facts.<br />
In closing please remember that getting home safe after a<br />
day’s work is job # 1.<br />
Brother Zack Hogan from WesternOne.<br />
DAY OF MOURNING<br />
APRIL 28 <strong>2015</strong><br />
Across Canada, April 28 has been designated the<br />
National Day of Mourning, a time when workers,<br />
families, employers and others come together<br />
to remember those who have lost their lives to<br />
work-related incidents or occupational diseases.<br />
Every year, WorkSafeBC, the BC Federation of<br />
Labour, and the Business Council of British Columbia<br />
host a public ceremony to honour the occasion.<br />
VANCOUVER CEREMONY<br />
Tuesday<br />
April 28<br />
10:30AM<br />
The Vancouver Convention<br />
Centre, Jack Pool Plaza area<br />
Other ceremonies will be held around<br />
the Lower Mainland and across the<br />
province. We will be posting details<br />
on our website when we receive<br />
them. iuoe115.com/media/news<br />
14 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Members need to<br />
voice our concerns<br />
to government<br />
Curtis Harold,<br />
Business Representative<br />
I am pleased to see the membership and am looking forward<br />
to another year of success. Even though last year was busy, a<br />
lot of smaller contracts did not make the approved list and we<br />
are hopeful more ministry contracts will come to light this<br />
year. Still our contractors are gearing up and trying to keep<br />
momentum with the success over the past couple of years.<br />
At the time of release of this article, the<br />
John Hart Generating Station project is<br />
going underground. The surface blasting<br />
is completed at the south portal and the<br />
drilling/underground blasting has<br />
commenced. In spring the focus will be<br />
on tunneling and underground cavern<br />
excavation.<br />
A facility, which is near completion, is currently being<br />
installed to accommodate the maintenance equipment and<br />
storage. Tree clearing has commenced to allow for a new<br />
bridge near the intake as the current bridge capacity is under<br />
what is required. I will keep you posted at the District meetings<br />
of the progress.<br />
The membership at Upland Contracting has ratified their<br />
new agreement. It will be another prosperous year for this<br />
region with additional work on the generating station, water<br />
line for Campbell River and upcoming contracts for the City.<br />
As discussed at Black Creek and all District meetings, organizing<br />
is a requirement of all members. With a significant<br />
District Two<br />
increase in non-union contractors moving into the area, all<br />
local members need to play a part in organizing.<br />
This is why the need to act is now, “The greater the number<br />
of members the greater the voice of the membership.”<br />
I put the challenge out to the membership on Vancouver<br />
Island to really think about who they know working in other<br />
Companies, and educate them about the benefits we have<br />
been able to achieve. While I speak to the specific area this is<br />
an initiative for all Local 115 members.<br />
The membership at Hazelwood Construction have ratified<br />
their new Collective Agreement and are still working at the<br />
Toba Inlet Hydro project. Hazelwood will be aggressively<br />
bidding on other work as the year progresses.<br />
Chew Excavating has secured more work in the Southern<br />
part of the Island working with B.C. Hydro, Telus, Royal Bay<br />
expansion and subdivisions. Shops have maintained steady<br />
throughout the winter and should be<br />
back to full swing in the spring.<br />
The Crane Rental industry is<br />
remaining steady. Currently we are<br />
finishing up collective bargaining<br />
from last year, and looking forward to<br />
getting out to the crews to thank them<br />
for their support along the way.<br />
I encourage the membership to lobby your local MP and<br />
MLA about what matters to you and your Brothers and Sisters.<br />
We have the Site “C” dam project around the corner and no<br />
guarantee that it will be under a PLA or Allied Hydro<br />
Agreement.<br />
It does not matter who you are, everybody should be under<br />
the same terms and conditions to promote equality. We have<br />
the membership that can build this project and collectively we<br />
need to voice our concerns.<br />
Let’s make this year one to remember. Please work safe out<br />
there, see you in the field!<br />
With a significant increase in<br />
non-union contractors moving<br />
into the area, all local<br />
members need to play a part<br />
in organizing.<br />
BA Blacktop Plant crew: From left to right,<br />
Brothers Phoenix Logan-Hill, Derek Lowen,<br />
Ben Yuill, Chase Reiger and Guy Gauthier.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 15
District Three<br />
Take this time to<br />
focus on union<br />
density and work<br />
share for future<br />
Brad Gerow, Business Representative<br />
Bryan Railton, Organizer<br />
Gerow<br />
<strong>2015</strong> is upon us and so far this year is shaping up to be similar<br />
to the last. However, membership engagement and bargaining<br />
have created a busy start.<br />
Construction for the wider Highway 1 through to Alberta<br />
will continue this year, with 672462 BC Ltd. planning to finish<br />
their phase by the end of this year. Emil Anderson Construction<br />
was the successful bid for the next phase (Hoffman’s Bluff<br />
Phase 2) which will be starting in April, with an expected<br />
completion of two years.<br />
There is also a sizable project that will see Highway 97 from<br />
Edwards Road to Highway 33 widened in Kelowna, projected<br />
to start as well. We are waiting to<br />
see what the Ministry of Highways<br />
will put out for the rest of the year.<br />
The City of Kamloops has a<br />
couple of larger projects planned,<br />
including working on Columbia<br />
Street and the Overlander Bridge.<br />
They will be adding turn lanes and planning for more efficient<br />
traffic flow through the downtown core on Columbia Street<br />
from 2nd Avenue to 6th Avenue. After completing inspections,<br />
they have also decided to do a much needed overhaul<br />
on the Overlander Bridge.<br />
Bargaining is ongoing and keeping us busy, including the<br />
bargaining for the Interior Addendum<br />
to the Road Building, RJames<br />
Western Star (Kamloops and<br />
Kelowna), Premium Truck and<br />
Trailer (Kelowna), Cummins, Wajax,<br />
and 672462 BC Ltd.<br />
With the work picture for this year<br />
lining up to look similar to the last,<br />
slow pick up on major projects and<br />
large layoffs in Alberta, we have<br />
some serious obstacles ahead.<br />
Last year saw the creation of some new initiatives which<br />
Railton<br />
Our ability to connect and<br />
create relationships is how<br />
we can begin reasserting<br />
our bargaining strength.<br />
are focused on engaging membership and will continue to<br />
have an impact in <strong>2015</strong>. We will be working on educating,<br />
involving and activating the membership, which will in<br />
turn assist your Local in being successful in District 3.<br />
Ultimately, membership is where your Union’s strength<br />
lies and our ability to connect and create relationships is<br />
how we can begin reasserting our bargaining strength. This<br />
means creating more Shop Stewards and a strong membership<br />
base to establish a more desirable environment in the<br />
sectors we work in.<br />
We must turn our focus to Union density<br />
and work share so that the Operating Engineers<br />
can establish themselves in this “calm<br />
before the storm” scenario.<br />
We want to thank the members who are<br />
already involved and challenge the rest of the<br />
membership to take a moment to learn a little<br />
more. Attending your next district meeting is a start, but<br />
we are also planning different events where membership<br />
involvement is always welcome. Do not hesitate to contact<br />
us to learn more.<br />
Through membership we will be successful, let’s make<br />
<strong>2015</strong> a year to remember!<br />
Richard Salle Contracting<br />
equipment resting for the<br />
winter at Orchards Walk<br />
project in Kamloops.<br />
16 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
BC BUILDING TRADES EXECUTIVE MEET WITH JUSTIN TRUDEAU<br />
Construction industry discussed with Liberal Leader<br />
On December 16th members of the BC Building Trades Executive<br />
Board and the Construction Labour Relations<br />
Association of BC met with federal Liberal Party Leader Justin<br />
Trudeau at the Operating Engineers office.<br />
The meeting was an important opportunity for the new<br />
leader to hear about key issues in the construction industry in<br />
BC.<br />
Participants discussed the failures<br />
of the Temporary Foreign Worker<br />
program and its abuse by employers.<br />
In 2013, the BC Building Trades<br />
challenged the program when the<br />
International Union of Operating<br />
Engineers Local 115 and Labourers<br />
Union Local 1116 took HD Mining<br />
to court for hiring foreign miners<br />
when local Canadians were available<br />
Business Manager Brian<br />
Cochrane with Justin<br />
Trudeau one on one<br />
outside the OE Building.<br />
to work. Since the case was dismissed<br />
two other coal mines in the area<br />
have closed leaving HD Mining the<br />
only operational mine in the Tumbler<br />
Ridge area. To date, not a single<br />
Canadian miner has been hired.<br />
Building Trades executive members called on the Liberal<br />
leader to support policy that puts Canadians first in line for<br />
resource jobs, to which Justin Trudeau agreed in principle.<br />
Participants at the meeting also discussed using apprentices<br />
on publically funded federal projects. Federal Conservative<br />
government policy merely asks contractors to report if they<br />
have apprentices working on public projects. This does not go<br />
Justin Trudeau meeting with the BC Building Trades Executive<br />
Board in the main Boardroom at OE’s Burnaby office.<br />
far enough. Representatives from the Building Trades asked<br />
the Liberal Leader to commit to placing apprenticeship quotas<br />
on federal projects.<br />
Over the coming months representatives from the Building<br />
Trades will continue to meet with Liberal and New Democrat<br />
Members of Parliament and advance our issues in the upcoming<br />
federal election.<br />
After the BC Building Trades<br />
Executive Board meeting,<br />
Justin Trudeau stopped in and<br />
met the staff at Local 115’s<br />
Burnaby office.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 17
District Four<br />
Northern ingenuity<br />
will help us survive<br />
coal downturn<br />
Herb Conat and Wayne Kemp,<br />
Business Representatives<br />
Conat<br />
Kemp<br />
Major projects are being projected for the Northwest region of<br />
the province and are extremely close to proceeding. Fairview<br />
Terminal, LNG both in Prince Rupert and the Kitsault Mine,<br />
are some of the projects that are waiting for the start date.<br />
Business Manager Brian Cochrane has been in the forefront<br />
of securing this work and multiple other projects for the<br />
membership: Project Labour Agreements, Craft Certifications,<br />
Site C, LNG, Mining projects, and protecting our rights<br />
against Provincial or Federal Governments,<br />
Labour Boards, Temporary<br />
Foreign Workers, and the new Buzz<br />
word “Open Managed Site”.<br />
These past several years Brian has<br />
been leading the organization, preparing<br />
the membership for upcoming<br />
projects, securing employment and protecting the rights of<br />
the membership of tomorrow.<br />
With spring just around the corner, the new Municipal<br />
regime has kept their promise and the streets of Prince George<br />
seem to, in most parts of the city, have had timely snow clearing<br />
done. That said, our paving contractors have been under<br />
attack by non-union and rat-union companies going after the<br />
City’s paving contract.<br />
Prince George needs to adopt fair wage and procurement<br />
policies like the City of Burnaby has. These policies level the<br />
Prince George needs to<br />
adopt fair wage and<br />
procurement policies like<br />
the City of Burnaby has.<br />
playing field for the Industry, and help secure local companies<br />
with the expertise to bid on contracts and be successful.<br />
In return we all benefit from members working and the<br />
citizens of Prince George knowing the paving will be done<br />
correctly and on budget.<br />
The Coal Industry in the North has come to a screeching<br />
halt and therefore some of the signatory equipment shops<br />
have had to adapt again.<br />
However, being from the North and living<br />
in the North we are never surprised by the<br />
ingenuity of our membership and signatory<br />
companies in shifting gears and adopting<br />
back into the Forest Industry and lessening<br />
the layoffs to a bare minimum or in most<br />
cases not at all. Truck shops in the District<br />
have been steady and are actively seeking Journeyman<br />
mechanics to hire.<br />
The number of Collective Agreements up for renewal is<br />
less than last year. The leitmotif for bargaining last year was<br />
retention, but with the slowdown in the Industry it may reconcile<br />
that initiative with an increase to the labour pool.<br />
In closing, we would like to thank the Shop Stewards and<br />
safety committee members who assist the members, and the<br />
Business Representatives who make the workplace more<br />
respectable. Work Safe!<br />
Fifty <strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115 Brothers and Sisters<br />
were in attendance at the BC Federation of<br />
Labour Convention on November 27th, 2014<br />
to cast our vote for the new BC Federation<br />
of Labour President. Longtime President<br />
Brother Jim Sinclair stepped down to retire<br />
after serving for 15 years. The margins<br />
were close in the vote which saw Irene<br />
Lanzinger win by only 57 votes (2,249 votes<br />
casted) over her incumbent. <strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115<br />
endorsed Irene Lanzinger.<br />
Thank you to those members who came<br />
out to vote as the outcome would have<br />
been extremely different if they were not<br />
there.<br />
18 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Site C Dam project<br />
begins 18 month<br />
preparation phase<br />
Mike Spiruda,<br />
Business Representative<br />
The Provincial Government gave the final go ahead in December<br />
to the $8.8 billion Site C Dam project on the Peace River<br />
near Fort St. John. BC Hydro has stated that the construction<br />
schedule is 6 months behind and will begin in the<br />
summer of <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
There is 18 months of preparation work to be<br />
completed before the actual construction of the<br />
dam itself can begin. Preparation work will involve<br />
clearing, stripping, access roads, laydown sites,<br />
camp accommodations, diversion tunnels, coffer<br />
dams and a temporary bridge across the river to enable access<br />
back and forth to the site.<br />
In conjunction with Site C and B.C. Hydro remaining<br />
committed to their green renewable energy plan, BC Hydro<br />
has also given the green light to Pattern Developments Meikle<br />
Wind Energy project located 30 kilometers north of Tumbler<br />
Ridge.<br />
This $400 million project will consist of 61 wind turbines<br />
with construction starting this spring. The project is planned<br />
to be operational by the end of 2016. These projects will be<br />
beneficial to laid off members who worked in the Tumbler<br />
Ridge coal mining industry to achieve meaningful employment<br />
once again.<br />
The municipalities of Fort St. John and Dawson Creek are<br />
also in the midst of planning to go ahead with major expenditures<br />
to improve the outgrown and much needed infrastructure<br />
systems.<br />
As the price of oil and gas declines,<br />
so do the investment dollars which<br />
has kept the industry and many<br />
members active for the past few years.<br />
Some of the anticipated projects in<br />
the Northeast have been put on hold<br />
as the energy companies constantly<br />
revamp their spending budgets for <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
Hopefully the current slide in prices level out to a stable<br />
and suitable environment to enable major projects to go<br />
forward.<br />
Work Safe!<br />
Hopefully the current<br />
slide in prices level out<br />
to a stable and suitable<br />
environment<br />
District Five<br />
Equipment sitting idle at Peace River Coal in Tumbler Ridge<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 19
District Six<br />
If you have questions,<br />
make sure you ask a<br />
real union member<br />
agreement with them, but the global economy, and downturn<br />
in the coal market is not helping things in that respect.<br />
This will no doubt continue to be a factor when we hit the<br />
table with Maxam Bulk Systems, slated to begin in late <strong>February</strong><br />
this year.<br />
TIPS FOR BETTER PIX<br />
Rob Foskett,<br />
Business Representative<br />
We hit the ground running at full throttle in January <strong>2015</strong><br />
with respect to bargaining several agreements in our district.<br />
In the West Kootenays, the New Denver Public Works<br />
negotiations have concluded with the ratification of a new<br />
agreement.<br />
Castlegar/Trail/Nelson Ready mix contract negotiations<br />
began in early November 2014, and at the time of this writing,<br />
I am confident that we will reach an agreement in the near<br />
future. Selkirk Paving bargaining began at the end of January<br />
this year.<br />
Columbia River Reload contract negotiations continue to<br />
be plagued with health issues, and we are presently re-scheduling<br />
bargaining dates to meet with them down on the coast.<br />
Over here in the East Kootenays, Line Creek Operations<br />
began in May of 2014, and we are continuing our marathon<br />
sessions with Teck Resources in regards to reaching an<br />
• Outdoor posed and action shots are great.<br />
• Watch for the flare that can be reflected on safety vests. Also,<br />
look out for hard hats that can throw harsh shadows on faces.<br />
• Try to get an <strong>IUOE</strong> logo in there!<br />
• With group photos, have people arranged in a semicircle<br />
rather than a straight line.<br />
• To avoid harsh shadows, move people a step or two away<br />
from back walls.<br />
• Please use and send high resolution images.<br />
Line Creek Operations Grievance Update<br />
We have a number of grievances to be scheduled for either<br />
Stage II or Stage III meetings with the company.<br />
• LC-14-28 : Unfair Discipline - Requested Stage III meeting<br />
• LC-14-29 : Unfair Discipline - Requested Stage III meeting<br />
• LC-14-30 : Unfair Discipline - Requested Stage III meeting<br />
• LC-14-34 : Bypassed Overtime - Requested Stage II meeting<br />
• LC-14-40 : 50% review - Requested Stage II meeting<br />
As bargaining continues with Teck Recourses, below is a list of<br />
several grievances pertaining to outstanding items on the<br />
table for negotiations have been held in abeyance for discussion<br />
at the table with the Company.<br />
• LC-14-19 : Straight Days Pump Shift<br />
• LC-14-25 : Temporary assignments exceeding one shift<br />
• LC-14-26 : Facilities Support Classification negotiation<br />
• LC-14-33 : Temporary Foremen Utilization<br />
• LC-14-38 : Temporary Foremen Seniority<br />
• LC-14-39 : Early Start Overtime<br />
• LC-14-41 : Leadhand Utilization<br />
We want your photos!<br />
If you have a fond memory to share, a recent shot<br />
which shows off your skills, or just want your crew<br />
shown off in the magazine, send us your pictures<br />
for the next OE <strong>News</strong>!<br />
Digital Images<br />
• Please use the highest quality settings on your camera,<br />
phone or device when taking photos.<br />
• You can upload your images at: www.iuoe115.com/media/<br />
submit or email them to media@iuoe115.com<br />
• You can also send CDs or USB drives of photos to our office<br />
address. Don’t worry, we’ll get them back to you!<br />
• If you swing by your local office or meeting, you can bring<br />
your pictures with you and ask that we quickly download<br />
them.<br />
• Always provide the location, date, name of person(s) in the<br />
photos, and a description of what is taking place.<br />
Printed Photos<br />
If you have printed photos, they will be returned. These can be sent to:<br />
Lynda Arland, Manager, Administration & Special Projects, <strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115<br />
4333 Ledger Avenue, Burnaby, B.C., V5G 3T3.<br />
20 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Benefits and Pension Plan Report<br />
Benefits Plan 2014<br />
Year in Review<br />
Shawn Hatch,<br />
Administrator<br />
2014 was a busy year for the Operating Engineers’ Benefits<br />
Plan.<br />
The Operating Engineers’ Benefits Plan covered just under<br />
$20 million in benefit coverage for the year providing a wide<br />
range of benefits for just under 5,500 members and their<br />
dependents.<br />
The single largest benefit payment was to the Medical Services<br />
Plan of B.C. at approximately $6.6 million.<br />
Extended Health Benefit claims totalled just over $5 million<br />
made up of:<br />
• Drugs: $3 million<br />
• Chiropractor, Physiotherapy & Massage Therapy: $915,000<br />
• Vision Care: $540,000<br />
• Medical equipment: $500,000<br />
• Other: $58,000<br />
• Out of Province Emergency: $32,000<br />
Dental claims totaled just over $4.6 million.<br />
Group Life Insurance premiums were approximately $1.2<br />
million.<br />
Weekly Disability claims totaled just over $1 million for the<br />
year.<br />
Our Great-West Life long term disability premiums totalled<br />
just over $720,000.<br />
Members are reminded that any Extended Health or Dental<br />
claims incurred in the 2014 calendar year must be received<br />
by Pacific Blue Cross no later than June 30, <strong>2015</strong>.<br />
Looking ahead, in <strong>2015</strong> Pacific Blue Cross is predicting<br />
that the cost of Extended Health Benefits will increase by 10%<br />
and the cost of dental claims will increase by 7.5%. Your board<br />
of trustees has indicated there are no plans to increase member<br />
premiums this year<br />
Pacific Blue Cross has also indicated that they plan to<br />
improve member services in <strong>2015</strong> by introducing electronic<br />
claims submission for a number of service providers including<br />
chiropractors, physiotherapists, massage therapists, optical<br />
dispensers and optometrists.<br />
When this new service is introduced members will not<br />
have to submit claims, members will know the amount of<br />
reimbursement immediately and members will not be out of<br />
pocket while waiting for reimbursement. Watch for further<br />
announcements.<br />
BENTALL TRAGEDY<br />
Remembering four who died on the job<br />
The 34th Anniversary of the Bentall<br />
Tragedy was on January 7th and representatives<br />
from <strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115 were<br />
there along with family members and<br />
the public to remember the workers<br />
who plunged to their deaths when a fly<br />
form collapsed at the 36th floor of the<br />
Bentall Centre Tower IV building in<br />
1981.<br />
Each year representatives from the<br />
BC Building trades gather to remember<br />
Gunther Couvreux; Brian Stevenson;<br />
Donald Davis; and Yrjo Mitrunen.<br />
They also come together to remember<br />
the 898 construction workers that died<br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115 Business Representatives<br />
Craig McIntosh and Frank Carr, and<br />
Business Manager Brian Cochrane<br />
attended the ceremony.<br />
The Bentall Memorial plaque.<br />
from trauma and exposures since the<br />
Bentall Tragedy. They gather at the<br />
western corner of the park at the<br />
Burrard Skytrain Station and laid<br />
wreaths at the Bentall Memorial plaque.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 21
BC MINIMUM WAGE AND STUDENTS<br />
THE FACTS<br />
$10.25<br />
per hour is not enough<br />
to help address student<br />
debt load. Join the fight to<br />
make BC’s minimum wage<br />
$15<br />
BC<br />
eliminated<br />
student grants in<br />
2003<br />
BC’S LOW MINIMUM WAGE HURTS STUDENTS<br />
Young people from low- and middle-income families are finding<br />
it harder to access the university or college education they need<br />
to get a good job.<br />
Tuition fees have more than doubled since 2002, and student<br />
grants were eliminated in 2003. BC’s record when it comes to<br />
non-repayable student aid is dead last in Canada, and interest<br />
charged on BC student loans is among the highest in the country.<br />
Many students rely on part-time and even full-time work to try<br />
to get by. But with a minimum wage stuck at $10.25 per hour,<br />
they are falling behind.<br />
Students need to work more than 550 hours, or the equivalent<br />
of 14 weeks in a full-time minimum wage job just to cover tuition<br />
fee costs. This is more than three times as many hours as previous<br />
generations.<br />
Why is BC making it so hard for students to access an education?<br />
Tuition fees have more<br />
than<br />
doubled since<br />
2002<br />
550<br />
hours<br />
of minimum wage work<br />
just to pay for tuition<br />
BC Federation of Labour<br />
January <strong>2015</strong><br />
THE SITUATION IS WORSE FOR VULNERABLE STUDENTS<br />
Students who need to access adult basic education must now<br />
pay tuition fees and face an unnecessary financial burden to<br />
complete high school classes.<br />
Cuts to English as a second language (ESL) programs and new<br />
tuition fees for ESL courses have also made it more challenging<br />
for new Canadians to complete the necessary language training<br />
to participate in the job market.<br />
WHAT WOULD $15/HR MEAN FOR BC STUDENTS?<br />
An increased minimum wage along with reduced tuition fees<br />
and better loan systems for students would help to make<br />
post-secondary education truly accessible.<br />
15 FIGHT<br />
FOR<br />
22 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Training Association<br />
busy providing<br />
upgrading around<br />
the Province<br />
Brad Randall,<br />
Training Administrator<br />
Courses<br />
The Training Site continues to be full of activity. We are very<br />
busy providing off-site upgrading training around the Province<br />
for our members and contractors. These are offered for<br />
programs such as Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) and<br />
Asphalt Laydown Technician half day<br />
refresher courses (to prepare<br />
members to challenge their Provincial<br />
Certificate of Qualification),<br />
crane refresher, rigging, forklift,<br />
asphalt & roller, excavator, and grader<br />
training.<br />
We are very busy providing<br />
off-site upgrading training<br />
around the Province for our<br />
members and contractors.<br />
Staff changes<br />
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Brother Jeff<br />
Turner to the team. Jeff will be working as a Training Coordinator<br />
out of the Burnaby office. Jeff spent the last 25 years<br />
working for Columbia Bitulithic as a Plant Operator.<br />
We utilized Jeff ’s expertise by having him instruct our plant<br />
course in January with Brother Steve Carter. We look forward<br />
to working with Jeff and wish him the best of luck in his new<br />
position.<br />
Training Association Report<br />
Program Review Committees<br />
Several years ago we established four Program Advisory<br />
Committees, Mobile Crane Operator, Heavy Equipment<br />
Operator, Asphalt Laydown Technician and Plant Operator.<br />
The purpose of these committees is to review the program<br />
outlines, confirm that the instructor’s qualifications, training<br />
materials and facilities are adequate and that the training<br />
meets or exceeds industry standards.<br />
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members<br />
that participated on these committees and look forward<br />
to their continued support and participation in the future.<br />
Skills & Technology Week<br />
The Skilled Trades and Technology week ran from November<br />
3rd to 7th, 2014. It was created by Skills Canada to raise awareness<br />
of skilled trades and technology careers<br />
among youth, their parents and the general<br />
public.<br />
On Wednesday October 29th the Industry<br />
Training Authority (ITA) sponsored a visit to<br />
our Training Site from the media to film Ann<br />
Luu’s “In Your Shoes” which aired on CTV<br />
November 7th to the 9th, 2014. Ms. Luu was filmed operating<br />
one of our excavators and our 30 ton Grove crane.<br />
Financial assistance and incentives for apprentices<br />
The Government of Canada recently announced that the<br />
“Canada Apprentice Loan” initiative is now accepting applications.<br />
The Canada Apprentice Loan will provide apprentices<br />
in Red Seal trades across Canada with access to interest-free<br />
loans.<br />
These loans will help apprentices address the costs they<br />
continued on next page<br />
WEAR YOUR UNION PRIDE<br />
toques $11<br />
baseball hats $14—$18<br />
long sleeved shirts $25<br />
hooded sweatshirts (zippered) $40<br />
hooded sweatshirts (pullovers) $48<br />
microfibre vests $45<br />
golf shirts $48<br />
custom lined hoodies $48<br />
Plus more to choose from!<br />
Visit www.iuoe115.com to<br />
view our full range<br />
of Local 115 merchandise<br />
and order online<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 23
Training Association Report<br />
encounter during technical training, including educational<br />
fees, tools and equipment, living expenses and forgone<br />
wages. Apprentices registered in a Red Seal trade apprenticeship<br />
will be able to apply for loans of up to $4,000 per<br />
level of technical training.<br />
The loans are interest-free until after apprentices complete<br />
or leave their apprenticeship training program, up to a<br />
maximum of six years.<br />
Those interested in applying for the Canada Apprentice<br />
Loan can do so through the Canada Apprentice Loan<br />
Online Service which is available through: Canada.ca/<br />
apprentice.<br />
Apprenticeship Grants<br />
There are two types of grants available to apprentices.<br />
The “Apprenticeship Incentive Grant” (AIG) is a taxable<br />
cash grant of $1,000 per year or level, up to a maximum<br />
amount of $2,000 per person. It is available to registered<br />
apprentices once they have successfully completed their<br />
first or second year/level (or equivalent) of an apprenticeship<br />
program in one of the Red Seal trades.<br />
The “Apprenticeship Completion Grant” (ACG) is a<br />
taxable grant of $2,000 for registered apprentices who<br />
complete their apprenticeship training and obtain their<br />
journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade.<br />
For more information on these grants, please visit the<br />
Service Canada website or call 1-866-742-3644.<br />
Website helps you find union goods and services<br />
Members who want to support other union members at<br />
work should take a look at a new website developed here in<br />
BC which helps progressive consumers identify union<br />
goods and services.<br />
ShopUnion.ca was launched in January, 2012 and it has<br />
thousands of listings of common products and services<br />
which we buy every day. Items as diverse as car batteries,<br />
breakfast cereals, work clothing, beer, wine, taxi cabs and<br />
other consumer items are added to the site every week.<br />
Simply type in the name of the item you want to buy. The<br />
key word search tells you the name of the company that<br />
makes it, its location, its website and its union affiliation.<br />
Check it out at www.shopunion.ca. Support the union<br />
members who produce these goods for you.<br />
Annual Open House<br />
I look forward to seeing everyone this year at our 20th<br />
Annual Open House on Saturday June 20th, <strong>2015</strong> at our<br />
Maple Ridge Training Site. We need close to 80 volunteers<br />
to make this great event a success.<br />
If you are interested in volunteering or require more<br />
information please call the Training Association at 604-<br />
299-7764. See you there. Work safe!<br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> LOCAL 115’s<br />
Annual Open House<br />
Heavy Equipment Rodeo<br />
Saturday June 20, <strong>2015</strong><br />
10:00 am to 3:00 pm<br />
At our Maple Ridge Training Site<br />
Members, family and friends are invited to<br />
attend the Training Association’s Annual<br />
Open House & Heavy Equipment Rodeo. This<br />
event has been a great success every year.<br />
We will have all our heavy equipment set up for<br />
everyone to operate as well as additional equipment<br />
provided by our contractors and equipment dealers.<br />
Our simulator trailer will be on site and ready to try.<br />
We will have a booth set up to provide information<br />
on the various courses and apprenticeships we have<br />
to offer. Site tours are available. Complimentary soft<br />
drinks, hot dogs and hamburgers will be served.<br />
We are located in Maple Ridge. Take<br />
Dewdney Trunk Road to 256th Street. Travel<br />
north about 2.5 km. Watch for our signs.<br />
Call the Training Association at<br />
(604) 299-7764 for more information.<br />
See you there!<br />
24 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Training Association Report<br />
Crane Common Core Level 1 class, standing in front of our<br />
clamshell bucket, are Brothers Jordan Cool, Mitch Elias, Kurtis<br />
Little, Aron Bennett, Sean Allemang, Pat deJong and Wes Bauder<br />
(Instructor).<br />
Mobile Crane Level 2 class are Brothers Brad Carr, Brad Heddle,<br />
Chris Hartinger, Matt Beemer, James Knowles and Mark<br />
McGregor (instructor).<br />
Heavy Equipment Operator class are Brothers Steve Carter<br />
(Instructor), Sheldon Tschritter, Luke Mueller, Bertram (Buddy)<br />
Stewart, Jason Neighbour, (top) Lorren Marks, Hayden Rowan,<br />
(top) Arthur Johnson Jr, Moses Johnson, Jesse Tynan and Robyn<br />
Bishop (Instructor).<br />
Brother Darin Condon being presented with his Provincial<br />
Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate of Qualification with the<br />
Articulating Haul Truck Endorsement by Brother Jeff Gorham<br />
(Training Coordinator). Darin served his apprenticeship while<br />
working with our signatory contractors in the Kamloops area.<br />
Brothers Roy Prois, Derek Arason, Fred Becvar, Jason Armstrong<br />
and Brian Koch (Instructor). Brother Koch provided a Fall<br />
Protection course for members at Northern Crane in Terrace, BC.<br />
Brother Kyle Thompson being presented with his Mobile<br />
Crane Operator - Hydraulic Unlimited Tonnage Certificate<br />
of Qualification by Brothers Randy Grisewood (Training<br />
Coordinator) and Mike Spiruda (Business Representative).<br />
Brother Thompson served his apprenticeship with Sterling Crane<br />
in Fort St John.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 25
Training Association Report<br />
Brother Alex Daigneau being presented with his Heavy<br />
Equipment Operator Provincial Certificate of Qualification by<br />
Brother Randy Grisewood (Training Coordinator).<br />
Members of the Plant Program Advisory Committee are Brothers<br />
Darren Suehsschlaf (Training Coordinator), Tim Teichrob (BA<br />
Blacktop), Dave Channel (Winvan Paving), Garry Jabs (Instructor<br />
/ Supervisor), Jeff Turner (Training Coordinator / Instructor), Brad<br />
Randall (Administrator), Colin Herbert (Mainland Sand & Gravel)<br />
and Nick Santorelli (Grandview Blacktop).<br />
Members of the Heavy<br />
Equipment Operator<br />
Program Advisory Committee<br />
are Brothers Garry Jabs<br />
(Instructor / Supervisor), Brad<br />
Randall (Administrator), Jim<br />
McWilliams (Progressive),<br />
Gary Coulter (Bel Pacific),<br />
Ryan Berthaudin (FRPD),<br />
Steve Arcand (FRPD), Robyn<br />
Bishop (Instructor), Al Cooper<br />
(Duchek), Brian Cochrane<br />
(Business Manager) and<br />
Randy Grisewood (Training<br />
Coordinator).<br />
Members of the Mobile Crane Program Advisory Committee are<br />
Brothers Garry Jabs (Instructor / Supervisor), Bob MacMillan<br />
(GWIL Cranes), Brian Cochrane (Business Manager), Trevor Reid<br />
(Vancouver Pile Driving), Gordon Lindberg (Instructor), Wes<br />
Bauder (Instructor), Larry Marshall (Retiree), Doug Younger<br />
(WorkSafe), Brad Randall (Administrator), Ralf Notheis (RKM),<br />
Fred Grabowski (Vancouver Pile Driving), Grant Washington<br />
(Retiree), Randy Grisewood (Training Coordinator) and Mike<br />
Leary (Sterling Crane).<br />
Members of the Asphalt Laydown Technician Program<br />
Advisory Committee are Brother Darren Suehsschlaf (Training<br />
Coordinator), Larry Lewis ( BA Dawson), Garry Jabs (Instructor<br />
/ Supervisor), Danny Peters (Jack Cewe), Brad Randall<br />
(Administrator), Nick Santorelli (Grandview Blacktop) and Jeff<br />
Turner (Training Coordinator / Instructor).<br />
26 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Training Association Report<br />
Brother Derek Perry being presented with his Provincial<br />
Truck and Transport Mechanic Certificate of Qualification<br />
with Interprovincial Red Seal Endorsement by Brother Randy<br />
Grisewood (Training Coordinator) at Inland Kenworth in Prince<br />
George.<br />
Brother Brad Kurtz being presented with his Provincial<br />
Heavy Duty Mechanic Certificate of Qualification with Red<br />
Seal Endorsement by Brother Randy Grisewood (Training<br />
Coordinator) and Brother Colin Herbert (Equipment Repairs &<br />
Maintenance Manager) at Mainland Sand & Gravel.<br />
Brother Aaron Willison being presented with his Heavy Duty<br />
Mechanic Certificate of Qualification with Interprovincial Red<br />
Seal Endorsement at Fraser River Pile & Dredge’s yard in New<br />
Westminster. Pictured from left to right are Brothers Tony Pires,<br />
Mark Jorgensen, Matt Green, Dan Shellard, Aaron Willison,<br />
Randy Grisewood (Training Coordinator), Rey Bernier and Ken<br />
Jorgensen.<br />
Brother Matt Beemer being presented with his Mobile Crane<br />
Operator - Lattice Boom Hydraulic Certificate of Qualification<br />
with Interprovincial Red Seal Endorsement by Brother Randy<br />
Grisewood (Training Coordinator).<br />
Brother Brian Koch (Instructor) providing a Fall Protection<br />
course at GWIL Cranes yard in Burnaby. Pictured left to right<br />
are Brothers Darren Suehsschlaf (Training Coordinator), Brian<br />
Koch(Instructor), Bob MacMillan, Rob Farrow, Calvin Meier, Justin<br />
Mainville, Jason Bjur, Nick Di Palma, Brent Faminoff and Randy<br />
Grisewood (Training Coordinator).<br />
Mobile Crane Level 2 class. Pictured left to right are<br />
Brothers Craig Weatherly, Simon Sohrabi, Shane Drombolis,<br />
Kevin Hildebrandt, Nick DiPalma, Glen Seeley (Instructor),<br />
Mark McGregor (Instructor), Randy Grisewood (Training<br />
Coordinator), Grant Washington (Instructor). I would like to<br />
take this opportunity to thank Brothers Glen Seeley and Grant<br />
Washington for spending a few days at the Training Site working<br />
with the students on Pile Driving. Lending their expertise and<br />
time is very much appreciated. Thanks again.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 27
Training Association Report<br />
Heavy Equipment Operator class. Pictured left to right are<br />
Brothers and Sisters Steve Carter (Instructor), Justin Godler, Nicki<br />
Hein, Adam Halvorson, Gordon Newby, Corbin Shamley, Jennifer<br />
Howey, Brandon Tomelin, Fabian Grancaric, Steve Zanatta, Nolan<br />
Doornberg, Robyn Bishop (Instructor).<br />
Brother Jonathan Klassen being presented with his Provincial<br />
Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate of Qualification with<br />
Articulated Haul Truck Endorsement from Brother Randy<br />
Grisewood (Training Coordinator).<br />
Brother Gordon Lindberg<br />
(Instructor) putting on a<br />
Rigging course for members<br />
working for Lafarge at Pitt<br />
River Quarries. Brother<br />
Randy Grisewood (Training<br />
Coordinator) and Brother<br />
Frank Carr (Business<br />
Representative) were visiting<br />
the jobsite.<br />
Brother Doug Younger (Worksafe Prevention Officer and member<br />
of Local 115) suspended in his harness during a Fall Arrest course<br />
with Brother Steve Carter (Instructor) holding the rope. Worksafe<br />
utilized our Training Site to have a Fall Arrest course delivered to<br />
6 of their prevention officers.<br />
Brother Jarrett Neufeld being presented with his Provincial<br />
Mobile Crane Operator – Lattice Boom Friction Certificate of<br />
Qualification with Red Seal Endorsement by Brother Darren<br />
Suehsschlaf (Training Coordinator).<br />
28 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Training Association Report<br />
Brother Gurjit Bancy being presented with his Provincial Truck<br />
and Transport Mechanic Certificate of Qualification by Brother<br />
Darren Suehsschlaf (Training Coordinator). Brother Bancy works<br />
for First Truck Center Vancouver Inc. in Port Kells.<br />
Brother Frank Carr (Business Representative) delivering a Union<br />
Orientation course to the Mobile Crane Common Core class.<br />
Pictured left to right are Brothers Wes Bauder (Instructor), Adam<br />
Beaton, Dean Knuff, Kyle Laprairie, Gian Grewal, John Babcock,<br />
Frank Carr (Business Representative) and Dean Kenny.<br />
Mobile Crane Lattice Friction Level 2 class. Pictured left to<br />
right are Brothers Richard Conway, Kevin Paul, Mark McGregor<br />
(Instructor), Matthew Clarke and Rob Swan.<br />
Brother Michael Schaap being presented with his Provincial<br />
Certificate of Qualification for Parts and Warehousing Person 1<br />
by Brother Darren Suehsschlaf (Training Coordinator). Brother<br />
Schaap works for National Truck Center in Port Kells.<br />
Brother Mason Randall operating an 80 ton Linkbelt<br />
crane in Fraser River Pile & Dredge’s yard assisting in the<br />
re-assembly of their re-built 50 ton Link Belt crane.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 29
Member Recognition<br />
Name Age Date Passed Name Age Date Passed<br />
Brown, Walter 87 November 21, 2014<br />
Candiago, Giuseppe 70 November 23, 2014<br />
Dorrell, James 89 November 28, 2014<br />
Dutka, Metro 89 November 15, 2014<br />
Gillard, Brandon 54 November 5, 2014<br />
Gott, Wade 43 November 23, 2014<br />
Hall, Jeffrey 48 November 24, 2014<br />
McClure, Craig 62 November 11, 2014<br />
Milligan, Glen 74 November 24, 2014<br />
Quirk, Dave 66 November 14, 2014<br />
Schmidt, William 67 November 3, 2014<br />
Stevenson, James 59 November 27, 2014<br />
Tan, Kay 70 November 8, 2014<br />
Walcot, Phillip 71 November 27, 2014<br />
Whitbread, Shane 46 November 22, 2014<br />
Woodman, Harry 94 November 21, 2014<br />
Biddle, James 80 December 4, 2014<br />
Bolla, Frank 86 December 26, 2014<br />
Clouston, James 93 December 27, 2014<br />
Delorme, Emmanuel 87 December 15, 2014<br />
Geisheimer, Brian 30 December 28, 2014<br />
Gray, John 86 December 1, 2014<br />
Hoffman, Elmer 76 December 20, 2014<br />
Hogan, Gary 69 December 14, 2014<br />
Klan, Dan 81 December 3, 2014<br />
Neher, John 68 December 24, 2014<br />
Palatin, Tom 64 December 22, 2014<br />
Pilkey, Roger 78 December 4, 2014<br />
Raosavljevich, Wm. 86 December 14, 2014<br />
Robison, Richard 85 December 5, 2014<br />
Stoutenberg, Terry 63 December 20, 2014<br />
Street, Gordon 85 December 23, 2014<br />
Davis, Douglas 74 January 5, <strong>2015</strong><br />
Fuller, Donald 78 January 4, <strong>2015</strong><br />
McNamara, Richard 68 January 3, <strong>2015</strong><br />
Roshinsky, Ronald 76 January 12, <strong>2015</strong><br />
Sutherland, Andrew 83 January 15, <strong>2015</strong><br />
The following members were not included in the<br />
last newsletter as we were notified of their death<br />
after publication.<br />
Jones, Edgar 87 October 27, 2014<br />
Patterson, Earl 75 October 27, 2014<br />
Scorgie, Kenneth 70 October 23, 2014<br />
Members who passed away<br />
November 2014 to January 15, <strong>2015</strong><br />
30 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
- Brother Lloyd Jones is being congratulated by District 3 Organizer Brother Bryan Railton<br />
Membership Service Awards<br />
Honouring our members<br />
OUR 60-YEAR MEMBERS<br />
Brother Donald Nichols with District 3 Business Representative<br />
Brother Brad Gerow.<br />
Brother Lloyd Jones is being congratulated by District 3<br />
Organizer Brother Bryan Railton.<br />
OUR 50-YEAR MEMBERS<br />
Bill Elephantstone<br />
Brother James Mainer pictured<br />
with his 50 Year Watch.<br />
Brother John Patton is being congratulated by President Brother<br />
Wayne Mills.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 31
Membership Service Awards<br />
OUR 50-YEAR MEMBERS<br />
Brother Lance Jones is being congratulated by District 3<br />
Organizer Brother Bryan Railton.<br />
Brother Matthew (Matt) Smillie is being congratulated by District<br />
3 Organizer Brother Bryan Railton.<br />
District 3 Business Representative Brother Brad Gerow<br />
congratulating Brother Wayne Amies with his Grandson Tim and<br />
Son Mitch (3 generations of Operating Engineers).<br />
Brother William McNab is being congratulated by District 3<br />
Organizer Brother Bryan Railton.<br />
SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES<br />
<strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115 offers six different bursaries and scholarships<br />
for members and their families. Application deadlines are<br />
throughout the year. Check our website for more details.<br />
• Pipe Line Contractors’<br />
Cal Callaham Memorial Bursary<br />
• Donald Smith Scholarship<br />
• M.L. (Mike) Parr Bursary or Bursaries<br />
• <strong>IUOE</strong> Local 115 Credit Union<br />
Pioneers’ Bursary<br />
• <strong>IUOE</strong> Canadian Conference Bursary<br />
• B.C. Building Trades Council<br />
Fred Randall Bursary<br />
iuoe115.com/for-members/scholarships<br />
32 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Membership Service Awards<br />
OUR 40-YEAR MEMBERS<br />
OUR 20-YEAR MEMBERS<br />
Brother Jack Silzer is being congratulated by District 3<br />
Business Representative Brother Brad Gerow.<br />
Brother Ed Walcot receiving congratulations from District 2<br />
Business Representative Brother Curtis Harold. Brother Walcot<br />
passed shortly after this photo was taken. He was the owner of<br />
Walco Industries and was a fair contractor. Brother Walcot said<br />
“he could not be prouder to be a part of the Operating Engineers<br />
as a member and a contractor.”<br />
SCHOLARSHIPS<br />
Business Manager Brother Brian Cochrane awarding Ciera<br />
Tremblay the Mike Parr Bursary, with her stepfather Brother<br />
Lincoln Petkau and President Brother Wayne Mills looking on.<br />
Jess Rake with his Father Brother Edward ‘Jim’ Rake, receiving the<br />
Mike Parr Bursary award from District 4 Business Representative<br />
Wayne Kemp.<br />
Corrections Notice<br />
In the December 2014 issue of OE <strong>News</strong>, there were two<br />
errors in the Service Awards section.<br />
Page 27 50 Year Members: Pictured with Brother Bryan<br />
Railton was Rob Fleming (Brother Fleming’s name was spelt<br />
incorrectly).<br />
Page 29 50 Year Members: Pictured with Brother Curtis<br />
Harold was John Patton (Brother Patton’s first name was<br />
incorrect).<br />
Business Manager Brother Brian Cochrane awarding Gurkiran<br />
Parmar the Mike Parr Bursary, with her Father Brother Ajit Parmar<br />
and President Wayne Mills.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 33
Member Recognition<br />
Welcome to our 300 new Local 115 members<br />
Paul Aciek<br />
Derek Addison<br />
Heherson Aggabao<br />
Osamah Ahmad<br />
Preston Aitchison<br />
Tyler Akre<br />
Michael Alexander<br />
Ali Ali<br />
Alan Amolar<br />
Garett Anatole<br />
Sidney Andersen<br />
Kyle Anderson<br />
Trent Andres<br />
Eliasim N Aninon<br />
Fernando Aparri<br />
Emeterio Aquino<br />
Brett Arki<br />
Andrew G Armstrong<br />
Fatmir Ashiku<br />
Wilson D Atkinson<br />
Brian Baekgaard<br />
Jason Bailey<br />
Herveer Bains<br />
Ranvir Bains<br />
Doner Balisacan<br />
Joey Bankier<br />
Mike Barisoff<br />
Christina Beekink<br />
Gordon Bentley<br />
Brien Bernard<br />
Justun Bevis<br />
Inderjit Bhabba<br />
Jason Bjur<br />
Melanie Blair<br />
Les Bocking<br />
Michael D Bodnaruk<br />
Kenneth Bonson<br />
Bon BonZon<br />
Michael R Boon<br />
Jody Bowley<br />
Larry Briere<br />
Lucas Brown<br />
Michael Brown<br />
Edward Bueckert<br />
John Bullen<br />
David Burgess<br />
Rommel Cabantog<br />
Greg Campbell<br />
Christopher Casha<br />
David Castellani<br />
Ruel Castillo<br />
Eugene Chamberland<br />
Sidney T Charman<br />
Bryon Chisholm<br />
Frederick Clement<br />
Tyler Clifford<br />
Craig Combs<br />
Jaimelito Conde<br />
Caden Cook<br />
Sean Cooke<br />
Jason Cote<br />
Jessica Coutts<br />
Owen Crampton<br />
Mike Cross<br />
Billy Cruz<br />
Robert Cruz<br />
Candace M Curtin<br />
Clark Cutler<br />
Stephen J Daly<br />
Calvin D Dalzell<br />
Cortney Darling<br />
Jeremy Delorme<br />
Nick DeMerchant<br />
Joe Deschenes<br />
Karly DesJardins<br />
Darrell Deugau<br />
Manoj Devasia<br />
Kultar Dhaliwal<br />
Andrew Dieleman<br />
Paul Dilts<br />
Mariano Dionisio<br />
Mike Dionne<br />
Sanjay Dlima<br />
Ricky Dorado<br />
Timothy Duhn<br />
Keith Duncan<br />
Daniel S Durocher<br />
Richard Dyck<br />
Lesley Edwards<br />
Jamie Eimer<br />
Wayne Esau<br />
Gorden Esford<br />
Randal Evans<br />
Arthur Ewing<br />
Steven Farrell<br />
Glenn Fawcett<br />
Eduardo E Fehr<br />
Philip Fick<br />
Jarred Fiessel<br />
Shawn Fox<br />
James French<br />
Earl Fried<br />
Valentino Fronda<br />
Akoj Garang<br />
Jedd Gaudreault<br />
Jordan Gies<br />
Kevin Girroir<br />
Denis Godard<br />
Ryan C Gogo<br />
Scott Gordon<br />
Anthony Goreham<br />
Andy Grewal<br />
Pavandeep Grewal<br />
Gavin Grey<br />
Sean Griffiths<br />
Cassidy Haber<br />
Cole Hagen<br />
Brandon Hahn<br />
Edward P Harper<br />
Leonard Harry<br />
Nigel Haywood<br />
Tony Hebb<br />
Michelle Henderson<br />
Richard A Henry<br />
Bernd Hentze<br />
Ralph Herfort<br />
David Hills<br />
David Hillyard<br />
Mathew N Hoekstra<br />
Dave Hoffman<br />
Neil Holland<br />
Terrence Holmes<br />
Amadeo Hona<br />
Bob Horning<br />
Charles Hrabec<br />
Randy Hudson<br />
Leanne E Hughf<br />
Davin Humphrey<br />
Amanda Hutchinson<br />
Mark Ignacio<br />
Michael Irving<br />
Marol Jal<br />
Gerd Jochimski<br />
Craig Johnson<br />
Geoff Johnson<br />
Matthew Johnson<br />
Landon Kerr<br />
Ashwat Khan<br />
Zachary Killam<br />
Kris Knox<br />
Kody F Kokoszka<br />
Teo Kovac<br />
Michael Krogel<br />
Derek Kuharchuk<br />
Fred Landon<br />
Jeff Lannoo<br />
Zachary Lavallee<br />
Nicholas Lawrence<br />
Jeff Lefebvre<br />
Lawrie Lennartz<br />
Craig Leslie<br />
Aaron Liddicoat<br />
Mike Linaker<br />
Tristan Lloyd<br />
Justin Locke<br />
Quinell Lockwood<br />
Matthew MacBride<br />
Bo Mahon<br />
Peter Maidment<br />
Sabrina Main<br />
Talwinter Mann<br />
Peppi R Marinelli<br />
Michelle A Marlatt<br />
Andre Martin<br />
Jackie Martindale<br />
Kevin McBeath<br />
Jeremy McCasey<br />
Gregory McDonald<br />
Brandon McDowell<br />
Tyler McFarlan<br />
Jim McKinnon<br />
Aurelio Mercado<br />
David Metzler<br />
Robert Middlekoop<br />
Nick S Miguel<br />
Kathleen Miller<br />
Shawn Milligan<br />
Brad Milne<br />
Jim Moilliet<br />
Graham Moleski<br />
John Moore<br />
Najibullah Naseri<br />
James Neale<br />
Kyle Nelson<br />
Bradley E Neros<br />
Kien-Trung Ngo<br />
Jason Nguyen<br />
Christian Nicerio<br />
Robert Noble<br />
Nasir Nur<br />
Tanya Nyakas<br />
Johnson Ochieng<br />
Patrick O’Connell<br />
Tom Ohisa<br />
Basil Oliver<br />
Michael Olkanych<br />
Shaylene Osborne<br />
John Ostendorf<br />
Jerry Owen<br />
Gillian Paddon<br />
Lucas E Page<br />
Ethan Palmberg<br />
Maulik Pandit<br />
Ryan Pantlin<br />
Ryan Paradis<br />
Taylor Paulson<br />
34 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Member Recognition<br />
Membership Service Awards<br />
Rick Penner<br />
Dante K Pescador<br />
Raymond Pezel<br />
Hans Podzun<br />
Brent Pool<br />
Marilyn Porter<br />
Dustin T Pospolita<br />
Jacob Powszedny<br />
Eric Prison<br />
Jim Raif<br />
Joel Rambac<br />
Michael Ramirez<br />
Chris Redshaw<br />
Glen Reece<br />
Trevor Rochon<br />
Calloway P Roller<br />
Wade E Rowan<br />
Sean Salter<br />
Raul San Mateo<br />
Stephen Sandar<br />
Aaron Sauer<br />
Thomas Schlamp<br />
Adam Schlueter<br />
Chris Schwindt<br />
Daniel W Sellers<br />
Zachary Sharlow<br />
Jonathan Shaw<br />
Navjot Sidhu<br />
Steve Sims<br />
Gursewak Singh<br />
Veron Singh<br />
Run Chang Siu<br />
Alex Smith<br />
Derek Smith<br />
Jerry Soliman<br />
Maureen Spence<br />
Anders Starheim<br />
Jay Steinke<br />
Brad Stewart<br />
Jamie Stewart<br />
Joseph C Strachan<br />
Antonio Studer<br />
Dayne Sutherland<br />
Travis Sutthery<br />
Reynaldo Taburada<br />
Tim Tailleur<br />
Douglas L Taves<br />
Ted Thomas<br />
Jason D Tiessen<br />
Robert Tisdale<br />
Shawn Tomlinson<br />
Kyle Torry<br />
Ted Towne<br />
Peggy R Tremblay<br />
Tyler Trethewey<br />
Joseph Tuff<br />
Manuel Tumulak<br />
James Vallee<br />
George Vanderdeen<br />
Ryan VanLaar<br />
David Varner<br />
Ruperto Villano<br />
Chris Visser<br />
Preston Vroom<br />
Boden Wangler<br />
Jeff Washington<br />
David Watts<br />
Erik Whittington<br />
James Whyte<br />
Daylen Williams<br />
Brian Williamson<br />
Ricaldo Wilson<br />
Joshua Winchar<br />
Kurt Witt<br />
Keith Wood<br />
David Woytula<br />
Joe S Yacovelli<br />
Evan York<br />
Michael York<br />
Recordo Young<br />
Ryan Young<br />
Kelvin Zentner<br />
Trent Ziegeman<br />
Gary Zylan<br />
OCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2014<br />
10 year service pin<br />
George Andjelic<br />
Jason C Bourassa<br />
Tim Brown<br />
Jayne Buckner<br />
Alan L Christensen<br />
James A Dawson<br />
Robert R De Pfyffer<br />
Dwayne D Decol<br />
Luke M Dennis<br />
Allan G Dick<br />
Tomas M Dosil<br />
Glenn R Duggan<br />
Michael R Elliott<br />
Zoltan Esceley<br />
Jerry Geddes<br />
Michael D Goldie<br />
Peter D Halliwell<br />
Douglas J Hammond<br />
Anthony A Houska<br />
Leland A Humphrey<br />
Troy H Jackson<br />
Raymond S Johnson<br />
Wylie Johnson<br />
John Jones<br />
Jim B Lastiwka<br />
Danbo Liu<br />
Rino Luison<br />
Wade M Macadam<br />
Mario Martic<br />
Dale B Masse<br />
Dustin R McAuley<br />
Wayne R McGann<br />
Douglas B Meadows<br />
Brad C Merrifield<br />
Ron J Miller<br />
Ken N Nummela<br />
Ron J Ostrowercha<br />
Roman Palaszewski<br />
Bhupinder S Panag<br />
William G Perepolkin<br />
Randy H Perry<br />
Spencer T Pilling<br />
Gurjeevan S Poonia<br />
Adrian A Regan<br />
Robert G Regan<br />
Joe Roberts<br />
Rob S Roine<br />
Glenn N Savard<br />
Jay F Schlitz<br />
Randall M Slett<br />
Michael W Smith<br />
Kjell E Sorensen<br />
Rocky J Tubbs<br />
Clinton R Tuftin<br />
Gary F Tuttle<br />
Robert L Ungaro<br />
Andrew C Veitch<br />
Erin M Von<br />
Wittgenstein<br />
Jason D Wallach<br />
Chad A Walton<br />
Colin Wong<br />
20 year service pin<br />
Carey A Atchison<br />
Lorenzo Barausse<br />
Terry A Bassanses<br />
John M Beaulieu<br />
Malcolm A Boudreau<br />
Leonard R Bowman<br />
Sean D Broderick<br />
Kevin D Chambers<br />
Justin L Degeorgio<br />
Brian M Dusenbury<br />
Michael A Hall<br />
John J Harder<br />
Bruce Hollett<br />
Casey K Hoy<br />
Maurice G Huber<br />
Ron W Humphries<br />
Dale E Johns<br />
Albert K Johnson<br />
Ken F Jorgensen<br />
Mark F Jorgensen<br />
Jamie W Kroeker<br />
James H Lamb<br />
Bradley G Lewis<br />
Delbert D MacDonald<br />
Michael A Marks<br />
Scott McBryde<br />
Ronald H McCaughan<br />
Al L Meinen<br />
Gordon J Mitt<br />
Martin E Mosley<br />
John H Mussell<br />
Shauna L Nash<br />
Peter Nielsen<br />
Jack G Peebles<br />
Charles R Rennehan<br />
Dan L Shortill<br />
Doug A Stephen<br />
Keith G Taggart<br />
Emanuele Verrelli<br />
Michael J Winterholt<br />
30 year service pin<br />
Ernest W Beharrell<br />
Douglas W Essensa<br />
Earl E Fisher<br />
Robert P Kermode<br />
William S Kopiyka<br />
William A Lawson<br />
Malcolm H MacCallum<br />
Maurice M Malcolm<br />
See next page<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 35
Member Recognition<br />
From previous page<br />
Joseph M Braico<br />
Gordon A Lindberg<br />
Robert A Richardson<br />
Robert C West<br />
Fred Markin<br />
George A McLaren<br />
Jim M McLean<br />
Darren E Merrick<br />
Ronald J Patterson<br />
Roland N Renton<br />
Jack R Rotar<br />
Mahindar S Sangha<br />
Kenny J Smith<br />
Ron E Tadei<br />
Grahame P Wilson<br />
40 year service pin<br />
Thomas F Albrecht<br />
Reynold H Amey<br />
Lennart A Andersson<br />
John P Anttila<br />
Hilario F Antunes<br />
Thomas E Bagot<br />
Peter J Baillie<br />
Wayne R Ballantyne<br />
Willi Beier<br />
Rudolf F Bernert<br />
Alan J Blyth<br />
Hugh Booth<br />
Norman H Chapple<br />
Ed T Clarke<br />
Marcel A Cochet<br />
Henry Coombs<br />
Michael R Davison<br />
Lloyd A Ducharme<br />
Richard R Edwards<br />
Brian F Elders<br />
Ross P Fagan<br />
William G Fitzgerald<br />
Rick A Flumerfelt<br />
James R Gabor<br />
Walter H Gale<br />
John Giesbrecht<br />
Bradly J Goldney<br />
Glen C Greenwood<br />
James A Hamilton<br />
Doug A Henry<br />
Ron D Hupper<br />
Michael Iannidinardo<br />
Lawrence N Johansen<br />
Craig A Kinnear<br />
Gary R Kinnear<br />
Arthur G Lebrun<br />
J. C. Alex Lee<br />
Lenard G Lippert<br />
Leslie A Lohr<br />
Petr Lucik<br />
Jim E Lundine<br />
Robert D MacDowell<br />
John D Martens<br />
James E McGovern<br />
Alfred B McGowan<br />
Mark W McKinnon<br />
Fred M McMurray<br />
Cecil L McRae<br />
Robert P McWilliams<br />
Richard B Menzies<br />
Attilio J Merola<br />
Gordon J Minet<br />
Clint H Moss<br />
Edward Nowee<br />
Hugh S Ogilvie<br />
Wayne P Orcutt<br />
Robert W Paddison<br />
Mario Palcich<br />
Daniel K Patterson<br />
John D Pearson<br />
Ray R Poilievre<br />
Dennis L Ramsey<br />
Carl F Rietze<br />
Alan R Robison<br />
Claude K Rochon<br />
Robert J Rowse<br />
Branko Sakic<br />
Beverly R Sampert<br />
Vincent Santucci<br />
Robert J Scheirer<br />
Donald L Scotney<br />
Leagh T Shandler<br />
William T Shannon<br />
Kris S Sigurdur<br />
Reginald W Simmonds<br />
Alan Simpson<br />
Les G Stevens<br />
Leroy N Strandberg<br />
Francis J Suek<br />
Charles W Supernault<br />
Douglas G Van de<br />
Kerckhove<br />
Ron M Walberg<br />
Allen B Walch<br />
Brad J Wallace<br />
Wallace T Watchell<br />
Thomas O Webster<br />
William J Wells<br />
Howard T Wong<br />
John Zalewski<br />
50 year<br />
service watch<br />
Claude J Belisle<br />
Vlado Bulic<br />
Delbert N Crum<br />
Norman Harry<br />
Eugene W Lemauviel<br />
Wilfred H Olson<br />
Raymond L Poitras<br />
Edward Riemer<br />
Lee V Schille<br />
Clarence F Simon<br />
George M Smith<br />
Doug G Stowe<br />
Kenneth J Wakeman<br />
Anthony C Wood<br />
60 year service<br />
plaque and vest<br />
Helmut O Bahr<br />
Frank W Warren<br />
Pensions Awarded<br />
NOVEMBER 2014<br />
Blair, Brian<br />
Deptuck, Dennis<br />
Eliuk, Jason<br />
Friend, David<br />
Gardner, Bradley<br />
Johnson, Allister<br />
Klimek, Richard<br />
Penner, Douglas<br />
Peterson, Alfred<br />
Player, Lorne<br />
Skinner, Howard<br />
Uphill, Donald<br />
DECEMBER 2014<br />
Adams, Bruce<br />
Alton, John<br />
Bauder, Kenneth<br />
Brewer, Terrence<br />
Carter, Kenneth<br />
Court, Colin<br />
Crema, Danny<br />
Dyck, Kenneth<br />
Edwards, Richard<br />
Gordon, Robert<br />
Hudson, George<br />
Law, Ivan<br />
Mackay, Danny<br />
Orcutt, Wayne<br />
Partaik, David<br />
Phillips, Kevin<br />
Pomponio, Charles<br />
Rutkowski, Ronald<br />
Stockbrugger, Jim<br />
Williams, Terry<br />
Wisdom, Barry<br />
JANUARY <strong>2015</strong><br />
Allen, William<br />
Birss, Randall<br />
Clarke, John<br />
Deneer, Ricardo<br />
Dimovics, Karoly<br />
Driedger, Brian<br />
Dwyer, Michael<br />
Fitzpatrick, John<br />
Fontaine, Achille<br />
Forde, David<br />
Hartnell, Bret<br />
Landry, Raymond<br />
Marchuk, Edwin<br />
Stevens, Les<br />
Young, Harry<br />
Please note:<br />
The following member<br />
was not included in<br />
the last newsletter as<br />
his retirement was<br />
processed late<br />
OCTOBER 2014<br />
Taylor, Brian<br />
36 <strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong>
Contact Details<br />
Local 115 District Offices<br />
District 1 and Main Office<br />
4333 Ledger Ave., Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3T3<br />
Phone: 604-291-8831 Toll Free: 1-888-486-3115 Fax: 604-473-5235<br />
E-mail: iuoe@iuoe115.com Online: www.iuoe115.com<br />
Business Manager: Brian Cochrane<br />
President: Wayne E. Mills<br />
Mgr. Administration & Special Projects: Lynda Arland<br />
Office Manager: Arlene Lindsay<br />
Business Representatives<br />
Frank Carr Brett Chapman Everett Cummings<br />
Chip Dhaliwal Tom Kinnear Craig McIntosh Don Swerdan<br />
Dispatcher<br />
Jim Flynn: 604-473-5231<br />
Director of Organizing<br />
Brian Lefebvre<br />
Organizing Representatives<br />
Rob Duff: 604-473-5206<br />
John Munro: 604-473-5272<br />
Bryan Railton: 250-320-4840<br />
Benefits and Pension Plans<br />
Shawn Hatch, Administrator<br />
Training Association<br />
Brad Randall, Administrator<br />
District 2<br />
Vancouver Island:<br />
Curtis Harold, Business Representative<br />
35 Wharf Street, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2X3<br />
Mailing Address: PO Box 213 Stn A, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5K9<br />
Phone: 250-754-4022 Fax: 250-754-5513<br />
District 3<br />
Kamloops-Revelstoke-Okanagan:<br />
Brad Gerow, Business Representative<br />
785 Tranquille Road<br />
Kamloops, B.C. V2B 3J3<br />
Phone: 250-554-2278 Fax: 250-554-1766<br />
District 4<br />
Central Interior-Yellowhead:<br />
Herb Conat & Wayne Kemp, Business Representatives<br />
Unit B, 3339 8th Avenue<br />
Prince George, B.C. V2M 1N1<br />
Phone: 250-563-3669 Fax: 250-563-3603<br />
District 5<br />
Peace River and Yukon Territory:<br />
Mike Spiruda, Business Representative & Organizer<br />
Site 20, Comp 19 SS2<br />
Fort St. John, B.C. V1J 4M7<br />
Phone: 250-787-9594 Fax: 250-787-9491<br />
Tumbler Ridge Mining Office:<br />
220 Main Street, Tumbler Ridge, B.C. V0C 2W0<br />
Phone: 250-242-3888 Fax: 250-242-3881<br />
District 6<br />
East and West Kootenays:<br />
Rob Foskett, Business Representative<br />
103 Centennial Square, Sparwood, B.C V0B 2G0<br />
Mailing Address: PO Box 1567, Sparwood, B.C. V0B 2G0<br />
Phone: 250-425-2161 Toll Free: 1-888-605-9955 Fax: 250-425-2166<br />
Meeting Notices<br />
District 1<br />
BURNABY: 1st Thursday of every month<br />
7:30p.m. at 4333 Ledger Ave., Burnaby<br />
Except March & September (due to General Membership Meeting)<br />
District 2<br />
Monthly meeting locations alternate:<br />
NANAIMO: 2nd Monday of odd months<br />
6:00p.m at the Coast Bastion Inn, 11 Bastion St.<br />
VICTORIA: 2nd Wednesday of even months<br />
6:00p.m. at the Pro Pat Legion Branch 31, #292 - 411 Gorge Rd. E.<br />
CAMPBELL RIVER/COURTENAY:<br />
Members will be advised of meeting date, time and place.<br />
District 3<br />
Monthly meeting locations alternate:<br />
KAMLOOPS: 2nd Thursday of even months<br />
7:30p.m. at the Union Hall, 785 Tranquille Rd.<br />
KELOWNA: 2nd Tuesday of odd months<br />
7:00p.m. at the Teamsters Hall, 185 Froelich Rd.<br />
District 4<br />
PRINCE GEORGE: 2nd Wednesday of each month<br />
8:00p.m. at Coast Inn of the North, 770 Brunswick St.<br />
PRINCE RUPERT, TERRACE, KITIMAT, SMITHERS:<br />
Members will be advised of meeting dates and times.<br />
District 5<br />
Monthly meeting locations alternate:<br />
FORT ST. JOHN: 2nd Tuesday of odd months<br />
7:30p.m. at the Masonic Hall, 10441 100th Ave.<br />
DAWSON CREEK: 2nd Tuesday of even months<br />
7:30p.m. at the George Dawson Inn, 11705 8th St.<br />
TUMBLER RIDGE/PEACE RIVER COAL:<br />
Members will be advised of meeting date, time and place.<br />
WHITEHORSE:<br />
Teamsters Hall, 407 Black St.<br />
Members will be advised of meeting dates and times.<br />
District 6<br />
Monthly meeting locations alternate:<br />
CASTLEGAR—1st Wednesday of odd months<br />
7:00p.m. at the Super 8 Inn, 651 18th St.<br />
CRANBROOK—1st Tuesday of even months<br />
7:00p.m. at the Labour Centre (Boardroom), 105 9th Ave. South<br />
ELK VALLEY COAL CORP:<br />
Line Creek Mine<br />
Members will be advised of meeting dates and times.<br />
<strong>News</strong> March <strong>2015</strong> 37
A completed pipeline<br />
in British Columbia.<br />
Many people do not understand the care and expertise spent building a major pipeline.<br />
Operating Engineers work to the strictest environmental standards, so that often the surrounding habitat<br />
is in a better state than it was beforehand. Our families live and work here too,<br />
so we want the safest, cleanest pipeline project in the world.<br />
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 115<br />
With over 11,500 members and 80 years of experience<br />
in pipeline and resource projects<br />
Brian Cochrane, Business Manager.<br />
1-888-486-3115<br />
iuoe115.com