Gaining Ground Spring 2015

Gaining Ground
Together with Your Local Union
GROWTH • STABILITY • ENGAGEMENT • ACTION
BUSINESS MANAGER BRIAN COCHRANE REPORTS
OUR KEY ISSUES
A Member Survey, Pipelines,
Site C Dam and the opening
of our new Heritage Room
A Member Survey, Pipelines, Site C Dam and the
opening of the IUOE Local 115 Heritage room were
key topics at the IUOE Local 115 General Membership
Meeting held March 21st.
Business Manager Brian Cochrane spoke to the
167 members and 9 guests about the recent results
of the member survey, which showed strong support
for continued activism on behalf of infrastructure
projects that employ Operating Engineers. The
support and direction from the members for growing
the Union’s market share, increasing communication
and political activism was clear.
Over 88% of our members polled supported increased
lobbying efforts directed to government.
Members said they felt the Local had done more
to bring awareness and change to the Temporary
Foreign Workers Program than either the Federal or
Provincial governments. “That speaks volumes from
our members,” said Cochrane.
Members also showed strong support for increasing
recruitment and organizing activity in the ununionized
construction sector.
One of the major findings from the survey was
that over 80% of members polled were in favour
of more public support from the Union on pipeline
projects. Cochrane stated “We are a country that
moves energy, and clearly our members want their
voices heard on this matter”.
Cochrane added that Local 115 recently began
running an ad in support of responsible pipeline
construction which gives the Union credibility when
dealing with contractors. “We’ve gotten numerous
compliments from the pipeline companies on our
ads. Trans Mountain even took a picture of our ad
and posted it on their Twitter feed. They know we
are partners in these projects and they appreciate
the support”.
“MEMBERS SHOWED
STRONG SUPPORT
FOR INCREASING
RECRUITMENT
AND ORGANIZING
ACTIVITY IN THE
UN-UNIONIZED
CONSTRUCTION
SECTOR.”
IUOE LOCAL 115
BUSINESS MANAGER
BRIAN COCHRANE
Our members at the meeting commented on the
need for more social media presence, and some longer
term members commented that they recognize
sources like Twitter as being the way to receive and
communicate news and issues moving forward.
To assist with some of these key lobbying initiatives
and to increase communications, Cochrane announced
two new hires. Brother Andrew Hamilton
has been hired as a new Organizer for the northern
districts and will be located out of District 4’s Prince
George Office. And to assist in increasing communication
and social media presence, Ian Dawkins has
been hired as the new Communications Coordinator
out of the Burnaby office.
Cochrane reported that the Kitimat Modernization
Project (KMP) is winding down, and that it was
a huge project for Local 115. He said, “We want to
build on that success, and are looking for more projects
like that in the future. We are just waiting to see
if Petronas and these other companies finalize their
investments in B.C.”
“I believe that an important part of securing these
deals with companies like Petronas will be showing
them that they will have access to trained, skilled,
world-class workers. We want them to see that projects
such as KMP and the current John Hart Dam are
a success due to a PLA (Project Labour Agreement)
in place and to know that they can expect a stable
supply of skilled labour.”
“Aecon approached [the Building Trades] about
continued on next page
50 and 60 Year Service Award recipients inside the Heritage Room.
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS • GAINING GROUND • APRIL 2015

Local members signing up and adding their comments
at www.buildsitectogether.com
S
o
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK UP
about how B.C. Hydro is managing the
Site C project? Log on to
www.buildsitectogether.com
and add your voice!
continued from page 1
crafting a comprehensive PLA for the John Hart Dam,
because they knew it was the best way to do the job
on-time and on budget. And we’re seeing how well it
works right now. The John Hart dam site is efficient,
safe, and harmonious, and there’s no reason to step
away from that model. This model has been tried and
true for 50 years with the Allied Hydro Council”.
Cochrane made a point to contrast the success of
the John Hart Dam PLA with the ongoing turmoil and
controversy surrounding B.C. Hydro’s attempt to bar
union organizing at the upcoming Site C Dam project.
Cochrane informed the members and guests that
the BC Building Trades filed a civil suit just recently in
BC Supreme Court to prevent B.C. Hydro from switching
to an ‘open shop’ format that would curtail union
organizing on the costliest infrastructure project in
provincial history. B.C. Hydro’s bid to impose a new
labour model on the Site C mega project is being
challenged by the Building Trade Unions who have
managed the workforce on all the Crown’s large projects
over the past 50 years.
“We had to take B.C. Hydro to court, just to get the
Premier to come out and admit that under the constitution
of Canada, unions absolutely do have a right
to go to Site C and organize. Fortunately the Premier
came out right after we filed suit, and said Hydro was
wrong. However that is only the first battle in what
will likely be a larger war”.
Brother Cochrane told members that despite some
progress in the Site C fight, there remained considerable
work to be done, and that securing a comprehensive
PLA was key to ensuring that Site C was built
on time and on budget.
“The future of the building trades depends on this.
It will make careers for some of our young members,
and for our apprentices who need their training
hours”.
“THE BUILDING
TRADES ARE
LEADING THIS
[SITE C] FIGHT, BUT
THE REASON THEY
ARE DOING THAT IS
BECAUSE THEY ARE
BEING PUSHED BY
BROTHER COCHRANE
TO DO SO.”
IUOE LOCAL 115
PRESIDENT WAYNE
MILLS
“Our message to Hydro is simple: if you go forward
with this model you’ve proposed, and non-union or
rat union contractors get the work, we will be up
there every day organizing and advocating for good
working conditions and fairness on the site”.
While speaking under Good and Welfare on behalf
of General President Callahan, Brother Lionel Railton,
the International’s Canadian Director, also touched
on the Site C fight, acknowledging the International’s
commitment to support in Brother Cochrane’s
and Local 115’s fight for a PLA on the Site C project.
“This isn’t just a matter of concern to Local 115, it’s
a matter of concern to Operating Engineers across
Canada. Every other dam project in Canada is constructed
under a PLA: Muskrat Falls, Churchill Falls,
all of them. We can’t let this precedent be set,” Railton
said. “That fight starts in this room, and builds from
this room. With Brother Cochrane’s continued strong
leadership, we can do this.”
President Wayne Mills then echoed Brother Railton’s
words, adding, “The Building Trades are leading
this [Site C] fight, but the reason they are doing that is
because they are being pushed by Brother Cochrane
to do so. Make no mistake, Brother Cochrane and Local
115 are the real engine here”.
Cochrane then encouraged the membership to get
involved with this fight and to log on to the web at
www.buildsitectogether.com to add their voice.
Brother Cochrane finished his report by announcing
the opening and dedication of Local 115’s new
Heritage Room, a special area inside the Burnaby
office that will pull together items from the Union’s
long history, recognizing the men and women who
built Local 115. This area will serve to connect all of
our members to our heritage and understand what
our brothers and sisters of the past fought for, and
why we have the benefits and regulations we are so
priveleged to have in place today.
It was also noted that 2015 marks the 50th anniversary
of the Training Association, a major landmark
that speaks to the historical and continuing success
of our Union.
“We have lots to be proud of, and have achieved
much thanks to our past members and Directors. We
will always continue to honour our past, while building
our future,” Cochrane said.
Members and guests were invited after the GMM
to go to the 4th floor for the official opening of the
IUOE Local 115 Heritage room. See more on the back
cover.
Cl
M
Ch
Aw
Br
Ad
Lo
Se
m
sw
M
S
S
6
3

’s
s
-
s,
n
l-
g
s
e
-
i-
k
s
d
e
-
d
r
p
d
lf
,
d
-
’s
Scenes from
our GMM
Clockwise: March 2015 General
Membership Meeting Begins; Brother
Chris Carroll receiving the Mike Parr
Award from Business Manager Brother
Brian Cochrane and Training Association
Administrator Brother Brad Randall;
Long term members listening intently;
Several new initiates who have become
members over the last 6 months being
sworn in by Local 115 President Wayne
Mills.
g
t
t
-
y
’s
o
f
t
d
o
SERVICE AWARDS Members receive their long term service awards at the March 2015 General Membership meeting.
See June OE News for a full list of service award recipients.
60 YEARS 50 YEARS 40 YEARS
e
k
30 YEARS Brother Paul Lefebvre receiving his 50 year
service award watch from his son, Brother
Brian Lefebvre Recording Secretary and
Business Manager Brian Cochrane’
20 YEARS

IUOE 115’s NEW HERITAGE ROOM
Special area set aside to honour the Union’s history
As the General Membership Meeting concluded,
members and guests were encouraged
to visit the 4th floor to explore Local
115’s new Heritage Room, a special area set
aside in the Burnaby offices to honour the
Union’s history.
To recognize the achievements of our
long time members, service award recipients
and our past OE staff members were
asked to participate in commemorating the
day by having their pictures taken in the
new Heritage room with our current Business
Manager Brian Cochrane and President
Wayne Mills.
IUOE 115’s New Heritage room on the 4th
Floor of the Burnaby Office
Captured in the photo with our 50 and
60 year members on the front page (on
the far left next to Business Manager Brian
Cochrane) is Brother Bill Wright, who was
one of the Executive Committee members
44 years ago that had the foresight to create
the then-new headquarters in Burnaby (our
offices today).
Sister Lynda Arland, Local 115’s Manager
of Administration and Special Projects who
was responsible for executing the project,
Display cabinet of artifacts in the new
Heritage Room
said “This room was a labour of love for
all of us at Local 115. Brother Cochrane’s
vision was to create a special area in the
building to capture the history of Local 115.
The idea was to have pictures, items and
documents on display, giving guests and
members an opportunity to reflect proudly
on the Local’s remarkable 84 year history,
and to educate new members on their role
in shaping tomorrow’s British Columbia. We
wanted to have this area open and available
for our members and guests to see how the
work IUOE 115 does today connects to the
IUOE Local 115 Executive Board featured in
the New Heritage room in front of the story
board
work done by those members in the past –
and I think we have achieved that.”
“It was such a pleasure to work with our
long time members on this project. We
received pictures and artifacts, but more
importantly we got to hear the stories that
went along with these items. Learning
how our members built B.C. and to see how
proud they are of the projects they worked
on and just as proud being an IUOE Local
115 member was truly inspiring. It made
me even prouder to be a 115 member, and
for me personally it really reinforced that as
we build for the future, we should always
continue to remember and honour the past”.
Business Manager Brian Cochrane and
President Wayne Mills with some of our 40
Year Service Award recipients in the Heritage
Room
There will be further updates to the
room, such as producing a video that will
be played on the screens in the Heritage
Room showcasing our history. Pictures and
items will continue to be placed and rotated
through the area.
Brother Cohrane said “With our long history
we have a strong foundation to draw
on all kinds of documents and artifacts. This
room will be living history, connecting our
members to their past..
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF
OPERATING ENGINEERS •
4333 Ledger Avenue
Burnaby BC V5G 3T3
If you have any questions, comments or input, please contact us.
Call 604.291.8831 or 1.888.486.3115. Email us media@iuoe115.com.
Visit our website at www.iuoe115.com
PM#40011378
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40011378
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS • GAINING GROUND • APRIL 2015