IUOE News December 2014

Union Organizing
Just another hurdle put in
place for unions by our
federal government
Rob Duff,
Organizer
With the upcoming amendment to the federal labour code
Bill C-525, our federal government will change the face of
organizing at the federal level to the
detriment of all unions. Claiming it’s all
about democracy and protecting
workers’ rights, while the effects of eliminating
card check are well known by
conservatives. Bill C-525 can be linked
directly to the Conservative Party’s
recent attack on undermining workers’ rights and Labour
unions.
Bill C-525 is a private member’s bill to amend federal union
certification and decertification rights. On June 5, 2013,
it is up to all of us to fight for
our rights and put a stop to
this madness our federal
government is proposing.
Conservative Alberta MP Blaine Calkins (Wetaskiwin) introduced
this Private Member’s bill into the House for First
Reading. Now the time is fast approaching that this bill will
become law, and further eroding the ability of Unions to organize
at the federal level.
Currently federal labour laws allow for what is known as
automatic certification or “card check”. The Federal labour
board can accept signed union membership cards as evidence
of support, or it can order a vote. Why do they want to get rid
of automatic certification based on the card
check? Because the evidence shows that eliminating
automatic certification or card check
makes it harder for workers to unionize. As
members of the Operating Engineers, it is up
to all of us to fight for our rights and put a stop
to this madness our federal government is
proposing. When do we say “enough is enough”?
Contact your local MP to voice your concerns:
www.parl.gc.ca/parlinfo/compilations/houseofcommons/
MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC
Let government know
you support Site C
Jim Flynn,
Dispatcher
Hello All! Well, I guess summer is over and we are finding
out why this is called the “Wet Coast”. As I write this report,
there have been a few dispatches for the John Hart Project,
and the Kitimat Project has kept most of the members
dispatched there working steady.
Now that the Site C Dam has passed its environmental
review, we will hopefully see this mega project start to move
Dispatcher’s Report
forward. Please let BC Hydro and the Government know that
this project needs to be built under the Allied Hydro Agreement.
Building it under this Agreement means good jobs for
BC workers, and it also helps the young workers to have a
chance for apprenticeships that will benefit the Province for
years to come.
From January 1, 2014 until September 30, 2014, our
districts filled orders as follows:
• District 1 – 506
• District 2 – 64
• District 3 – 186
• District 4 – 598
• District 5 – 69
• District 6 – 98
That is 1,521 orders filled in 10 months. In closing, I would
like to wish all the members and their families a Happy and
Healthy Holiday Season.
10 News December 2014