International Operating Engineer - Spring 2018

Canadian News
Local 115 Promotes Community Building Standards
AFTER 16 YEARS, British Columbia has a government that
recognizes the benefits that unionized construction workers
bring to construction projects. The previous government
had rejected project labour agreements on major projects
and had suffered significant cost overruns using a “low-bid”
strategy on infrastructure projects as a result. Apprenticeship
completion rates have fallen to new lows across the province
as BC faces a looming shortage of skilled tradespeople.
During the 2017 election campaign, NDP Leader John
Horgan committed to using a “best-bid” strategy and
committed to a modernized project labour agreement called
a community benefit agreement. He explained that when
the government builds projects “there should be something
more” than just a completed structure. Since becoming
the 34th Premier of BC, he has announced that the Hwy 1
expansion from Kamloops to the Alberta border and the
Pattullo Bridge Replacement will be built using the new
community benefit agreement. IUOE Local 115 is negotiating
the terms of the agreement.
In support of the use of Community Benefit Agreements,
IUOE Local 115 in cooperation with the IUOE Canadian
Regional Office and the other pipeline trades have initiated
a new campaign supporting a new Community Building
Standard. The Community Building Standard ensures
that, through the use of Community Benefit Agreements,
major projects are constructed using three core principles
– a commitment to safety and quality, investment in trades
training, and leaving a positive community legacy.
A new website (www.buildingitright.ca) with supporting
Facebook and Twitter accounts support and promote the
campaign.
Two people that stand to benefit from the renewed
commitment to trades training are IUOE Local 115 member
Donna Ive and IUOE Training Association student Sidney
Dash.
Donna was employed for 10 years at a waste company,
operating a forklift and loader - she also helped to train
others. When new owners took over the facility that she
worked at after undercutting her employer’s bid for a contract
renewal, she and 87 others were out of a job. The new owners
slashed wages in half, cut benefits and got rid of the pension
plan. “Garbage is definitely different than dirt,” she says,
“I wanted to learn how to move dirt efficiently and operate
other equipment.” Now in a course to upgrade her skills at
IUOE Local 115’s Training Association, she looks forward to
using her skills to build it right on major projects.
22 year old Sidney Dash grew up around heavy equipment.
The daughter of a Heavy Duty Mechanic, Sidney loved riding
on the haul truck at the annual IUOE Training Association
[left] Local 115 member Donna Ive
[above] IUOE Training Association student Sydney Dash
[below, L to R] Assistant Business Manager Josh Towsley, President
Wayne Mills, Business Representative Mike Mayo, Business
Representative Tom Kinnear, B.C. Premier John Horgan, Treasurer
Frank Carr, Business Manager Brian Cochrane
[article & photos] IUOE Local 115
Open house. Sidney has worked low pay, low benefit jobs
in the retail sector since high school. When an opportunity
came to learn new skills at the IUOE Local 115 Training
Association, she took it. “I definitely think these machines
are extremely powerful and they create amazing things in the
world.” She looks forward to a career in the IUOE that will
provide her with a good wage and the ability to operate heavy
equipment.
“By promoting the Community Building Standard, IUOE
Local 115 is leading the industry toward safer, more inclusive
workplaces that give people like Donna and Sidney the
opportunity to complete their apprenticeships on projects
that create positive community legacies,” stated IUOE Local
115 Business Manager Brian Cochrane.
18 INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENGINEER
SPRING 2018
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