International Operating Engineer - Summer 2019

GEB Minutes
Local Union’s new Business
Manager is Dean Bushey.
Finally, Director Goff advised
the Board that the IUOE
Charity fund donations to
California fire victims in
Paradise was $207,000 and
Local 3 had donated $80,000.
Case No. 9
Canadian Region Report
Canadian Regional Director,
Lionel Railton provided
a status overview of the
Supervision of Local 904. He
reported that, based on his
recommendation, General
President Callahan had
ordered an election of officers
in Local 904. Director Railton
advised the Board that the
election was conducted by
the outside audit firm of
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
(PWC) and that the ballot
count took place on
December 18, 2018. He
stated that the results of
the election have been
certified by PWC that
Brother Terrence Hickey, Jr.
had been elected Business
Manager and President and
that members of the Hickey
slate had been elected to
the remaining offices and
Executive Board positions,
with the installation the
new officers taking place
on January 9, 2019. Director
Railton also updated the
Board on the ongoing
bankruptcy issues with
Astaldi Canada, the General
Contractor on the Muskrat
Falls Project. Astaldi has been
removed from site however
discussions continue
with Nalcor the provincial
corporation, which is
responsible for the project.
Brother Railton reported he
anticipates the full payment
of outstanding wages and
benefits. He also reported
the White Rose Gravity Base
Off-shore Drilling Structure
is progressing well and has
now reached 49 meters in
height.
Director Railton reported
collective bargaining has
been successfully completed
for the National Mainline
Pipeline and National
Pipeline Maintenance
Agreements. He stated that
a notice to negotiate had
been sent to the Pipe Line
Contractors of Canada for
the National Distribution
Pipeline Agreement. He
advised the Board that all
agreements would include
an hourly contribution to the
National Training Fund for
the International Training
Center. Brother Railton then
reported on jurisdictional
and organizing issues
throughout Canada.
Brother Railton reported
on ongoing work in the
Canadian Region as follows:
Enbridge Line 3 is entering
its third construction season
with final tie-ins and cleanup
to be completed; Banister
Pipelines continues work
on TCPL North Montney
Project, with reports
indicating that non-union
contractors working on this
project are struggling with
production and quality
control; discussions have
commenced with TCPL
regarding the Keystone XL
Project with the intent of
securing a project labor
agreement similar to the
agreement signed in the
U.S.; the Government of
Canada owner of the Trans
Mountain Expansion project
January 14, 2019
is continuing the additional
first nations consultation
with a final report scheduled
to be released on February
22, 2019.
Director Railton then
reported that according to
Local 115, the Green/NDP
Provincial Government
remains fragile. He reported
that a crucial By-Election
for the riding of Nanaimo,
BC is scheduled for January
30, 2019. He also stated that
the Community Benefits
Agreement reached with
the provincial government
has come under fire from
the non-union employer
associations and CLAC
signatories. He advised the
Board that the Canadian
Regional office continues
to assist Local 115 by way of
social media campaign and
lobbying efforts to support
the NDP Government.
Director Railton reported
Local 793 is celebrating
its 100th anniversary with
numerous membership
events scheduled throughout
2019. He advised the Board
that the Local started with 11
Members writing to General
President H.M. Comoford
requesting and receiving
their first Charter on
December 11, 1919. Director
Railton reported the Local
has seen substantive growth
in the last ten (10) years,
doubling its membership
during the period, with
Local 793 membership now
standing at 15,160 which is
the largest in Canada. He
reported on their plans for
the celebration. Brother
Railton reported the Local is
still actively negotiating with
Baffinland Iron Mines for a
voluntary recognition for the
employees employed at the
Baffin Island Mine.
Director Railton reported
that Local 865 and the
Canadian Regional office are
working with new Business
Manager, Sean Stortini and
assisting with bargaining
with Iron Range Bus Lines
and other related collective
agreement matters.
Director Railton reported that
Local 987 continues to work
through the ramifications of
Bill 28 – The Public Sector
Construction Projects
(Tendering) Act and Bill 29
– Healthcare Consolidation.
Director Railton reported
that both of these Bills will
have a profound impact on
the Local’s membership.
He reported that the
Canadian Regional office is
working with the Local and
Manitoba Building Trades
to coordinate fight back
campaigns.
Director Railton concluded
his report with an update
on government relations
activities. He reported that
2019 is a Federal Election
year and preparations are
underway. Brother Railton
reported on potential
implications of various bills.
Director Railton reported
that the Regional office
continues to work with
Minister Carr to develop
regulations for the use of
specialized workers and
intra-corporate transferees
under the Comprehensive
and Progressive Agreement
for Trans-Pacific Partnership
(CPTTP) Free Trade
Agreement.
Case No. 10
Construction Training
Report
Director of Construction
Training Chris Treml began
his report to the Board with
an overview of classes at the
ITEC that will be available
in 2019, including both
Instructor training courses,
as well as courses for the
general IUOE membership.
He reported that there were
95 H&P training events
scheduled to date with more
classes being scheduled on a
weekly basis.
Director Treml then reported
on the new crane rule by
OSHA effective November
10, 2018. He advised the
Board that a portion of the
new rule states that the
employer is responsible
for operator evaluations,
he stated that many Local
Unions are getting calls
from employers looking for
direction regarding this.
Brother Treml reported that
General President Callahan
gave his approval to form a
committee to discuss this
matter.
Director Treml then
informed the Board that
an increased number of
members are looking to take
their crane certification tests.
He reported that the ITEC
has progressed from offering
practical testing every other
month, to offering monthly
testing since October to meet
this growing demand.
Director Treml reported
on the popular self-erector
tower cranes and that some
Locals have brought their
classes to ITEC rather than
renting a crane at their own
Local Union training sites.
Director Treml reported that
he would be scheduling a
Train the Trainer course for
the self-erector tower cranes
so that more trainers can be
exposed to these types of
cranes.
Next, Director Treml
reported on the popularity
of the robotic equipment
in the industry and the
equipment manufacturer
Jekko has agreed to increase
their partnership with the
IUOE and add two more of
their cranes to the fleet at the
ITEC.
Director Treml reported
on new avenues of training
and explained to the Board
that he will be looking into
workforce development
training, as well as leadership
training for IUOE members
who take on foreman or
superintendent roles.
Director Treml reported
that Leica Geosystems has
entering into a new discount
purchase agreement with the
Locals. He reported that they
are also a manufacturer of
GPS components and there
would be a meeting coming
up to discuss obtaining some
of their equipment for use at
the ITEC.
Case No. 11
Stationary Department
Report
Director of Stationary
Development Mark Maierle
reported to the board on the
job duties and expectations
for his new position, as well as
for the positions of Director
of Stationary Administration
and Stationary Training
Coordinator. Brother Maierle
informed the Board that
General President Callahan
recently made an offer to an
applicant for the Stationary
Training Coordinator
position. Director Maierle
then concluded his report by
updating the Board on some
of the details of the Stationary
Department’s new strategic
plan that had been presented
to, and approved by, General
President Callahan in
December.
Case No. 12
Special Projects Report
Director of Special Projects
and Initiatives Rick Rehberg
reported to the Board that
some of his Special Projects
staff members have been
working with officials in
New York and New Jersey to
strengthen prevailing wage
laws and rules in those two
states. He also reported on
recent enforcement activities
in Michigan, Connecticut,
and Ohio.
Director Rehberg reported
on Organizing efforts, noting
a review of NLRB elections
data shows that the IUOE
won 75% of representation
elections in 2018, a
significant improvement
over the previous year and
well above the national
average win rate. Brother
Rehberg reported that
average bargaining unit size
and total number of workers
organized through elections
also increased. He reported
that the five largest election
victories in 2018 were
highlighted, and major 2019
campaigns were previewed.
Director Rehberg reported
that Action Builder: The
“Action Builder” database is
a joint project of the AFL-CIO
and Action Network, and will
be available to IUOE Locals
during the first quarter of
2019. He reported the tool
will be free to any Local to
evaluate throughout 2019.
Case No. 13
Pipeline Department
Report
Pipeline Director Robert
Wilds began his report by
updating the Board on man
hours, job-notices, and
number of new signatory
contractors for the period of
January through November
2018. Director Wilds also
reported on new work,
projects in progress,
and projects awaiting
regulatory approval. Finally,
Director Wilds reported
on a Memorandum of
Understanding for a Project
Labor Agreement that was
signed with Trans-Canada
for the Keystone XL Pipeline
for 882 miles of 36” Pipe and
28 Compressor stations.
Case No. 14
General Secretary-
Treasurer’s Report
General Secretary-Treasurer
Brian Hickey reported that
the International had worked
with Calibre CPA Group to
complet an AREA audit.
He also reported that the
International had completed
the Worker’s Compensation
audit with the Zurich
Insurance company.
General Secretary-Treasurer
Hickey also reported that
the International is handling
year-end matters, including
the year-end audit which
is expected to last three
weeks, year-end political and
legislative reports, and the
LM-2 preparations.
General Secretary-Treasurer
Hickey reported that the
General Pension Plan 2
has moved to the seventhfloor
offices at IUOE
Headquarters. He concluded
his report by stating that his
department had provided
financial assistance to the
26 INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENGINEER SUMMER 2019 27