International Operating Engineer - Fall 2019

Canadian News
Local 793 is 100 Years Strong
its humble beginnings.
From 1919 to today, a century of
members has had the same goal the
founding fathers did - advancing the
quality of life and building the local to
what it is today.
ELEVEN MEN GATHERED
together on December 11, 1919 at the
Elliott House Hotel in Toronto, Ontario
to discuss their plans for the future.
Joining the meeting was
International Representative Frank
Healey, who traveled across the country
signing steam engineers. When they
were done, the men emerged with
a three-page letter, hand-written on
hotel stationary and signed by Healey,
requesting that a charter and supplies
be granted for a new hoisting engineers
local to represent operating engineers
in Toronto.
One hundred years later, Local 793
of the International Union of Operating
Engineers represents more than 16,000
crane and heavy equipment operators
and industrial and production workers
in Ontario and Nunavut’s construction
and mining industry.
The local has come a long way from
Local 793 is one of the fastest
growing construction union’s in
North America and one of the largest,
most respected and progressive in the
province of Ontario. Backed by highquality
training, Local 793 operators
are counted among the safest, most
productive, and highly skilled in the
province.
In celebrating the centennial
milestone, a new special edition
logo was designed and appeared on
commemorative items like jackets,
shirts, hats, flags, rings and belt buckles.
The union also held a contest asking
members to create an anniversary
slogan and “100 YEARS STRONG” was
selected from 87 entries.
Celebrations were held across the
province throughout the year.
Picnics were held in ten different
districts that saw more than 3,700
members and their family attend one
of the events. Food, games, prizes,
pony rides, water parks, go karts, and
an epic tug-of-war battle between
crane and heavy equipment operators
at the Toronto picnic were all part of
the festivities.
The local took part in the Toronto St.
Patrick’s Day Parade, a union tradition
the past four years. The parade was
led by St. Patrick’s Day parade Grand
Marshal, Local 793 business manager
Mike Gallagher.
the Labour Day parades held across the
province in September and were also
the lead float at the Santa Claus Parade
in Oakville, Ontario.
Centennial celebrations will wrap
up on December 7, when the union
holds their annual Dinner Dance.
General President James T. Callahan
and more than 1,000 members and
their spouses are expected to attend
the gala.
A 45-minute video documentary
was produced and will debut at the
Dinner Dance.
Local 793 has a long and proud
history of building the province of
Ontario and building a great local
union of operating engineers. Through
100 years, the local has blazed a trail to
bring dignity, safe working conditions
and economic benefits to thousands of
operators.
In 2019, Local 793 celebrates its
fundamental past and pushes forward
to a promising future.
Local 793 is 100 YEARS STRONG.
Addressed to Herman M. Comerford
in Chicago, Ill., General Secretary-
Treasurer of the International Union
of Steam Engineers, the letter was
accepted by the International and put
into consideration of General President
Milton Snellings.
General President Snelling granted
the charter and Local 793 was on its
way.
Business manager Gallagher was
accompanied by International General
President James T. Callahan, who flew
in from New York to march alongside
the 500 members and their families.
Also flying in from Calgary,
Alberta was Canadian director of the
International Union of Operating
Engineers, Lionel Railton.
The local was the lead group at all
20 INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENGINEER
FALL 2019 21