International Operating Engineer - Fall 2019

GEB Minutes
in April at the mine site. He
reported that the Local is
also conducting fight back
programs against the Ford
Conservative Government in
Ontario, specifically fighting
Bill 66.
Director Railton reported
that the Regional office
has been assisting Local
955 in organizing the nonunion
craning and hoisting
sector with International
Representative Dave
DeSousa and Sheldon Mc
Kenna deployed on the
ground. He reported that the
Local has also stepped out of
the provincial building trades
council and is taking legal
action against the Provincial
Government to break away
from the Province of Alberta’s
framework bargaining
legislation. He reported that
Business Manager Chris
Flett is preparing the Local
for the upcoming provincial
election, which is expected
to be won by the United
Conservative Party, an antiunion
party led by Jason
Kenny.
Director Railton reported that
Local 115 continues to enjoy
a strong economy in British
Columbia supported by the
provinces New Democratic
Party (hereinafter NDP).
He further reported that the
NDP has won a crucial byelection
in Nanaimo which
stabilizes the government
over the near term, and that
Business Manager Brian
Cochrane, with support
from the Regional office, has
developed a social media
campaign, Community
Building Standards, in
support of the NDP’s
Community Benefits Project
Labour Agreements for
provincial infrastructure
projects. Director Railton
reported that the non-union
employer associations
have been quick to develop
their own programs to try
and push the provincial
government off proceeding
with these PLAs. He reported
that the Local is in Provincial
Heavy Construction and
Roadbuilding negotiations.
Director Railton reported
that Local 904 Monitorship
is going well, with newly
elected Business Manager
Terrence Hickey working
hard on organizing and
bargaining provincial ICI
agreement. He reported
that the first General
Membership Meeting under
the new administration took
place on March 23, 2019 and
was a great success. Brother
Railton reported that the
2018 Financial Audit was
presented and approved by
the membership and all bank
and investment accounts
have been turned over to the
Local Union. He reported
that the Local has secured
another tranche of funding
from the Federal Union
Training and Innovation
Program, which will allow
for the purchase new
equipment for their training
facility. He reported that the
Newfoundland and Labrador
Building Trades Council is
preparing for a provincial
election call and will be
working with Local 904 to
develop an agenda of labour
priorities. He reported that
the Local is still experiencing
high unemployment, but has
work at the White Rose GBS
Project and Muskrat Falls.
March 28, 2019
Director Railton reported
that Local 987 continues to
prepare for the provincial
healthcare consultation
vote as a result of Bill 29. He
reported that once the date
of the vote is announced the
Regional Office will deploy a
number of our International
Staff to assist through the
four-week campaign period.
He reported that General
President Callahan has
also provided additional
organizing grant support
to ensure the Local is
properly resourced for
the vote. Director Railton
reported that Bill 28, The
Public Sector Construction
Projects (Tendering) Act,
continues to linger on the
order paper and the region
is hopeful this anti-union
piece of legislation will die
as of a result early provincial
election call. Director Railton
reported that he is closely
monitoring the situation.
Director Railton reported
that
International
Representative Larry
Richard continues to support
new Business Manager,
Sean Stortini and Local
865 in bargaining with Iron
Range, School Bus Group
and Domtar Pulp, both sets
of negotiations have been
referred to consolation.
Director Railton reported that
International Representative
Patrick Campbell is assisting
Local 959 with Williams Lake
and District School Board
negotiations and Election of
Officers preparations.
Director Railton concluded
his report with an update
on the pipeline sector. He
reported that discussions
with the Federal government
regarding an expanded role
for the pipeline trades on the
Trans Mountain Expansion
Project continue. He
reported that the Regional
office has made application
to appear and has been
granted an opportunity
to give evidence to the
Senate Review Committees.
Director Railton reported
they are working to
encourage the Senate of
Canada to amend Bills C-69
and C 48 to accommodate
Community Benefits Project
Labour Agreements as part of
the Bills and to better define
the timelines for project
approvals. He reported
that distribution Pipeline
Bargaining is scheduled
for April 16 & 17, 2019 in
Toronto, Ontario.
Case No. 16
North Central Region
Report
North Central Regional
Director Todd Smart reported
on unemployment numbers
in the region. Director Smart
reported that despite a slow
start, many local unions in
his region are predicting
full employment again this
year. Brother Smart reported
that membership numbers
for the region continue to
increase due to the emphasis
placed on organizing.
Director Smart reported
on work within the region,
noting that a large portion
of the work in the region is
being driven by the energy
sector including pipeline
work in Ohio and West
Virginia. He reported on four
natural gas fired combined
cycle electric generating
station projects in West
Virginia, Ohio and Michigan.
He further reported that
the estimated cost of these
projects is two point three
billion dollars and will take
approximately two and a half
years to complete.
Director Smart reported with
an update on the regional
classes conducted. Director
Smart reported that the
International Agreements
Workshop was held at Local
49’s hall in Minneapolis,
covering the National
Maintenance Agreement,
General Presidents Project
Maintenance Agreement,
National Construction
Agreement, and the Wind
Turbine Agreements.
Director Smart reported
that three organizing classes
were conducted in the
region as well. Director
Smart also reported on
several successful organizing
campaigns in the region.
Director Smart reported on
Crane Rental Companies
in the region, beginning
with the acquisition of B &
G Crane Services by Maxim
Crane Works. Director Smart
reported that RMS Cranes
signed Local 234’s collective
bargaining agreement, and
that Irving Crane toured the
IUOE Training & Education
Center in Crosby, Texas.
Director Smart reported that
with the assistance of the
Special Projects department,
FAA data on wind turbines
will be provided to each
local union. He reported
hope that the locals can
use this information to get
involved early in the process
to potentially partner with
the owner/developer on the
permitting process in return
for using union labor on the
project.
Director Smart reported that
Bret Skaggs is Local 965’s
Business Manager, effective
April 1, 2019.
Case No. 17
Southern Region Report
Southern Region Director
Martin Patterson reported
on out of work numbers in
the Region for the period of
March 2018 to March 2019.
Director Patterson reported
on ongoing projects in the
region. Director Patterson
reported on the upcoming
projects in the Region, and
he also updated the Board
with respect to Local Unions
in the Region that were in
need of operators. Next,
Director Patterson reported
on the various, ongoing
organizing efforts within the
Region.
Director Patterson reported
on the supervisions of Local
369 in Cordova, TN and Local
624 in Richland, MS. Director
Patterson stated that in his
capacity as the International
Supervisor for Local 369,
he had recently overseen
the appointment of the
following positions: Business
Manager, two Business
Representatives , all Line
Officers, and a full Executive
Board. Director Patterson
stated that nominations for
all elected offices would be
conducted at the May 2019
membership meeting that
would be held at the Local
369 union office in Cordova,
TN. He further reported
that depending upon the
outcome of the nomination
meeting, an election of
officers would be held in
August 2019 for all contested
offices. He noted that he was
working with the IUOE Legal
Department to ensure that
all of the nominations and
elections were conducted in
compliance with the IUOE
Constitution.
Director Patterson concluded
his report by updating the
General Executive Board
on the presentations that
he and the International
Representatives were in the
process of making to all of
the Local Unions located
in the Region regarding the
implementation and use of
the International Training
Registration System to
register for training classes
at the ITEC in Crosby, TX.
He noted that many of these
presentations were already
completed, and that the rest
of the presentations had
already been scheduled and
that he expected them to be
done fairly soon as well.
Case No. 18
Western Region Report
Western Regional Director
Carl Goff reported that Local
501 is continuing with their
Douglas Emmett Campaign
and protests in Las Vegas
at the Golden Nugget. He
reported that International
Representatives have been
assisting Local 280 with
organizing projects in City
of West Richland and WSU,
Local 302 with organizing
Summit View Construction
in Idaho, and T-Mobile field
employees in Washington.
Director Goff reported that
they’ve been involved in
DOL Investigation in Local
953, and that International
Representatives attended
Westmoreland Coal Mine
membership meetings.
Director Goff reported
that Local 302 has gained
Stationary Jurisdiction in
Idaho, held negotiations with
Port of Seattle, and assisted
with ratifying new a contract
with Ride the Ducks.
Director Goff reported that
he facilitated a meeting
between NWCOA and Local
612 and is hopeful the parties
reach a new MLA.
Director Goff reported
that
International
Representatives held
Stewards Classes in Local
400 at Colstrip and Billings,
and attended AFL-CIO
organizing seminar with
Local 701 in Portland, OR.
Brother Goff reported
that
International
Representatives have been
assisting Local 9 with
prevailing wage updates,
a possible collaboration
with Colorado School of
Mines to create specialized
underground training, with
the resolution of grievances
with CEMEX Lyons Plant and
Trapper Mine, and training
their new agent.
Director Goff reported
that
International
Representatives have
given presentations on the
International Training and
Registration System in eight
of the Western Conference
Locals so far with many more
upcoming.
Director Goff reported
on assisting Local 1 in
negotiating contracts with
JBS supply unit, Denver
Processing and with King
Soopers store services,
as well as Local 428 with
Asarco Negotiations and
Degerstrom Ventures –
Bullhead City Mine Project.
Director Goff reported
that
International
Representatives attended
AFL-CIO’s lobbyist meeting
with input towards various
bills that could impact IUOE
members in Colorado by
working to change labor
laws so that State employees
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FALL 2019
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