IUOE News - Fall 2012

District 6
Some companies continue to
poach skilled journeypersons rather
than sponsor apprentices and train
their own journeypersons. We’ve
almost reached the breaking point.
The practice is a Band-Aid approach
to the real problem of a shortage of
trained and available journeypersons.
In a recent set of negotiations I was involved in, the
union proposed changes to the collective agreement that
would have enabled the company to bring on more apprentices
and start building its own supply of journeypersons.
Our proposal was met with little to zero interest because the
company believed it could attract ticketed journeypersons
from wherever.
Reality has to set in sometime. We are seeing shortages
of ticketed journeypersons in all areas, including heavy duty
mechanics, welders, electricians, construction and mining
foremen, excavator operators and grader operators. When
Hello from the Sparwood office.
Work in the Elk Valley is still very
busy. The Line Creek Mine is doing well
as are the other four mines in the area.
There are many contractors residing in
Sparwood right now. The community is
becoming a real business hub.
We held some luncheons in June to recognize members.
It was good seeing those who were able to show up. If all
could have attended, we would have had 80 members receiving
a 10-, 20- or 30-year pin. That’s significant. The Local
Union is strong and doing well in the Elk Valley!
Our shops and contractors are also doing well. Some
are bidding on work that used to go to non-union or CLAC
companies. They’re getting the work because of the skills of
IUOE Local 115 members.
Is it just me, or are unions being attacked by every rightwing
government and politician out there? Without unions,
the world would not be so great a place to live. It looks like
rich companies, rich slave drivers and rich politicians are all
getting richer and taking us back to the past.
When I was a kid, I remember my dad getting $1 per
hour and no benefits to support a family of 5. Job security?
16 News September 2012
The time to train apprentices is now
Brian Lefebvre, Member Representative
Line Creek Mine’s long-time members recognized
Gordon Chaisson, Member Representative
the bulk of the Baby Boomers retire, this problem will compound
and affect us all.
In the same way that our union fights to keep work inhouse
rather than sub-contracting out work, we need to use
the same vigour to persuade our employers to build up the
number of journeypersons.
Bargaining:
SMS Equipment Inc.—The company offer was rejected and
mediation began on Aug. 28.
Trimble owner operators—Members rejected the company’s
final offer and voted in favour of a strike. Mediation is set
for Aug. 28 and 29.
Trimble company drivers—Proposals for bargaining will be
sent out to the membership in September.
Columbia River Reload—Members rejected the company’s
final offer and voted in favour of a strike. Mediation is set
for Sept. 12 and 13.
Selkirk Paving—Bargaining in August.
What was that?
How dare politicians, who were elected by working people,
try to destroy our hard-won standards of living.
The nerve of these right-wing fat cats, blaming unions
for the problems
in today’s economy.
Take a look at
the U.S. where there
are many states that
allow workers to opt
out of paying union
dues. Unionized
Anti-Union Card
I am opposed to all unions. Therefore I am opposed to all
benefits unions have won through the years; paid vacations, sick
leave, seniority rights, time and a half for overtime, unemployment
benefits and job security.
I refuse to accept any benefits that will be won by the Unions
and hereby authorize and direct the Company to withhold the
amount of the Union-won benefits from my paycheck each week.
Signed _____________________
work accounts for only a small portion of the employment.
Do you think there’s a connection to why their economy is
in such rough shape and why so many jobs are being lost
to Mexico or going offshore? Maybe it’s also poor management,
poor efficiency or just pure greed by the corporations.
Ya think?!
Globalization is a double-edged sword, as are free trade
agreements. As a society, we all need to suck it up and do
better. We don’t need right-wing fat cats pointing their fingers
at working people and saying, “My life would be richer
if your life was poorer!”