IUOE News Fall 2013

Canadian Conference
55 th Annual Canadian Conference
Introduction by Rob Foskett,
District 6 Member Representative
It was my pleasure in August to attend the 55th Annual
International Union of Operating Engineers’ Canadian
Conference, hosted by our Local in conjunction with Local
963 and 882.
This was the perfect opportunity to share our western
hospitality on behalf of the entire Local 115 membership,
welcoming everyone in attendance and promising a valuable,
enjoyable event for all who joined us.
As always, the conference is an excellent venue to meet and
share stories and ideas with other delegates from the other
Canadian locals, as well as the attending International Reps,
solidifying those relationships while creating new ones.
Canadian Conference President Mike Gallagher’s opening
remarks contained colourful humour tied in with some very
serious issues that have been going on in our country over the
past year. These topics included:
• Bills C-377, and C-525 (both anti-union)
• Training and Partnerships with First Nations councils
• The 38th IUOE General Convention
• National Training Fund
• Stationary Engineers
• “Build Force” (Construction Sector Council replacement)
• Temporary Foreign Workers Program
• Keystone Pipeline
Attending delegates also heard from a wide variety of
profound speakers, such as:
• James T. Callahan – General President, International
Union of Operating Engineers
• Brian Hickey – General Secretary/Treasurer IUOE
• John Carruthers – President Enbridge Northern Gateway
Pipeline
• John Horgan – BC NDP MLA, Energy Critic
• Ray Goodfellow – President, Crane Rental Association
• Linda McQuaig – Journalist and best-selling author
• Stu McNish – Award winning Television Reporter
• Fraser Cocks – Exec. Dir. BC Association for Crane Safety
• Jim Murphy – IUOE Canadian Regional Director
It comes with pride that I learnt over the days of the conference
that a number of delegates had never been to British
Columbia previously, and, after our conference, now plan on
coming back for a vacation in the future.
I hope the pictures on the following pages capture some of
the learning, fun, and inspiration we shared and gathered
during this valuable event
26 News October 2013
The annual IUOE Canadian Conference for 2013 was held this year in
Nanaimo’s Coast Bastion Hotel, which is owned by the IUOE Local 115
Benefits and Pension Plan. The year also marks the 25th year since
the event was last held in Nanaimo, at the same venue.