IUOE News Fall 2013

News Updates
News Updates
TFWs still in the news
The Temporary Foreign
Worker issue continues to
appear in headlines every
few weeks.
While the abolishment of
the 15 per cent wage difference
allowance between
residents and TFWs has been
largely accepted, there have
been concerns surrounding
the fee that has been placed
on new TFW applications.
While negligible to large
corporations using TFWs,
smaller contractors and businesses
that claim to need the
TFW program to operate say
that they will be hit hard,
saying they will not be able
to afford the $275 fee per
application, plus the $150 for
each issued permit.
Their concern raises the
IUOE Local 115 Christmas Dance
Saturday, December 14, 2013
IUOE Auditorium, 4333 Ledger Avenue, Burnaby
4 News October 2013
importance of continuously
monitoring any changes that
government makes to the
TFW process,. We must
ensure the changes they
make meet the needs of all
workers, without potentially
harming others, rather than
reacting with one-size-fitsall
solutions.
IUOE Local 150 fights
“Right to Work”
Local 150 of the IUOE in
Illinois recently challenged
and won an appeal against
right to work legislation in
the state.
In early September, State
Judge Daniel Sedia ruled in
favour of the Local, declaring
Indiana’s right to work law as
unconstitutional.
An appeal was made
against the ruling, but Local
150’s attorneys presented
arguments exposing right to
work’s fundamental flaws,
which go against the National
Labor Relations Act.
Dale Pierson, general
counsel for Local 150, put it
to the Federal Court that
“right to work laws have
operated beyond their jurisdiction
essentially unchecked
since 1963”, since it demands
unions provide services
without compensation, even
though federal law allows
workers to opt out of full
dues payment.
Judge Diane P. Wood, who
presided over the appellate
panel, agreed with Piersen’s
argument.
“When people render
services they are entitled to
be paid, and federal law
imposes the obligation,” she
said. “I don’t see how you can
get around that.”
A Supreme Court appeal
has been filed against the
ruling, so Local 150 continues
to prepare its case in the
coming months.
OE Pension Plan invests
in dialysis centre
As part of their strategic
portfolio, the Operating
Engineers’ Pension Plan
(OEPP) recently invested
with the Interior Health
Authority to build a dialysis
clinic in a Kamloops strip
mall (also owned by the
OEPP and home to our
District 3 office). Health officials,
politicians and patients
attended its opening on
September 13, 2013.
The clinic will provide
Tickets go on sale November 1 st
$35/person, $30/pensioners
Doors open at 6:00p.m.
Cocktails at 6:30p.m.
Smorgasbord Dinner at 7:30p.m.
Dancing from 8:30p.m. to 1:00a.m.
Call 604-291-8831 to book.