IUOE News Fall 2013

Kamloops’ new dialysis clinic has opened next door to IUOE Local
115’s District 3 office, thanks in part to an OEPP investment.
hemodialysis services to
nearby kidney patients who
previously had to travel to
Royal Inland Hospital for
their treatment.
The new facility was also
designed and furnished in a
more modern and inviting
manner than usual, something
patients say makes a
difference to their healing.
Already, the clinic treats
16 patients every week.
IUOE 115’s new website
and digital strategy
At the end of August,
IUOE 115 launched their
completely rebuilt website
featuring easier navigation,
rich media content, a news
section, online merchandise
store, and other features.
Creating engagement with
our members is a key aspect
towards strengthening and
growing Local 115 and
servicing our members. The
website is the first step in a
revamped digital strategy
which will serve our younger,
technological audience, as
well as make it easy for every
member to access the information
(and people) they
need to stay informed,
engaged, and influential
Local 115 members.
The strategy is supported
by a bi-weekly e-mail newsletter
(launching in October),
an updated YouTube video
channel, and a Facebook
page to share updates and
news. The online experience
will continue to be expanded
in the future, so please check
back often to see updates.
To visit the new site simply
go to www.iuoe115.com.
Your feedback is welcome.
Federal Canada Jobs
Plan comes under fire
The federal government’s
proposed changes to nationally-funded
job programs, as
part of their Canada Jobs
Plan, is drawing concern.
The existing five year old
Labour Market Agreement
between them and B.C.
expires in March 2014, and
delivers around $346 million
every year to assist with
provincial training assistance
programs, managed by the
province. However, the new
plan proposes training assistance
(up to $5,000) only
where the amount is matched
by an employer, and a province
or territory.
This effectively excludes
anyone who is unemployed
from receiving any benefits
from the plan.
B.C. labour market ministers
joined the country’s
premiers stating they could
not support the program in
its current state. While some
agreed that the province’s
training assistance programs
were in need of improvement,
removing $600 million
in provincial funding, used
to assist vulnerable workers,
is not the answer.
With the ongoing lack of
public information available
on the successes or failures of
provincial training programs,
many feel the Canada Jobs
Plan is government’s way of
trying regain control of the
way training grant money is
being spent.
But B.C.’s Minister of Jobs,
Tourism and Skills Training,
Shirley Bond, believes that
denying funding to provincial
programs could be
devastating.
“There are programs that
have shown a significant
effectiveness, and we don’t
want those programs to be
News Updates
News Updates
lost” she said. “If you make
the shift in policy that moves
away from marginalized
Canadians, what happens to
that work group?
115 welcomes a 4th
generation organizer
Bryan Railton has recently
joined Local 115’s ranks as
an organizer.
If the surname sounds
familiar, it’s because Bryan
comes from a long line of
IUOE members and representatives.
This includes his
father, past 115 President
and current Canadian International
representative,
Lionel Railton.
We welcome Bryan and
expect him to be a great asset
in the continued growth and
success of Local 115
OE News summer
issue delay
The publication committee
apologises for the delay in
sending out the summer
2013 issue of the OE News.
Due to the unforeseen
production, mailing and
printing delays, members
may have received the issue
up to a month later than
expected. For this reason,
this issue has been purposely
staggered into October.
We have also completely
overhauled the magazine’s
publishing processes to bring
the production and layout
in-house, which will save
costs, avoid future delays,
and make the magazine more
up to date in every way.
News October 2013 5