Gaining Ground Fall 2014

The updated IUOE Local 115
headquarters underlines our
union’s confidence as we
move forward
guests and especially some of the Local’s former
officers who made the decision to construct a new
office on the site of a plant nursery in 1971, a then
sparsely-populated Burnaby.
“We were moving from Vancouver to the sticks,
as Burnaby was seen then. 43 years later we got
some prime real estate as a result,” Cochrane told the
crowd.
“We took a building with a 43-year history and updated
it for the next 40 years,” Cochrane said.
Cochrane said with the renovations complete,
the union is ready to make more history as British
Columbia gears up for several major construction
projects that will depend on the skills of the Local’s
membership.
“Now we’re ready for another big step forward
in our Local’s long record of success – with a new,
modern and very functional office we can serve the
members better than ever as we plan for growth,” he
explained.
Callahan spoke highly of the accomplishments of
the Local and the foresight members had to create
the then-new headquarters in 1971.
“This building underscores the success of Local
115; it gives everyone a sense of home and history,”
Callahan said. “It’s great to see the tribute to the older
members who put their skin on the line for the local.”
“This is where a member comes at the best of
times and the worst of times, Callahan added, pointing
out that members access health and welfare and
other services through the union office.
Cochrane and Callahan paid tribute to past Business
Managers Mike Parr and the late Fred Randall,
who were among those responsible for the decision
in 1971 to purchase a large plot of land for just
$35,000 to build the office, on land now worth millions.
Brad Randall, IUOE Local 115 Vice-President, said of
his father: “Fred Randall brought the land purchase
to the members for approval at a general meeting -
and there was lots of debate!”
And former Business Manager Gary Kroeker
agreed, saying things were more challenging in the
1970s.
“THIS BUILDING
UNDERSCORES
THE SUCCESS OF
LOCAL 115. IT GIVES
EVERYONE A SENSE
OF HOME AND
HISTORY.”
IUOE GENERAL
PRESIDENT JAMES T.
CALLAHAN
“People have a lot of confidence in the way things
are done now,” Kroeker said by comparison.
Former Local 115 President Tony Tennessy, a 50-
year member, pointed out the enormous value in
buying the land for the office in 1971: “The Burnaby
Lake Greenhouses ran up to Canada Way and we
bought the nursery for $35,000. We sold the corner
lot for $180,000 a few years later!”
Tennessy said of the building, which replaced the
IUOE office at 58th and Fraser in Vancouver: “There’s
a lot of history here. And this building was used by a
lot of labour organizations for their meetings.”
Kroeker agreed, saying: “This has been the hub of
the wheel of the Operating Engineers. This was the
magnet.”
After the General Membership Meeting, Callahan,
Cochrane and other officers participated in lowering
a time capsule into the ground in front of the newlyrenovated
building with a miniature crane.
A SPECIAL SWEARING IN FOR NEW IUOE MEMBERS
IUOE Local 115 new members take their oath and are sworn in by General
President James T. Callahan on September 20th at the General Membership
Meeting.