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District 1
(March 2008) Importance of safety hits home Solidarity works to get rid of unfair two-tier system Welcome to the new members from Jadcan Many benefits come from organizing more companies Rental industry companies see importance of training The real cost of cut-rate service  Importance of safety hits homeBy Craig McIntosh, Member Representative On Jan. 7, 1981, four construction workers were killed when the platform they were working on fell from the 36th floor of the Bentall IV Tower. Each year, on that date, members of the B.C. Building and Construction Trades Council meet at a commemorative plaque at the Burrard Skytrain Station, across the street from Bentall IV, to remember these four people and all the other construction workers who have been killed on the job. Last year, three Operating Engineers from the Lower Mainland lost their lives in construction site fatalities. They were experienced operators who went to work that day, like any other, but never returned home. As operators of heavy equipment, we must be cognizant of the word HEAVY. When situations go bad, they can have tragic consequences. There has been a massive increase in construction activity. This will be another record-breaking year. The projects are mounting up. Safety may move down the list of priorities as the pressure grows to get jobs done as fast as possible. Because of deregulation and lack of resources, the responsibility for worker safety rests with WorkSafe inspectors, employers and employees. Even beyond 2008 there will be a lot of work for the construction trades. Between 2009 and 2014, we’ll see the Gateway Project, twinning of the Port Mann bridge, widening of Highway 1 from Vancouver to Langley, and the north and south perimeter roads. In addition, the provincial government has announced a $14 billion public transit plan to be completed by 2020. It includes construction of the 11-km Evergreen light rail transit line from Lougheed Mall to Coquitlam Centre, extension of the Millenium Line from Vancouver Community College to UBC, and a 6-km extension of the Expo Line to Guildford Town Centre. Please work safely.  Solidarity works to get rid of unfair two-tier systemBy Reese Evans, Member Representative Last year saw many rounds of collective bargaining for Local 115 members in many different industries. Only Freightliner Trucks of Vancouver Ltd. was not concluded by the end of the year, but it should be soon. Members working at Cummins Western Canada and Coneco Equipment should have received notices announcing that bargaining has commenced. Both companies have multiple locations around the province. It appears that 2008 will also be a very busy year. Since 2001, every round of collective bargaining that I have been responsible for has ended with a ratified collective agreement. That’s not to say there weren’t issues. There always are. Last year, one particular round of bargaining took an unusual but necessary turn. Back in 2004, near the end of the bargaining process, the Local Union and the owner of National Truck Centre Inc. ended up trying to resolve several outstanding issues in mediation at the Labour Relations Board. Under the Labour Code, the employer can issue a last offer or final offer vote which forces a vote by the employees under the supervision of an Industrial Relations Officer on the tabled memorandum of agreement. In this case, the company tabled a two-tiered offer that meant new employees in certain classifications and hired after the date of ratification would be paid less than current employees doing the same jobs. The offer was accepted by a very slim majority. Fast forward to 2007. The employees recognized the damage that two-tier agreements cause. We tabled proposals to remove the tiering, but the company was reluctant to see things our way. After a strike vote was taken, notice was sent and the 72-hour clock started ticking. On Nov. 9, 80 members went on strike at the two locations of National Truck Centre. The members remained on the picket lines 24 hours a day, even over the Remembrance Day long weekend. That was a weekend of high winds, power outages and heavy rain. The weather only solidified their resolve. After six days out on strike and many late nights of bargaining, we concluded with an agreement that removed the two tiering and even saw many improvements. All classifications picked up a minimum $2 per hour increase. Members in job classifications who had been paid less, picked up $4 to $5 increases. To all the members who work at National Truck Centre, your bargaining committee would like to say thank you for your support. It was only with your commitment that the Local Union was able to achieve the needed changes. Well done!  Welcome to the new members from JadcanBy Frank Carr, Member Representative Welcome to the 37 newly organized members who are working on the Golden Ears Bridge project for Jadcan Services Inc. After months of collective bargaining, solidarity and perseverance helped ensure that the organizing drive was a success. These members will enjoy wage increases, improvements to health and welfare coverage and a variety of other positive changes. Congratulations. We are now in federal mediation with Sea-Link Marine Service. A strike vote was held and the mandate is strong. Upcoming negotiations include: • the pile driving industry (the agreement expires April 30, 2008) • RMW Mechanical (the agreement expires Feb. 28, 2008. • F&G Delivery Ltd. and Alternative Crane Inc. (the agreement expires April 30, 2008) This is going to be another busy year for construction in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Many projects are underway and taking shape. Have a happy and prosperous 2008.  Many benefits come from organizing more companiesBy Everett Cummings, Member Representative I often hear members say, “I’d like to work closer to home. The traffic is terrible.” Hours of work were higher in 2007 than the previous year, but that’s because members were working more hours, not because our market share has been increasing. Having more contractors sign collective agreements with the Local Union will allow options like working closer to home. To achieve that goal, union members need to talk to non-union workers. I bet we all know someone working non-union who would like representation by a great organization like ours. If you talk to someone and you don’t have all the answers, call the Organizers Line at 604-473-5259. All calls are confidential. We can look forward to a few more good years in construction with the big announcement that $14 billion will be spent on roads and transit. In January, fallers started cutting down trees between 160th St. and 152nd St. on Highway 1. B.A. Blacktop has some work on the north side of the freeway, and it is putting up a silt screen fence in the middle of the freeway. Green Belt is getting set up on the meridian of the highway. It’s good seeing our contractors first out on the job. Pacific Radiator negotiations will be concluded soon. The company builds custom radiators that are mainly shipped to the U.S. It was one of several of our companies that have experienced a drop in orders due to the high Canadian dollar. I attended the placement of the last precast section on the SkyTrain Bridge between Vancouver and Richmond. Brother Fred Grabowski ran the crane and Spencer Hutson was deckhand on the Vancouver Pile Driving rig that lifted it into place. It only took about 25 minutes from the time Fred started his lift to the time the ironworkers had finished their tensioning. On that note, SAFETY comes before SPEED. Work safely!  Rental industry companies see importance of trainingBy Wendy Black, Member Representative WIt looks like this will be a prosperous year for members working in the rental industry. Given that Harrigan Rentals, BC Rentals, United Rentals and WEQ (Production Equipment) have ratified new agreements in 2007, there should be fewer distractions on the labour front through to 2010. The shortage of mechanics and drivers has been an issue, but there is now a willingness among employers to do their part. Previously, the attitude was that it is the union’s responsibility alone to supply skilled people as needed. But training is an investment and it will pay off in the rental industry for years to come. We’re starting to see more apprenticeship training and promoting from within the industry. I would like to congratulate Collicutt Energy Services (formerly Simpower) and Canadian Heating Products for ratifying their new agreements, also in 2007. My hat is off to all the members who sat on committees and helped make the bargaining process as smooth as it could be. I would like to make special mention of Sister Mandy Harrison (Canadian Heating Products) and Brother Brad Boyer (United Rentals). They were put in difficult situations as new shop stewards and did an incredible job for their fellow employees throughout the year. The members at Hertz Equipment are looking forward to renewing their agreement with bargaining beginning this summer. The signing of all the other rental agreements has created an upbeat attitude and optimism that long-awaited monetary and non-monetary improvements are coming. We are monitoring the acquisition of Collicutt Energy Services by Finning. This deal will have an impact on members working at Collicutt. We do not know how the shop will be affected, but there is speculation that members will be placed throughout the Finning network. Simpower has been certified with the Operating Engineers since 1989 and our long-term members have seen many ups and downs, but the bargaining unit has always been strong and united. It is my hope that this acquisition will be beneficial to all our members.  The real cost of cut-rate serviceBy Don Swerdan, Member Representative The saying “Out with the old and in with the new” usually means a new start is a good start. Unfortunately, if you are talking about garbage and recycling pickup and you live in Coquitlam, Surrey, Langley, Duncan or Comox you may disagree. From what we read in the papers, the quality of service seems to have dropped. You won’t be surprised to learn that the union contractors, Waste Management of Canada (Coquitlam, Surrey and Langley) and Waste Services Inc. (Duncan and Comox) were not successful in retaining their contracts. This has meant a significant number of layoffs at Waste Management Coquitlam and job losses on Vancouver Island. |We are told that the new contractor (which is the same in all these municipalities) blamed our contractors for the backlog of garbage and recyclable materials on the street. The problem is not with the previous contractors but rather the current one. My biggest concern is the potential for injury and death that could occur on our residential streets if equipment is not properly maintained and operated. Based on observations and comments from the areas in question, there is a growing list of problems: • some of the equipment being operated borders on condemned • drivers are operating well in excess of the maximum 14 hours per day to a maximum of 70 hours per week • employees are required to run their vehicles over the maximum allowable GVW • three or more employees are riding in a cab designed for two • some employees are not provided with training in even the most basic of work practices and receive minimal safety training Have you ever heard the term double siding? This is a situation where a residential/recycle vehicle services both sides of the street in a single pass. This practice has been banned by every reputable waste service provider primarily because workers have died or been injured while doing it. The potential for tragedy is so great, that most municipalities require the successful bidder of the contract to agree not to allow this practice. That is apparently not the case with this company. As taxpayers and citizens, we take it for granted that our local politicians are working in our best interests when awarding contracts. The importance of safety should be a no-brainer, but when I see these trucks backing up at a high rate of speed with someone riding on the rear steps, I shudder to think of what could happen. Vehicles driven by operators who may not have had any safety training, zigzagging down busy streets with young children playing, give me sleepless nights. If you witness any of the safety violations listed above, regardless of who the contractor is, you should phone your municipal hall immediately. That call could save a life. We know that our members provide the most professional service available, bar none. Our contractors might be slightly more expensive than the competition but this minor additional cost comes without hidden sacrifices. If a competitor bids on a proposal and undercuts our contractor by compromising safety, the question should be asked: what are the real costs to the public and that contractor’s employees? Cache Creek landfill site The Cache Creek landfill site is another case of “woulda, coulda, shoulda.” The powers that be have talked about multiple incineration facilities in the Lower Mainland. Does anyone remember all the protests over the Sumas power project proposal? That project proposed an incinerator on the border of Washington State and Abbotsford. The proposal was shelved because of the residents’ worries about air quality. It seems hypocritical that this option would even be considered again. A Vancouver Sun article, written by an environmental consultant, said that, with proper landfill management and the collection of escaping greenhouse gases, incinerator emissions would be less than from other processes. But considering the record of elected officials deciding what is best for taxpayers and the environment, I’m not very confident in the end result. |
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