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 District 2Come to the meeting to catch up on the news (December 2007) By Tim Cullen, Member Representative WThere is an area meeting for members in the Comox Valley and Campbell River area at Halby Hall in Black Creek on Dec. 5, 2007 at 7 p.m. We’re looking forward to a good turnout. This has been another good year for the membership on Vancouver Island. Although the weather was not at its best, we were still able to stay busy. Since my last article, we ratified a new three-year collective agreement with Victoria Materials Depot. At United Rentals Ltd. in Campbell River, Nanaimo and Victoria, not only did we ratify a new three-year deal, but we were able to keep all the counter people in the bargaining unit too. This was accomplished due to the unanimous support we were given by the membership after the non-recommended first vote. The company realized that with 100% rejection, the union did not need to take a strike vote. It was clear how the employees felt. The company then relented on a couple of items, especially regarding the bargaining unit, and we had 79% ratification. We are in bargaining with Robinson Rentals in Nanaimo. Hopefully, we will have an agreement ratified by the time you read this. We are still hoping to get a final offer from Eaglecrest Golf Course to take to a vote. As for Eaglestar Golf Inc. (DBA Morningstar Golf Course), we applied for certification of the maintenance employees and were successful there too. This application was necessary because we only had voluntary recognition. At Construction Aggregates’ Producers Pit in Victoria, we have had more meetings with the crew and the company. The pit is definitely closing down with the last barge load of gravel probably going out on Dec. 31, 2007. It will be very sad to see this wonderful operation close down after so many years. We will have several members available for work: crusher, loader and rock truck operators; mechanics; and millwrights. If you know of any positions available, please let our Nanaimo office know and we will pass the information on to these members. The residential expansion on Vancouver Island is keeping our construction contractors’ heads above water. Besides subdivision work in Campbell River, Uplands had jobs at the NVI mine site in Strathcona Park and an 80-lot subdivision at Mt. Washington Ski Resort consisting of a lot of rock work. Hazelwood Construction in Nanaimo completed the parking lot expansion at Rutherford Mall and has started on the road realignment at the Departure Bay Ferry Terminal. Chew Excavating has also kept busy in Victoria with residential and road-widening projects. Unfortunately, Western Industrial Contractors was not able to keep a crew going this fall, but it is still bidding on jobs and hoping to get something soon. ICL (Integrated Contractors Ltd. & ICL Industrial Contractors Ltd.) is doing a water project in Nanaimo and, at their request, we found them a carpenter apprentice. That left the company looking for a carpenter. It was able, not only to find the carpenter it needed, but also to get another apprentice. This is at least the second project on the Island for ICL and it looks like the company will be around for awhile. In closing, we wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & A VERY PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. |
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