More must be done to prevent accidents
(September 2008)

By Gary Kroeker, Business Manager
As you know, Operating Engineers Local 115 has been campaigning for years for nationally recognized crane operation certification and regulations covering the length of training.

The accident on the RAV Line earlier this year that ended in the death of 22-year-old Andy Slobodian, underscores the need for certified crane operators who have received proper industry developed training.

A WorkSafeBC report found that the Canada Line crane fatality on Jan. 21 was the result of safety violations, insufficient training and lack of supervision. Slobodian was killed instantly when the crane that he was operating tipped and pinned him underneath.
The report also showed that the young worker had between 20 and 90 minutes of instruction on how to operate the crane.

Job site pressures are placing workers in compromised positions where they’re asked to do tasks that they’re not trained for. Lack of enforcement of existing safety standards inevitably leads to accidents. These accidents don’t just jeopardize the lives of the operators but also those who work close by.

We want all authorities to follow up on the WorkSafe report to ensure that this type of accident never happens again.

A hearty thanks to Brother Thomson
Brother Ken Thomson, an auditor on our Executive Board, retired in June. He provided valuable input at our board meetings and was a wonderful mentor to our younger members during his career working in the field. He was a great influence on me when I began my role as a union rep.

Ken joined Local 115 in 1974 and was appointed to the Executive Board in July 1989.
We wish him and his wife Bonnie a wonderful retirement.

Brother Bob Healy will be missed
We were saddened by the news that Brother Bob Healy passed away in July. He was a proud member of our Local Union and longest serving, with 71 years to his credit. We were pleased to give him special recognition at our gala anniversary celebration in 2006. He was an amazing man with a remarkable history. Our deep condolences to his family.

Local Union honours Jack Cewe
Jack Cewe, owner of Jack Cewe Ltd., passed away in June at the age of 86.

Jack began his career in the gravel industry in 1953. Hundreds of members of Local 115 have worked for his company, which is based in Coquitlam and Jervis Inlet. Some have been with the company for 30 years working on a wide variety of major road reconstruction and industrial development projects and at the barge facility.

Jack wasn’t just a good businessperson, he was also involved in his community and was a supporter of the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation.

In recognition of our long-standing relationship with Jack Cewe, the Local Union made a donation of $25,000 to the hospital foundation.

Rio Tinto project agreement signed
The Kitimat Aluminum Smelter Modernization Project is welcome news for communities in the northwest corner of the province. A project labour agreement was approved by all the building trade unions of B.C. It paves the way for Rio Tinto/Alcan to proceed with the $3 billion project. Bechtel Canada Co., the prime contractor, estimates that there will be six million hours of work for tradespeople beginning this fall and through to completion in December 2011.

This is the most signifcant private investment in an industrial construction project in our province in many years.

The agreement includes a commitment to hire locally and provide First Nations employment and apprenticeship training opportunities.

All parties also agreed that bringing in foreign qualified and experienced tradespeople may be necessary, but that wage and working conditions should be equitable and all grievances must be resolved in a fair manner.


Brandt Tractor
The difficult labour dispute with Brandt Tractor ended in July after three weeks of fighting for basic union rights. There was a lot at stake.

While we did not receive the gains we were striving for when the labour dispute began, we were gratified that we were able to maintain the integrity of the old collective agreement and even see some improvements for members.

In the end, the issues went to binding mediation.

Mediator Mark Atkinson ruled that there would be no changes to a tentative agreement reached on June 27. This agreement includes wage increases of 22% over the four years, plus increases in the tool and boot allowances, shift premium, meal allowance and pension contributions for employees hired between July 31, 2004 and June 10, 2008.

It took great effort to remain united and we greatly appreciate those who stuck with it and provided moral support to their fellow members and the bargaining committee.

Thanks, as well, to the Canadian Labour Congress, local labour councils, BC Federation of Labour, and the leadership and members of the Machinists Union for their support.

Now that the dispute is over, we are confident that customers will again see Brandt Tractor as their equipment dealer of choice.