We Will Rise Above the Pandemic • Tony Tennessy Remembered • Pension Plan Remains Strong • How We Remembered BC's Killed
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Summer 2020 news We will rise above the pandemic • Tony Tennessy remembered • Pension Plan remains strong • How we remembered BC's killed and injured workers 40011378 No. Mail Agreement Publication Summer 2020 news Special Features LOCAL EXECUTIVE BOARD Remembering Tony Tennessy ........................................................................................................... 6 BUSINESS MANAGER Modified Worksite Operating Protocols ...................................................................................... 10 Brian Cochrane Pandemic did not stop us remembering BC’s killed and injured workers ................................11 PRESIDENT Year Ending Dec 31, 2019 Financial Statements .......................................................................... 30 Wayne E. Mills IUOE Local 115 Pension Plan makes a difference for our members ...........................................33 VICE PRESIDENT Reports Wayne Kemp Business Manager RECORDING SECRETARY We will rise above the pandemic.......................................................................................................3 Josh Towsley President FINANCIAL SECRETARY There’s no work-around for keeping your physical distance ......................................................... 4 Don Swerdan Assistant Business Manager Industry will return stronger than ever after COVID-19 .................................................................5 TREASURER Frank Carr Organizing: A New Era for Organizing ...............................................................................................................11 GUARD Dispatch: Doug Allan Future remains bright for construction jobs ................................................................................12 CONDUCTOR Family tradition continues in IUOE Local 115 ...............................................................................12 Doug Fisher District 1 TRUSTEES Adapting to change is the way we rise above ..............................................................................13 Frank Carr Communication and collaboration remains key to COVID-19 response ................................... 14 Bryan Salema IUOE Local 115’s COVID response separates us from the rest ..................................................15 Darcy Shearer IUOE Local 115 members continue to watch out for each other during pandemic ...............16 AUDITORS COVID-19 is a workplace safety issue but we’ll rise above ........................................................17 Chelsea French Progressing through the pandemic ................................................................................................18 Leanne Hughf Working with our members to help create safer worksites .......................................................19 Mike Mayo We're continuing to campaign for better conditions ................................................................... 20 DISTRICT EXECUTIVE BOARD District 2 1 - Al Cooper Keeping in touch with our members while keeping our physical distance ..............................21 2 - James Knowles 3 - Brian Lefebvre District 3 4 - Matt Baker Worksites are adapting to change during this pandemic .......................................................... 24 5 - Dan MacPhee 6 - Rob Foskett Districts 4 and 5 Work has slowed but the opportunities continue in Districts 4 and 5 .....................................25 Publication Committee District 6 Brian Cochrane Lynda Arland-Richards Keeping pandemic risks low keeps construction moving .......................................................... 26 Frank Carr Training Association Wayne E. Mills Training options available online during the shutdown .............................................................27 Josh Towsley Benefits and Pension Editorial Pension plan in good health despite pandemic’s financial impact on the market ............... 29 Jeremy Lye Labour History Editorial Support Murdered by a scab .....................................................................................................................32 Laura Schubert Summer 2020 news Regular Features Layout 34 Welcome to our new Members Shane Dyson, Canadian Freelance Union On the cover 37 Celebrating our Members IUOE News is the official publication of Chris Good, IUOE Local 115 39 Service Awards the International Union of Operating crane operator working for Engineers Local 115 Sarens Canada at the Traylor/ 40 Pensions Awarded Website: iuoe115.ca We will rise above the pandemic Aecon – Burrard Inlet Fresh 41 In Memoriam • Tony Tennessy remembered •Pension Plan remains strong Water Tunnel • How we remembered BC's killed and injured workers Frank Carr photo 43 District Offices Brian Cochrane Business Manager We will rise above the pandemic The last several months have been 1) 74.8% of British Columbians support Community very challenging times for all of us and Benefits Agreement (CBA) when we look around Canada and the 2) 71% of British Columbians support the Government to rest of the world, we are pretty fortunate spend more than the current budget for Roads, Bridges to have had the leadership and resources necessary to keep peo- and Infrastructure to stimulate the Economy ple safe. We are in such better shape than most, and the majority 3) 54% of decided voters in BC would vote for John of the Industries our members work in have had minimal im- Horgan and the NDP as opposed to 26% who would pact from an employment perspective. vote for Andrew Wilkinson and the Liberals. As we are now in Stage 3; major projects are beginning to This is all pretty good news and it means that Premier John ramp up, dispatch is active and we are heading into one of the Horgan should be confident in awarding more projects under a busiest periods in IUOE Local 115’s history. CBA model, which will be good for the BC Economy, employ Local Union staff have had to get creative over the last several more Operating Engineers and create good opportunities for all months and we have handled several Labour Board hearings, skilled trades. collective bargaining negotiations, grievance and arbitration We have wasted no time in taking these results to Govern- meetings by video conference. Using Zoom, Microsoft Teams ment to continue to push for more projects and increasing the meetings, and Skype have all found a new place in our daily rou- budget for the Asphalt Rehabilitation Program in all regions. tine, and some of this technology will become a permanently I do want to congratulate our members at Line Creek Mine, embedded part of our future without a doubt. and Cummins Diesel for their successful ratifications of their Online training programs for Shop Stewards are now being respective collective agreements. Our members at both com- developed as well, which will give us an opportunity to reach panies went through some challenging meetings and the Bar- our members in remote areas of the Province. This will also as- gaining Committees did excellent work on hammering out the sist those who may have shift schedules that have made it chal- issues for our members – great work. lenging to attend the Union “in person” for training offered by On May 30th our Dispatcher Brother Al Cooper made the the Local. The Pandemic has accelerated the importance of us- decision to retire and move on to the next stage of life and take ing technology and in the long run this will make us stronger. advantage of his well deserved Local 115 Pension. Al had the There is still a bunch of uncertainty in respect to econom- opportunity to put many members into good jobs and we all ic recovery, the potential for a second wave of COVID-19, and wish him a long, healthy and happy retirement! when a vaccine or a treatment will be available so we can put On a sadder note, Past President Brother Tony Tennessy this chapter behind us – however I am confident that our col- passed away on June 11. Tony was an anchor of IUOE Local 115 lective resilience and determination will pull us through these during his time on staff, and managed through the good times, challenging times. the bad times and everything in between. He was loyal, tough, Local Union District Meetings should be back by Septem- fearless, and never afraid to take on a challenge if he thought it ber, and the re-opening of our International Training Center in was in the best interest of the Local Union and its membership. Crosby Texas is scheduled for late August. These are all good A generational Operating Engineer – he will be missed by all signs – and we all look forward to these signals of getting back that knew him and our thoughts and condolences are with the to normal Operations and engagement with our membership. Tennessy family and loved ones. Your Executive Board has been very supportive in autho- To close, I want to thank all of our membership for their con- rizing the TV ads you may have seen on Global TV thanking tinued support as we take on the challenges that are before us. the frontline healthcare workers during this crisis. We have The staff have pulled together extremely well and have gone had some great feedback on this effort and I want to thank our above and beyond in difficult circumstances to ensure our members and contractors that provided the pictures we used members get the service and leadership necessary to come out demonstrating how we were working safely, and being leaders stronger on the other side. in BC’s economic recovery. Stay Safe, We partnered with the Labourers Local 1611 to conduct Live better/work union. some polling