THE
DECEMBER 2020
Holidays! Happy Holidays!
IRONWORKERS CHANGE TORONTO’S SKY LINE
IN THIS · 4 · · 7 · · 10 · ISSUE CIBC SQUARE Project Bay of Quinte Bridge Jobs Across Canada
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 1 12/3/20 6:56 PM 36_WDc22.nd2 63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd ORGANIZED. THE STRUCTURAL, OFFICIAL 20006. Send International EDITOR: 69 change IRONWORKER 54 68 62 26 22 70 57 Preferred THE 10 Scott Malley, 1750 NewYork Ave., NW, 4 4 7 7 of Association of PUBLICATION OF address
periodicals VOLUME DEPARTMENTS Official Monthly Record Lifetime Members IMPACT Departmental Articles Organizing News Canadian Affairs Departmental Reports Temporary Foreign Worker and Prevailing Wage Breathe Easier Jobs Across Canada Bay CIBC SQUARE FEATURES to
Ironworker, Bridge, of postage ISSN:0021163X ORNAMENTAL Quinte Bridge Structural, paid 120 1750 THE at SKILLED. PROFESSIONAL. New Washington,
INTERNATIONAL Published Ornamental | York 17,000MT DECEMBER assisted at Ontario) On the Ironworkers including project, bridge 81 Bay Ave., engineering, the monthly, DC Washington, DC20006 and NW, and and by AND REINFORCING IRON WORKERS IRON REINFORCING AND and Street of Cover overbuild. Locals Washington, Reinforcing Local additional 765 steel except in detailing, (Ottawa, the 721 at 700 downtown for 2020 offices. Printed mailing the Iron main DC a Ontario) (Toronto, (Windsor, combined 20006. CIBC Workers, ASSOCIATION fabrication Ontario), office Toronto. Walters | Canada SQUARE ASSISTANT to | summer 1750 NUMBER tower, Ontario), erected Agreement New and on issue, podium, located project and York erection union-made 736 theEDITOR: approximately for Walters Ave., Number (Hamilton, supplied $15.00 OF 11 pedestrian NW, on paper. 40009549. Inc., the BRIDGE, per Washington, Nancy Folks
Postmasters: year
by the DC Washington, p (202) ironworkers.org 1750 p (510)724-9277·f724-1345 Pinole, CA94564 Suite C 1660 SanPabloAvenue Third GeneralVicePresident DON ZAMPA p (705)740-0890·f748-3028 Canada Peterborough, OntarioK9J6X2 Unit 12-13 1434 ChemongRoadNorth Second GeneralVicePresident KEVIN BRYENTON p (856)456-1156·f456-1159 Westville, NJ08093 P.O. Box49 First GeneralVicePresident STEPHEN SWEENEY p (202)383-4830·f383-6483 Washington, DC20006 Lower Lobby 1750 NewYork Avenue, NW General Treasurer KENNETH “BILL”DEAN p (202)383-4820·f347-2319 Washington, DC20006 Lower Lobby 1750 NewYork Avenue, NW General Secretary RON PIKSA p (703)627-0401 Washington, DC20006 Lower Lobby 1750 NewYork Avenue, NW General PresidentEmeritus WALTER WISE p (202)383-4845·f638-4856 Washington, DC20006 Lower Lobby 1750 NewYork Avenue, NW General PresidentEmeritus JOSEPH HUNT p (202)383-4810·f638-4856 Washington, DC20006 Lower Lobby 1750 NewYork Avenue, NW General President ERIC DEAN INTERNATIONAL p (202)383-4803 Action League Ironworkers Political (386)736-9618 f p (866)336-9163 Ironworkers Department ofReinforcing (847)795-1713 f p (847)795-1710 Metals (DOAMM) Architectural &Miscellaneous Department ofOrnamental, (705)748-3028 f p (705)740-0890 Department ofCanadianAffairs (202)393-0273 f p (202)834-9855 Davis BaconOffice (202)383-4895 f p (202)383-4887 Computer Department p (202)383-4870 Apprenticeship andTraining INTERNATIONAL New 383-4800 York DC Avenue, 20006 ·[email protected] NW, DEPARTMENTS p (202)383-4815·f638-4856 International Office p (312)263-2343·f263-2512 Chicago, IL60602 2 N.LaSalleStreet,Suite1650 Gregorio Marco General Counsel FRANK MARCO p 540373-8618·c202702-4848 Fredericksburg, VA 415 WilliamStreet Ninth GeneralVicePresident KENDALL MARTIN p (402)933-3033 Elkhorn, NE68022 P.O. Box850 20515 NicholasCircle,Suite5 Eighth GeneralVicePresident MICHAEL BAKER p (314)454-6872·f361-8328 St. Louis,MO63108 Suite 1025 212 N.KingshighwayBlvd. Seventh GeneralVicePresident DAVID BEARD p (937)746-0854·f746-0873 Franklin, OH45005 8401 ClaudeThomasRd.,Ste.#55, Franklin SquareOfficeCenter, Sixth GeneralVicePresident WILLIAM WOODWARD p (425)771-4766·f771-4769 Edmonds, WA Suite 100 110 MainStreet Fifth GeneralVicePresident STEVE PENDERGRASS p (212)302-1868·f302-1914 New York, NY10022. Suite 300A 227 East56thStreet Fourth GeneralVicePresident JAMES MAHONEY (202)783-3230 f p (202)383-4846 Shop Department (847)795-1713 f p (833)355-SAFE(7233) Safety (202)347-1496 f p (202)383-4851 Organizing (202)347-1496 f p (202)383-4842 Maintenance andJurisdiction (202)638-1038 f p (202)383-4855 Mailroom p (202)383-4842 Magazine (630)230-3966 f p (844)276-1288 and Shopmen’s PensionFund LU/DC StaffRetirement OFFICERS Lower 98020 Lobby 232 6:57 PM 12/3/20 22401 FROM THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL, ORNAMENTAL AND REINFORCING IRON WORKERS
A time like no other; unrelenting; unprecedented— all aptly describe the year 2020. As we head into the holiday season, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our lives at home, on the job site and in our communities, producing uncertainty, stress and trauma. Nine months ago when the pandemic erupted, the Iron Workers took immediate action to support our members and locals during these trying times. We armed our members with needed information and guid- ance on how to stay healthy and safe. e Iron Workers, locally and nationally, advocated for legislation and modi cations to protect our members and contractors. And with typical Iron Workers’ leadership and unionism, our members showed up and showed out, adapting to the challenges, caring for their brothers and sisters and communities, and providing critical support. Sadly, this year brought a larger loss of our members—to coronavirus, dependency, addiction and construction accidents. ey, and their families, are in our thoughts and prayers, especially during the holiday season. In 2021, we have a renewed sense of hope with the advent of the Biden administration; thank you to the locals and members who mobilized this past election cycle. Now the hard work begins; making sure our voices are heard with the goal of putting people to work, protecting our members’ organizing and bargain- ing rights, health and safety, pensions and health and welfare plans. May you and those you love nd true happiness and peace this holiday season and into the new year! DECEMBER 2020
ERIC DEAN RON PIKSA KENNETH “BILL” DEAN General President General Secretary General Treasurer 3
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 3 12/3/20 6:57 PM IRONWORKERS CHANGE TORONTO’S SKYLINE
Submitted by Walters Inc.
ronworkers Local 721 (Toronto, Ontario) and Walters Inc., assisted by Locals 700 (Wind- I sor, Ontario), 736 (Hamilton, Ontario) and 765 (Ottawa, Ontario), erected approximately 17,000MT of steel at the CIBC SQUARE project located at 81 Bay Street in down- town Toronto. Walters supplied the engineering, detailing, fabrication and erection on the project, includ- ing the main o ce tower, podium, pedestrian bridge and overbuild. e main o ce tower, which is engineered to LEED Platinum spec- of Lake Ontario and Toronto’s to the Scotiabank Arena, which is i cations, has 50 stories, is 237m skyline. e project also includes 210MT and 36m (120 feet) long. e (780 feet) tall and consists of approx- an eight-story podium, of which overbuild will support a 1-acre ele- imately 15,000T of structural steel. two stories are dedicated to a new vated public park that will include e 1.5 million square feet of state- bus terminal. e PATH bridge, a future restaurant, skating rink, of-the-art o ces and collaborative Toronto’s downtown pedestrian trees, hills and other landscaping THE IRONWORKER spaces will feature expansive views walkway, connects the main tower features. e overbuild structure 4
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 4 12/3/20 6:57 PM consists of approximately 2,200MT ironworkers worked 24 hours per of structural steel trusses, in ll and day; day, a ernoon and night shi s. metal decking over Toronto’s Union Most of the tower erection was Station rail corridor. completed on day shi , while the Erection of the tower base col- remainder of the project was com- umns began in September 2018, pleted on night and a ernoon shi s with the crown topping out in May to facilitate street and track closures. 2020. Walters’ ironworkers were on- e logistics of working in a site from February 2018 to October highly congested area of downtown 2020, with over 110 ironworkers on- Toronto required extensive pre- site at the peak of construction. planning and careful coordination Between the tower and overbuild, between Walters’ ironworkers and there were many months when the other subcontractors on-site. Just DECEMBER 2020
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 5 12/3/20 6:57 PM in time deliveries were especially important due to very limited space for staging on-site. All the while, existing tra c owing around the building site continued through- out the erection. “ e ironworkers maintained an aggressive steel erec- tion schedule to keep pace and sustain a steady cycle throughout the job,” said Jessica Ranalli, project manager, Walters Inc. “ is was an enormous job on a tight-site footprint, where everyday And then there was COVID-19, and the ironworkers rose to the challenges were ampli ed by the which was a rst for everyone. At challenge by doing everything they tight workspace in which the iron- its onset, no one knew the logis- could to be productive and stay as workers and all the other trades tics on how to proceed safely, and safe as possible. were given to work,” echoed Bryce through all the unknowns, all the “ e ironworkers and Walters Mesley, construction manager, Wal- ironworkers wanted to do was to worked day and night tirelessly to ters Field Services. “ e ironworkers continue to work. A safe work plan bring this project to a successful met and exceeded all the demands for dealing with COVID-19 was conclusion,” said Shawn Whalen, THE IRONWORKER of the general contractor on-site.” quickly created and implemented foreman, Walters Field Services. 6
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 6 12/3/20 6:57 PM Submitted by Steve Matthews, area BAY OF QUINTE manager, E.S. Fox Limited SKYWAY BRIDGE REHABILITATION
igh above the water, iron- erection will take place every year equipment to the proper location. workers are making their way until 2023. From there, a 200-ton American across a 17-span, 850-meter- e two-lane stretch of Highway Hoist (Terex) A1500HC crawler H long bridge that towers 100 49 that crosses the bay connects the and a 200-ton Kobelco CK-2000-II feet above the Bay of Quinte in northeast end of Prince Edward crawler perform tandem lis and Prince Edward County, Ontario. County to the mainland. One side of Over six years, E.S. Fox Limited will the bridge will be replaced rst, fol- DECEMBER 2020 perform the replacement of all steel lowed by the other side, one segment bridge girders. During the summer at a time, allowing for a single lane of 2020 (the second year on the job), of tra c to remain open throughout ironworkers completed Segment B, the project, controlled by temporary Phase 1, while Phase 2 will begin signals at each end of the work zone.
in the fall. Deck and girder demo- Barges must oat out to the mid- Ironworkers connect a pair of preassembled plate lition (by others) and subsequent dle of the bay to get the cranes and girders hoisted by crawler cranes on barges. 7
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 7 12/3/20 6:57 PM ironworkers install the massive Ontario). “Combined with barge through detailed coordination spans, which range from 150 feet to work, live tra c and working at with the general contractor, Aecon 250 feet between piers. e longest extreme heights, this job involves Construction Materials Ltd., and span was one of the rst few opera- a lot of planning and coordina- increased safety protocols for the tions of the project and the drop-in tion to ensure everything is done ironworkers on-site. High winds, girder assemblies, comprised of safely and on time.” E.S. Fox waves and uctuating water lev- three girders each lengthwise, were has met the demands of the job els pose obstacles the workers deal approximately 171 feet long. Each
assembled girder weighed approxi- Ironworker crew transfer parabolic plate mately 36 tons. e pier girders are girder from transport trailer barge. parabolic in shape with depths rang- ing from 7 feet to 11 feet deep. Two sets of assemblies were connected on the barge, and the six girders were li ed into place in one li . “ e sheer magnitude of the girders makes this a unique job,” said Steve Matthews, area man- ager of the structural steel and bridge division at E.S. Fox and member of Local 736 (Hamilton, THE IRONWORKER
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 8 12/3/20 6:57 PM Project name:
Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge Rehabilitation
Start and completion dates:
June 2019–September 2023
Owner:
Ministry of Transportation Ontario
Crew size:
32
Tonnage:
2,550 tons
Area manager:
Steve Matthews, Local 736
Project manager:
Herman Winter
Construction manager:
Gerry Campbell, Local 736
Project superintendent:
Richard Pearce Local 721 (Toronto, Ontario)
Project superintendent:
Bo Sault, Local 759 (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
Erection foreman:
Kim Baptiste (Lick), Local 721
Crew:
Adam Miller, Local 765 (Ottawa, Ontario); Brandon Lush, Local 721 (Toronto, Ontario); Brandon Hill, Local 721; David Bailey, Local 721; Grace Ryba, Local 721; Jason Friesman, with daily. Toolbox talks address- and working in unison while li s Local 736 (Hamilton, Ontario); Jeffrey Smith, Local 765; Jordan Ferguson, Local 721; ing site-speci c risks and PFDs are are taking place. Once the girders Joseph Maracle, Local 765; Matt Barnhardt, DECEMBER 2020 provided to all workers assembling are placed, specialized equipment Local 721; Matt Bacchin, Local 721; Matthew Ell, Local 765; Nathan John, Local 721; Norman girders on the barges prior to li ing. is utilized to provide access to the Cooke, Local 736; Peter Adams, Local 765; All li s have been pre-engineered, bridge’s underside. Rob Bellis, Local 765; Ronald Detlor, Local 765; Steve Barnes, Local 721; Tim Maracle, with the tandem li s requiring “It’s been a great job up until this Local 721; Trent Square, Local 765; Trey planning meetings to cover step-by- point,” said Matthews, “We look Maracle, Local 765; Troy Lush, Local 721; Tyler Ivics, Local 721; Tynan Blair, Local 765; Wilbur step directions on the procedure. All forward to carrying out the next few Barnes, Local 765; Skyler Williams, Local 736; workers on-site are on the same page years of this contract with Aecon.” and Zachary Smith, Local 765. 9
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 9 12/3/20 6:57 PM JOBS ACROSS CANADA
Matthew Carroll, Trevor Anthony, Thomas Harvey, Justin Harvey, Glen MacDonald, Matthew White, Murray Horne and Paul Benoit.
Tilt-up construction warehouse in Burnside, Nova Scotia
SUBMITTED BY BRANKO KNEZEVIC, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER, MARID INDUSTRIES LIMITED M arid Industries Limited has part- center core, offices and mezzanine con- along, four ironworkers were added to nered with Lindsay Construction for currently with the tilt panel construction complete the deck, laying up to 18,000 the erection of a 170,000-square-foot activity on-site, allowing the structural square feet per day at peak production. warehouse in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. steel to progress alongside the tilt panels The center core consisted of 75,000 The tilt-up design consists of a 45-foot- and avoiding the lag in schedule associ- square feet and was completed in four high roof over a 150,000-square-feet ated with the standard tilt-up construc- weeks, from erecting to deck fastening. warehouse in addition to a 13,800-square- tion sequence. Another two weeks completed the office feet mezzanine and 6,200 square feet of Local 752 (Halifax, Nova Scotia) pro- area and mezzanine. The six weeks were office space. The steel construction vided local ironworkers to complete the enough to allow the tilt-up panels to be consists of 210 tons of structural steel erection of all steel structure components, completed simultaneously while also fabricated and erected by Marid Indus- including the deck. To maintain efficiency allowing other trades to get started on tries, 41 girder trusses weighing 82 tons, in erection, the steel delivery to the site mechanical, sprinklers and other work. 196 regular span and 387 long-span, happened the week before erection. It Also helping with productivity were the open-web steel joists weighing in at 321 was shaken out and placed strategically fastening of the deck with screws rather tons; and 300 tons of steel deck supplied to provide a close lifting radius for Marid’s than welding, having the 300 feet of mez- by Canam Group and erected by Marid 40-ton mobile crane. The setup week was zanine rails pre-installed on the beams Industries for a total of 913 tons. completed with just a few ironworkers during fabrication in the shop and erecting The usual construction sequence for a and a 10,000-pound-capacity telescopic as a part of the structure rather than tilt-up structure is to complete the perim- forklift, providing the added benefit of installing as a separate item later on. The eter walls first with panel bracing, tie it keeping the erection crew small when action eliminated the need for temporary together with the steel roof system, and the steel was erected as everything was rails while placing and finishing concrete then remove the panel bracing. Due to the already placed nearby. on the mezzanine. structure’s size (with 110 tilt panels), wait- With the careful planning and placing All the steel not directly connected to ing for all the tilt panels to be complete of the steel, Marid was able to keep the the tilt-up panels was erected to maximize before starting the structural steel would erecting crew at four ironworkers with the schedule’s effectiveness. Planning have created a lag in the construction three more on the back end, completing in the early stages allowed efficient use schedule. Lindsay Construction and Marid plumbing and bracing cables, bridging and of manpower during erecting and helped THE IRONWORKER Industries conceived a plan to erect the other required braces. Once far enough create a positive impact on the project. 10
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 10 12/3/20 6:57 PM shift either right or left, giving the tower a 400 West Georgia is look of stacked boxes. The tower topped off unique and union built at 301 feet with 24 office floors and a mechan- ical penthouse. The topping off of the building PHOTOS ARE COURTESY OF RANDY DREW was August 28, 2020. “Hopefully, the A n exciting and visually unique building, successful completion of the project shows 400 West Georgia, is the first structural Vancouver’s developers and engineers that steel tower built within Vancouver in the last steel towers are the way to build, and the 30-plus years. Local 97 (Vancouver, British men and women of Local 97 can get their Columbia) supplied manpower with a peak of hands on more high iron. It was truly an 40 ironworkers for more than one year. The honour to work so many hours alongside my tower was erected with two raising gangs— brothers and sisters of 97, and boomers from each gang erecting three of the four-level 725,” said Blake Mutch, Local 97 (Vancouver, cubes. Every four floors, the cubes would British Columbia).
With limited time to install the girders, E.S. Fox at increased planning and preparation was Ramsayville required in order to maximize efficiency and maintain safety in such a short Road Bridge window of time. To achieve this, all girders were staged and prepared for n an effort to ease congestion and I lifting prior to the shutdown periods. shorten commute times in Ottawa, Ironworkers worked promptly to install the provincial government has invested the bridges safely and on schedule. approximately $160 billion over 12 years for the Highway 417 project, which Ironworker crew: includes highway widening, bridge replacements and repairs, and replace- Peter Adams, Local 765 (Ottawa, Ontario); Kim 550-ton crane with megawing erecting ment of noise barriers. The Highway 417 Baptiste(Lick), Local 765; Kyle Baptiste, Local 721 50-ton curved bathtub girder. (Toronto, Ontario); Matt Barnhardt, Local 721; project is part of the largest infrastruc- Nathan John, Local 721; Adam Miller, Local 765; ture investment in Ontario’s history. and Richard Powless, Local 721. Included in this project is the replacement DECEMBER of the east and west bound structures of Area manager: Highway 417 crossing over Ramsayville Steve Matthews, Local 736 Road, which E.S. Fox Limited has been contracted to erect. Each structure Construction manager:
consists of three bathtub girders with a Gerry Campbell, Local 736 2020 total weight of approximately 900 tons. Ironworkers erected the girders on night Site superintendent: shifts with short duration road closures. Norm Schwarz, Local 736 11
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 11 12/3/20 6:57 PM 401 West Expansion project
C onstruction has begun on the consisting of five tub girders each were tight and could not accommodate two Highway 401 Expansion project installed using very short duration lane cranes, which would have been pre- from Mississauga to Milton, Ontario. and road closures, as well as a complete ferred. As such, E.S. Fox provided tem- West Corridor Constructors has been highway shutdown to install the center porary shoring towers for the girders to selected by Infrastructure Ontario and drop-in girders over all lanes of Highway land. E.S. Fox met the challenges of the the Ministry of Transportation Ontario to 401. With so much work to complete in congested site and tight work schedule design, build and finance the project that such little time, planning the installation with increased planning and alterna- includes 18-kilometer reconstruction down to the very last detail was para- tive solutions. The ironworkers on the and widening of this key commuter and mount. Every minute counts when the job successfully and safely erected the economic corridor in the western part of team is working on such a tight schedule. approximately 400 tons of structural the GTA. One portion of the project The erection of Trafalgar Road Bridge, steel safely and on schedule. includes the replacement of seven steel approximately 800 tons, was completed bridges along the corridor. E.S. Fox safely and swiftly as planned, thanks to CPR BRIDGE HWY 401 Limited was awarded this contract and the local ironworkers on the job. WEST EXPANSION has successfully and safely erected two CREDITVIEW UNDERPASS The CPR Bridge over Highway 401 was structures and one stage of a third the next structure on the contract for bridge to date. All bridges on the The second bridge to be installed on E.S. E.S. Fox. Stage one for this structure contract will be erected in stages over Fox Limited’s contract was the Credit- included installation of 16 plate girders two years. view Underpass. Similar to the Trafalgar TRAFALGAR ROAD BRIDGE Road Bridge installation, erection took place around short duration lane and Trafalgar Road Bridge was the first struc- road closures, with a full closure used to ture on E.S. Fox Limited’s contract to install the center drop-in girders over all be completely installed. Six-girder lines lanes of the 401. This site was extremely THE IRONWORKER
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 12 12/3/20 6:58 PM Ironworker crew:
Local 721 (Toronto, Ontario): Jorge Anunciaca, Roger Blais, Charles Camplin, Henry Carroll, Norman Cooke, Brad Davies, Nick Glim, Brandon Grant, Hunter Grant, Ryan Green, Tyler Green, Greg Hazelton, Brandon Hill, Kale Hutchings, Cory Jamieson, Josh Johnson, Mitchell Kiss, Benjamin Labar, Paul Leroux, Jamie Macdougall, Nick Magalas, Graydon McCarroll, Daniel McGillvray, Mervin McGuirk, Tim Mt. Pleasant, Mohammad Nassar, Andrew Repa, Grace Ryba, Paul Steele, Mitchell Thompson, Skyler Williams. weighing in at approximately 380 tons priority on all jobs, but when bridge on the north and south sides of the 401. installation takes place over live rail, Area manager: This structure was erected over live it requires an added layer of planning, Steve Matthews, Local 736 (Hamilton, Ontario) Canadian Pacific Rail lines. The rail line training and management to ensure remained open, allowing trains to pass no injuries are incurred. Thanks to E.S. Construction manager: on their regular schedule. Ironworkers Fox Limited’s strong experience with Gerry Campbell, Local 736 completed the bridge erection in bursts such work, and the skilled ironworkers of work, stopping whenever a train on-site, the job was erected safely and Site superintendent: would pass. Safety is always the No. 1 on schedule. Bill Woods, Local 721
Halfway River Bridge
A COMPONENT OF THE SITE C DAM PROJECT IN NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA T he Halfway River Bridge was awarded in October 2019 to Rapid Span Industries, a steel fabrication shop located in Armstrong, British Columbia. The total contract was $105 million for a bridge of 1.2 km length required in order to realign a portion of 30 km of Hwy 29 that would be submerged with the Site C Dam project. The completion date is scheduled for the end of 2022. The company specializes in bridge fabrication; with notable completed projects including the William R. Bennett Bridge in Kelowna, British Columbia and the Deh Cho Bridge over Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories. The crew of 48 highly qualified
and experienced union members are part of a very efficient team at Rapid Span Industries, DECEMBER including project managers, engineers and the management team. It is exactly their teamwork and coordination between departments that gives the company the leading edge in the bridge fabrication industry. Everything works seamlessly translating into work awarded to Rapid Span throughout the years.
“As a union agent, I had been fortunate to be part of their work and I have to say it had always 2020 been a pleasure to deal with them. Even challenging moments were quickly transformed into opportunities and this is how success became a part of the daily routine at Rapid Span Indus- tries,” said Catalin Fota, business manager/FST, Local 712 (Vancouver, British Columbia). 13
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 13 12/3/20 6:58 PM A first for Local 711 ironworkers: Bellechasse Transport Centre
W hen the Société de transport de garage underground floors excavated The STM aims to obtain LEED v4 Gold Montréal (STM) set out to design and to a depth of 20 metres, including 18 certification. The bus garage will have construct a new parking garage, it had a metres into a nonfractured rock where a high-quality environmental design, simple design in mind. Instead, the design the buses will be parked and main- including natural light, building envelope architects proposed a bold strategy; to sink tained and a one-story ring-shaped with superior energy efficiency, energy- the majority of the structure subsurface, building with an abundance of windows efficient mechanical and heat recovery making it the first completely underground where administrative offices and system, water catchment and recycling, bus depot in North America. employee facilities will be located. The green space to reduce urban heat ring-shaped building will also have a islands, and recovery of construction fire prevention station and a passen- materials, when possible. ger revenue operational management ADF Group Inc., based in Terrebonne, workshop. The structure is encircled Quebec, will be undertaking the project by white fritted glass and metal fins and, for the first time in the company positioned to mitigate solar gain. The history, working with Local 711 (Mon- offices are topped with a CLT roof. treal, Quebec) and its members. Founded The centre’s operations (bus traf- in 1956 from the early beginnings as a fic, maintenance and parking) will be blacksmith shop, ADF Group Inc. has located inside the building to reduce become a North American leader in the the impact on the neighbourhood. The design and engineering of connections, Bellechasse bus garage will be built on fabrication and installation of complex the block formed by De Gaspé Avenue steel structures, heavy steel built-ups and Bellechasse, Marmier and Saint- and miscellaneous and architectural Dominique streets in Rosemont–La metalwork. Notable projects include Petite-Patrie. A large green space will Bloomberg Tower, One World Trade also be accessible to the public. Center 1WTC and the spire base and The work will take place from spring mast, and Tower 4-World Trade Center. 2019 to spring 2022. It will be carried Bernard Gendron has been assigned to out in two phases. The first phase will the role of superintendent for the project. last from spring 2019 to spring 2020 and Due to COVID-19, the project sched- will involve preparatory work, including ule and workforce numbers are being building demolition, removal of materi- reviewed on an ongoing basis. Iron- als and waste, soil decontamination and worker employee numbers are projected Occupying two city blocks, the excavation of the rock bed. to be in the 25-30 range and amended as 87,000-square-metre, 20-metre-high From spring 2020 to spring 2022, the provincial COVID conditions change. As structure will serve as a working space second phase duration will involve Local 711 embarks on this monumental for 600 occupants and home base for 300 construction of the new bus garage. challenge, the ironworkers are proud to electric and hybrid buses. The project is made up of just over 10k be a part of something that will build a The centre will have two connecting tonnes of steel divided into three sectors foundation and raise the bar for future structures: an underground three-level depending on the crane used on-site. building design.
Une première pour les travailleurs et travailleuses des métiers de l’acier de la section locale 711 : Centre de transport Bellechasse
L orsque les responsables de la Occupant deux îlots urbains, la struc- la roche non fracturée, où les autobus Société de transport de Montréal ture d’une superficie de 87 000 mètres seront stationnés et entretenus, et un (STM) ont commencé à concevoir et à carrés et d’une hauteur de 20 mètres immeuble circulaire d’un étage com- construire un nouveau garage de servira d’espace de travail pour les portant de nombreuses fenêtres où se stationnement, ils avaient un plan simple 600 occupants et de port d’attache pour trouveront les bureaux et les installa- en tête. Les architectes ont plutôt proposé 300 autobus électriques et hybrides. tions pour les employés. L’immeuble cir- une stratégie audacieuse : ensevelir la Le centre comportera deux structures culaire sera également doté d’un poste majorité de la structure pour en faire le connectées : un garage souterrain à de prévention des incendies et d’un premier dépôt d’autobus entièrement trois niveaux excavés à une profondeur atelier de gestion des revenus opéra- THE IRONWORKER souterrain en Amérique du Nord. de 20 mètres, dont 18 mètres dans de tionnels des passagers. La structure est
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 14 12/3/20 6:58 PM entourée de verre fritté réfléchissant sistera à construire le nouveau garage file nord-américain dans la conception et de voiles métalliques, positionnés d’autobus. Le projet est fait d’un peu plus et l’ingénierie de connexions, dans la pour atténuer la lumière du soleil. Les de 10 000 tonnes d’acier divisées en trois fabrication ainsi que dans l’installation bureaux sont recouverts d’un toit en CLT. secteurs, selon la grue utilisée sur le chan- de charpentes métalliques complexes, Les opérations du centre (circulation tier. Éléments particuliers : fermes de toit, de composantes assemblées lourdes des autobus, entretien et stationnement, colonnes WWF, profils lourds, installations en acier et de métaux ouvrés et archi- et stationnement des employés) auront AESS de niveau 3 par l’équipe interne tecturaux. Parmi les projets majeurs de lieu à l’intérieur de l’immeuble afin de d’ADF projet LEED OR v4 BD + C. l’entreprise, on compte la Tour Bloom- réduire les impacts pour le voisinage. La STM souhaite obtenir la certifica- berg et la base et le mât de la flèche Le garage d’autobus Bellechasse tion LEED v4 OR. Le garage d’autobus de l’immeuble One World Trade Center sera construit sur l’îlot urbain formé par comprendra un design environnemental (1WTC), et la Tour 4 du World Trade l’avenue De Gaspé et les rues Belle- de haute qualité, y compris lumière Center à New York. Bernard Gendron chasse, Marmier et Saint-Dominique dans naturelle, revêtement d’immeuble a été désigné comme surintendant du le quartier Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie. offrant une efficacité énergétique projet. Dans le contexte de la COVID-19, L’installation comportera également un supérieure, mécanisme de récupération l’échéancier et la main-d’œuvre du grand espace vert accessible au public. de chaleur hautement efficace, captage projet sont révisés sur une base con- Les travaux auront lieu du printemps et recyclage de l’eau, espace vert pour tinue. On prévoit l’embauche de 25 à 2019 au printemps 2022. Ils seront réduire les îlots de chaleur urbaine, 30 travailleurs des métiers de l’acier, réalisés en deux phases. La première récupération des matériaux de construc- nombre qui pourra être ajusté selon le phase durera du printemps 2019 au tion lorsque cela est possible. changement de la situation entourant printemps 2020, et comprendra les Groupe ADF inc., basé à Terrebonne, la COVID-19 dans la province. Alors que travaux préparatoires, dont la démolition au Québec, entreprendra ce projet, et la section locale 711 (Montréal, Québec, d’immeubles, le retrait des matériaux et pour la première fois dans son his- Canada) se joint à ce défi titanesque, les des déchets, la décontamination du sol toire, travaillera avec les membres de travailleurs et travailleuses des métiers et l’excavation du sol rocheux. la section locale 711. D’un atelier de de l’acier sont fiers de faire partie d’un La deuxième phase durera du print- forge fondé en 1956, Groupe ADF inc. projet qui établira les fondements et emps 2020 au printemps 2022, et con- est devenu, au fil des ans, un chef de élèvera le niveau des futurs projets.
RTI Industrial Ltd. expands work opportunities
“R TI Industrial Ltd. is trying to take on a variety of work to stay diverse and grow the company,” said owner Russel Thomas, Local 97 (Vancouver, British Columbia). RTI of Port Moody, British Columbia, secured work in the highly competi- tive residential market. Thomas, and two other ironworkers, spent 80 hours installing stainless steel canopies on four townhouses for a large housing development in Tsawwassen, British Columbia. These two-piece canopies were fabricated by local fabricator PK Metals. Each canopy took approximately one day and 100-plus one-half-inch stainless steel lag bolts to install. “There is an opportunity to install many more of these at this development, but they wanted to see how they looked on the show homes first. It was a challenging install in that we had to be very careful around all the glass, siding and expensive paint job on the steel. No pins, hammers, grinders, or reamers, that’s for sure!” said Thomas. DECEMBER 2020
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 15 12/3/20 6:58 PM Supporting signatory contractors through challenging COVID-19 times
LOCAL 721 (TORONTO, ONTARIO) G ilbert Steel Limited, founded in the 1950s by John and Harry Gilbert, has been providing the construction industry with reinforcing steel for over 60 years. Their success has been driven by their dedicated work ethic and respect-for-all attitude. A privately-owned company, priding itself on its extended family work environment, conducts its business motivated by its dedication to excellence aligned with its value system. Two projects that they are currently working on are Peel Manor and Ashbridges Bay. Gilbert Steel Limited is working together with Buttcon Limited, the general contractor on the Peel Manor Senior Health and Wellness Village. The project consists of approximately 2,000 tons of rebar and is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. Peel Manor has been an institution in Brampton for over 100 years and it is located at 525 Main St. N. Brampton. The new building will include a long-term care centre, expanded adult day services and a service hub. The hub will include community space and health and social services. The Reseau Express Gilbert Steel is working together with Graham Construction, the gen- eral contractors on the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Metropolitan (REM) treatment plant opened in 1910 to become the city of Toronto’s main sewage of Montreal treatment facility and the second largest such plant in Canada. The project consists of approximately 3,600 tons of rebar and is currently on schedule. T he Réseau express métropolitain Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant is located on the shores of (REM), with its 67km of network Lake Ontario at the foot of Leslie Street. currently under construction, will be on the date of its complete opening in 2023 one the four largest autonomous light rail metros in the world. The REM will double the current size of the Montreal Metro by linking the northern, western and southern suburbs to the city centre via a combination of at grade, elevated and underground tracks. The new light metro rapid transit system includes about 21.5km of elevated structures with 16.2km of pre-stressed segmental guideway on the Saint-Anne-De-Bellevue, Airport and part of Deux Montagnes branches. To build the 16.2km of segmental guideway, the partnership Rizzani De Eccher / NouvLR is operating two mas- Local 721 members: Don Hare, foreman; Zachary Cooms; Derek May; Dan McMullen; Dylan Gooding; Jordon Connor; Rick Williams; Kyle B and Steve McRae. Not in photo: Shop Steward Cody Hare. sive machines called Launching Gantries to assemble the REM’s elevated struc- ture, piece by piece. This is the first time Launching Gan- tries have ever been used in Québec. The principle – a long steel beam is installed between two columns. Each Launching Gantry is 105 meters long, weighs 500 Peel Manor. tons and can support up to 550 tons. These super-powerful steel beams built by DEAL, a subsidiary of Italian construction group Rizzani De Eccher, raise up an average of 11 prefabricated concrete segments at the time per span; each prefabricated concrete segment it lifts weighs between 42 and 58 tons. The THE IRONWORKER Ashbridges Bay. 11 prefabricated segments of one span 16
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 16 12/3/20 6:58 PM are glued against one another and post tensioned to form the deck on which the REM’s rail cars will run. Once the span is completed, the Launch- ing Gantry is moved forward to the next two columns, and the process is repeated. It is quite an impressive construction method and helps ensure the project moves forward very quickly: on average, it takes two days to erect one span aver- aging 40 meters in length. This technical solution also helps minimize the impact on the environment with the reduction of construction nuisances. On the 410 spans with 4,560 precast segments to be erected, the partnership has already completed 50% and anticipate complet- Supreme Steel at YVR SPIL project ing the work by the end of 2022. With the support of Local 711 (Mon- T he Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a bustling place, and for treal, Quebec), mixed crews made up of Supreme Steel Vancouver and Local 97 (Vancouver, British Columbia) 65% ironworkers, 25% rebar workers, ironworkers, this means two-plus years of work. YVR has added a security and 10% crane operators are expediting bypass system within the existing building, transferring travelers from the the construction work, operating launch- Domestic Terminal to the International Terminal without the need to pass ing gantries, lifting and epoxy gluing through security again, easing stress between flights. A unique pedestrian segments, post tensioning and grouting bridge needed to be constructed above the pre-boarding screening area of tendons and aligning spans and install- the operating facility. So far, Supreme Steel and Local 97 ironworkers have ing permanent bearings. At the peak, 60 installed over 300 tons of steel using cranes on the apron, coordinating with ironworkers were mobilized six days a YVR staff and aircraft. The customer demands high quality in challenging week, night and day, erecting up to 250m surroundings. In all, 5,000 hours have been spent installing miscellaneous of deck per week. stainless-steel handrails, traffic bumpers, slab infills, mechanical rooms and The REM’s contractor for infrastruc- conveyor supports. A total of 20,000 hours of work have been completed in ture engineering, procurement and the expansion, even with the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic. construction (EPC) is Group NouvLR “With the addition of COVID, we have had to what we do, and adapt and comprised of SNC-Lavalin, Dragados learn to deal with challenges and move forward…meeting and exceeding the Canada Inc., Groupe Aecon Quebec Ltee, requirements for our people and the customers,” said Paul Lahti, Supreme Pomerleau Inc., EBC. Steel Vancouver, Local 97. DECEMBER 2020
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 17 12/3/20 6:58 PM New Toronto courthouse erected with union skill
T he new courthouse will bring together many of Toronto’s Ontario Court of Justice criminal courts operating across the city. Amalgamating several courts into one state-of-the-art facility will reduce costs, make operations more efficient and effective, provide for equal access to services, and will ensure the province’s real estate portfolio is sustainable, accessible and efficient. THE NEW TORONTO COURTHOUSE WILL INCLUDE: • Barrier-free environment to allow visitors and occupants to travel throughout the building with ease. • Video conferencing to allow witnesses to appear from remote locations and in-custody individuals to appear from detention facilities. • Closed-circuit television to enable children and other vulnerable witnesses to appear before the court from a private room. • Courtroom video/audio systems to allow counsel to display video evidence recorded in various formats and for the simultaneous viewing of evidence.
REINFORCING STEEL SPECIFIC: • Toronto Courthouse has 18 levels. • Approximate tonnage is about 7400T. • Raft slab consisted of multiple areas reinforced with 35m, 45m and 55m combined General contractor: with mechanical couplings where lapping was not possible. Ellis Don Construction • Butterfly columns were free standing five-story, 45m columns, which required Location: a lot of preplanning and intricate implementation in order to erect them both correctly and safely. Toronto, Ontario
• Majority of columns were made up of 55m and 45m to level 6. Project type:
• Average manpower is 16. DBFM — Design Build Finance Maintain
• Ironworkers Local 721/Harris leadership team: Alain Gagne, superintendent; Infrastructure type: Roger Coutu, superintendent; Rob Lapointe, general foreman; Andrew Bayliss, foreman; Adam Teather, sub-foreman; and Jason Small, sub-foreman. Justice Contract value:
$956.4 million
Estimated value for money:
$228.7 million
Start date:
March 2019
End date:
December 2020
Approximate craft man-hours:
70,000
Approximate square footage:
780,000
Approximate tonnage:
8,500T THE IRONWORKER Injury free to date 18
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 18 12/3/20 6:58 PM Ironworkers stand inside the hub, 135 meters (443 feet), of one of the giant Enercon Wind Energy turbines at the Wocawson Energy project; the first windmill of this type built in North America: (back row) François Coté, windmill technician, Enercon Wind Energy; Andy Comeau; (front row) Damian Taylor; Maxime Arsenault; and Sylvain Alain.
Black and McDonald Limited partner with Local 842 and Local 752 to erect wind turbines for the Wocawson Energy project
SUBMITTED BY GUY LEBLANC, FST/BM LOCAL 842 (SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK) S tructural steel erector Black and while offsetting 22,000-44,000 tonnes Established in Nova Scotia with teams McDonald Limited partnered with of carbon dioxide annually. The selected based in Halifax, Quispamsis and Dublin, Local 842 (Saint John, New Brunswick) turbine for this project is the Enercon they develop, construct, own and operate and Local 752 (Halifax, Nova Scotia) to E27 wind turbine. wind, solar and hydro projects with First erect Enercon Wind Energy turbines for A partnership between Tobique First Nation communities, universities, munici- the Wocawson Energy project; the first Nation (Neqotkuk Maliseet Nation) and palities and local community funds. windmill of this type built in North America. Natural Forces, the $36.3-million Wocaw- At peak, the Wocawson Energy proj- The Wocawson Energy project is son Energy project will generate clean, ect employed 31 Local 752 and Local 842 located in Kings County, New Brunswick, renewable energy that is sold to New ironworkers with craft hours totalling approximately 20 kilometers northeast Brunswick Power Corporation under a 26,400. Workers had to climb 396 runs of the town of Sussex. The Wocawson 30-year power purchase agreement. of stairs to reach the top of the windmill. Energy project, which broke ground in Natural Forces is a private independent Another successful project with no lost- spring of 2019 for the rebar work and power producer that delivers renewable time injuries resulting from the great concrete pouring for the turbine founda- energy projects in partnership with local partnership between contractor Black tions, began turbine erection in May of communities across Canada and Ireland. and McDonald and the ironworkers. this year and will consist of five turbines with an installed capacity of 20 MW being built. The installation of the main DECEMBER components of three of the five turbines was completed in August with the other two completed in October. There is an optional phase 2 to the project that may
consist of an additional seven of these 2020 giant turbines and 20 MW. This capacity is estimated to supply approximately 5,000 homes with electricity 19
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 19 12/3/20 6:58 PM Local 759 at Canada/USA bridge, Rainy River/Baudette
A s Canada was shut down because of COVID-19, the tourism and the movement of people and goods between Canada ironworkers of Local 759 (Thunder Bay, Ontario) went to and the United States. Load restrictions will be removed, and the work as usual. Local 512 (Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.) ironwork- bridge will receive higher volumes of commercial traffic, which ers started the Rainy River/Baudette Bridge in 2019, leaving will support future economic development. Canada’s Local 759 to finish in 2020. The job was a display of E.S. Fox was awarded the structural steel; their crew was Bo teamwork and proficiency of trade knowledge, followed by some Sault, Jim Teeple, Brock Benjamin, Joey Zeleny, Coady Mcken- spectacular lifts. The over $13-million project was created to zie, William Veniot, Ryan Doblej and Mackenzie Read. replace the existing 1960’s bridge at the end of its life span. The Harris Rebar was awarded the reinforcing bar; their crew new bridge was designed to have wider lanes and shoulders, was Bill Speak, Matthew Jacobsen, Ryan Martinson, Jonathan guide rails, sidewalks and an improved load capacity. The new Mansbridge, Dale Anderson, Jonah Maclaurin, Iain Mackenzie, bridge will improve road safety and efficiency and support Craig Hemphill and Bailey Jacobsen.
A B
E
C C D THE IRONWORKER
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 20 12/3/20 6:58 PM F F
A
Brock Benjamin and Joe Zeleny connecting a diaphragm X-brace.
B
Mackenzie Reid bolting up splice plates.
C
36,000-pound caisson hoisted with a tandem lift then floated across by barge to be set in place.
D
Brock Benjamin calling in a 120,000-pounds honch girder.
I E
Hoisting a honch girder from the barge.
F
Hammerhead piers that will eventually be placed and poured into concrete.
G H G
Joey Zeleny and Brock Benjamin aligning the last abutment girder.
H
Harris Rebar working hard on the bridge deck, 50% tied on the bottom, 100% tied on top. Tied by hand, no tying guns.
I
Brock Benjamin connecting a diaphragm X-brace. DECEMBER 2020
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 21 12/3/20 6:58 PM BREATHE EASIER: TURNING TO SCIENCE FOR A BETTER WAY Submitted by Je Norris, Canadian safety coordinator
he COVID condition has led health conversa- base metal, the welding electrode, surface coatings tions into the realm of occupational hygiene, and other contaminants. Furthermore, when shield- particularly respiratory health. According to ing of the weld pool is required, constituents such as T the American Industrial Hygiene Association, electrode coatings, uxes, shielding gases and sur- industrial hygiene is a science and art devoted to the face coatings are burned or exposed to arc radiation, anticipation, recognition, evaluation, prevention and which can produce gases harmful to humans (carbon control of those environmental factors or stresses aris- monoxide, gaseous uoride, nitrogen oxides, ozone ing in or from the workplace which may cause sickness, and phosgene). impaired health and well-being, or signi cant discom- fort among workers or citizens of the community. Old school: Stay away from the plume Making the list of the deadly dozen hazards for eld e technically aged method of positioning the welder’s and shop work environments is exposure to chemicals head relative to the rising smoke/plume and relying on and airborne contaminants. Many members engage in natural ventilation keeping the plume away from the the skill of welding. Airborne hazards include weld- welder’s breathing zone and general area is usually not ing fume, a complex mixture of microscopic particles very e ective. Whenever possible, ventilation systems or of metal oxides and other compounds released dur- other controls should be used to remove harmful fumes ing the welding process. e composition of these and gases. However, these may not reduce exposure lev- elements depends on the chemical ingredients of the els enough.
Employers must refer to applicable federal, provincial/territorial regulations WELDING FUME METHODOLOGY for specific legal requirements.
REGULATORY Has the employer determined the welding fume constituents to which the worker Employer Exposure ASSESSMENT may be exposed from welding consumables, base material and coating? NO Assessment YES EXPOSURE Is there any potential worker exposure to a welding fume constituent(s) above Employer Periodic DETERMINATION the applicable exposure limits (OHS Authority PEL or ACGHIV TLV)? NO Assessment YES ENGINEERING 1. Substitution – Is it feasible and practical to replace the welding process, CONTROLS consumable, gas, welding procedure or equipment technology that can generate YES YES less of the welding fume constituent(s)? Feasible and Practical Below PEL or TLV 2. Isolation – Is it feasible and practical to isolate and separate the welding operation by moving the operation to a regulated area, by automating/ventilating the welding process and/or by placing a barrier between the worker and the source? NO 3. Ventilation/Exhaust – Is it feasible and practical to control the welding fume path between the source and the worker through source, local and/or general YES shop extraction/ventilation equipment? Personal Protective Equipment Can the worker be protected Safe Work Practice Controls – Is it feasible and practical to lower exposure NO
THE IRONWORKER from a welding fume constituent to a welding fume constituent by use of safe work practice and/or by use of a respirator? administrative controls?
22 NO
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 22 12/3/20 6:59 PM Compared to the general working population, weld- ers have a greater risk of developing airway irritation, bronchitis, lung function changes, lung infections such as pneumonia, and lung cancer. Welding and its asso- ciated processes can result in overexposures to some forms of manganese in fume from speci c types of welding consumables. Recent studies indicate neuro- logical and neurobehavioral de cits may occur when workers are exposed to low levels of manganese (<0.2 Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) mg/m3) in welding fumes. Studies have also shown A powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) protects the that grinding operations can generate more respirable user by ltering out contaminants in the air and use a particulates than welding and similar thermal cutting battery-operated blower to provide the user with clean exceedances over welding. air through a tight- tting respirator, a loose- tting Exposure levels are typically measured through air hood, or a helmet. sample collection procedures and, once understood, PAPRs use high-e ciency particulate air (HEPA) compared to exposure limit values established to pro- lters and provide a higher protection level than dispos- tect workers. Occupational exposure limits are typically able respirators. High-e ciency particulate air (HEPA) given as a time-weighted average (TWA) concentration lters have a similar ltration as P100 ltering (at least over a normal 8-hour workday. In the USA, OSHA’s 99.97% of particles 0.3 μm in diameter) and are oil published permissible exposure limits (PELs) are the proof. PAPRs are considered more protective in terms legally enforceable standard. However, most Canadian of the level of respiratory protection due to the higher jurisdictions do not have an occupational exposure e ciency of their ltration pieces and the maintenance limit (OEL) for total welding fume. Many jurisdic- of outward positive pressure. PAPRs are speci ed for tions choose to follow more current advisory standards, high-hazard procedures because they can o er assigned such as threshold limit values (TLVs®) published by protection factor (APF) ranging from 25 to 1,000, which the American Conference of Governmental Industrial reduce the risk more than the protection factors pro- Hygienists (ACGIH). Each contaminant measured must vided by N95 respirators. e improved protection is be compared to its exposure limits to judge if exposure largely provided by the positive pressure in the head levels pose a risk or not. covering or facepiece. e Iron Workers has recently acquired a number of Enter hierarchy of controls the 3M 9100MP Ado™ systems complemented with the To prevent occupational exposures, the hierarchy of con- Speedglas™ welding helmet. Partnering with and sup- trols specify that unless the hazard can be eliminated ported by 3M Safety to provide training and technical or substituted with a less toxic substance, exposure expertise, the Iron Workers will o er the Iron Workers controls should be systematically implemented in the PAPR pilot program and its end-user survey to contrac- following decreasing order of e cacy: tors; intending to provide necessary data and feedback • engineering controls; to the Iron Workers safety and health department to • administrative controls/work practice controls; measure the e ectiveness related to safety, productiv- • personal protective equipment (PPE). ity and quality using the 3M 9100MP Ado™ system as compared to other legacy methods of protection. E ective engineered controls such as ventilation sys- Furthermore, this study and survey aim to clarify the DECEMBER tems can be e ective in the removal of hazardous fume. current status of respiratory protection and associated Although a very popular default is the use of respiratory problems among workers engaged in dust, particulate protective equipment. A large variety of respirators exist and vapor-generating work, including the type of respi- that o er bene ts and limitations. Welding fume can ratory protective equipment (RPE) used, methods for 2020 only be captured with particulate lters. N95 and P100 wearing RPE, and awareness of respiratory protection. class lters are commonly used, provided the worker is Turning to science in the e ort to nd there is a bet- t-tested for the device and medically assessed for use. ter way. 23
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 23 12/3/20 6:59 PM RESPIRER PLUS FACILEMENT SE TOURNER VERS LA SCIENCE POUR UNE MEILLEURE MÉTHODE Soumis par Je Norris, coordonnateur canadien de la sécurité
ans le contexte de la COVID-19, les discussions panache de la zone de respiration du soudeur n’est habi- sur la santé se concentrent maintenant sur l’hy- tuellement pas très e cace. Lorsque cela est possible, giène du travail, et plus particulièrement sur la des systèmes de ventilation ou d’autres mécanismes de D santé respiratoire. Selon l’American Industrial contrôle doivent être utilisés pour évacuer les fumées et Hygiene Association, l’hygiène industrielle est « une les gaz nocifs. Toutefois, ces systèmes pourraient ne pas science et un art dédiés à l’anticipation, à l’identi cation, être su sants pour diminuer le niveau d’exposition. à l’évaluation, à la prévention et au contrôle des tensions Comparativement aux travailleurs en général, les ou des facteurs environnementaux qui surviennent soudeurs présentent un risque plus élevé de développer dans le milieu de travail ou qui découlent de celui-ci, et une irritation des voies respiratoires, une bronchite, des qui peuvent engendrer des maladies et des problèmes changements de la fonction pulmonaire, des infections de santé, in uencer négativement la santé et le bien-être pulmonaires comme la pneumonie, et un cancer du ou causer un inconfort important chez les travailleurs poumon. Le soudage et ses procédés connexes peuvent ou les habitants de la communauté ». entraîner une surexposition à certaines formes de man- Dans la liste des dangers les plus meurtriers dans les ganèse présentes dans les fumées provenant de types usines et sur les chantiers, on compte l’exposition aux particuliers de produits de soudage. Des études récentes produits chimiques et aux contaminants présents dans indiquent que des dé cits neurologiques et neurocom- l’air. Plusieurs membres travaillent dans le domaine portementaux peuvent survenir chez les travailleurs du soudage. Parmi les dangers présents dans l’air, on qui sont exposés à de faibles niveaux de manganèse peut nommer les fumées de soudage, un mélange com- (< 0,2 mg/m3) dans les fumées de soudage. De plus, des plexe de particules microscopiques d’oxydes de métal et études ont démontré que les opérations de meulage d’autres composés, qui sont relâchés dans l’air pendant peuvent produire davantage de particules respirables le processus de soudage. La composition de ces éléments que le soudage, et des dépassements liés au découpage dépend des ingrédients chimiques dans le métal de base, thermique semblables à ceux du soudage. de l’électrode de soudage, des revêtements et d’autres Habituellement, les niveaux d’exposition sont mesu- contaminants. De plus, lorsqu’il faut protéger le bassin rés à l’aide de procédures de collecte d’échantillons de soudage, les éléments comme le revêtement des élec- d’air et une fois qu’ils sont compris, ils sont comparés trodes, les ux, les gaz de protection et les revêtements aux valeurs limites d’exposition établies pour protéger de surface sont brûlés ou expo- les travailleurs. Habituellement, les limites d’exposition sés au rayonnement de l’arc, ce professionnelle sont exprimées sous forme de concen- qui produit des gaz potentielle- tration moyenne pondérée dans le temps (MPT) par ment nocifs pour les humains rapport à une journée de travail normal de huit heures. (monoxyde de carbone, uo- Aux États-Unis, les Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) rures gazeux, oxydes d’azote, (limites d’exposition admissibles en français) publiées ozone et phosgène). par l’OSHA sont la norme applicable selon la loi. Tou- tefois, la plupart des juridictions canadiennes n’ont pas La vieille école – « Restez loin du panache » de limite d’exposition professionnelle (LEP) pour les La vieille méthode qui consiste à ce que le soudeur fumées de soudage totales. La plupart des juridictions éloigne sa tête de la fumée ou du panache qui monte choisissent de suivre les normes consultatives plus THE IRONWORKER et à se er à la ventilation naturelle pour éloigner le actuelles comme les reshold Limit Values (TLVs®) 24
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 24 12/3/20 6:59 PM publiées par l’American Conference of Governmental acheminer de l’air propre à l’utilisateur par l’entremise Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Chaque contaminant d’un respirateur à ajustement serré, d’un capuchon à mesuré doit être comparé à ses limites d’exposition pour ajustement lâche ou d’un casque. juger si les niveaux d’exposition posent un risque ou non. Les APR à épuration d’air motorisé utilisent des ltres à air à haute e cacité (HEPA) et o rent un niveau La « hiérarchie de mesures de contrôle » de protection plus élevé que les respirateurs jetables. Les A n de prévenir l’exposition au travail, la hiérarchie des ltres à air à haute e cacité (HEPA) o rent une ltra- mesures de contrôle précise qu’à moins que le danger tion semblable à la P100 (au moins 99,97 % des particules puisse être éliminé ou remplacé par une substance d’un diamètre de particules de 0,3 μm) et sont résistants moins toxique, des mesures de contrôle de l’exposition à l’huile. On considère que les APR à épuration d’air doivent être systématiquement mises en place dans motorisé o rent une meilleure protection respiratoire l’ordre d’e cacité décroissant suivant : en raison de l’e cacité plus élevée de leurs dispositifs de • Contrôles d’ingénierie; ltration et parce qu’ils maintiennent une pression posi- • Contrôles administratifs/contrôles des pratiques tive vers l’extérieur. Les APR à épuration d’air motorisé de travail; sont indiqués pour les procédures très dangereuses, • Équipement de protection personnelle (ÉPI). car ils o rent un facteur de protection caractéristique (FPC) allant de 25 à 1 000, ce qui diminue davantage les Habituellement, les niveaux risques que les facteurs de d’exposition sont mesurés protection o erts par les res- pirateurs N95. La protection à l’aide de procédures de accrue est largement attri- collecte d’échantillons d’air buable à la pression positive dans la cagoule ou le masque. et une fois qu’ils sont compris, Récemment, l’Internationale des travailleurs et tra- ils sont comparés aux valeurs vailleuses des métiers de l’acier a acquis un certain limites d’exposition établies pour nombre de systèmes 3M 9100MP Ado™ complétés par un casque de soudage Speedglas™. En partenariat avec protéger les travailleurs. 3M Safety qui fournira la formation et l’expertise tech- nique, l’Internationale des travailleurs et travailleuses des métiers de l’acier o rira le programme pilote sur Les contrôles d’ingénierie comme les systèmes de les APR à épuration d’air motorisé des travailleurs des ventilation peuvent être e caces pour éliminer les métiers de l’acier et un sondage auprès des utilisateurs fumées nocives. Par contre, l’utilisation d’équipement naux aux entrepreneurs dans le but de fournir les de protection respiratoire est très populaire par défaut. données nécessaires et des commentaires au Ironwor- Il existe une grande variété de respirateurs qui o rent kers International Safety and Health Department pour chacun des avantages et des limites. Les fumées de mesurer l’e cacité en termes de sécurité, de productivité soudage peuvent seulement être bloquées par des ltres et de qualité du système 3M 9100MP Ado™ comparati- à particules. Les ltres de catégorie N95 et P100 sont vement aux anciennes méthodes de protection. couramment utilisés sous réserve que le travailleur ait De plus, l’objectif de cette étude et de ce sondage est passé les essais d’ajustement pour l’appareil et qu’il ait de clari er le statut actuel de la protection respiratoire et DECEMBER 2020 été jugé apte à l’utiliser après un examen médical. des problèmes connexes chez les travailleurs exposés à la poussière, aux particules et aux vapeurs, y compris le Appareils de protection respiratoire (APR) type d’appareil de protection respiratoire (APR) utilisé, à épuration d’air motorisé les méthodes de port des APR et la sensibilisation à la Un appareil de protection respiratoire à épuration d’air protection respiratoire. motorisé protège l’utilisateur en ltrant les contami- Il faut se tourner vers la science pour trouver une nants dans l’air et utilise un soueur à batterie pour meilleure méthode. 25
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 25 12/3/20 6:59 PM CANADIAN DIRECTOR’S REPORT 2020 Kevin Bryenton
Looking back at the year that was
s this year wraps up, I pay as we nished up 2019. Strange times indeed, but A hope that all is well with that actually happened, and I thank the members your world and that COVID- of Local 752 (Halifax, Nova Scotia), who endured a 19 has not touched you or two-week stay in a hotel on a Lean Cuisine diet to your household or any of head out to dismantle Deep Panuke. the people in your life. I want to thank you all for We continue to engage various ministries of fed- everything you are doing as we move forward in the eral and provincial governments to make sure they ever-changing landscape of this global pandemic. have the most up-to-date information from every- Our members continue to build and fabricate one on the job to continue to make it a safe place to Canada regardless of the challenges that come our attend and earn a living. way. You are all doing exceptional work to represent Historically, what gravity can do to your body the best parts of our organization and what we do guided your decisions as you negotiated the day’s for a living. work safely. Now COVID-19 has partnered up with Maintaining direction in times when the com- all the collective work hazards on the job, in your pass is spinning tests all our capacity. I am extremely community and your home, and as a result, your proud of the Canadian team of leadership and sta spidey senses never get a chance to shut o . Nations, at the local unions across this country. All our provinces, cities, towns, communities, families and local unions have acted quickly, capitalized on the households within families have become islands. resources they had at hand and deployed e ective e added stress of the current environment has solutions to what the pandemic has served up with- seen a large uptick in the use and need for assistive out any blueprints. It has been truly commendable services in mental health and treatment centers. but, unfortunately, far from over. Local unions have ankfully robust services are available through- brought new lenses to how they look at employment out the locals to meet the demand and where they and are doing an exceptional job creating pathways were not available, local unions have added them for to construction for members in our manufacturing members who need them. sector who have been hit hard by the pandemic. Local union training centers have hit the ground Collective bargaining agreements and consti- running aer the varied furloughs mandated by tutions do not consider or foresee what lies ahead provincial closures and e ectively reintroduced in terms of the protections we can o er our mem- training in a safe environment for in-school direct bers when dealing with a worldwide scourge of this apprenticeship training and certi cate/safety/weld- nature. It has been a test of our collective fortitude ing training for all members. and continues to challenge all of us. IMPACT Canada has been engaged to meet vari- Across the country, collective bargaining agree- ous challenges on the reopening and has backstopped ments were amended to provide opportunities for local union personal protective equipment needed those who were willing to continue to go to work to continue to train in this strange new world. when the rest of the province shut down. ey were additionally amended to protect those who could Canada’s economy not. is o ce has worked with governments at e Canadian economy is still doing well if you all levels to speak to those protections, lobby for can say that aer what happened in March, but has furloughed members and do whatever possible to cooled a bit due to the atline in exports. It was in a maintain our ability to work safely. Who would have good place before the global shutdowns that occurred THE IRONWORKER thought that we would be negotiating quarantine and will be able to carry what it has generated in 26
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 26 12/3/20 6:59 PM added debt due to the pandemic. Stimulus spend- All locals outside of Newfoundland and Alberta ing coming out of the federal and provincial co ers have rebounded nicely from the COVID fur- will continue to be good for construction. All told, lough and are tracking on a more normal pace the tally for the various infrastructure banks are for employment across the ICI and residential committing more than $100 billion over the next construction sectors. Booming provinces include three years. most of Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec at this point. Site C is kicking up in BC and will rely Construction and maintenance outlook heavily on boomers later this fall. If we could grow Maintenance 2020 hours were projected to hover rodmen a little faster, we could use another 500 to around the 28-million-hour level; we are currently feed Locals 97, 721, 752 and 736. In Ontario, Bruce running at a fraction of that. Power will need ironworkers to do ironwork and ironworkers to do boilermaker work for the foresee- able future so get your security clearance underway if you can make the trip. Signi cant projects include Site C Dam and LNG Kitimat in BC, Eglington Crosstown Subway, Dar- lington NGS and Bruce Power in ON and the Gordie Howe Bridge in Windsor/Detroit, all in progress or getting ready to ramp up. e projects will provide a fantastic base of employment into the future. For those who can travel, work across this country is e combined work of all trades is down almost available and it will be for multiple years to come 30%, with ironworkers down 40%. despite what ultimately gets served up by our air- Most of the maintenance hours in Canada are borne enemy. generated in the oil patch in Alberta and potash patch in Saskatchewan and they are both on the dis- Political Front abled list but getting ready for a comeback. COVID e carbon economy of AB continues to lag and and camp jobs don’t play nice in the sandbox, so hangs on the current federal government’s neck like there has been a full stop in some places where the an albatross. ey have not backed down on the fed- normal cannot be accommodated. eral carbon tax; hence neither have the provinces is fall will see some major shutdowns come to backed down on their Supreme Court challenge. We pass six months later than anticipated; the fourth continue to lobby on all fronts for pipeline projects quarter of maintenance looks like it will be the best in and out of the western provinces to maintain the where it usually comes up the rear in terms of hours. viability of the resources. Despite the drop in maintenance, places across Can- Jason Kenney, premier of Alberta, United Con-
ada that never shut down construction are booming, servative Party, elected in April 2019 — right-wing, DECMBER including almost all of Ontario, Quebec and British anti-union — dropped o a little piece of legislation Columbia. If not for COVID, this would be an all called Bill 32, the Restoring Balance in Alberta’s smiles and sunshine report on how well Canada is Workplaces Act. It takes a page out of the ON Mike 2020 doing. Membership is up across the country despite Harris’ Conservative playbook to allow employers to the hobbling nature of bubbles, hotspots and quaran- get out of paying overtime on a nebulous averaging tines and job calls continue to come in like clockwork. formula. It also adds a reporting structure for unions 27
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 27 12/3/20 6:59 PM CANADIAN DIRECTOR’S REPORT 2020 continued
that makes the federal Bill 377 look like a starter kit. ironworkers — it’s what you all do every day. We will Lawyers are still parsing the ne print and getting endure and I thank you for everything you are doing ready for a Supreme Court challenge; we will see. to ensure that. We are all in this one together. Right-wing politics may be your bag but don’t It is truly an honor to represent the 20,000-plus get head faked before taking a look at what they are members in this country. I thank you all for that going to do to labour legislation. e bill and others opportunity and for what you do every day to fab, like it are all part of plans to unwind what unions erect and maintain Canada. I hope you get a chance have fought for generations to advance our collective to relax with your friends and family and re ect cause. Kenny has friends of the same ilk in the pro- on and be proud of what you have had to do to get vincial assemblies of ON, PQ and SK, so keep a wary through 2020. anks for all you do and stay as safe eye on those provinces’ legislatures and be ready to as you can. throw your shoulder into defending our way of life. From my family to you and yours, I wish you Managing to ply our trade while the ground con- a happy and healthy holiday season and a prosper- stantly shi s beneath your feet is nothing new for ous 2021.
RAPPORT DU DIRECTEUR CANADIEN 2020 Kevin Bryenton
En regardant en arrière l’année qui a été
’année tire à sa n et j’espère que tout va bien félicite pour votre travail, mais malheureusement, la L dans votre monde et que la COVID-19 ne vous pandémie est loin d’être nie. a pas touché vous, votre famille ou les gens qui vous Les sections locales ont adopté une nouvelle sont chers. approche envers le marché de l’emploi et les tra- Je pro te de l’occasion pour vous remercier pour vailleurs qui ont perdu leur emploi. Elles font un tout ce que vous faites malgré la grande incertitude excellent travail pour créer des avenues vers le engendrée par la pandémie. secteur de la construction pour nos membres du Il n’y a pas de manuel d’emploi pour cette situation secteur manufacturier qui ont été durement frappés et aucun précédent pour guider nos actions, mais les par la pandémie. membres qui continuent à construire le Canada font Les conventions collectives et les constitutions un travail exceptionnel pour montrer le meilleur n’ont pas prévu les mécanismes de protection visage de notre organisation et notre savoir-faire. nécessaires pour nos membres dans le cas d’une Il est dicile de garder le cap lorsque le compas catastrophe mondiale de cette ampleur. Il s’agit d’un est déréglé et la situation actuelle est un véritable test pour notre courage collectif. test pour nous tous. Je suis très er de l’équipe de Partout au pays, les conventions collectives ont direction canadienne et du personnel des sections été modi ées pour donner la chance aux travail- locales de l’ensemble du Canada. Toutes nos sections leurs capables et prêts à travailler de continuer locales ont agi rapidement, utilisé les ressources à le faire alors que le reste des provinces et terri- disponibles et déployé des solutions ecaces aux toires fermaient. Elles ont également été modi ées THE IRONWORKER problèmes inédits créés par la pandémie. Je vous pour protéger ceux qui ne peuvent pas travailler. 28
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 28 12/3/20 6:59 PM Notre bureau a travaillé avec les tous les paliers de pour poursuivre la formation dans ce nouveau gouvernement pour discuter des mécanismes de monde étrange. protection, a défendu les membres congédiés et a fait tout en son possible pour obtenir des conditions de L’ÉCONOMIE DU CANADA travail sécuritaires partout au pays. Qui aurait pensé L’économie du Canada va relativement bien malgré que nous négocierions une paye de quarantaine à ce qui s’est produit depuis mars, mais elle a ralenti la n de l’année 2019? Nous vivons vraiment une un peu en raison de la stagnation des exportations. époque étrange, mais cela s’est vraiment produit, L’économie allait bien avant les fermetures à l’échelle et je remercie les membres de la section 752 qui ont mondiale et sera en mesure de faire face aux dettes passé deux semaines à l’hôtel à manger léger alors générées en raison de la pandémie. qu’ils se rendaient sur le chantier pour démanteler le Les gouvernement fédéral et provinciaux con- projet Deep Panuke. tinueront à faire des dépenses de relance, ce qui Nous continuons notre travail auprès des minis- est toujours une bonne chose pour le secteur tères fédéraux et des gouvernements provinciaux de la construction. En tout, les di érents fonds pour nous assurer qu’ils disposent de l’information d’investissement en infrastructure du pays prévoient à jour pour assurer la sécurité de tous les travailleurs dépenser 100 milliards de dollars au cours des trois et protéger leur gagne-pain. prochaines années. Historiquement, la gravité et ses e ets sur le corps orientaient les négociations pour assurer la sécurité Aperçu du Secteur de la Construction au travail. À présent, la COVID-19 a fait équipe avec Et De L’entretien tous les autres dangers au travail, dans votre com- Entretien – On prévoyait que les heures de 2020 munauté et à la maison, ce qui fait que vous devez tourneraient autour de 28 millions d’heures – nous toujours rester vigilant. Les pays, les provinces, les travaillons actuellement à une fraction de cet objectif. villes, les villages, les communautés et les familles Le travail combiné pour tous les métiers est en sont devenus des îles. baisse de 30 %, et de 40 % pour les travailleurs des Le stress accru engendré par l’environnement métiers de l’acier. (Voir le tableau à la page 27.) actuel a fait augmenter la demande pour les services La plupart des heures de travail dans le domaine o erts par les centres de traitement et les services de de l’entretien au Canada sont habituellement géné- santé mentale partout au pays. Heureusement, les rées par les champs de pétrole en Alberta et le secteur sections locales canadiennes o rent de bons services de la potasse en Saskatchewan. Ces deux secteurs pour répondre à la demande et lorsque ces services sont actuellement sur la liste des blessés, mais ils se n’étaient pas disponibles, elles les ont ajoutés pour préparent à un retour. La COVID-19 et le travail sur les o rir aux membres qui en ont besoin. les chantiers ne font pas bon ménage; ainsi, certains Les centres de formation des sections locales chantiers où il n’est pas possible de travailler norma- tournent à plein régime après les nombreux congé- lement ont été complètement arrêtés. diements découlant des fermetures à l’échelle Cet automne, nous assisterons à de nombreuses provinciale. Ils ont recommencé à o rir les fermetures six mois plus tard que prévu; il semble formations dans un environnement sécuritaire, donc que le 4e trimestre d’entretien sera le meilleur,
notamment en ce qui concerne les formations alors qu’il compte normalement le moins grand DECMBER 2020 d’apprentissage directes en milieu scolaire et les nombre d’heures. certi cats en sécurité et en soudure pour tous les Malgré la baisse des activités d’entretien, la membres. IMPACT Canada s’est engagé à relever de construction n’a jamais cessé dans certains endroits nombreux dé s dans le contexte de la réouverture au Canada, et on remarque même un boom dans et a contribué à fournir l’équipement de protection presque toutes les régions de l’Ontario, du Québec et personnelle dont les sections locales avaient besoin de la Colombie-Britannique. Si la COVID-19 n’était 29
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 29 12/3/20 6:59 PM RAPPORT DU DIRECTEUR CANADIEN 2020 a continué
pas là, on parlerait d’un rapport exceptionnel sur la provinces de l’Ouest a n d’y assurer la pérennité performance du Canada. Le nombre de membres est des ressources. en hausse au pays malgré les bulles, les zones rouges Jason Kenney Premier ministre de l’Alberta, et les quarantaines, et les chantiers continuent d’en- Parti conservateur uni – élu en avril 2019. À droite, trer avec une régularité d’horloge. antisyndicaliste. Il a présenté le projet de loi 32, Toutes les sections locales à l’extérieur de Terre- Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act (Loi Neuve-et-Labrador et de l’Alberta ont joliment sur le rétablissement de l’équilibre dans les milieux rebondi des congédiements de la COVID-19 et de travail en Alberta). Ce projet de loi s’inspire de sont en voie de reprendre un rythme plus normal l’agenda conservateur de l’Ontarien Mike Harris concernant l’emploi dans les secteurs de la construc- pour permettre aux employeurs de ne pas payer les tion industrielle, commerciale et institutionnelle, heures supplémentaires en se fondant sur une for- et résidentielle. mule de pondération nébuleuse. Il ajoute également En ce moment, on compte l’Ontario, la Colom- une structure de rapports pour les syndicats qui bie-Britannique et le Québec dans les provinces donne des allures de trousse pour débutant au pro- qui connaissent un boom. Le chantier C reprend jet de loi 377. Les avocats étudient encore les petits de la vigueur en C.-B. et dépendra beaucoup des caractères et se préparent à contester ce projet de loi boomers pour cet automne. Si le bassin de poseurs devant la Cour suprême. d’acier d’armature pouvait croître un peu plus rap- Vous connaissez peut-être la politique de droite, idement, nous pourrions en utiliser 500 de plus mais ne vous laissez pas berner avant d’examiner pour approvisionner les sections locales 97, 721, ce qu’ils feront aux lois du travail. Ce projet de loi et 752 et 736. Bruce Power, en Ontario, aura besoin d’autres dans son genre font tous partie de plans pour de travailleurs des métiers de l’acier pour réaliser défaire les gains des syndicats. Kenny a des amis de les travaux relatifs à l’acier, et de travailleurs des même acabit dans les assemblées provinciales de l’On- métiers de l’acier pour faire le travail de chaudron- tario, du Québec et de la Saskatchewan, alors gardez nier dans un proche avenir. Je vous invite donc à un œil attentif sur les législatures de ces provinces et obtenir votre autorisation de sécurité si vous pou- préparez-vous à devoir défendre notre mode de vie. vez faire le voyage. Chercher à travailler librement tandis que le sol Projets majeurs à noter – Le barrage du chantier C bouge constamment sous nos pieds n’a rien de nou- et LNG Kitimat en C.-B., Eglington Crosstown Sub- veau pour les travailleurs des métiers de l’acier, c’est way, Darlington NGS et Bruce Power en Ontario, ce que vous faites tous, tous les jours. Nous sommes et le pont Gordie Howe Bridge à Windsor/Détroit endurants et je vous remercie pour tout ce que vous sont tous en cours ou prêt à reprendre. Ces projets faites pour que nous le restions. Nous sommes tous fourniront une base d’emplois fantastiques pour le ensemble dans cette situation. futur. Pour ceux qui peuvent voyager, il y a du travail C’est vraiment un honneur de représenter les partout au pays et il y en aura pour plusieurs années, quelque 20 000 membres du pays. Je vous remercie malgré les attaques de la COVID-19. tous de me donner la chance de le faire et pour ce que vous faites chaque jour pour construire et entretenir FRONT POLITIQUE le Canada. J’espère que vous aurez la chance de vous L’économie du carbone de l’Alberta continue à tirer détendre avec vos amis et votre famille et de prendre de la patte et pend autour du cou du gouvernement le temps de ré échir à ce que vous avez dû faire pour fédéral comme un albatros. Le gouvernement n’a passer à travers 2020 et d’en être er. Merci pour tout pas reculé sur la taxe fédérale sur le carbone et les ce que vous faites et restez en sécurité. provinces n’ont pas reculé non plus sur leur recours Ma famille se joint à moi pour vous souhaiter et à à la Cour suprême. Nous continuons à défendre les votre famille de joyeuses Fêtes en santé et une année THE IRONWORKER projets de pipeline sur tous les fronts et dans les 2021 prospère! 30
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 30 12/3/20 6:59 PM ONTARIO DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORT Kevin Bryenton
Ontario does not slow down
f you could view the world without reference the new COVID rubric we all I to anything pandemic, 2020 has been another have to endure. e upcoming fantastic year for ironworkers in this province. year of 2021 looks no di er- Unfortunately, the virus showed up here just like ent in the construction world everywhere else in the world and the province went here as provincial and federal through a long shutdown in March. ankfully, stimulus dollars are earmarked for large projects in construction was deemed an essential service as the province and many megaprojects will continue the furlough came into e ect and, as such, o ered for many years to come. Ontario is now the landing members the opportunity to continue to go to work place for boomers. if they wished. A few high density, low access jobs Local 736 had elections at the local level through had issues and were stood down to adjust to the new a modi ed procedure of a mail-out and acclaimed operational requirements, but most worksites that Business Manager James Hannah and President Ste- engage our trades did not have extensive time lost ven Pratt. Congratulations to them and their team of hiccups. Just about every local union has had work ocers and a special nod to all who stood for oce. either hold steady, pick up or start booming. e district council team of leaders continues to do e council continues to break records each an outstanding job on behalf of ironworkers across month this year and as I write this article, we are at the province, so to all who have stood and those an all-time high of 8,455 members in the Ontario serving in oce, thanks for all you do on behalf of District Council. is number is truly impressive the members. considering the pandemic has pounded our provin- cial manufacturing sector and some of our shops did Organizing not reopen or did not fully ramp up a er the provin- e team was furloughed through April and cial shutdown. e nal numbers are not in at the May but continued to do whatever they could do time of this article, but the council is on course to remotely, and I am happy to report that there were surpass 7 million cra hours for 2020. A couple of three successful certi cations led throughout the the outside locals took a little longer to get back up shutdown. ese add to the more than 25 contrac- to speed, but all are cooking with high octane gas tors successfully organized by the Ontario team through October and just about every local union in 2020 — another excellent year. e success of has boomer assistance, either within or outside of the team relies on all of the local union members the council, meeting demands of the robust employ- and leaders across the province. We have the most ment across Ontario. favourable labour laws of any district council in Provincial hours are as follows for the past our entire organization, but they would not help if four years: everyone were not open to organizing. ank you • 2017 6,900,683 to the entire 8,500-member team for making their • 2018 7,063,197 e orts as fruitful as can be had. • 2019 7,303,072 DECMBER 2020 Politics • 2020 3,310,842 (through June) Ontario is in a stable environment in terms of any e last quarter of the year is usually a wind impending legislative attacks on building trade down due to our climate through the winter, but unions. e Ford government’s response to date this year will look a little di erent as schedules were on the global pandemic is everyone’s assessment to pushed and jobs are taking longer to complete given make. ankfully, they are continuing to fund the 31
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two nuclear refurbs and are engaging us on Com- members are currently engaged in the rebar and munity Bene t Agreements as they look to nd steel install, having made excellent above-ground shovel-ready infrastructure projects across Ontario. progress. A massive amount of steel in the bridge e ministry of labour has been very responsive to and the complex associated with the crossing will all construction workers’ needs across the province, carry on for multiple years to come. as we all continued to work through the provincial Commercial and institutional work remains shutdown. To date, there has been no on-the-job strong, including a more than 1 million-square-foot transmission in either shop or outside projects. We processing plant for Maple Leaf Foods in London. continue to engage and lobby to maintain the proto- On the industrial side, the Sarnia Valley has taken cols for safe access and attempt to cement changes, o with Nova Chemicals building a brand-new so there will still be a sense of urgency around hav- plant in addition to ongoing maintenance there and ing clean washup/bathroom facilities post COVID. at Shell. e valley is home to more than 150 mem- bers and is becoming a boomer stopover as we move Training through the fall. Although construction remained open during the furlough, schools, including colleges and univer- Local 721 (Toronto, Ontario) sities, took a super-extended March break. As we Work has gone from hot and steady to crazy booming moved through the halfway point of this year, the in Toronto. With a renaissance in the over 50- oor training delivery agents at Local 700, 721, 736, 765 commercial multi-story (tower) market continuing and 786 prepared for students’ return to their train- to add to the skyline, the ongoing residential boom ing centers. Most local unions used the furlough has not let up in the past decade. to put some extra shine on the respective halls and Institutional and commercial projects are also classrooms and are now operating at two-thirds rolling across the city and the extended areas of capacity due to the distancing measures. All welding the local and multiple infrastructure and indus- training has resumed and certi cate/safety training trial projects. All told, it has brought the local to the has amped up in line with the local union reopen- point of almost 100% employment and adds another ings in June-July. IMPACT assisted in backstopping boomer landing spot to the council. the provincial PPE order organized through Local 721, which was crucial to the reopening. anks to LCBO Headquarters, 100 Queens Quay them for nding a way to get 50,000-plus masks on e 25-story, mixed-use project the way during a feeding frenzy for the same. will be the home of one of the Local 700 (Windsor, Ontario) ironworkers’ favorite monopo- lies, the Liquor Control Board e Gordie Howe Bridge continues to roll along of Ontario. e project is near- as one of the largest projects in the local. Over 50 ing completion and had local forces on the rebar with Har- ris, Antamex doing the curtain wall, McCormick Steel for structural and Venshore for miscellaneous metals. The Well at Spadina and Front Street Toronto’s largest construction site will be featured in the upcoming reinforcing edition of e Iron- THE IRONWORKER worker but will have a 37-story tower as part of its 32
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 32 12/3/20 6:59 PM Ironworks and Noremac Steel (see the article on page 4 submitted by Walters). The ONE e northern part of downtown currently has one of the tallest con- dos, One Bloor East, 257m, and is getting another monster right across the street — e ONE, Bloor One West. Designed initially as an 82-story condo, it was recently redesigned with another 18 stories added, making it the tallest build- ing in Canada. Walters is erecting structural steel on the project; Flynn Canada will install the win- huge footprint. Harris is installing the rebar with dow package. Seele Canada will do the exclusively Walters doing the mezzanine, Antamex the curtain designed architectural glass of the Apple store at the wall and Venture the miscellaneous metals–an all- building’s podium. e 18 extra stories were added ironworker show. to outdo the 93-story Sky Tower Pinnacle Condo underway at the bottom of Yonge Bay Adelaide North Tower Street, where Flynne Canada will be on Richmond Street installing the curtain wall on One e third and nal tower coming in Yonge. Both buildings will surpass at just under 40 stories on the com- the record of the tallest building in plex was halted in 1993 in the depths Canada that has stood for 45 years. of the recession of the time. Over Sorry about your luck, First Cana- the last decade, it has been a regu- dian Place, but you had a good run! lar destination for ironworkers and began the recent commercial tower Other projects boom in Toronto. Walters has been As the largest infrastructure project the mainstay for structural steel in Canada, the Eglington Cross- development for the complex. town Subway/LRT continues with 25 stations employing many sig- 160 Front Street West natory contractors and members A 46- oor commercial tower devel- along its 19km length. Gilbert Steel, opment incorporates the heritage Harris Rebar, Mansteel and Salit building at its base as part of its Steel are installing rebar across the facade on the nal design-build. Crosslinx at all stations. Walters, Once again, structural contractor is Walters, glass ES Fox, GP Custom, Venture and others are com-
by Sota Curtainwalls and Bass Installations. pleting the structural and ornamental facets of the DECMBER $9-billion project. CIBC SQUARE at 81 Bay Rehabilitation of Gardiner Expressway started CIBC SQUARE at 81 Bay at 54 stories is smallish in the middle of last year; the project was estimated 2020 but at its peak employed 180-to-200 Local 721 mem- to last until 2033, with 8km of the elevated highway bers, working on the project with Walters, ES Fox, replaced. Phase 1 includes replacing almost 400 Bass Installation, Harris Rebar, JP Custom, Pengelly pairs of girders of the highway deck and two ramps. 33
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St. Lawrence Erectors perform erection; rodwork the recently completed renovation is fully up and run- by Mansteel. ning on all cylinders aer the spring furlough. Front Street is another busy place in the city with its Union Station Redevelopment. Mometal, GP Cas- Local 759 (Thunder Bay, Ontario) tom and F&L Contracting doing architectural glass under Bay ironworkers have a feast on the go aer in the form of canopies and skylights sitting on ne a long drought in terms of the work within the local structures, tting well with this heritage building. union territory. Sprinkle in an ongoing refurb at Darlington e northernmost local of the province is the Nuclear Generating Station, a defurb (or refurb) at largest geographically and has the most headwater Pickering NGS and about another 100 ongoing proj- to harness and manage hydroelectricity production. ects across the local and you get a fantastic couple of e cyclical nature of the expansion and manage- years for the 721. e local continues to reach new ment of the Ontario Power Generation eet is highs in terms of growth and the members it has coming on strong throughout the latter portion of been able to o er careers. Congratulations to all of 2020. It will continue through next year with ongo- them and the local leadership for meeting the chal- ing gate work at the Lower Mattagami River project, lenges of the boom. Harmon G.S., Kipling G.S. and the start of Little Long G.S. in the Kapuskasing area in addition to Sil- Local 736 (Hamilton, Ontario) ver Falls G.S. just outside of under Bay, Manitou e local once again saw incremental increases in Falls G.S. in Ear Falls and both White Dog and Cari- the various employment of residential and ICI sec- bou Falls G.S in the Kenora District. tors and is currently at the beginning of their boom e Rainy River/Beaudette International Cross- regarding the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station’s ing is wrapping up at this writing with miscellaneous ongoing refurbishment. Travel cards welcome! e metals completing the joint project with Local 512 local is currently feeding families across the coun- (Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.). Ongoing work at try and needs more ironworkers to ll ironworker Resolute Forest Products is happening, in addition to calls and backstop the boilermaker for many of minework at Musselwhite, Impala and Hemlo mines. their calls as things progress up at the Major Com- Some of the in-town work where you get to call ponent Replacement project. e work will carry your own house “camp” is ongoing at the new eld- on through 2032 and an additional 20-30 years of house at Lakehead University, rebuilding the Marina maintenance thereaer. At a little over $2 billion per overpass, a Ministry of Natural Resources based in unit, many pensionable hours are on the horizon for Dryden and a couple of OPP stations. members of Hamilton. At an overall estimated cost Upcoming work in 2021 will be more mine work of $190 billion, it is the largest public/private part- at Green Stone Gold and the continuing moderniza- nership the province has embarked on. If you signed tion of the city of under Bay into a destination of your kid up, they could end up retiring on one job. choice with the addition of an indoor soccer facility Truly amazing! and an art museum. Work continues in the heavy industrial sector of manufacturing with regular outage management at Local 765 (Ottawa, Ontario) Dofasco and ongoing work at U.S. Steel. e three Work looks good in the nation’s capital for the next car plants in the local are all trucking along and couple of years. Aer a slower than usual start, 2020 plans include to twin the Garden City Skyway, serv- is nishing up with a bang. ing as a boon to the members in and around the St. Kingston has had a couple of busy spots over the Catharines’ area of the local. last couple of years, with the Napanee Generating e local training center continues to add to its Station nishing up as one of the rst private LNG
THE IRONWORKER expansive o erings as the largest facility in the council; Hersig Generation Facilities built in the province
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 34 12/3/20 6:59 PM under TransCanada Corp. e facility has entered the Electrical Power Systems Construction Associa- tion and by way of that, bargaining rights extension will be an employment opportunity for maintenance by the local into the foreseeable future. Work has nished up at the Canada Royal Milk Plant and we now have the rst and only wet infant formula facility in the country in operation near Kingston. Congrats to the members who get to tell their grandkids about that one! Shutdown followed the normal cycle at the Bath Cement Plant and there will be some upcoming dollar nally made the cake rise right as they com- work at the Green eld Ethanol Plant in Johnstown mitted to starting the billion-dollar project in July. in the new year. Big work in the Sault was at the LMF project for e Cataraqui River will get another hybrid Algoma Steel. Sudbury saw lots of members working bridge in the ird Crossing, which has begun and on the Vale No. 1 Cattrel project for Tesc and Anmar, will nish up in 2021 along with upcoming renova- in addition to the headwater refurbs throughout tion and expansion at Kingston General Hospital. the EPSCA world at various dams and the private Ottawa has nished up the ve-year project at the Hydro Electric project at Wabagishik Dam (Vale) on West Block of Parliament Hill and begun a 10-year the Vermillion River. project at the Center Block of the same. Federal infrastructure dollars are better than a tax return Local 834 (Toronto, Ontario) on these projects as they o er almost a generation of e provincial shutdowns put in place hammered work at the top of the town. the shops on the front end. Some were faster at e Department of National Defence has also responding to the enhanced COVID protocols than sent work our way by renovating the old Nortel others and, as such, ramped up through April and complex for their new headquarters. Work at the May to regular capacity. As we moved through the Mattawa Plains Project at the military base in Pet- summer, most got back to full employment and awawa is also nishing up. beyond, adding more members as the days got lon- New projects starting in Ottawa are the 2.7-mil- ger. Unfortunately, our only non-manufacturing lion-square-feet Amazon warehouse, the West bargaining unit did not reopen a er the lockdown Memorial Building retro t project, the retro t at the and due to insurance issues, Kids and Company has Lester B. Pearson Building and an additional leisure now closed its doors. On the bright side, the local building at Algonquin College. e Ottawa light rail union added two more employers due to Vinnie’s transit phase 2 has started in addition to an ESAB e orts and organizers’ team in the form of Golden heating plant for the many government buildings Triangle — a miscellaneous rails and stars shop in that populate the area around Parliament will be Saint George and Algonquin Bridge in orold (they rolling out in the new year. make bridges). Welcome to the Ontario team! Local 786 (Sudbury, Ontario) As this edition comes in the time of Christmas, a DECMBER 2020 very merry one to you and your families. 2020 was a Gogama will be action central as the announcement great work year for the province for our trade, but I am of another brand new mine was made this sum- happy to see it in the rear-view mirror for everything mer by IAMGold for their Cote Lake project. In the else it brought. I hope you are all healthy and safe and works for a while, it’s a sweet spot of an increased get a real chance to relax with those you love over the long-term gold price and a relatively low Canadian holidays and have a safe and prosperous 2021. 35
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 35 12/3/20 6:59 PM EASTERN CANADA DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORT Jimmy Buisson
Let’s stay united
his year has been lled 450 ironworkers at Local 764, saw this oil rig pre- T with emotion both for us fabrication project canceled due to COVID-19 and and for the entire planet. the plummeting price of oil. e project could be Despite the pandemic and resumed in a year, according to the owners. About the associated shutdowns, a 80% of the local’s income is directly linked to large lot of work exists within and outside your provinces projects such as these. is full-stop to the project that could use your help to meet the demand if you is a huge disappointment for our members. ere is are willing to travel. other work in the province and presents an opportu- With the health and safety standards applied nity to diversify our areas of expertise by developing on all construction sites by the Canadian and pro- new partnerships through intensive organizing. vincial governments, it is safe despite COVID-19 to work on sites for all ironworkers. It is a key aspect of Help us to organize those our ongoing survival to show we have the required not represented number of workers when there is a labor shortage in You can help increase the number of companies Canada. Training is still the main tool we can use to that work with your union. If an organizer or a increase the number of ironworkers, but due to the business agent asks for your help, do not hesitate to circumstances of distancing, several training centers contribute and assist where you can attain bargain- have had to close their doors or reduce their number ing rights. New contractors diversify our sectors of of students for training. e challenge is great this activity and add a bu er to the prospect of having year for several Canadian provinces. too many members unemployed. Should you partic- ipate in any organizing drive with the local union, Current situation it will be maintained in the trust of the local union In the province of Ontario, British Columbia and on a con dential basis. e information you share Quebec, many sites need skilled labor. Whether it with your organizer, business agent, or business is the REM (Réseau Express Métropolitain), a light manager will never be disclosed, which is guaran- metro with 26 stations in Metropolitan Montreal, teed by the labor laws. e goal is to increase the or the rebuild of the Louis H. Lafontaine tunnel number of companies that work with us, in turn, to Bellechasse metro station in Montreal, workers in increase your working hours and, in the long term, our trades are in great demand. It is taxing to self your pension and health bene t insurance cover- and home in these challenging times to travel and age. Everybody wins. o er our skills and expertise for these projects, but the work is there. Reinforcing ironworkers break records In Quebec and other provinces in the District Coun- Hard blow for Newfoundland/Labrador cil of Western Canada and Ontario, skilled labor is Since last March, the black gold industry in the in short supply, especially for reinforcing ironwork- Atlantic provinces, particularly Newfoundland and ers. A great opportunity for our trades exists in Labrador, has su ered multiple hard knocks. e taking in unrepresented workers, training the next project at the Argentia West White Rose Husky generation, or rodworkers across the country. Industrial Port, which was at full employment, is now on hold. It aimed to build an extension to an COVID-19 already existing drilling platform. is more than Currently, the standards and protocols concern- THE IRONWORKER $2-billion mega-project, which employed more than ing the coronavirus are followed to the letter by our 36
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 36 12/3/20 6:59 PM In Quebec and other provinces in the District Council of Western Canada and Ontario, skilled labor is in short supply, especially for reinforcing ironworkers.
contractors, with very few cases being reported. We who decide to work in their regions or outside in have established contact tracing within our repre- these di cult times. Be careful and vigilant even sentative ranks at the international level to see how a er your shi s are over. Apply the recommen- we are doing as an organization in our two coun- dations of public health and remember the virus tries. To have job site information for our members’ is treacherous, it strikes without warning and we health and safety, members may submit a con den- want to keep it away from our sites and members tial reporting form if they contract the virus. of the ironworkers. I would like to thank all the contractors for the To all of you, on behalf of my family, we wish you measures put in place for the safety of our mem- merry Christmas and a shared wish that 2021 is a bers. A big thank you also to all the members year that you all remember as a healthy one.
RAPPORT DU CONSEIL DE DISTRICT DE L’EST DU CANADA Jimmy Buisson
Restons Unis
ette année a été remplie d’émotion tant chez pour les formations. Le dé est de taille cette année C nous que pour la planète entière. J’aimerais pour plusieurs province Canadienne. rappeler à tous nos membres qu’il y a actuelle- ment beaucoup de travail hors de leurs régions et Situation actuelle qu’il est important de répondre à la demande plu- Dans les régions dont je m’occupe (Québec, Nou- tôt que d’accepter du travail « non Union » dans veau-Brunswick, Nouvelle-Écosse et Terre-Neuve/ sa région. Labrador) un nombre important de chantiers ont Avec les normes en santé et sécurité appliquées besoin de main d’œuvre quali ée. sur tous les chantiers, il est sécuritaire, malgré la Que ce soit le REM (Réseau Express Métropoli- COVID 19, de travailler à l’extérieur pour tous les tain), un métro léger de 26 stations dans le Montréal travailleurs des métiers de l’acier. Il en est de notre Métropolitain, à la réfection au tunnel Louis H. survie de montrer que nous avons le nombre requis Lafontaine ou à la station de métro Bellechasse à DECMBER 2020 de travailleur quand il y pénurie de main d’œuvre Montréal, les travailleurs de nos métiers sont en au Canada. La formation reste toujours le principal grande demande. En ces temps di cile, il est de outil que nous pouvons utiliser pour accroitre le notre devoir de voyager et d’orir nos compétences nombre de travailleur, mais due aux circonstances et notre expertise pour ces projets. de distanciation plusieurs établissement ont dû Travailler pour des donneurs d’ouvrage « non- ferme leurs portes ou réduire leur nombres d’élèves Union » fait mal à tous les « Ironworkers » et ne fait 37
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qu’emplir les poches de ces compagnies qui ne se seront jamais divulguées et cela est garanti par le soucient pas de l’avenir des travailleurs. Travailler à Conseil du Travail. Le but est d’augmenter le nombre l’extérieur avec des syndicats « International » c’est de compagnies qui travaillent avec nous, d’augmen- s’assurer de conserver ses acquis et ses conditions de ter par ricochet vos heures de travail et, à long terme, travail durement gagnées au l des ans…Restons Unis! votre pension et vos protections d’assurance médi- cale. Tout le monde y gagne. Coup Dur pour Terre-Neuve/Labrador Depuis mars dernier, l’industrie de l’or noir dans les Du jamais vu pour les poseurs provinces de l’Atlantique en particulier Terre-Neuve d’acier d’armature et Labrador encaisse de multiples coups durs. Le En Ontario, Colombie-Britannique et le Québec projet au port industriel Argentia West White Rose la main d’œuvre spécialisée est en pénurie surtout Husky, qui était en plein emploi, est aujourd’hui en pour les poseurs d’acier d’armature qui sont en veilleuse. Il visait à construire une extension à une grande demande. Une situation qui n’a jamais été plateforme de forage déjà existante. Ce mégaprojet aussi forte dans tout le Canada… Du Jamais Vu! de plus de deux milliards de dollars, qui employait plus de 450 travailleurs de l’acier part en fumée. Covid 19 Nos « Ironworkers » du local 764 ont vu ce pro- Actuellement, les normes et protocoles concernant jet de préfabrication de la plateforme pétrolière le Coronavirus sont respectés à la lettre par les être annulé à cause de la COVID 19 et du prix entrepreneurs. Très peu de cas ont été rapportés. À du pétrole en chute libre. Le projet pourrait être l’international nous avons un formulaire qui sug- repris dans un an selon les propriétaires. Environ gère aux membres de se rapporter s’il contracte le 80 % des revenus du Local sont directement liés à virus, et ce, dans le but d’avoir de l’information sur de grands projets tel que ceux-là. Une très grande les chantiers pour votre santé et sécurité. Encore une déception pour nos travailleurs. Il est grand temps fois toutes ces informations ne seront pas divulgués de diversi er nos champs de compétence en tra- à personne… Tout est con dentiel. vaillant à développer de nouveaux partenariats par Je tiens personnellement à remercier tous les de l’organisation intensive. entrepreneurs pour les mesures mises en place pour la sécurité de nos membres. Un gros merci aussi à Aidez-nous à faire de tous les « Ironworkers » qui décident d’aller travailler l’organisation syndicale dans leurs régions ou à l’extérieur en ces temps di - Vous pouvez contribuer à agrandir le nombre de ciles. Soyez prudents et vigilants même une fois vos compagnies qui travaillent avec votre syndicat. Si un quarts de travail terminés… Appliquez les recom- organisateur ou un agent d’a aires vous demande mandations de la Santé publique et rappelez-vous le votre aide, n’hésitez pas à contribuer à ajouter des virus est traître, il frappe sans prévenir et on veut le donneurs d’ouvrage qui diversi erons nos secteurs tenir à l’écart de nos chantiers et des membres des d’activité a n d’éviter d’avoir un trop grand nombre métiers de l’acier. de gens sur le chômage. Tout cela est con dentiel, A toutes et à tous…en un Joyeux Noël et surtout les informations que vous partagez avec nous… ne une année 2021 sous le signe de la Santé.
En Ontario, Colombie-Britannique et le Québec la main d’œuvre spécialisée est en pénurie surtout pour les poseurs d’acier d’armature qui sont en grande demande. Une situation qui n’a jamais THE IRONWORKER été aussi forte dans tout le Canada… Du Jamais Vu! 38
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 38 12/3/20 6:59 PM WESTERN CANADA DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORT Colin Daniels
Leadership and members support district council’s work
estern Canada, like the rest of the world, has construction projects in the W been busy living, working and surviving in resource sector. ese include a time of many uncertainties. COVID-19 has drasti- the multibillion-dollar liqui- cally changed so many things in the way we conduct ed natural gas (LNG) export our daily lives. In e orts to atten the curve, physi- terminal and related pipeline cal distancing was implemented in every province in construction in northern B.C.; the Trans Mountain March 2020, when the pandemic was declared. One pipeline being built from the Alberta oil sands to way or another, everyone has felt the e ects of the ports in the lower mainland; and the construction virus, and we o er our sincerest condolences to the of BC Hydro’s Site-C dam on the Peace River. families who have lost loved ones. e residential and commercial rebar has never e Iron Workers and our signatory contractors been busier. e local is involved in stripping cam- in Western Canada have done what we always have paigns to compete for local labour to ll calls and done for the last 124 years — we adapted! We dealt maintain market share in this sector. e organizers with the challenges around school closures, daycare, have had their hands full. A boots-on-the-ground sports and any extracurricular activities that were approach has been implemented, hitting as many shut down for our children. Ironworkers made the nonunion sites and talking to as many potential arrangements necessary to show up for work, ready members as possible, giving people a chance and a to complete their shi safely. We put on masks, lath- choice to better their lives and working conditions. ered up with hand sanitizer, laced up our boots and e local, international and district council orga- strapped on our belts. My hat goes o to the women nizers in Western Canada have put their training to and men who get up every day to go to work in this good use and have collaborated strategies and exe- trade and continue to do so, given the circumstances cuted plans to which all their hard work and e orts faced in this crazy world in which we live. have been paying o , bringing in upwards of 200 Construction and manufacturing, being deemed new rodworkers. essential at the beginning of the outbreak, have British Columbia Premier John Horgan kept many people employed across the west. How- announced July 16, 2018 that key infrastructure ever, COVID-19 has put the brakes on several projects would be built under a new Community major projects scheduled to start in the early part Benets Agreement (CBA), including quotas for of 2020. is past spring, due to travel restrictions apprentices, preferential hiring of women and Indig- and the inability to get workers into camps with enous workers, and a stipulation that workers on the proper physical distancing, some shutdowns were projects must be unionized. is CBA has been met postponed, restricting the abundance of trades- with extreme adversity and a challenge was put for- people who would typically migrate to the west to ward by the Independent Contractors and Business fulll labour requirements. e cra hours across Association (ICBA), the Progressive Contractors this council have slowly started to come back to Association, CLAC and others. e court ruled that pre-COVID numbers and we are hopeful 2021 will the applicants’ submissions with respect to union DECMBER 2020 bring good fortune to all of our members and signa- membership requirements under the Charter of tory contractors. Rights and Freedoms did not belong before the court; in fact, charter arguments in the case had already Local 97 (Vancouver, British Columbia) been struck from the application last July. While the British Columbia’s numerous advantages boost the ruling marks the second time the judicial system has prospects for a recovery mostly tied to ongoing major struck a charter challenge of this province’s CBA
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 39 12/3/20 6:59 PM WESTERN CANADA DISTRICT COUNCIL REPORT continued
framework, higher courts have repeatedly dismissed e bulk of 2020 hours in Local 720 and charter challenges to similar labour agreements in Local 725 have contributed to the strong market place across Canada. e Merit Contractors Associ- share in the province’s reinforcing sector. Orga- ation, which is a liated to the ICBA through Merit nizing has been key to success in supplying labour Canada, challenged Manitoba Hydro’s union mem- requirements. Structural ironworker members have bership policy in 2012. e case was dismissed by taken the training opportunities made available to the Queen’s Bench of Manitoba and again on appeal. ll work orders in reinforcing. Diversifying skills e Pattullo Bridge’s replacement will be one of the and meeting the demand will be key to maintaining rst projects to fall under the CBA and it shall be the stronghold in the rods. interesting to see how the project proceeds. Maintenance is slated to be the majority of 2021 Local 97 has had a full year and is in a very good hours as considerable postponed outages in the oil position leading into 2021. sands are projected to be extended and will require travel cards to meet contractor labour needs. Local 725 (Calgary, Alberta) Alberta’s government has promised billions and Local 720 (Edmonton, Alberta) towards the province’s recovery that the two locals Nationally, Alberta’s economy will be the hardest will need to be part of. Creating work opportuni- hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the province’s ties for members will be of the utmost importance gross domestic product “GDP” expected to plunge for the locals as Alberta transitions from histori- to the lowest of all the other provinces. e fact is cally natural resource-dominated labor to focus Alberta has been dealt a double whammy between on infrastructure. the pandemic and devastatingly low oil prices. In April, the price of Western Canada Select went into Local 771 (Regina, Saskatchewan) negative territory as global prices hit an 18-year low, e province of Saskatchewan has been dealing which was furthered by an oil war between Russia with the slow down in the potash industry since the and Saudi Arabia. Over the next two years, the out- later part of 2018. e local is still without a current look for oil prices is quite pessimistic because of the signed provincial agreement. e dynamics of the negative impact on transportation, one of the big- economy have held the parties apart and each side is gest users of oil. set in their positions. Local 771 has been in pursuit On July 7, 2020, the Government of Alberta of a fair deal since expiry. e local has been doing introduced Bill 32, Restoring Balance in Alberta’s what is needed to keep market share for the signa- Workplaces Act. Bill 32 received Royal Assent on tory contractors and ensure their members have July 29, 2020. It is now o cially law, resulting in sig- work opportunities with union employers. ni cant changes to the legislation a ecting Alberta’s e province heads to the polls for Saskatchewan’s workplaces to streamline rules and reduce red tape 29th general election on October 26. Pre-campaign to help Albertans toward economic recovery. ese polls have suggested that the Saskatchewan Party labour code amendments make it crucial for local is positioned for another big victory. e party unions in Alberta to have current collective agree- could even capture a majority of ballots cast in the ments, project labour agreements and maintenance province for the fourth consecutive time. Coupled agreements to secure terms and conditions, and with the Conservative sweep of Saskatchewan in as important, for the stability of partnerships with last year’s federal election, it has been 771’s posi- contractors and clients. Arguably, the bill restricts tion to promote a “Saskatchewan rst policy” to Alberta unions’ abilities, bringing into ques- the current government and the opposition on the tion violation or infringement of the right to free campaign trail. Far too many taxpayer projects expression. Please educate yourself on Bill 32 if have been awarded to out-of-province or out-of- THE IRONWORKER you haven’t done so. country companies. Saskatchewan fabricators and 40
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 40 12/3/20 6:59 PM contractors have been sidelined for cheap prices 2020. Guidelines have been put in place from the versus best value and return on investments. general secretary’s o ce for local unions to fol- Local 771 will nish out 2020 with shutdown work low to accommodate mail-in ballots if needed for in the Mosaic and Nutrien potash mines. e con- COVID-19 restrictions. struction of green energy is on the agenda for 2021. e pandemic has thrown a wrench into the Natural gas- red cogeneration plants and windmill training Local 728 provides through Red River projects will be in the cards. e local will need to be Community College. e ironworker program proactive in a very tight construction market. has been postponed for 2020 as the facility cannot accommodate the proper distancing and sanitizing Local 728 (Winnipeg, Manitoba) required. When one door closes, another opens: 728 Manitoba declared a state of emergency on March 20, has since begun seeking out the purchase of a build- 2020, and has since extended it six times due to ing to better serve their apprenticeship and training the coronavirus. Despite this, Manitoba will be program, house the union hall o ce, and provide a one of the fastest rebounding provinces. e local meeting room–positive change that will secure the was successful in getting their provincial contract local moving forward. rati ed in 2019 and members have been gainfully All in all, the local leadership has supported mem- employed with very few on the books. e con- bers throughout Western Canada with con dence struction of French rm Roquette’s $500-million and compassion during these trying times. We have pea protein manufacturing plant, located at Portage shown we have what it takes to meet any challenge la Prairie, will be the front-runner for the bulk of and will continue to do what is needed to work each hours employing. day and return home safe at the end of every shi. Local 728 is the only local in the council that I wish you all the best. Enjoy a happy, safe and has scheduled elections for November/December prosperous new year.
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 41 12/3/20 6:59 PM CANADIAN SHOP DEPARTMENT REPORT Eric Bohne
The news from Canada shop
General overview Given the nature of the work, there are virtually no ike all workplaces around distancing measures able to be enforced, which is L the world, our Canadian why mandatory mask wearing was implemented on shop members and signatory August 1, 2020. Collective bargaining for their sec- employers have had a turbu- tor is slated to begin in 2021. lent 2020 dealing with COVID-19. Fortunately, we Local 711S (Montreal, Quebec) have had only three positive COVID-19 cases in our shops at the time this article was submitted: One Organizer Michel ériault reported that their shops case at Local 838 and two at Local 712. Please be have been very busy all year in 2020. AGF-ATR has safe everyone. had most of their work come from Ontario. COVID In some parts of western Canada, some shops hasn’t aected Local 711S much, except with ear- have been taking it on the chin. Sadly, Supreme lier plant closures when every workplace closed for Steel West in Delta, British Columbia, had ceased a few weeks. Like other locals, they have been con- operations in February 2020. e steel fabrication ducting their monthly union meetings by Zoom. industry in the west has been experiencing a decline ere have been some contract renewals this year. in demand ever since 2016 when the oil sands crisis e union and Philippe Trépanier Inc. successfully hit the province of Alberta and this has led to some negotiated and rati ed a four-year deal with posi- casualties in our sector. It has had a negative impact tive improvements. Negotiations were conducted by on our western Canadian members and steel fabri- Zoom conference. Negotiations with Acier Vimada, cators. Not all is negative though, as some shops have however, have hit a snag and are ongoing. Acier been busy and continue to hire across the country. Oford is up for negotiations in 2021. e local has Our members work in a diverse sector, and several been doing some promotional work recently. ey shop locals have reported many of their steel shops are working on a video campaign to promote Local have been busy. While we have been very busy in the 711’s shop division. With some collaboration with miscellaneous manufacturing sector where we build Ferrailleur du Québec and Acier ATR (AGF), they everything from windows, doors, curtain wall, gas conducted interviews with their members as well as replaces and mining equipment, we have also seen their industry partners. Organizer Michel ériault a major decline in a large shop that manufactures stated that things went well. We look forward to aircra parts for Boeing and Lockheed Martin. seeing the completed product.
LOCAL UNION REPORTS Local 712 (Vancouver, British Columbia) BM/FST Catalin Fota reported that in general it has Local 643 (Shipyards) been very slow in some shops and steady in others, (Victoria, British Columbia) but no shop seems to be booming with work in 2020. BM/FST Ken Weaver reported that they have been George 3rd & Son has been slow for September but operating at about 85% capacity since the pandemic they’re getting busier. Solid Rock Steel is busy and started. Currently, about half their membership getting ready to move into their brand-new shop. is employed by the Fleet Maintenance Facility at EBCO Industries is slow. EBCO Metal Finishing C.A.F.B. Cape Breton and the other half are working has been slow but has been recalling. Asco Aero- for Seaspan (Victoria Shipyards Ltd.). e pandemic space is very slow as there is currently no Boeing or has created some challenges for the local, as it has Lockheed Martin work at all. Hudson Plating was THE IRONWORKER for anyone working in the shipyards in general. getting busier. Dynamic was slow for through the 42
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 42 12/3/20 6:59 PM This year, I would like to recognize the shop stewards from Local 834 in Ontario. Thank you all for your dedication and service. – Eric Bohne
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Modern Railing and Metalcraft Lambton Metals AGF Scarborough (1) Fred Martin, chief steward (7) Peter Vanhaaren, chief steward (13) Prasath Paramanantham (2) Raymond Gohn, steward (8) Dane Osborne, steward Maple Industries Golden Triangle Algonquin Bridge (14) Joe Turner, chief steward (3) Kevin Richard, chief steward (9) Jeffrey Gowing, chief steward (4) Peter Hicks, steward (10) Adam Johnston, steward Harris Rebar (15) Mike Kindswater, steward Christmas Steel Pengelly Iron Works (16) Russ Thibeault, chief steward (5) Cody Drawbridge, chief steward (11) Phil White, steward (6) Glenn Hall, steward (12) Ersel Cetin, chief steward
summer, but they’ve been calling people back. Wel- busy into 2021. Can-Am has also been very busy. e lons is still slow with many layo s. Aggressive Tube union recently negotiated a ve-year contract with and Advanced Bending have held their own and positive improvements. Evraz in Red Deer, which are steady. Silver City, Starline Windows, Fireplace is normally a 200-plus person shop, went down to Products International and East & West Aluminum a skeleton crew this year as they are retooling and have all been very busy since the spring. Richmond modernizing their shop with approximately $100 Steel has been slow throughout the summer but was million in upgrades. It is worth noting that most of getting busier and calling people back. e Prince Local 805’s work is coming from eastern Canada. Rupert shops have been busy except for certi ed welding. Northern Steel in Prince George has been Local 809 (Saint John, New Brunswick) very busy. Linden Fab is slow while Scheiber Installa- President Robert Morin reported that Ocean Steel tions in Quesnel has had steady work. Rapid Span in and York Steel have both been quite busy, especially the Okanagan is very busy with site C-Dam bridges. during the summer, but things started to slow some- USNR and NAP have been fairly busy as well. what in the fall. ey are bidding on plenty of work DECMBER and hoping they will land some projects before the Local 805 (Calgary, Alberta) end of the year. e local did not have any COVID
BM/FST Bill Mercer reported that Waiward Steel has cases, but everyone has adjusted to following the 2020 been very busy throughout the year. Supreme Steel new normal with standard health and safety rules has been steady and is fairly busy as well. Supreme found in most workplaces. e local is in the process Bridge Division will be picking up and should be of completing negotiations on a new contract with 43
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York Steel. It is a three-year deal with modest wage If you are a steward and want to receive shop stew- increases along with an additional stat. ards training, please email me at [email protected]. We will work with your local union o cers to start Local 834 (Toronto, Ontario) the planning process. It is challenging for classroom BM/FST Vincenzo Gandolfo reported that Christ- training during the pandemic, but we have brochures, mas Steel, AGF Scarborough, Modern Railing, manuals and other means for basic steward training. Tractel Swingstage, Harris Rebar, Algonquin Bridge, Lambton Metals have all been busy and Organizing update have hired additional manpower throughout the With COVID distancing protocols, 2020 was a dif- year. Pengelly Iron Works was fairly busy early in cult year to organize. However, we have had several 2020 but have been very slow since April. Golden ongoing campaigns in Quebec and Ontario and a Triangle, Container Designs Services and Ste-Alco few in Saskatchewan and BC. e shop locals, the closed their shops due to the COVID-related eco- o cers and our executive boards have been com- nomic downturn for several months. All three mitting resources to organize the nonunion worker shops have since reopened. Maple Industries also seeking union representation. Together, we can closed for a few weeks. Everyone then returned do more. Essentially, we are all organizers; we are to work, but they did have a COVID scare as one encouraging more participation from our younger member had tested positive, but it was determined shop members. We know there are a lot of poten- a few days later to be a false positive. Unfortunately, tial organizers and future union leaders within our Kids & Company permanently closed their centre, rank-and- le membership. Going forward, we must mainly due to COVID. Local 834 also negotiated foster the growth of our union by including our and successfully rati ed positive new deals with younger members and encouraging greater partici- Modern Railing, Pengelly Iron Works and Ste-Alco. pation from them in our union. ey are the future of our union. Lastly, if you know of a neighbor, friend Local 838 (Regina, Saskatchewan) or family member that needs union representation, I can report that the local has seen a serious decline please contact me at [email protected]. in work, mostly due to the oil crisis in western Can- ada. Supreme Saskatoon has been hiring to meet Political lobbying update their job demands through the summer, but work roughout 2020, the Iron Workers and several of has been declining with some layo s occurring our signatory contractors have been working hard at through the fall. Russel Metals has also been a ected lobbying our provincial and municipal politicians. by the downturn in the Saskatchewan economy as rough IMPACT and the Canadian o ce, we will operations declined to the point where they had to continue to lobby and ght for shop ironworker jobs. lay o a signi cant amount of the warehouse. Brid- We have had positive discussions with the BC Infra- geview Manufacturing is also slow and has been on structure Bene ts O ce, the Burnaby Mayor’s O ce, work sharing for most of 2020. We are hoping things and we are working on partnerships and pathways to improve for 2021. apprenticeship with various school districts through- out metro Vancouver. We will continue to lobby Shop stewards municipal and provincial governments and will be We are committed to training our stewards and shop extending our strategy across western Canada. committees. Our shop stewards are our future union In closing, I would like to thank all of our shop leaders, and they provide our membership with e ec- local union sta , the o cers, our dedicated shop tive on-site representation. I want to congratulate and stewards, and of course, all of our members for their personally thank all of our frontline shop stewards for dedication and hard work. A merry Christmas to all THE IRONWORKER their dedication and service to the union membership. of you and your families. 44
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 44 12/3/20 6:59 PM CANADIAN SAFETY COORDINATOR REPORT Je Norris
Meeting the unprecedented challenges of 2020
s 2020 comes to a close, the magazine’s spe- in some areas and worsen A cial issue displays the remarkable work that in others, deputy heads of ironworker members and contractors have achieved government are being called together in Canada. e vitality and talent of the upon to determine the extent membership is something we can be proud of, and we to which employees ought to should celebrate our collective endeavours, particu- be asked to return to their usual workplaces and larly in this unprecedented time. Across the nation, places of business to garner economic recovery or hundreds of thousands of projects, maintenance and support government priorities. All the while, the shop hours have been charted this past year without general public stumbles through de ning a mask, lost-time incidents. However, fatalities and disabling a face covering, a respirator, PPE and procedure; injuries continue to cast a dark shadow on the indus- our industry has proven e ectiveness and profes- try. erefore, we must remind ourselves we all have sionalism in this unprecedented time, old news, my the responsibility to play an active role in safety and friends - our industry has accomplished this already, health, on the job and at home. safely. It is important to acknowledge the extreme e ort, grit and mental toughness displayed by our members and contractors. In support of Canada’s critical infrastructure, members, local unions and training centres con- tinue to work, to serve our communities and protect e COVID-19 crisis required an abrupt, wide- our families, at times a daunting task. Early in spread shi to working arrangements and protocols COVID-19 arrival, the government de ned essential for ironworkers. Every day Canadians made e orts services during the pandemic to help provinces and to stay home and practice physical distancing, with territories, Indigenous communities and municipal- many businesses moving to working remotely. With ities protect their communities while maintaining a global pandemic cited by bureaucrats, COVID-19, the reliable operation of critical infrastructure ser- Canada and the course for the future is on our vices and functions to ensure the health, safety and minds; where will 2021 lead us? Since March, the department of safety and health led by Executive Director Steve Rank has addressed the COVID challenges and responded with a con- tinued focus to provide service to members, local unions and contractors. Navigating through the sci- ence and the multiplicity of protocols mandated by the various administrative levels across our nations, coupled with ever-changing guidelines and conjec-
tures, the COVID conversation has been fueled by DECMBER 2020 uncertainty, fear, statistics, semantics, and at times, plain confusion. A year of trials, we will also record 2020 as the year of achievements in the dominion of unionized fabrication, manufacturing, construction and main- tenance. As epidemiological conditions improve 45
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 45 12/3/20 6:59 PM CANADIAN SAFETY COORDINATOR REPORT continued
economic well-being of the population. e Iron • District Council Lunch and Learn series responds Workers were chosen as part of this important to the Canadian Ironworkers Call to Safety so the safety and health department can gain knowledge demographic, telling us what we do matters. of local safety and regulatory issues throughout Can- Ironworkers play an essential part in the con- ada. To better service and address our members’ and struction and manufacturing workplace; it is contractors’ needs, the safety department launched imperative we actively participate in appropriate a series of calls throughout the country. Hosted by workplace infection control procedures as man- the district council presidents, the calls are informal dated in the areas in which we work and live. Going and scheduled for one-hour during lunchtimes to allow all parties to share topics, make comments, forward, every member must do the research, rec- or express concerns on specific issues within each ognize their role and remain vigilant. e Iron province’s jurisdiction. Workers are indeed experts in safety and health; • Safety recognition awards are presented to thank you for all you have done and continue to do. contractors achieving outstanding safety perfor- mance in conjunction with the Safety and Health Summit Program. • Apprenticeship safety awareness clinics and local union meetings focus on trends in safety and reinforcing the message of “See Something! Say Something!” as part of the Countdown to Zero campaign. Topics of discussion include the deadly dozen hazards, recognition and control of hazards, risk assessments and how to participate in contrac- tors’ safety management systems. Class interaction emphasizes the importance of communication, address- ing cultural safety issues, human factors and problem- solving safety on the job. • Field and shop visita- tions are provided by our department for on-site service for the members and contractors related to OHS issues and challenges. Site visits allow us to dform an strengthen relation- ships with owners and clients. • Regulatory assistance assists local unions with the development of alliance agreements and partner- ships with provincial OHS authorities. ■ Initiate petitions for rulemaking for new safety standards. Initiatives and programs ■ Request for official letters of clarification • Canadian Ironworkers Call to Safety webinars on standards. brings IMPACT regional advisory board (RAB) co- ■ Pursue consistent interpretation and enforce- chairs, local unions, general contractor associations, ment of standards. signatory contractors, steel fabricators, signatory contractor associations and regulatory agency ■ Intervene in workplace regulatory compli- officials together through Ring Central webinars for ance issues. their input on ways to improve safety performance in Develop and host industry outreach events THE IRONWORKER ■ the workplace, from a Canadian perspective. at training facilities. 46
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 46 12/3/20 6:59 PM • Voluntary Air-Sampling Program was approved by the IMPACT board of trustees to fund a voluntary industrial hygiene air-sampling program available to all signatory shop and field contractors. The pro- gram is designed to provide professional industrial hygiene services to evaluate harmful exposures of welding fumes, metals, paints, solvents and other chemical compounds that become airborne during common shop and field operations. • 3M™ Partnership/PAPR Program (see page 22), through collaboration with this multinational company, allows us to offer programs and services enabling our apprenticeship and journeyman upgrad- ing department to provide quality training to our members, bringing increased value to our contrac- tors by supplying a trained, informed workforce. your local union training coordinator and inquire • Also, coming in 2021, the Iron Workers are working with 3M to develop an updated personal protective about courses, upgrade a skill, update a certi cation. equipment (PPE) catalog specific to meeting the Time spent on the deliberate practice of mastering ironworking industry’s needs. Products will range skills is signi cantly correlated to improved out- from head, eye, hearing and face protection, per- comes in safety, productivity and quality. sonal fall arrest and falling object protection. As we reset the Countdown to Zero clock, the challenge is common to all of us. What can we each Challenge for 2021 focus on individually, to take a more active role in As part of staying healthy during this time and safety and health in our collective pursuit to get to a ensuring we continue to be recognized as the elite place where no one gets hurt at work or home? ironworker workforce, assess all areas of your skill As you prepare for your holiday with family and and knowledge base and make goals related to friends, we wish you a very safe and merry Christ- upgrading your safety and health expertise. Contact mas. Enjoy your countdown to 2021.
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 47 12/3/20 6:59 PM RAPPORT DU COORDONNATEUR – CANADIEN DE LA SÉCURITÉ Je Norris
Relever les défis sans précédent de 2020
lors que l’année 2020 s’y retrouver dans la science, les multiples protocoles A tire à sa n, cette édition exigés par les di érents niveaux de gouvernement, spéciale des fêtes présente le et les directives et la situation en constante évolu- travail remarquable que les tion entourant la COVID-19. Ainsi, le discours sur travailleurs et les entrepre- cette maladie est alimenté par l’incertitude, la peur, neurs des métiers de l’acier ont réalisé ensemble au les statistiques, la sémantique et parfois, purement Canada. Le dynamisme et le talent de nos membres par la confusion. ont de quoi nous rendre ers. Nous devons célébrer 2020, année de tous les dé s, sera également vue nos réussites collectives, surtout en cette période comme une année de grandes réalisations dans le sans précédent. Dans tout le pays, des centaines domaine de la fabrication, de la construction et de de milliers d’heures de projet, de maintenance et la maintenance syndiquées. Alors que les condi- d’atelier ont été consignées cette année sans inci- tions sanitaires s’améliorent dans certains domaines dent avec perte de temps. Cependant, les décès et les et s’aggravent dans d’autres, les responsables des blessures invalidantes continuent de faire de l’ombre di érents paliers de gouvernement sont appelés à à notre industrie. Par conséquent, nous ne devons déterminer la mesure dans laquelle on doit deman- pas oublier que nous avons tous un rôle actif à jouer der aux employés de retourner à leur lieu de travail dans le domaine de la santé et de la sécurité, au tra- habituel dans l’espoir de favoriser la relance écono- vail et à la maison. mique ou d’appuyer les priorités des gouvernements. Pendant que le public peine à dé nir ce qu’est un masque, un couvre-visage, un respirateur, un ÉPI et une procédure, et que les médias ne font rien pour démêler la situation, notre industrie arrive à le faire tout en prouvant son e cacité et son profes- sionnalisme en cette période sans précédent. Il est L’année de la COVID-19 important de reconnaître cet e ort incroyable et la La COVID-19 a nécessité un changement soudain et force de caractère démontrée par nos membres et étendu des arrangements et des protocoles de travail nos entrepreneurs. pour les travailleurs des métiers de l’acier de tout le pays. Chaque jour, les Canadiens s’e orcent de rester à la maison et de pratiquer l’éloignement physique, alors que de très nombreuses entreprises adoptent des mesures de télétravail. Dans le contexte de la pandémie de COVID-19 et de la grande incertitude qui règne au Canada, nous nous demandons natu- rellement ce que nous réserve l’année 2021. Depuis le mois de mars, le département de la santé et de la sécurité de l’Internationale des tra- vailleurs et travailleuses des métiers de l’acier, dirigé par son directeur Steve Rank, se penche sur les dé s posés par la COVID-19 et s’e orce d’y répondre en fournissant des services aux membres, aux sections THE IRONWORKER locales et aux entrepreneurs. Il est parfois di cile de 48
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 48 12/3/20 6:59 PM A n de continuer à construire le vaste réseau participions aux procédures de lutte contre les d’infrastructures du Canada, les membres, les sec- infections dans nos milieux de travail. À l’avenir, tions locales et les centres de formation ont reçu le chaque membre devra faire des recherches, recon- mandat de continuer à travailler, de servir nos com- naître son rôle et rester vigilant. Les travailleurs des munautés et de protéger nos familles. Au début de métiers de l’acier sont de véritables experts en santé l’éclosion de COVID-19, le gouvernement a dé ni le et sécurité. Merci pour tout ce que vous avez fait et concept de services essentiels dans le contexte de la continuez à faire. pandémie a n d’aider les provinces, les territoires, les collectivités autochtones et les municipalités à PROGRAMMES ET INITIATIVES protéger leurs communautés tout en assurant le • Webinaires Appel à la sécurité des travailleurs fonctionnement able des services d’infrastructure des métiers de l’acier canadiens - Ce programme essentiels a n de protéger la santé, la sécurité et le rassemble les coprésidents du conseil consultatif régional (CCR) d’IMPACT, les sections locales, bien-être économique de la population. Les travail- les associations d’entrepreneurs généraux, les leurs des métiers de l’acier ont été inclus dans ce entrepreneurs signataires, les fabricants d’acier, segment important de la population, car…ce que les associations d’entrepreneurs signataires et les nous faisons est important. responsables des organismes de réglementation par Les travailleurs des métiers de l’acier jouent un l’entremise de webinaires Ring Central pour discuter rôle important dans le domaine de la construction des façons d’améliorer la sécurité au travail d’un point de vue canadien. et de la fabrication et il est primordial que nous • Sessions de dîner-conférence des conseils de district - En réponse à l’appel à la sécurité des travailleurs des métiers de l’acier canadiens, le département de santé et sécurité s’est informé au sujet des enjeux locaux concernant la santé et la réglementation dans l’ensemble du Canada. Afin de mieux répondre aux besoins de nos membres et des entrepreneurs, le département de la sécurité a lancé une série d’appels dans l’ensemble du pays. Organisés par les présidents de conseil de district, ces appels d’une heure informels ont lieu pendant l’heure du dîner et permettent à toutes les parties de discuter de différents sujets, de faire des com- mentaires ou d’exprimer leurs préoccupations sur des enjeux propres aux territoires de juridiction de chaque province. • Prix de reconnaissance-sécurité - Remis aux entre- preneurs qui affichent une performance exception- nelle dans le domaine de la sécurité, en lien avec le
Programme Summit de santé et sécurité. DECMBER 2020 • Cliniques de sensibilisation à la sécurité pour les apprentis et réunions des sections locales - Présen- tations axées sur les tendances dans le domaine de la sécurité qui renforcent le message « Si vous voyez quelque chose, dites quelque chose » dans le cadre de la campagne « Objectif zéro (Countdown to Zero) ». Les sujets de discussion comprennent les principaux
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63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 49 12/3/20 6:59 PM RAPPORT DU COORDONNATEUR – CANADIEN DE LA SÉCURITÉ a continué
dangers, la reconnaissance et le contrôle des dangers, les évaluations des risques et la partici- pation aux systèmes de gestion de la sécurité des entrepreneurs. L’interaction en classe met l’accent sur l’importance de la com- munication, les enjeux de sécurité culturelle, les facteurs humains et la résolution des problèmes au travail. • Visites sur les chantiers et dans les ateliers - Notre département est prêt à offrir un service sur place des apprentis et des compagnons de fournir une aux membres et aux entrepreneurs en lien avec les formation de qualité aux membres, ce qui offre une questions de santé et sécurité au travail. Les visites valeur ajoutée aux entrepreneurs qui peuvent alors sur place nous permettent de créer des liens et de compter sur des travailleurs formés et informés. renforcer les relations existantes avec les proprié- • De plus, en 2021, les travailleurs des métiers de taires et les clients. l’acier collaboreront avec 3M pour créer un cata- • Assistance en lien avec la réglementation - Aider logue d’équipement de protection personnelle (ÉPI) les sections locales à créer des ententes d’alliance destiné à combler les besoins de l’industrie du tra- et des partenariats avec les organismes provinciaux vail de l’acier. Le catalogue comprendra notamment de réglementation en santé et sécurité. des protections pour la tête, les yeux, les oreilles et ■ Lancer des pétitions en lien avec le développe- le visage, ainsi que des dispositifs anti-chute et de ment de nouvelles normes de sécurité. protection anti-chute d’objet. ■ Demander des lettres de clarification concer- nant les normes. Les défis qui nous attendent en 2021 ■ Viser une interprétation et une application Pour assurer notre santé pendant la période cohérentes des normes. actuelle, et pour continuer à être reconnus comme ■ Intervenir dans les milieux de travail en ce qui des travailleurs d’élite, nous vous recommandons concerne la conformité à la réglementation. d’évaluer vos compétences et vos connaissances, ■ Créer et organiser des événements de sensibili- et de vous xer des objectifs pour développer sation dans les centres de formation. votre expertise dans le domaine de la santé et de la • Programme volontaire d’échantillonnage de sécurité. Communiquez avec le coordonnateur de la l’air – Le conseil des administrateurs d’IMPACT a formation de votre section locale pour connaître les approuvé le financement nécessaire pour créer un cours o erts, développer une compétence et mettre programme volontaire d’hygiène industrielle sur l’échantillonnage de l’air offert à tous les ateliers à jour votre certi cation. Le temps consacré à la et entrepreneurs signataires. Ce programme est maîtrise des compétences contribue grandement à conçu pour offrir des services d’hygiène industrielle améliorer la sécurité, la productivité et la qualité. professionnels afin d’aider à évaluer les expositions Nous sommes tous responsables de l’atteinte de nocives aux fumées de soudage, aux métaux, aux « l’objectif zéro ». peintures, aux solvants et aux autres composés Que pouvons-nous faire, à titre individuel, pour chimiques présents dans l’air pendant les opérations courantes de l’atelier ou du chantier. jouer un rôle plus actif dans la santé et la sécurité et contribuer à notre objectif commun de faire en • Partenariat avec 3M™/programme d’APR à épu- ration d’air motorisé (voir page 24) - Grâce à une sorte que PERSONNE ne se blesse à la maison ou collaboration avec la multinationale, nous travaillons au travail? pour offrir des programmes et des services qui per- Je vous souhaite de très Joyeuses Fêtes avec votre THE IRONWORKER mettent à notre département de perfectionnement famille et vos amis et une très bonne année 2021. 50
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 50 12/3/20 6:59 PM CANADIAN IMPACT REPORT Bert Royer
Delivering quality programs and services
he year 2020 started with a very busy agenda.It labour/management training T started with the scheduling of numerous meet- courses were put on hold. e ings, training and conferences. Details were being world, as we knew it came to a nalized for the Chicago IMPACT Annual Confer- screeching halt. ence. Planning was well underway for the Annual As a group, we did what Instructor Training Program. Numerous labour/ was necessary; we adapted to change. Welcome to management training courses had been scheduled the world of ZOOM. Virtual training and meet- in all three regional advisory boards. ings quickly became the new normal. Most of the In March 2020, as a result of the World Health calendar year meetings were conducted via Zoom. Organization declaring a global pandemic, all train- e IMPACT board of trustees, e regional advi- ing, meetings and conferences were put on hold. sory board EC meetings, IMPACT sta meetings, Some events were canceled or postponed inde - various safety and industry webinars were also com- nitely. With the U.S. – Canada border closed, travel pleted as virtual meetings. to the United States became a concern for many. IMPACT o ered several online training courses: Federal, provincial and municipal regulations were Getting ings Done Workshop — Mastering imposed on group meeting sizes, and our travel Personal Productivity, Bluebeam Revu Basics Ver- ability was restricted. Most people thought that the sion 2017, 2018 & 2019, Construction Contracting lockdown would only last a few weeks, that’s not Business Fundamental Academy — Establish Your what happened. Business, Leadership Primer — Learning the basics e spring and summer lockdowns did not help of how you and others think, the Power of Habit. To with meetings or delivery of training courses. In view a complete list of the available online courses, the fall of the year, certain areas expanded group please visit the IMPACT website under events. size regulations and a very slow return to normal (impact-net.org) started. We are not there yet, but it is our sincere e biggest disappointment of the past year was hope that sometime in the near future, we can get the inability to have face-to-face meetings. Network- back to where we were with in-person meetings. ing is a big part of who we are and hopefully, 2021 will be a much better year for all. Training courses, meetings, conferences and the world of zoom Mid-March 2020, as a result of the global pandemic being declared, all forms of training, conferences and meetings came to an abrupt stop. Government regulations instantly restricted group sizes and travel. is lockdown made it almost impossible to conduct any form of face-to-face meetings.
Several of the larger IMPACT sponsored events DECMBER 2020 had to be canceled included the IMPACT Annual Conference, Instructor Training Program, the North American Apprentice Competition and the Women Build Nations Conference. In addition to conferences being canceled, all regional advisory board meetings were canceled, and all face-to-face 51
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 51 12/3/20 6:59 PM CANADIAN IMPACT REPORT continued
Western Canada regional John Ambulance rst aid certi cation, sponsorship advisory board: of the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario, training centre – purchase of a scissor li and 85-ton • Ironworker Co-Chair: Colin Daniels hydraulic ironworker, continued nancial support • Contractor Co-Chair: Ken Bird of the Local 721 regional training centre. • RAB Locals: 97, 643, 712, 720, 728, 771, 805, 838 Eastern Canada regional advisory board e western Canada regional advisory board used IMPACT funding for the following: purchase of • Ironworker Co-Chair: Tom Woodford a mobile training trailer, CWB Level 1 inspector • Contractor Co-Chair: Brad MacLean course, rst aid training, costs associated with the • RAB Locals: 711, 752, 764, 809, 842 Western Canada RAB Executive Committee Meet- ing — March 2020, total station training, joint IMPACT provided funding for the following east- OH&S committee member training, forkli train- ern Canada regional advisory board grants: welder ing, overhead crane train the trainer certi cation, upgrading and certi cation for o shore work, contractor expenses for attendance at the business T-class welding tickets (this grant provided spe- fundamentals academy, training centre welding cialized welding employment for members of three shop equipment, contractor safety certi cation, di erent local unions), training and certi cation political lobbying to secure work at the Pattullo for manli s, superintendent training in Hender- Bridge replacement project — Vancouver, lobbying son, Nevada, project leadership and management in Southern Alberta - Aboriginal training program. courses, forkli training and certi cation, rescue safety training for o shore rigs, overhead crane cer- Ontario regional advisory board ti cation, costs associated with the Eastern Canada • Ironworker Co-Chair: Kevin Bryenton RAB Executive Committee held January 2020 Hali- • Contractor Co-Chair: Jack Mesley fax, Nova Scotia. • RAB Locals: 700, 721, 736, 759, 765, 786, 834 Regional advisory board appointments e Ontario regional advisory board used IMPACT In 2020, there were several changes to the three funding to assist with the cost of the following items: Canadian regional advisory boards. e most nota- COVID PPE for local union training centres, pur- ble change occurred in the Western Canada RAB. chase of a unitized curtain wall mock-up, total station Contractor Co-Chair Ross Fraser, Supreme Steel, training, forkli train the trainer certi cation, St. retired a er many years of service in the structural THE IRONWORKER
52
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 52 12/3/20 6:59 PM fabrication and erection industry. Ross was the Springs Resort. Registration for the conference can original Western Canada RAB co-chair and was be found on the IMPACT website under EVENTS instrumental in getting the IMPACT program (impact-net.org). ere is no registration fee for del- started in Canada. On behalf of all signatory con- egates attending the annual conference. tractors and local unions, we wish you all the very It takes a full team of professional individuals best and thank you for your dedicated service. to deliver IMPACT services and programs across North America. A special thank you to the follow- • Ken Bird, Supreme Steel, Acheson, Alberta, was appointed to replace Ross Fraser as Western ing people who dedicated their time and energy to Canada, RAB contractor co-chair. making IMPACT the most successful labour/man- • Jay Smart, FST/BM Local 725, replaced Rob Calver agement partnership in the construction industry: as an ironworker member of the Western Canada VP Kevin Bryenton, Canadian o ce administrator RAB executive committee. Jenn Montieth, IMPACT board of trustees, IMPACT • Ken Weaver, FST/BM Local 643, replaced Sean CEO Kevin Hilton, regional advisory board Henon as an ironworker member of the Western co-chairs, regional advisory board executive com- Canada RAB executive committee. mittee members, IMPACT regional directors and • Clayton Bergen, Bergen Reinforcing, resigned as the Washington-based sta . ank you for your a contractor member of the Western Canada RAB assistance and continued support. executive committee. (one to be appointed) Wishing you all a great new year and stay safe. • Sean Thibault, Alberici, resigned as a contractor member of the Ontario RAB executive committee. Photos from Western Canada RAB, Victoria, • Martin Viger, FST/BM Local 711, resigned as an British Columbia — March 2020 ironworker member of the Eastern Canada RAB executive committee.
IMPACT annual conference
As a result of the COVID pandemic, the 2020 North DECMBER 2020 American Iron Workers/IMPACT annual confer- ence originally scheduled for Chicago, April 14 – 17, 2020, unfortunately, had to be canceled. Save the date: e 2021 North American Iron Workers/IMPACT conference is scheduled to be held February 14 – 17, 2021, at Disney’s Coronado 53
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 53 12/3/20 6:59 PM ORGANIZING NEWS
Organize. Review. Adapt. Refine. Overcome. By James Rodney
ver the past year, the organizers closed to any in-person meetings and O and local unions have continued sta is working from home, we no longer to grow and increase our market share need to have the original applications for and contractor base in the eld and membership sent to the Ontario Labour manufacturing sectors. Our success this Relations Board to le for certi cation. year has not come without some unique When we le a card-based certi ca- hurdles and challenges. We have had tion, we can do it electronically. We do to learn to adapt while adopting new not need to nd an open post o ce to strategies for organizing during the send the application and supporting COVID-19 pandemic. documents, allowing us to le a cert any With the onset of COVID-19, we had time of day, any day of the week. We James Rodney more one-on-one meetings rather than have seen multiple Sunday certi cations meeting with large groups of workers already, something not possible before. as we have done in the past. When an indoor setting In Alberta, Bill 32 was introduced in July 2020. Also for a meeting was not possible, we arranged worker known as the Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Work- meetings outdoors to have socially distant in-person places Act, the bill attempts to limit the collective voices contact. During the height of the pandemic, we utilized of workers while letting corporate inuence continue technology to have Zoom worker meetings for that unrestrained. Bill 32 is a blatant attack on workers’ con- face-to-face conversation while adhering to the social stitutional rights and Alberta Premier Jason Kenny is distancing protocols. turning back the clock on workers’ rights to bene t his Social media has played a major role in organiz- wealthiest corporate donors. ing with us to reach out to unrepresented reinforcing Among various changes to the bill are that pickets ironworkers, especially in western Canada. Reinforc- would not be allowed to interfere with anyone coming or ing ironworkers use social media to nd employment, going across a picket line. Secondary picket lines at loca- which gives us a great target audience and shows what tions other than at the direct employer involved would the Iron Workers have to o er in terms of wages, pen- need the okay from Alberta’s Labour Relations Board. It sion and bene ts and how this compares to nonunion also looks to implement changes to workplace rules and contractors (such as LMS). union activities, including allowing union members to Safety has always been a priority on union job sites opt-out of having their union dues go to political par- and manufacturing shops. e onset of the pandemic ties or causes. It tips the balance of power outrageously has identi ed major safety gaps for unrepresented work- in favour of employers, both in the workplace and on ers. During this pandemic, unrepresented workers have the political stage. It actively attacks democratic rights reached out to organizers and local unions in search of guaranteed by the Canadian constitution. assistance as they felt unsafe with their current non- e Alberta Federation of Labour listed some bill’s union employers. ese workers are tired of putting most concerning changes: themselves and their families at risk with weak or non- • Changes to the employment standards code could give existent safety protocols at work and know that the Iron employers the ability to get around requirements to pay Workers have the solution to their problems. time-and-half for overtime. Ontario has always had favorable labour laws, but • Changes to the code could make it easier for individual there have been some recent changes to the legislation employers, groups of employers, or even whole eco- due to COVID-19 that create more organizing oppor- nomic sectors to be granted exemptions or variances THE IRONWORKER tunities. Since the Ontario Labour Relations Board is from the rules and protections outlined in the code. 54
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 54 12/3/20 6:59 PM Organizers face many challenges, and it can be hard to nd clear wins. e District Council of Western Canada has four provinces, and each is unique when it comes to organizing. e markets, industries, wages, labour laws and political landscape vary widely, adding to the challenges organizers everywhere already face. As appealing as it may sound, there isn’t much hope for nding one way to organize that works; you have to try to leverage what you can, where you can, when you can. In recent years, signi cant downturns have happened in some locals, while others have seen a boom. Alberta and Saskatchewan saw a large drop in work a er years of booming industrial construction and Manitoba began to wrap up a large hydro dam. During the same period, British Columbia began to see a boom in all areas of construction. With four locals facing a declining level of work in their markets, and one with a coming boom, a course was set – take as much of the market as possible in British Columbia and put as much of the council to work as possible in BC and at home. e reinforcing steel industry in British Colum- bia had su ered from years of stagnant wages and cut-throat competition amongst nonunion companies — leaving Local 97 (Vancouver, British Columbia) a relatively small part of the market. A er recognizing the coming boom, their approach to the market shi ed. e focus was not on whether union ironworkers were the most skilled or not, but whether they made a bet- ter living working union and whether union contractors had enough ironworkers to get the job done. Local 97 and their contractors agreed to a trial agreement; con- tractors gave an immediate raise across the industry • Requirements for unions to separate spending meant for and organizers leveraged the overnight wage increase to organizing, education, lobbying, public and political attract hundreds of nonunion ironworkers to the trade. advocacy, work with allies, support for charities. They e strategy was an immediate success, as well as must then get permission from individual members NOVEMBER before these funds are spent. a long-term one. By having labour available in a mar- ket where it was scarce, union contractors were able to • Changes to make member votes on political spend- ing public. pick up a huge amount of work. Over a couple of years, Local 97 went from representing 20% of the reinforcing • A new section that would give the provincial cabinet 2020 the power to set the time and frequency when unions ironworkers in the market to 65%. e boom in work can make changes to their dues and suggests that the and union opportunities extended past the borders of government can set the amount. British Columbia. A strong reinforcing steel industry in 55
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 55 12/3/20 6:59 PM ORGANIZING NEWS
Organize. Review. Adapt. Refine. Overcome. continued
Alberta provided ample opportunities for organizing as has used a similar strategy in other markets. Two recent well, and the combined draw of rodbusters from Locals campaigns outside of BC were helped by the promise 97, 720 (Edmonton, Alberta) and 725 (Calgary, Alberta) of work in BC, proving that local opportunities aren’t le little opportunity for the nonunion to maintain their always necessary to win. A group of employees working size, and de nitely, no room to grow. e nonunion in the Yukon successfully voted to be represented by the companies were forced to raise their wages, and every- Iron Workers, and another group from Alberta is set to one made more money, whether they were union or not. vote in the coming weeks. As we near the fourth anniversary of this change in As the structural steel market in BC begins to pick approach, the numbers are clear; it’s a winning strategy. up, the DCWC hopes to leverage some of those opportu- nities to nd wins both in British Columbia and across Here are some rough numbers for BC: the council, echoing our reinforcing success. 1,200 rodbusters (union and nonunion) making $10 With over 50 probationary structural members cur- more an hour, averaging 45-hour weeks = $28.08 mil- rently working, it seems that the strategy will pay o in lion more in the workers’ pockets — PER YEAR! this market as well. Accounting for the wages and bene ts that the It is important to recognize when things work and 700-plus union rodbusters get and the fact that most when they don’t, and in time we will need to adapt our ironworkers’ average amount of hours is closer to 50, strategies to the market at hand; just because this works that number is close to $50 million. now doesn’t mean it will tomorrow. Local 97 went from working on one of the lowest Most ironworkers know that with the right sized rebar wages in Canada ($26.62) to the highest ($43.65). wedge, and a big enough hammer, you can move any- And perhaps most importantly — there hasn’t been thing. In that spirit, nd the wedge that ts the industry an unemployed reinforcing ironworker in western Can- and market, and hit it as hard as you can! ada, waiting for a call, in nearly four years! On behalf of my family to yours, I would like to Using the lessons learned from the reinforcing mar- wish everyone a safe and prosperous new year and THE IRONWORKER ket, the District Council of Western Canada (DCWC) holiday season. 56
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 56 12/3/20 6:59 PM TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKER PROGRAM infringes upon prevailing wage system integrity
am writing to highlight a the program nearly continuously systemic problem with the Tem- throughout that period and have I porary Foreign Worker (TFW) brought many hundreds of TFW program and prevailing wage sys- ironworkers to Canada; in some tem, which I have noti ed several years, more than all other com- departments about previously and panies combined. Over that same members of the previous Liberal period, LMS secured a large por- federal government. ese issues tion of the reinforcing steel market have taken on a new urgency as the due to using arti cially xed labour economy struggles with the chal- prices, courtesy of their perpetual lenges posed by COVID-19 and has LMIAs for ironworkers around the le hundreds of thousands of Cana- $26 an hour mark. e subsequent dians unemployed and impacted a lack of work available to companies Jonathan Leighs wide range of occupations in the who were paying market labour Organizer, Local 97 (Vancouver, British Columbia) building trades and jeopardize the rates forced competing employers quality living-wage jobs we are all to lower their wages to match those is variation amongst the applica- counting on to help drive the eco- of LMS or go without work; thus, a tions, a universal and necessary nomic recovery over the coming self-reinforcing loop was created statement is made in each applica- months and years. whereby LMS had all the work and tion; namely, the workers requested Well-documented and widely workers were forced to work for are to ll a labour shortage which reported abuses of the TFW below-market wages. When domes- the company can’t address in the program are tantamount to immi- tic workers weren’t willing to work domestic market. gration fraud, so I will not touch for them, LMS used that as justi ca- I have attached three documents on those here. My speci c concerns tion for getting more TFWs, giving demonstrating a clear trend in the are unscrupulous employers’ ability them even more ability to secure use of the TFW program by LMS, to use the TFW program to secure more of the market. whereby they are only willing to below-market labour, displacing I have read various LMIA make applications when the cost of Canadians working for other rms applicationsy made b LMS and the TFW ironworkers are between and suppresses domestic wages. For other employers. A common x- $26-$28 per hour. e document, illustrative purposes, I want to use ture is the idea these workers will BC ironworker wage history, shows DECEMBER the case of LMS Reinforcing Steel assist in training Canadians. at prevailing wage info from Open- Group, also known to the TFW should be dismissed out-of-hand, data, showing a steady trend in program as 635971 BC Ltd. and given that these workers do not wages from 2012-2015. During that 1504532 Alberta Ltd. hold any recognized trade creden- period, LMS brought large groups 2020 LMS has a long history of using tials and speaking one of Canada’s of TFWs, and the feedback loop I the TFW program, dating back o cial languages is not a require- described was in full eect. You can well over 10 years. ey have used ment of employment. While there reference their approvals from 2012 57
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 57 12/3/20 6:59 PM Region Low Median High Data Source Wage at Oct 1 IronworkersBritish Columbia 22 33.4 42.95 Employment Insurance Survey Data IronworkersVancouver Island and Coast 20 31.2 42.8 Employment Insurance Survey Data IronworkersLower Mainland 21 32 42.85 Employment Insurance Survey Data 2019 IronworkersThompson--Okanagan 23 36 43.25 Employment Insurance Survey Data
IronworkersBritish Columbia 20 26 40 Labour Force Survey 2018 IronworkersVancouver Island and Coast NA IronworkersLower Mainland 20 23 35 Labour Force Survey IronworkersThompson--Okanagan 20 26 40 Labour Force Survey
IronworkersBritish Columbia 18 34 38.43 Labour Force Survey 2017 IronworkersVancouver Island and Coast 21 33.13 43.5 Employment Insurance Survey Data IronworkersLower Mainland NA IronworkersThompson--Okanagan 23.5 34 44 Employment Insurance Survey Data
IronworkersBritish Columbia 18 34 38.43 Labour Force Survey 2016 IronworkersVancouver Island and Coast NA IronworkersLower Mainland 18 34 38.43 Labour Force Survey IronworkersThompson--Okanagan 23 35 44.2 Employment Insurance Data
IronworkersBritish Columbia 15 26.9 38.43 Labour Force Survey 2015 IronworkersVancouver Island and Coast NA IronworkersLower Mainland 15 26.9 38.43 Labour Force Survey
IronworkersBritish Columbia 15 26 36.27 Labour Force Survey 2014 IronworkersVancouver Island and Coast NA IronworkersLower Mainland 15 26 35 Labour Force Survey
IronworkersBritish Columbia 15 27 35 Labour Force Survey 2013 IronworkersVancouver Island and Coast 18 28 40.06 Employment Insurance Data IronworkersLower Mainland 15 26 34.6 Labour Force Survey IronworkersThompson--Okanagan 15 27 35 Labour Force Survey
IronworkersBritish Columbia 17 28 38.63 Labour Force Survey 2012 IronworkersVancouver Island and Coast 18 27.5 37.92 Employment Insurance Data IronworkersLower Mainland 17 28 38.63 Labour Force Survey IronworkersThompson--Okanagan 17 28 38.63 Labour Force Survey
BC ironworker wage history
in the document, LMS TFW LMIA companies in Canada received a It doesn’t account for di erences spreadsheet, which shows they were combined total of 138. of skill between apprentices and approved for nearly 250 TFWs in It is imperative to understand journeypersons — yet the prevail- just over one year – with almost all the wage feedback loop and the ing wage is used as a journeyperson at the prevailing wage for 2012 iden- methodology, which goes into the TFW wage. Given the in ux of hun- ti ed in the wage history. A notable posted prevailing wages. In the BC dreds of ironworkers forced to work exception is 50 workers who were ironworker wage history, you can at $26-28 depending on their LMIA, given permits at a rate, which was see the source of the data, and for and many of the remaining work- $4 below the prevailing wage at the many years it relied on the Labour ers in the industry forced to accept time. e document, Employers Force Survey (LFS). e LFS is a those wages or be replaced by a TFW, with Positive LMIA, outlines the highly problematic way of deter- it is no surprise that the LFS man- approved TFW ironworkers from mining wages in the trades, as aged to contact some of them and 2014 to 2019, with LMS entities it is a non-representative sample use them as representative of the THE IRONWORKER receiving 105 TFWs, while all other which asks for self-reported wages. median wage. is ad hoc manner 58
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 58 12/3/20 6:59 PM of wage determination is what allowed the wage to jump so sud- denly in 2016, as at least one likely respondent was a union ironworker — given that was approximately the union rate at the time. When the wage jumped in 2016, it appears LMS suddenly had no more labour issues needing to be addressed through TFWs – as they stopped making applications for nearly two years, while the wage was 2019 Q3 at $34. It is important to note that 635971 BC Ltd SURREY, BC V3W 4M7 7236-Ironworkers 30 Cobra Rebar Services Ltd. Surrey, BC V3S 8C4 7236-Ironworkers 4 $34 was the actual market rate at the Lane Construction Services Ltd. VANCOUVER, BC V5S 1S1 7236-Ironworkers 1 time, especially given the fact union Maximum Reinforcing Steel Ltd. LANGLEY, BC V1M 3W4 7236-Ironworkers 1 employers managed to compete MSF Construction Ltd. NORTH VANCOUVER, BC V7L 0E47236-Ironworkers 1 Paragon Rebar & Dampproofing (2010)SURREY, Ltd BC V3S 8Z8 7236-Ironworkers 1 while paying those wages and sub- 2019 Q2 stantial and costly fringe bene ts. Rafat General Contractor Inc Caledon, ON L7E 2Y4 7236-Ironworkers 1 In the fall of 2018, LMS began 7236-Ironworkers 5 J&H Rebars Ltd. Surrey, BC V3S 8R6 7236-Ironworkers 1 advertising with rates of $25-28 KMM Construction Ltd. SURREY, BC V3T 2Z1 7236-Ironworkers 2 per hour on the Jobbank, in appar- 7236-Ironworkers 5 2019Q1 ent preparation for a drop in the 1016277 BC Ltd. Surrey, BC V3W 0E2 7236-Ironworkers 2 prevailing wages. When the wage Armann Insulation, Flooring & RebarSurrey, Ltd. BC V3V 7G2 7236-Ironworkers 1 precipitously dropped from $34 to Great Mann Construction Ltd DELTA, BC V4C 4E9 7236-Ironworkers 1 Jimmy Carroll Steel Fixing Ltd COQUITLAM, BC V3B 1J5 7236-Ironworkers 6 $26 in the fall of 2018, LMS wasted no PRG Homes Inc. SURREY, BC V3W 5X6 7236-Ironworkers 2 time applying for TFWs at $26 once Samara Framing Ltd. SURREY, BC V3S 8S1 7236-Ironworkers 1 again. Within one quarter, LMS was Team Rebar Construction Ltd. SURREY, BC V3S 5S3 7236-Ironworkers 2 2018 Q4 approved for 25 TFWs at $26, and Baran Steel Placing Rebar Inc BURNABY, BC V5H 2X2 7236-Ironworkers 5 by the end of 2019, they had another Paragon Rebar & Dampproofing (2010)SURREY, Ltd BC V3S 8Z8 7236-Ironworkers 1 30 approved, for a total of 55 TFWs Steeltech Construction Ltd Mission, BC V2V 0E7 7236-Ironworkers 2 AJF Forming Ltd. North York, ON M6M 3E5 7236-Ironworkers 1 in less than a year; the same period 635971 BC Ltd SURREY, BC V3W 4M7 7236-Ironworkers 25 when all other employers in Canada 2018 Q3 AJF Forming Ltd. North York, ON M6M 3E5 7236-Ironworkers 1 only received a total of 46. 2018 Q2 In 2019, the BC ironworker Baran Steel Placing Rebar Inc Vancouver, BC V5S 4R6 7236-Ironworkers 1 prevailing wage was increased to M K Rebar & Landscaping Ltd. SURREY, BC V3W 5L7 1311-Accounting technicians and1 bookkeepers 7236-Ironworkers 3 $32 per hour a er the Iron Work- Vancouver Rebar & Damp ProofingABBOTSFORD, Ltd BC V2T 5H6 7236-Ironworkers 2 ers made strong objections to the 2018 Q1 methodology of the LFS and accu- None 2017 Q4 racy of the prevailing wages used AJF Forming Ltd. North York, ON M6M 3E5 7236-Ironworkers 1 by ESDC. While $32 was a welcome Armann Insulation, Flooring & RebarSurrey, Ltd. BC V3V 7G2 7236-Ironworkers 1 change from the unjusti ably low 2017 Q3 Baran Steel Placing Rebar Inc Burnaby, BC V5H 2X2 7236-Ironworkers 3 $26, it was still a far cry from the Cobra Rebar Services Ltd. Surrey, BC V3S 8C4 7236-Ironworkers 4 actual market wages and not in line DECEMBER Mann Brothers Insulation & Rebar Surrey,Ltd. BC V3S 8A7 7236-Ironworkers 3 with published wages by either the 2017 Q2 0967568 BC Ltd. Surrey, BC V3V 3Z7 7236-Ironworkers 3 Iron Workers or the Independent Cobra Rebar Services Ltd. Cloverdale, BC V3S 8C4 7236-Ironworkers 1 Contractors and Business Associa- Frontline Rebar & Landscaping Ltd.Surrey, BC V3X 1X3 7236-Ironworkers 2 tion, as well as lower than the recent 2020 $34 wage from 2016 and 2017. Prevailing wage employers with positive LMIA A long history and clear docu- mentation of LMS and their use and 59
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 59 12/3/20 6:59 PM union detailing racism and harsh working conditions. August 10, 2020 I began by explaining that these Dear Lawrence Owusu: concerns have taken on a new
RE: Offer of Employment urgency, given the current politi- cal and economic climate. LMS LMS Reinforcing Steel Group would like to offer you a full-time, indeterminate position with our company as an Ironworker – Reinforcing upon your successful nomination by the BC was recently awarded the contract Provincial Nominee Program, and issuance of authorization to work in Canada from CIC. for the Patullo Bridge replace- Your job description and conditions of employment remain as outlined below: ment, a BC government-funded
Job Title: Reinforcing Steel Installer – Journeyman Level project, which is being delivered under the Community Bene ts Salary Range: C$ 32.00 – C$36.00/hour, according with LMSEA pay scale Benefits: Medical and Dental and Employer paid RRSP Agreement. e exact details of 4% vacation pay the contract and its performance
Work: Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 3:00pm are not clear yet, but what is clear is that LMS likely intends to bol- Hours: Based on 40 hours per week ster its employee numbers through Duties will continue to include the following: both the TFW and BC Provincial • Position and secure steel bars or metal mesh in concrete forms to reinforce concrete structures Nominee Program (BCPNP) over • Read blueprints and specifications to lay out work the coming months and years. • Unload and position material so each bundle can be hoisted as needed What is also apparent is these appli- • Work with and use scaffolding, hoisting equipment and rigging • Signal crane operator to position reinforcing material according to blueprints cations are not made in good faith • Examine equipment for deterioration and defects and LMS is gaming the system –
We look forward to our accepted application for the BC PNP and continual work on our advertising below-market wages on projects and success with us. Jobbank, claiming labour shortages
to the TFW program, while simul- taneously o ering higher wages to ______Name Name foreign workers. Executive Vice President of Operations Whether these workers go kto wor
directly on the Patullo Bridge or act ______as replacements for the current LMS Date workers who will be transferred to that project, the e ect will be the same. If the prevailing wage is below abuse of the TFW program suggests those paid to their current TFWs market rates and LMS is approved they are on the precipice of another and $7 to $11 more than they are to bring in foreign workers through round of applications for $26 TFWs, currently advertising on the Job- either the TFW program or BCPNP as we wait for the prevailing wage to bank for domestic workers. at that wage, there will be a suppres- be updated in the fall of 2020. ey e history of LMS and their sion of wages across the market and a have begun posting ads on Jobbank, captive workers provides multiple using the same wages they have examples of other abuses, such as advertised for a decade ($25-$28), the illegal deduction of the LMIA and those same ads have been the fees from TFWs’ wages, evidenced basis of their applications for hun- by a paystub that I have attached. dreds of TFWs. e Iron Workers LMS and its associated entities are were leaked a document, which is among the worst employers in the part of LMS attempts to use the industry in terms of worker safety. BC Provincial Nominee Program eir high percentage of TFWs (BCPWP), and clearly shows they compound those problems as work- are using wages nearer market rates. ers are afraid to speak out. Many The banners show all of the different THE IRONWORKER messages used when targeting job sites e wages are $6-$10 higher than former employees have come to the with plans to be conspicuous. 60
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 60 12/3/20 6:59 PM reduction in the employment oppor- Rescom Reinforcing is a newly signed contractor tunities available to Canadians and at the time and the entire permanent residents. crew in the photo is organized, other than one What remains to be decided is longtime member. The job what assistance the federal and pro- is an LMS site as well, subcontracted to them. vincial governments are willing to They have put the job six give LMS by allowing them to under- months ahead of schedule and have received much mine our domestic labour market praise from the developer through these programs or by setting and general. prevailing wage rates, which are not representative of the actual market. tables. Please contact me for these ills associated with the TFW pro- e Iron Workers and I are avail- documents. It is my strong hope gram. Still, it will prevent bad actors able for assistance and input on despite the complex interworkings such as LMS from manipulating prevailing wages in B.C. and non- of these programs and their respec- labour markets to their exclusive union sources such as the ICBA. tive departments; we can implement advantage while leaving workers Both union and nonunion wage a representative wage this fall during and their families struggling to nd information are available and the the prevailing wage update. Doing living-wage employment oppor- latest ICBA wage information and so will not require extensive policy tunities in an industry heralded as the Iron Workers Local 97 wage changes, nor will it remedy all of the central to our economic recovery.
Job # Date # of TW Location Duration HRSDC Opinion # Rate of pay 2013-000727 Jan 14-13 15 AB BC 1yr 1185388 Granted $28.00 2012-050972 Jun 12-12 10 BC 1yr Denied $28.00 2012-052646 Jun 21-12 10 BC 1yr Granted $28.00 2012-116611 Jan 7-13 1 AB BC 1yr Granted $31.00 2012-114965 Dec 27-12 30 BC 1yr 1181555 Granted $28.00 2012-097455 Oct 25-12 11 BC 1yr 1163963 Granted $28.00 2012-014728 Oct 22-12 2012-092451 Dec 14-12 30 AB BC 1yr 1159012 Granted $28.00 2012-090377 Oct 5-12 26 BC 1yr Granted $28.00 2012-088583 Sep 28-12 17 BC 1yr Granted $28.00 2012-082846 Sep 11-12 12 BC 1yr Granted $28.00 2012-073971 Aug 22-12 17 BC 1yr Granted $28.00 2012-071229 Aug 29-12 30 BC 1yr Granted $28.00 2012-064106 Aug 28-12 50 BC 1yr Granted $24.00 2012-057819 July 31-12 10 BC 1yr Granted $28.00
LMS TFW LMIA data
IN MEMORIAM
ROBERT E. PFISTER FEB. 6, 1924 – OCT. 23, 2020
obert E. Pfister, age 96, of Belton, Missouri, passed away sur- going to work in Washington, D.C. for the Inter- R rounded by his loving family members on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. national Association of Bridge, Structural and Robert was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Henry E. Pfister Ornamental Iron Workers, as general organizer and Anna R. (Mandel) Pfister on Feb. 6, 1924. After high school, in January 1979. After retiring in 1986, he enjoyed DECEMBER Robert enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed on golfing, fishing and being with his family. the USS Yorktown. He dedicated the next three years of his life to Robert was preceded in death by his loving wife of over 51 years, faithful and honorable service to his country. Kathryn L. Pfister; parents Henry and Anna Pfister; daughter Robert was joined in marriage with his late wife Kathryn on Joyce M. Pfister; and five siblings, Mary Louise Pfister, Henry
Nov. 19, 1949. Together they were blessed with six children. Pfister IT, Catherine Tannery James Pfister and Paul Pfister. He is 2020 For over 40 years, Robert was a proud member of Iron Workers survived by his children Robert H. Pfister, Paula Madden (Dennis), Local 10 (Kansas City, Missouri), joining the local in May 1948. He Beverly Kearns, Patty Lee (Lindell), Barbara Tompkins (Ken), 11 was business manager of the local union for many years before grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. 61
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 61 12/3/20 6:59 PM APPRENTICESHIP DEPARTMENT REPORT Lee Worley
Local 424 expands its training opportunities
ver the past few years, O Executive Director Steve Rank and I have had con- tinued discussions on the importance for local unions to have an engineered structural steel mock-up in its training centers to enhance its facilities and programs. A structural steel mock-up allows for apprentices, in addition to their classroom instruc- tion, to experience hands-on techniques for hoisting, rigging, structural steel assembly and the use of various fall arrest systems. As our members’ safety on the job site remains a constant focus of our training programs, a structural mock-up is key to providing training on various fall arrest systems and perimeter safety cable systems used during the steel the brand-new connectors, fourth-year apprentice erection process. superstar Tim Drotar partnered up with every single At the urging of Executive Assistant to the Gen- rst-timer. Drotar was the MVP of the day, on the eral Secretary and Chief of Sta Kevin Byrnes, a iron from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., taking General Presi- proud member of Local 424 (New Haven, Conn.), dent Eric Dean’s call for ironworker mentorship to Local 424’s Apprenticeship Coordinator Joseph heart. If not for the COVID-19 pandemic, he and Sorensen shared the great news of the addition of a his work partner Paul Dallaire would have aptly and structural mock-up to their training center. proudly represented Local 424 in the international On October 24, 2020, Local 424 erected its new apprentice competition. structural mock-up, made possible by local man- A member of a di erent trade remarked on the agement. With the steel nally delivered in June enthusiasm, involvement and camaraderie of the day 2020, signatory contractor, Berlin Steel Construc- and harkened back memories of yesteryear days when tion Company (BSCC) fabricated the iron, provided locals were the hub of fellowship and solidarity. With drawings, shipped and supplied the necessary the training experience’s success, Local 424 asserts machinery and equipment. Local 424 is thankful to their return to their union roots and traditions. BSCC for everything. Bay Crane donated the crane Of the event, Sorensen stated, “I can’t say enough and their time with operator Peter Doheny doing how proud I am of everyone involved and I am a fantastic job. Doheny, working with Local 424 excited to see what the future holds for these amaz- rst- and second-year apprentices, was a model of ing young union ironworkers!” patience and expertise. Sean Sullivan, Victor Vega e addition of a hands-on structure provides and Richard Wright led the exercise and had every- Local 424’s members access to the best training thing running smoothly! available. e National Training Fund has a com- e second-year apprentices used the day as a plete set of engineered shop and details drawings hands-on part of their erecting structural steel class. for reference and use by training centers available; Joining them were the rst years and a handful of please contact the Ironworkers National Training third and fourth years. Every student got a chance Fund for more information or a set of drawings to THE IRONWORKER to shake-out, hook-on, bolt-up and connect. For upgrade your local union training center. 62
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 62 12/3/20 6:59 PM DAVIS-BACON/PREVAILING WAGE REPORT Chris Burger
From Local 12 ironworker to top enforcement chief, New York’s Chris Alund reflects on his career any of us fondly remember the Winter on a construction site and all M Olympic Games of four decades ago in Lake it involves. Placid, New York’s Adirondack Mountains, pre- “I grew up in the union ceded by the 1932 event. Besides speedskater Eric hall,” says Alund. In a story Heiden, most remembered is the “Miracle” of the not unlike my own (in the underdog U.S. hockey team victory over the Soviet same state), the men of Alund’s father’s generation Union. e victory set the cultural stage for the fall at Local 12 in Albany fought the wars of this coun- of the totalitarian Communist regime (allegedly a try in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. ey were proud “workers’ paradise”) just over a decade later. Chris- of their ironworking sons and nephews, he says, but topher Alund, at the close of the ‘70s, was a young his father, and the likes of his “Uncle Syke,” well, Local 12 (Albany, N.Y.) ironworker. He remembers they wanted to see their sons advance, if possible. the games fondly as the big project he worked on Make a way in the world if you can, so to speak. As before launching his 37-year career with the New much as we wanted to follow in our father’s foot- York State Bureau of Public Work steps as proud union working men of the state DOL. For two decades, (and yes, enjoyed making our own this son and grandson of ironwork- livings and carried our union cards ers, has served as the director of the proudly), we also were encouraged division, doggedly going a er the to nish our educations and climb worst cheaters of the worker—of any up in new ways and worlds that they trade to be found on public proj- never got to do. is would one day ects across the Empire State. Newly mean talking to power players in retired, he re ects with us here. politics and industry and making e gures are impressive: From them understand things from the 2015–2019, the agency, under his view of the workingman—and yes, leadership, garnered nationally the union and nonunion. leading $41 million in wages and Christopher Alund, director of the As a budding ironworker, Alund Bureau of Public Work in the interest recovered for 17,170 work- New York State Labor Department. worked on a key ski-jump for the ‘80 ers, $3,076,000 in civil penalties Games. He might have stayed right from violating employers, and so forth. I could recite where he was, but he was being called to complete the additional gures on individuals and business his education. Once he realized he could aect the entities nabbed (760!), the individuals and entities industry he had worked in and achieve justice for debarred (220!), the 1,900 job sites visited by the the worker, he knew he had found his calling in bureau’s strike force and so on. But the personal enforcement. e nonunion had loomed as a new story of Alund’s rise to this position is worth telling. force in the ‘70s and ‘80s and Alund was inspired to I remember our past General President Walter Wise right all those wrongs, which involved intense tac-
putting out the word for the great need to have more tics of kickbacks and wage the . Having taken the DECMBER tradesmen, specically ironworkers, pursue a career exam and nished his degree at SUNY Plattsburgh, in government service to regulate our dangerous he was appalled — and motivated — by the cheaters and o en chaotic industry better. And this is still
who told their employers, “You’ll do what I say.” 2020 the case, be it a younger ironworker or a retiree who Alund eventually developed a relationship might make that transition. We all know that too with the nonunion contractors who tried to o en, such agencies lack personnel who ever worked keep themselves out of the race to the bottom. 63
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 63 12/3/20 6:59 PM DAVIS-BACON/PREVAILING WAGE REPORT continued
This ability to speak and understand all trades, to make personal connections across partisan divides and union affiliation, helped make his career the success it has been. “I feel I was edu- cated and everything I achieved was because of being from an ironworker household,” he says. All his work in the field became invaluable as an investigator. “You can’t be afraid of someone get- ting in your face doing this work,” Alund says. His tough background came in handy. Alund comments on the Lake Placid Olympic construction featured in the March 1979 issue of e Ironworker, “My dad’s company had the ornamen- tal metal contract to build the glass-view elevator enclosure (up the back of the 90-meter jump) and the viewing windows at the top of jumps, along with some other work. I went to work on a punch list item on the outside top of the jump. Tourists can go up and look out as the elevator rises the 300 feet to the top. It’s funny because when I’ve done the ride, you see people step back from the glass because you can look out and straight down. I tell them my dad and ironworker friends put the enclosure up. ey usu- ally respond with something like ‘God bless them.’ is has always made me proud.” the work of the rest of my family) and across the generations that were worked on — ornamental, ...[Alund] was appalled — rods and structural.” and motivated — by the His ironworker background once became some- thing that was attempted to be used against him in cheaters who told their legal cases, but he never relented and proudly spoke employers, “You’ll do of his origins. He would prove he would be a fair and what I say.” Alund eventually trusted arbiter for all trades — and accomplished what he did because he himself had been on those developed a relationship with job sites and knew of the power of being a union the nonunion contractors... man and the exploitation that goes on without that collective backing. He adds, “My dad spent a good chunk of his At rst, accused of being from the “Department career as an area superintendent for an erection of Organized Labor,” Alund didn’t shrink from the out t out of Bu alo and covered a very large area challenge of talking to the other side — Republi- from Hudson Valley to Canadian Border, not only cans and the nonunion. Knowing instinctively how in Local 12 territory but beyond.” In a story famil- to talk to people, he ended up making constructive iar to ironworkers (and their children) across the allies all over. He made a name for himself in recent continent, he says, “So anywhere I drive across the years by ferreting out complicated schemes involv- THE IRONWORKER state, I always see something he put up (along with ing bene t fraud, where it can be convenient to bury 64
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 64 12/3/20 7:00 PM one’s misdeeds. He is humble about how many key keep money local. As has been said by Steve White cases he was involved in, but also his pride in get- of the West Virginia ACT, “Prevailing wage is the ting these big wins for the little guy is obvious and best economic tool ever developed.” And it’s not an well-justi ed. accident that New York State, so instrumental to the Alund eventually received an award from the founding of the federal Davis-Bacon law (Representa- AGC, an association that had once dismissed him tive Bacon was from Long Island) recently expanded for his union background. He likewise developed prevailing wage (with little fanfare) to include private a close relationship with once-skeptical organiza- work of many stripes. tions like the Construction Industry Council (CIC) Alund is extremely grateful for all the characters and Building Contractors Association (BCA). He he knew as a member of Local 12. When he appeared was able to make one-time opponents of prevail- as a panelist for IMPACT a few years ago, it was obvi- ing wage understand that “it acts like a fence,” he ous that this is a “man amongst men,” that is, very says, to protect what were o en local contractors well-respected among ironworkers. Meeting with (even third-generation nonunion) to keep contrac- him at his headquarters in Albany a few years back, tors coming from many states away from the Deep I sensed how at home he was in the now modest but South and totally depressing standards. And this is still impressive mid-century state o ce buildings. He exactly the background behind the original passing reects, saying, “My dad was working for the com- of the federal prevailing wage. pany at the time back in 1963 that put the windows Alund even was able to help make a local car in my DOL Headquarters building, so every day in dealer (at rst against prevailing wage) recognize his my o ce, I could look at his work product. I don’t business is hurt by having non-residents come from think he envisioned at the time that his son would be
many states away to work at, say, Fort Drum. If local a DOL director one day and looking out.” DECMBER trades are unemployed, what do you make of all those It is our hope that his knowledge will continue pick-up trucks with Texas and South Carolina plates? to be tapped as an occasional consultant and I am Are they buying your trucks, goes the logic, and the proud to have him join us at IMPACT’s next enforce- 2020 dealer agreed; Alund won a convert. e law acts as ment panel. At the close of this di cult and historic a means to level the playing eld and does not ensure year, I wish you all a happy and blessed Christmas the job will always be union but does ultimately help …and a much better 2021. 65
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 65 12/3/20 7:00 PM SAFETY & HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORT Steve Rank
Utilizing virtual meeting technology to address safety and health issues
n response to the COVID-19 Hour calls, which produced many follow-up calls and I pandemic that has a ected documents to help resolve safety issues on projects. our members and contractors • Dave Beard, St. Louis and Vicinity District Council – throughout North America, the Aug. 19, 2020 safety and health department • Bill Woodward, Southern Ohio and Vicinity had to implement new strategies to address safety District Council – Aug. 20, 2020 and health issues. e use of virtual meeting tech- • Mike Baker, North Central States District Council – nology allowed the safety department to continue Sept. 23, 2020 working with local unions, district councils and • Colin Daniels, Western Canada District Council – contractors. is article highlights some of the new Oct. 8, 2020 initiatives provided this year to address speci c • Jimmy Buisson, Eastern Canada District Council – safety issues and better service to our members. Oct. 14, 2020 General President Eric Dean committed his support • Mike Relyin, Department of Reinforcing Ironworkers – and resources for these new services as part of the Oct. 15, 2020 2020 ZERO Incident campaign. e following are • Kevin Bryenton, Ontario District Council – some highlights of the new safety and health initia- Nov. 24, 2020 tives provided in 2020. • Colin Daniels, Western Canada District Council – Dec. 16, 2020 District council safety hour: Bridging the gap on safety with Iron Workers/IMPACT quarterly local unions and contractors safety calls In response to the e Iron Workers and IMPACT have established quarterly safety calls, quarterly safety calls to address topics of which our the safety and health members and contractors should be aware, featur- department has received many calls about local ing special guests covering a variety of topics: safety and regulatory issues. To better service and address our members’ and contractors’ needs, the • Feb. 26, 2020 – OSHA Subpart R – Steel Erection: Controlling contractor requirements safety department launched a series of District Coun- • April 3, 2020 – COVID-19 pandemic: Protecting our cil Safety Lunch and Learn Hour calls every month. members in the workplace confirmation e calls are informal and scheduled for one hour • April 30, 2020 – Ironworker training and safety meet during lunchtimes to allow all parties to participate, project demands despite COVID-19 challenges share topics, make comments, or express concerns • July 8, 2020 – Returning to work: COVID-19 issues on speci c issues within the district council jurisdic- and answers tion. e calls utilize RingCentral, a virtual meeting • July 22, 2020 – Canadian ironworker call to safety media that allows all parties to communicate, with an • July 29, 2020 – What does it take to pre-qualify for agenda of learning what’s on your mind. We encour- industrial projects age members to notify your local unions of safety and • Sept. 30, 2020 – Falling object hazards and accelerated health issues that can be addressed during these calls. work schedules, “A Recipe for Incidents” e following is a recap of the district council safety calls hosted this year. We appreciate the e orts of e following topics were discussed during the the following o cers and district council presidents safety call dealing with falling object hazards and THE IRONWORKER to host the District Council Safety Lunch and Learn accelerated work schedules. 66
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 66 12/3/20 7:00 PM recordable and reportable situations. ese incidents can be a determining factor in our union contrac- tors’ ability to bid and compete in the marketplace. Je Norris, Canadian safety coordinator, estab- lished the inaugural webinar, Canadian Ironworker Call to Safety, on July 22, 2020, to introduce the Cana- dian leaders and turn a presentation into real-time OSHA standards: OSHA falling conversation; the good, the bad and the ugly around object standards for employers safety and health in the ironworking industry. and controlling contractors • Project trends: Requirements for tool tethering for ironworker tools and activities • Compliance issues: Tool tethering is no substitute for OSHA’s controlling contractor standard • Lessons learned: Potential hazards and incidents related to tool tethering • Accelerated work schedules: Mandated by project owners and controlling contractors • Roles of supervision: Instruction to superintendents, foremen and field ironworkers • Written notifications: Responses and notification e Canadian Ironworker Call to Safety webinar letters to controlling contractors series is designed to provide accurate, up-to-date information while engaging participants through thought-provoking discussions, learning opportu- nities and actions relating to topics ranging from innovative safety and health initiatives, provincial/ regional legislation to safety performance advantages in our business. Je Norris will utilize these calls to address safety and regulatory issues across Canada. e safety and health department wants to make every e ort to protect our members from workplace injuries utilizing virtual meeting so ware. We con- tinue to challenge all members to “See Something! Say Something!” to recognize and avoid hazards Another featured topic of the safety calls in the workplace. Je Norris, Wayne Creasap and
addressed the growing trend of safety pre-quali - I will continue to work with district councils, local DECMBER cations for contractors during the bidding process. unions and IMPACT regional advisory boards to Many industrial projects and owners are establish- promote the 2020 safety initiatives. Please contact
ing stringent requirements for contractor safety the safety and health department at safety@iwintl. 2020 performance. Wayne Creasap, district safety repre- org or (833) 355-SAFE (7233) if you have any ques- sentative for the safety department, addressed many tions about workplace safety and health concerns in technical points pertaining to managing incident the shop or eld. 67
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 67 12/3/20 7:00 PM Ironworkers build futuristic Foxconn Data Research Center Globe
ocal 8 (Milwaukee) with steel erection contrac- Novum Structures in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, L tor JH Findorff & Son in Madison, Wisconsin, designed the 100-foot-tall futuristic high-performance completed the impressive Foxconn Data Research computing data center globe. e shell, 110 feet in diam- Center project last September without any recordable eter, was created with 1,200 HSS 4-by-8 tubes tubes injuries or lost-time incidents. The Foxconn Data while horizontal and vertical interior ribs were created Research Center is the phase one of the Wisconn Val- with 1,100 3-inch-wide tubes. A thousand steel nodes ley Science and Technology Park (WVSTP) in Mount were used to join the ribs. Pleasant, Wisconsin. e ironworkers preassembled some parts of the globe in smaller sections on the ground and set them with a 100-ton Link-Belt crawler crane. e 70,000- pound “equator” was preassembled as one big ring on the ground and set-in place with a 550-ton Liebherr crane. It is 110 feet in diameter and 12 feet high. e 55,000-pound “cap” was also preassembled before being li ed and set in place with a 550-ton Liebherr crane. It is 60 feet in diameter. “ e complex geometry of the Foxconn Data Research Center presented many challenges during assembly, rigging and erection, but the Iron Workers Local 8 overcame the obstacles to build a unique struc- ture,” said Patrick Fitzgerald, ironworker foreman with J.H. Findor & Sons, Inc. e state-of-the-art Foxconn Data Research Center globe will be home to the WVSTP’s Network Opera- tions Center (NOC). e data research center will enable Foxconn employees to control the unique ecosystem of Foxconn technologies such as industrial 5G networks, cloud computing and industrial arti cial intelligence within the NOC. THE IRONWORKER
68
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 68 12/3/20 7:00 PM MONTHLY REPORT OF LIFETIME MEMBERS
Lifetime members are published in the magazine according to the application approval date. Members previously classified as Old Age or Disability Pensioners that were converted to Lifetime membership effective January 1, 2007, will not be reprinted in the magazine.
SEPTEMBER 2020
LOCAL NAME LOCAL NAME LOCAL NAME 1 TOPOR, JAMES T 40 IOVINO, JOHN 401 MATHIS, RICHARD 3 BAKER, JEFFREY S 40 SABBAGH, MARK J 401 SCHICK, BRIAN K 3 DEARY, JOHN 40 TEAGUE, BRIAN P 416 ATKINS, HEATH 3 STEWART, JEFF 55 BRANYAN, ROBERT H 416 BERNAL, ROBERT L 7 ST HILL, KENRICK A 55 KING, LARRY L 416 RIVAS, JUAN J 7 YANNELLI, BRUCE A 55 MCANALLY, CALVIN M 433 DUNCAN, JEFFRY M 8 NICHOLS, CLIFFORD J 63 BUTRYN, DANIEL L 433 JOHNSON, HARLAN J 8 RUSSELL, BRIAN E 63 DEAN, RAY S 512 KREJCE, RICHARD A 8 WELLS, LARRY 63 EVANS, MICHAEL 512 NORDIN, TERRY G 10 HENNESSEY, DAVID M 63 LEMON, CLARENCE 512 NORDIN, TIMOTHY 11 O GRADY, DARREN 67 CHARLSON, DARYL G 512 RAMLOW, NEIL E 11 SHARO, MICHAEL S 67 WHEATLY, NORMAN D 549 BASALLA, DAVID N 14 BROWN, JAMES T 86 HOWELL, RODNEY E 580 DANIEL, NOLAN K 14 HAMRICK, DONALD B 86 IRWIN, RICHARD G 623 STAFFORD, NAT 15 BANCROFT, DEAN J 86 JOHNSON, DANIEL L 700 GARVIN, TERRY 17 BRADLEY, JAMES M 97 COZENS, PAUL W 700 ST PIERRE, GERALD 17 IGOE, ROBERT E 112 CHERRY, HARRY A 704 PATTERSON, CLIFTON EDWARD E 17 MOLDOVAN, JOSEPH G 118 PELLOW, BRADY R 709 CLIFTON, ATTYS E 22 ASDELL, RANDALL K 147 BILLMAN, LARRY W 720 AU, ROBERT C 22 FANGMEIER, ROBERT A 147 BUCKMASTER, MARK D 720 LUTZ, ALLAN R 22 FRAIZER, BRUCE 147 KING, RON L 720 WHITE, JOHN R 22 KOCHER, CHRIS A 155 BL ANK ENSHIP, RANDY O 721 PEREIRA, JOSE 24 PERKINS, LEWIS S 172 GIBSON, STEVEN S 736 BRETON, GUY 25 DUPRIE, ROGER PAUL P 172 MAC DONALD, RICHARD J 751 FLOYD, GARY L 25 MILLER, KENNETH D 172 PAINI, HARRY R 764 BUTTON, GARY 25 NICKLES, JOHN W 172 RICHARD, FRANCIS P 764 CHAULK, ROBBY 25 YOUNG, THOMAS G 380 TABELING, RICHARD L 764 RICHARDS, ROBERT 27 OLSEN, GORDON L 396 MULLINS, KENNETH L 782 DENNIS, DENNY C 28 DAVIS, CORBAN E 401 HOSKINS, RICHARD J 786 WRIGHT, BARRY 33 DOWNEY, MICHAEL E 401 JONES, ELIHUE W
IRONWORKERS’ JOBLINE DECEMBER CONNECTING WORLDCLASS UNION IRONWORKERS WITH UNION EMPLOYERS 2020 FIND OUT WHICH LOCALS NEED WORKERS, TYPE OF WORK, AND WHO TO CONTACT: ironworkers.org 12/2016 69
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 69 12/3/20 7:00 PM OFFICIAL MONTHLY RECORD
APPROVED DEATH CLAIMS FOR SEPTEMBER 2020
L.U. MEMBER CLAIM L.U. MEMBER CLAIM L.U. MEMBER CLAIM NAME AMOUNT NAME AMOUNT NAME AMOUNT NO. NUMBER NUMBER NO. NUMBER NUMBER NO. NUMBER NUMBER 1 909074 HERNANDEZ, ROBERT A. 113257 2,000.00 48 492966 BOYDSTUN, HARVEY A. 113244 2,200.00 512 408212 MCCABE, ROBERT J. 113274 2,200.00 1 592561 LUND, CONRAD R. 113258 2,200.00 55 869016 WHIPPLE, RONALD A. 113300 2,200.00 512 1562601 MIDBON, DEVIN M. 113275 500.00 3 837588 ADAMS, ALLEN G. 113234 2,200.00 60 751394 SMOKE, ALLAN G. 113301 2,200.00 549 1559045 MONTGOMERY, CHRISTOPHER M. 113312 500.00 3 633944 MAZZA, SAMUEL G. 113284 2,200.00 63 592639 KETHCART, PATRICK J. 113302 2,200.00 550 1214867 SMITH, CHRISTOPHER L. 113313 2,200.00 3 782496 PARIS, PETER 113285 2,200.00 70 690852 BLANFORD, JOSEPH B. 113245 2,200.00 580 452694 DELLA SPERANZA, JOHN 113276 2,200.00 5 1013809 BURY, DON F. 113286 1,750.00 75 798954 CROSSER, JOHN A. 11303 2,200.00 580 1070317 DOYLE, ROBERT 113277 2,200.00 5 440394 DECATUR, LAWRENCE E. 113287 2,200.00 79 876870 PAGE, ROBERT E. 113246 2,200.00 580 1084385 ROBINSON, GEORGE 113230 2,200.00 5 508158 HORHOE, CHARLES R. 113288 2,200.00 79 794962 WHEDBEE, AUBREY R. 113304 2,200.00 584 672252 MOORE, BOBBY D. 113278 2,200.00 5 1313205 IRAHETA, OSCAR 113289 2,200.00 92 748490 BUSH, JAMES E. 113265 2,200.00 623 668192 STEPHENS, GEORGE H. 113314 2,200.00 5 1024466 MIGLIACCIO, ROBERT J. 113290 1,750.00 97 1258139 CAREW, RON J. 113208 1,750.00 700 653957 ROBERTS, PAUL 113211 2,200.00 5 876888 SMITH, CHARLES W. 113291 2,200.00 97 699536 DONDERS, GERRY C. 113280 2,200.00 709 561483 JARRELL, ARCHIE M. 113315 2,200.00 7 648019 MUNDY, GERALD A. 113293 2,200.00 97 1429195 DUURSMA, BEN 113209 1,750.00 712 1088896 STEVENSON, DAVE G. 113028 2,200.00 7 1323061 STEARNS, MICHAEL F. 113294 1,750.00 97 882497 MONTEZ, MANUEL A. 113210 2,200.00 720 1052956 STEEVES, DOUGLAS A. 113212 2,200.00 8 1560378 BAER, CODY 113236 500.00 97 1387952 TAKHAR, ROB R. 113281 1,750.00 721 743899 DUGUAY, GEORGE J. 113213 2,200.00 8 1241447 BROTHERS, JAMES A. 113235 1,750.00 136 656602 CASINI, VICTOR L. 113266 2,200.00 721 754412 FRATI, EMILIO 113214 2,200.00 8 734555 DAVIS, GREGORY S. 113237 2,200.00 136 1274646 LOPEZ, JOHN A. 113267 1,750.00 721 1165462 O DONNELL, KEVIN R. 113215 2,000.00 8 686954 HUBERTY, RAYMOND J. 113238 2,200.00 167 1233562 ATKINS, PHILLIP L. 113268 1,750.00 721 1054255 TAMBURRO, ALBERICO 113216 2,200.00 11 936206 MEDWAY, JOSEPH 113239 2,200.00 172 1566928 SMITH, ALBERT N. 113305 500.00 728 971691 COSTANTINI, ANGELO 113217 2,200.00 11 659845 MORRIS, WALTER F. 113295 2,200.00 229 838470 RIOUX, RONALD J. 113247 2,200.00 736 474575 GALLANT, LEO J. 113282 2,200.00 11 633162 O NEILL, WILLIAM G. 113240 2,200.00 290 474763 MORRIS, LUTHER J. 113248 2,200.00 736 512035 TORTYNA, EDWARD 113218 2,200.00 14 410818 SANDERS, PAT 113296 2,200.00 361 598786 PANKANIN, JOHN F. 113227 2,200.00 759 583678 ROBERGE, ANDRE 113283 2,200.00 17 600340 MAGDOS, JOHN R. 113259 2,200.00 377 686415 BACA, JOHN A. 1133069 2,200.00 764 1439778 MORRISSEY, RONALD 113219 1,750.00 17 780012 MOORE, HENRY 113260 2,200.00 395 1084251 CULP, CHRISTOPHER W. 113249 2,000.00 769 894494 KIRK, LARRY R. 113231 2,200.00 17 938481 PALSA, DENNIS L. 113261 2,200.00 396 1062976 ROSALES, STEPHEN F. 113269 2,200.00 787 1179832 BURKS, HENRY I. 113253 2,000.00 17 685567 PAPADOPOULOS, COSMAS 113222 2,200.00 401 761115 CONNORS, THOMAS M. 113307 2,200.00 787 766846 PICKENS, NOBLE C. 113254 2,200.00 17 744697 RIZZO, ROBERT A. 113262 2,200.00 401 1514235 TOLEDO-VEGA, NELSON D. 113308 1,150.00 798 1502344 CAYLOR, WILLIAM 113255 1,400.00 21 1318167 BOSTIC, JAMES E. 113297 1,750.00 402 752493 KENT, JAMES S. 113250 2,200.00 798 857793 URBAN, VERNON H. 113316 2,200.00 22 1170157 LUCAS, ROD G. 113223 2,000.00 404 792615 CLUGSTON, GREGG S. 113228 2,000.00 808 1500267 KOESTER, KENNEY E. 113317 500.00 22 434178 PIPER, JACK C. 113263 2,200.00 404 399074 LENTINI, PETER S. 113309 2,200.00 808 1076690 PARKER, WILLIAM A. 113256 2,000.00 22 596357 TUCKER, WARREN R. 113264 2,200.00 405 673841 ALSTON, WILLIAM 113270 2,200.00 842 948287 DURANT, DAVID 113220 2,200.00 25 931541 BAGLEY, JAMES A. 113241 200,013.00 417 686893 LONG, BERT J. 113251 2,200.00 851 838896 GRIFFITHS, WILLIAM A. 113232 2,000.00 25 1527584 SATAWA, ALEXANDER 113298 1,150.00 433 1466967 GUZMAN, MICHAEL J. 113271 1,750.00 853 516345 ODORIZZI, RAYMOND L. 113233 2,000.00 25 1121411 VILLARREAL, LUIS C. 113299 2,000.00 433 1235781 YBARRA, DAVID 113272 1,750.00 27 1272007 MAYHEW, MICHAEL A. 113224 7,000.00 451 475672 HYNSON, WILLIAM M. 113252 2,200.00 TOTAL DEATH BENEFITS PAID: 418,413.00 27 943588 SPIEVAK, JOSEPH W. 113225 2,200.00 477 1012677 DICKERSON, BARRY A. 113310 2,200.00 28 1378707 ALDRIDGE, RONALD F. 113242 1,750.00 477 711545 MCLEMORE, WILLIAM D. 113311 2,200.00 DISAPPROVED DEATH CLAIMS FOR SEPTEMBER 2020 28 1574685 FRIDLEY, KEVIN W. 113243 500.00 502 902818 PIRIGYI, ALLEN 113229 2,000.00 44 587247 REDMOND, LLOYD L. 113226 2,200.00 509 1171255 MEZA, GILBERT L. 113273 2,000.00 11 795911 HENDRICKS, THOMAS M. 113318 SUSPENDED
IN MEMORIAM
JOSEPH J. HUNT III DEC. 8, 1964 – SEPT. 29, 2020
oseph J. Hunt III, a 34-year member of nephew James W. Hunt; and first cousins Jim Hunt, Local 396 J Iron Workers Local 396 (St. Louis, Mo.), apprenticeship coordinator and Bob Hunt, Local 36 business man- and son of Iron Workers General President ager/financial secretary-treasurer. Emeritus Joseph J. Hunt Jr., died Sept. 29, Brother Hunt was the beloved husband of Olga M. Hunt (nee 2020, at age 56. Abell); dear father of Nicole (Tony) Nawrocki, Amelia (Kyle) Settles, Brother Hunt was a training specialist Joseph J. (Stephanie) Hunt IV and Katerina (Kaiden Jones) Hunt; with the Iron Workers, appointed in March dear grandfather of Kayden, Joey V and Kaia; beloved son of 2010, and was promoted to general organizer Joseph Jr. and Jan Hunt; dear brother of Barb (Eric) Pilas, Tracy in November 2010. In addition to his father, he had several family Meetre and Scott (Kim) Hunt; and dear nephew, brother-in-law, THE IRONWORKER members in the union, including his son, Joseph J. Hunt IV; his uncle, cousin and friend. 70
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 70 12/3/20 7:00 PM February 14 - 17, 2021 Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
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1750 New York Avenue, N.W. Suite 400 Washington, D.C. 20006
oliday Greeing The general officers and staff of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers wish you a very merry holiday season.
ERIC DEAN JOSEPH HUNT WALTER WISE RON PIKSA KENNETH STEPHEN SWEENEY General President General President General President General Secretary “BILL” DEAN First General Emeritus Emeritus General Treasurer Vice President
KEVIN BRYENTON DON ZAMPA JAMES MAHONEY STEVE WILLIAM DAVID BEARD Second General Third General Fourth General PENDERGRASS WOODWARD Seventh General Vice President Vice President Vice President Fifth General Sixth General Vice President Vice President Vice President
MICHAEL BAKER KENDALL MARTIN KEVIN BYRNES FRANK MARCO Eighth General Ninth General Chief of Staff & General Counsel Vice President Vice President Executive Assistant to the General Secretary
63264_IW_Dec_2020.indd 72 12/3/20 7:00 PM THE IRONWORKER PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40009549 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. P.O. Box 1051 Fort Erie, Ontario L2A 5NB [email protected]
oliday Greeing The general officers and staff of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers wish you a very merry holiday season.
ERIC DEAN JOSEPH HUNT WALTER WISE RON PIKSA KENNETH STEPHEN SWEENEY General President General President General President General Secretary “BILL” DEAN First General Emeritus Emeritus General Treasurer Vice President
KEVIN BRYENTON DON ZAMPA JAMES MAHONEY STEVE WILLIAM DAVID BEARD Second General Third General Fourth General PENDERGRASS WOODWARD Seventh General Vice President Vice President Vice President Fifth General Sixth General Vice President Vice President Vice President
MICHAEL BAKER KENDALL MARTIN KEVIN BYRNES FRANK MARCO Eighth General Ninth General Chief of Staff & General Counsel Vice President Vice President Executive Assistant to the General Secretary
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