District 1
Organizing brings in new members
Everyone should benefit from a strong economy
Pilots and Local 115 successful with West Coast Air
(December 2007)

Organizing brings in new members
By Frank Carr, Member Representative
Welcome to the new members from two companies we have recently organized over the last few months.

We have 35 new members working for Jadcan Services Inc., a subcontractor working for Bilfinger Berger in Langley (Golden Ears Bridge) and for SELI Canada Inc. in Vancouver (Canada Line). We are in the process of collective bargaining.

We also have 12 new members from R.G. Thistle Contracting Ltd., based in Abbottsford, covered by the Road Building (Paving) Agreement. R.G. Thistle is a rock crushing company currently working for Mainland Sand and Gravel at its Jamieson Quarry on Sumas Mountain.

Upcoming negotiations
The Pile Driving Agreement expires April 30, 2008, so we will be scheduling proposal meetings in the new year. If you work in the industry, please start to work on your proposals.

We organized RMW Mechanical Inc., a Chilliwack company, earlier this year. The agreement expires on Feb. 28, 2008, so we will be negotiating a second collective agreement soon.

Attend the Fraser Valley Labour Council meetings
The Fraser Valley Labour Council (FVLC) is a chartered body of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). The newly formed FVLC has 12,000 members from affiliated unions in the Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon (Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Agassiz, Harrison, Hope, Lytton, and Boston Bar). Council meetings are held on the third Wednesday of every month at the Abbotsford District Teachers’ Federation Office at 2570 Cyril Street from 7 to 9 p.m. If you haven’t been able to come to one of our Local 115 district meetings, attend one of the FVLC meetings. We’d be happy to see you there!

As District 1 Representative, I’d like to thank you for your support in the Local Union election.
Have a happy and safe holiday season.


Everyone should benefit from a strong economy
By Everett Cummings, Member Representative
I Hours of work for members went up this year. This is good news for our economy and for members who are looking forward to having more purchasing power.

With the Canadian dollar surpassing the U.S. dollar, shoppers going south in search of deals have created long border lineups. You have to wonder what that is doing to our local merchants. If we’re doing well, we should do our best to keep our money in Canada.

Conagg Quarries has opened up Gilley’s pit. RMW was welding and fabricating on the conveyors. The plant has a big jaw crusher and a tub grinder. All the material will be sent out on a scow. By now, they should be running a full crew. The company has purchased some big equipment: a Komatsu WA 650 wheel loader and CAT 365 excavator.

A report from IUOE Local 428 reminded me of “The Case of the Union Hitchhiker.”
WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

The Wish Bones: These are the members who sit around wishing that someone else would do something about it.

The Jaw Bones: These are the members who sit around talking about what needs to be done, but do nothing else.

The Knuckle Bones: These are the members who sit around and knock everything that is being done.

The Back Bones: These are the members that carry the load. They volunteer for all the Local Union committees. They do all the work, and they make things happen. They are the strong links in the labour movement chain. They make us strong.

I would like to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you and your families.


Pilots and Local 115 successful with West Coast Air
By Craig McIntosh, Member Representative
The October OE News included an article about the firing of two senior pilots at West Coast Air during a Local 115 organizing drive. I am happy to report that the Canada Labour Board reinstated both pilots with back wages. The Operating Engineers were successful in organizing West Coast Air pilots. The Canada Labour Board granted certification three weeks after the application was made. We welcome these pilots to our union.

President Brad MacKenzie and I met with the pilots in Victoria, Nanaimo, Sechelt and Burnaby to gather proposals and start drafting a collective agreement. The Operating Engineers now represent over 100 pilots in B.C. from West Coast Air and Conair.
The Operating Engineers and the Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union have ratified an agreement with the Hydro/Tel Utility Group. Rates of pay for members working for Fred Thompson Contractors, Hyland Excavating and Berto Contractors will reflect the Standard Roadbuilding (Utility) Agreement over the next three years.

Upcoming bargaining
I have received proposals from members at Apex Industrial Movers. Their contract expires Jan. 31, 2008. This company is part of the Pacific Group of Companies which held an employee appreciation day in September (see photos on facing page). The Operating Engineers Training Plan set up an information booth along with a crane simulator to encourage family and friends of Pacific Group workers to take training or upgrade their skills through the Training Plan. The company did an excellent job showing the work performed by the different divisions in the Pacific Group of Companies.

The year 2007 will be remembered as a very good year for construction and hours of work in the Lower Mainland. Our challenge now is responding to the demand for skilled tradespeople for construction projects that extend past the Olympics. The shortfall will continue for some time because, even when the number of projects declines, skilled tradespeople will be needed to replace retirees. The future looks bright. Encourage young people to enter the trades!

Thank you to the members at Jack Cewe Construction who took part in the International Union’s promotional film designed to attract people and promote the benefits of being an Operating Engineer.

To you and your families: Merry Christmas and have a healthy and prosperous New Year.