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 Another great year for organizingBy Gary Kroeker, Business Manager This past year was very eventful and exciting as we celebrated our 75th year. We now start a new chapter in our history book. Over the last few years, we have been working hard to build our market share and reach out to people denied the benefits of working union. We have had some successes and some failures. The coming year is an opportunity to build on our past accomplishments and meet the challenges of an unfriendly employer community. We must improve the workplace for all and we will need your help in order to achieve this goal. We are in the process of developing new communication materials to assist our organizing efforts and communicate better with our members. You will see some of those changes in this edition of OE News. Please tell us what you think of our new approach. Also this year, we will be dispelling the myths associated with organized labour. I’m sure you’ve heard many of those tall tales on the work sites where you’ve been employed. How many times have you heard that the trade union movement has lost its importance and is no longer relevant in today’s world? Can you imagine what our work would be like in B.C. if there were no unions? How could the individual worker negotiate fair wages and benefits with multinational employers? The changing economy has been a factor in society’s shift in thinking. As well, the mainstream media and corporate world deliver a message that, as an individual, you can make it on your own. They will use all their resources to resist Labour Code changes that would help working people better themselves by organizing into a union. What are their real motivations? To build their own market share and entrench unfettered rights to protect their profits. This is the environment in which we’re working. On the positive side, there is so much work and new projects coming on stream that it’s a great time to invite people in to enjoy the long-term benefits of working as an Operating Engineer. So, this year, we are putting in a concerted effort to increase our membership. We have set a goal of a 5% increase (500 new members). Here’s where you come in. It’s an achievable goal if we all take responsibility to work together. Here are some examples of how you can help: 1) If you know any worker who is qualified and can perform the work in any classification we currently represent, please invite them go to our web site (www.iuoe115.org), click on “Join” and use the new member registration form. 2) Contact your member rep for their help and advice in signing up a new person. 3) Ask for some supporting print materials to hand out to potential members at upcoming jobs. Our signatory contractors expect to see a shortage of skilled people again this year. To help solve this problem, we are considering registering new members on our dispatch system. Given the current work picture and potential new projects, our spare list is becoming an active list. This year will be very busy once again. We will be doing our part to capture as much work as possible and secure a bright future for all. |
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