CANADA’S BUILDING TRADES UNIONS STANDS BY THE GOVERNMENT
Canada’s Building Trades Unions are fully supportive of the Government of Canada’s response to U.S. President Trump’s recent decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum on Canadian companies. “We unequivocally support Prime Minister Trudeau and his government for taking swift action, a day following President Trump’s short-sighted decision on its neighbors to the north,” states Robert Blakely, Canadian Operating Officer of Canada’s Building Trades Unions. Full Article
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA STEPS UP FOR NATIONAL INTEREST
“Today’s actions by the Government of Canada shows true leadership, courage and vision,” says Robert Blakely, Chief Canadian Officer of Canada’s Building Trades Unions. “These governments have invested in Canada and they deserve praise for doing so, the pipeline system that they have stepped into ought make money in any event and there ought to be suitors to purchase the assets at a fair market price.This means the tax payer will not to be on the ‘hook’,” states Blakely. Read the Full Article
OPEC TO CANADA: BUILD PIPELINES OR WATCH INVESTMENT FLOW SOUTH
The president of OPEC urged Canada on Tuesday to invest in infrastructure to move oil and gas, or risk watching investment flow away to the United States. The Canadian government agreed in May to buy the Trans Mountain oil pipeline and a related expansion project from Kinder Morgan Canada (KML.TO) for C$4.5 billion ($3.4 billion), highlighting the lengths deemed necessary to overcome stiff opposition to such projects. Read the Full Article
UNION MEMBERSHIP IN ALBERTA CREEPING UP
Changes to the Alberta Labour Relations Code in 2017 have resulted in the highest number of new union certifications in Alberta in a decade. “The change in Alberta’s labour law was expected to increase the amount of union organizing that went on,” said Barnetson. Read the Full Article
STOP BILL 28
Premier Pallister has introduced this legislation, there is still time to stop Bill 28 from passing. Show Your Support Watch a video explaining the bill
WHY LABOUR MONOPOLIES WON’T WORK IN B.C.
If you happen to be a construction worker in British Columbia, odds are you’ve been left out of the NDP’s new labour deal for public infrastructure projects. On July 16, Premier John Horgan announced that the B.C. government reached an agreement with the newly created Allied Infrastructure and Related Construction Council, a conglomerate of some of the International Building Trade Unions (BTU), to effectively cut those who are not members of the BTU out of public construction projects. This is no small group the premier has decided to alienate — roughly 85 per cent of construction workers will be left out in the cold with this deal. Read the Full Article
RESPONSIBLE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Social Media Should Be Used Responsibly Think about how often you use online tools throughout your day. The use of social media has many positive benefits however, we must be aware that using social media for work and in our personal lives can also cause negative impact. However, you must also consider the risks of misusing social media: Some of the issues that can lead to negative consequences include: Ultimately, Local 222 must consider whether or not the use of social media has affected the: What should I do if I have been harassed online? Word to the wise… In the end, each of us is responsible for the words we print – on paper, in email, or on social media or other websites: CHOOSE THOSE WORDS CAREFULLY!!! More Info Parents This article contains important information from reputable sources to examin all aspects of children’s online behavior, including smartphone ownership, time spent online, time spent on social networks, and positive as well as negative online experiences. Got To Article
UNION WORK IS IN JEOPARDY!
We need our members to stand together in solidarity. Why? Because, recently, some of our members started working with non-union contractors in our jurisdiction. This occurred with two Alberta companies, Skyway Canada and Franks Sandblasting & Coatings. Both companies are managed by people we know well. Because of this, Local #222 attempted to unionize these contractors by filing for certification at the Alberta Labour Board. Your Obligations… Bad decisions about work have a consequence that effect more than just you. The repercussions of turning your back on the Union are felt throughout the organization, impacting far more than just yourself. As a union member you have an obligation to honor our Constitution and Bylaws, locally and internationally. Be advised that any members who support, promote or sponsor dual unionism or conspire to solicit non-union contractors that are working in our jurisdiction will be charged accordingly. As a union member you cannot work for a signatory contactor without being dispatched, through the Local. Our Local is a one and eight name hire. That means the Local can send one for every eight members a contactor requests. So, just because a contractor called you personally does not mean we have not dispatched you. Besides, the contactor got your contact information from the Locals’ out of work list that is provided to them. The Local is where members connect to the Union – it’s where you go for help, and where you meet and contact to discuss workplace concerns and issues. We encourage all Members to reach out to the Local before making decisions that can have a negative outcome on compliance with our Constitution and Bylaws. If you see or hear of activities that undermine the Union, let us know. An Environment Where We All Lose… For the past 40 years, industrial fireproofing has been done by union members which has served the membership with secure, well-paid positions throughout our jurisdiction. On behalf of our members, the Union has negotiated for hard won concessions from contractors to improve the lives of our members. This includes above average wage packages, a respectable pension and a good and fair health and welfare program. For many years, the Local increased its membership as the demand for work increased. Sadly, this growth pattern has changed. Demand for work has hit an all-time low and we are experiencing some difficult times. Adding to this, we have seen new profiteers (non-union contractors) entering our markets, wanting to capitalize on work that was predominantly done by our Union and Union Members. It’s important to remember that non-union and CLAC contactors would not have any market share if our members refused to work for them. It’s as simple as that. Sharing your experience gained through union jobs from faithful union contactors and then joining the non-union does a great disservice to the Union and all its members. These are individuals and organizations that have chosen to turn down union certification and even conspired to join and create a CLAC fireproofing arm. These actions are contributing directly to non-union competition within our markets. Make no mistake, these inroads will have an everlasting impact on your wages, your pension, and health and welfare. Stop The Race to The Bottom… Over the next few years, in the industrial Fireproofing sector, there will only be so much new fireproofing work to go around. This means less work for everyone. The situation is made even more complex when our own members allow non-union and CLAC to get a foothold in our jurisdiction. This just means even less work for our members at lower rates! With the increase in new non-union contractors bidding on limited work, wages are being driven down as the competition for that work increases. In this environment, loyal union contractors will be forced to bid lower. Stand Together & Get Active Unions don’t operate on autopilot. They must be driven by active members. No individual officer or staffer can get much done without members who stand together in solidarity and who are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Our Union has demonstrated the power of collective action. As you have seen, when workers join together, they gain the clout to get better wages and benefits, safe workplaces, world-class training and improved working conditions. On our own, we can’t make any of these gains. Work with the Local to strengthen our industries. We need your input to find solutions to meet the challenges of what lies ahead. Local #222 is committed to delivering unmatched value for contractors and owners—proving that developing a partnership with our union is the best investment they will ever make. George EmeryLocal #222Business Manager / Financial Secretary
EXPANDING THE TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPELINE WILL BENEFIT ALL CANADIANS
Keep Canada Working has recently launched a Timeline about the Trans Mountain Pipeline on its website. The page is an illustrated chronical of where we are in the process and just how far the Trans Mountain Pipeline has come since 1952. keepcanadaworking.ca/timeline
BTA LAUNCHES THE APPRENTICESHIP SUPPORT & KNOWLEDGE CENTRE (ASK)
Many apprentices find the apprenticeship process so difficult that they don’t complete their training. That’s why ASK is here.The Apprenticeship Support & Knowledge Centre’s mission is to assist apprentices in the Building Trades to progress in, and complete their apprenticeships. ASK might be able to help make the apprenticeship process a little easier for you. Learn All about the Program at askbtats.com
