bullpine bullpine - Steelworkers Local 1-417

BULLPINE
BULLPINE
181 Vernon Ave. Kamloops, BC - 1-800-482-3459 - steelworkers1-417.ca October 2015
Steelworkers Give Back to the Community
on Thanksgiving Day
On Sunday, October 11th, the United
Steelworkers teamed up with the
United Church’s Pit Stop program to
prepare close to 250 Thanksgiving
dinners for the homeless and working
poor of Kamloops.
Left to Right: Ryan Rainville, Andrew Thiessen, and Tara Phillips
USW Locals 898, 7619, 1-417 and
District 3 donated together a
combined $1,000. This donation was
used to purchase turkeys and all the
other fixings required to make
thanksgiving dinner. Left overs were
used to make bag lunches for those
who attended to take home. Because
of USW members hard work and
generosity Thanksgiving dinner was a
reality for many who had nowhere to go.
Around two dozen Steelworkers donated their time setting up, cooking and cleaning up after dinner.
I would like to thank the following members and their families for coming out; Carrie Bryant and her
daughter Tarah, Jeff Laakso, Andrew Thiessen, Marty Gibbons, his son Wyatt and Wife Krystal, Ryan
Rainville, Shawn Harris, his wife Bithia, son Owen, daughter Jada and 12 additional family members
and my Dad Ralph Cavanagh. Special thank you to Rick for all his hard work running the Pit Stop
program.
As I reflect on the generosity
and compassion of USW
members
it truly makes me thankful for
being a Steelworker!!!
Tara Phillips
Plant Chair, G4S
Left to Right: Andrew Thiessen, Tarah Bryant, Carrie Bryant, and Marty Gibbons
Sawmill Explosions - USW Continues Fight for Justice
Less than two months before a deadly explosion at the
Lakelands sawmill in Prince George, B.C., killed two workers,
WorkSafeBC circulated an internal document stating the
agency was concerned that an enforcement strategy to
address wood dust in sawmills would lead to industry
pushback, the United Steelworkers (USW) is revealing.
Following a sawmill explosion at Babine Forest Products in
Burns Lake, B.C., that killed two workers, WorkSafeBC
produced an “issue management” document dated Feb. 27,
2012, titled “Wood Dust in Wood Product Manufacturing
Facilities – Potent Fire and Explosion Hazards.”
Despite acknowledging the potential of wood dust to act as
a fire and explosion cause, and noting a number of dust
related fires and explosions in the preceding years, the
document states: “Industry sensitivity to the issue given the
recent event and limited clarity around what constitutes an
explosion could lead to push back if an enforcement
strategy is pursued at this time.”
This internal document clearly demonstrates that
WorkSafeBC was more concerned about pushback from
industry CEOs than the health and safety of workers. If this
does not call for a public inquiry, I don’t know what does,”
says Stephen Hunt, USW Director for western Canada.
The document was obtained by the United Steelworkers
through a Freedom of Information request after WorkSafeBC
refused to provide it. The initial response to the FOI request
resulted in a document that WorkSafeBC termed an “earlier
version” that did not include the statement regarding
industry sensitivity and pushback. A subsequent FOI
request resulted in the document that includes the passage.
“WorkSafeBC should be ashamed of the lengths it went to
cover up this internal document from the public. They are a
public agency responsible for worker safety in British
Columbia, but their behaviour has been secretive and their
priorities have been skewed. How can workers in the
province have any confidence in the leadership at
WorkSafeBC?” asks Hunt.
Fifty-six days later, the Lakelands sawmill exploded.
The United Steelworkers is calling upon Premier Christy
“Premier Christy Clark made a promise to the families who Clark and the Minister responsible for WorkSafeBC, Shirley
lost loved ones in these explosions that there would be Bond, to respond to these damning revelations by ordering a
justice and answers forthcoming. To date, there has been public inquiry.
neither.
Source: USW District 3 Website
Long Time Union Member Retires after 48.5 years
Mickey Taylor joined the Union on January 25th, 1967 at the age of
22. He started his career as a Trimmerman in the Planermill earning
$4.12/hour. In 1973 Mickey was awarded a heavy duty mechanic
apprenticeship and received his journeyman's ticket August 31th,
1977.
At his retirement Mickey was the most senior employee at Tolko. Not
just at Tolko Nicola but with the exception of the owner of the
company senior Employee company wide. No other Tolko employee,
current or retired, has achieved Mickeys 48.5 years service.
Mickey has always been a strong supportive Union member, we wish
him a long, happy and a well deserved retirement.
USW 1-417 Safety Director Harbinder Hara presents
Mickey Taylor with a retirement gift and best wishes
for retirement
Marty Gibbons
President, USW 1-417
New Incident Investigation Legislation in BC
On May 14, 2015 Bill 9 received Royal Assent and became
law changing a number of parts of the Workers Compensation Act of BC (the Act). These changes arose from the recommendations contained in the Macatee Report published
the previous year that were in response to the devastating
and tragic mill explosions in Burns Lake and Prince George
in 2012.
There are two major changes to the incident investigations
requirements to take note of.
 Section 176 of the Act now states that an employer
must complete and submit a full incident investigation
report within 30 days to the Workers Compensation
Board, unless an extension is granted.
We strongly encourage all health and safety representatives
to find out more about these important changes here:
http://www.worksafebc.com/regulation_and_policy/
legislation_and_regulation/new_legislation/bill_9/
default.asp
 Section 175 of the Act now states that an employer
must undertake a preliminary investigation within 48
hours of an incident. The incidents that an employer
must investigate by law are laid out in section 173 of the
Act.
Brian Campbell
USW Member &
BCFED Occupational
Health & Safety Centre
Instructor
New Contract Ratified by Kamloops Airport Screeners
After months of bargaining and a final 16
hour marathon bargaining session, the USW
Bargaining Committee was able to sign off on
a 14 page memorandum of agreement on
September 3rd.
Some of the highlights :
 April 1st Retroactive 2% Wage increases
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2.25% (2016) & 2.5% (2017)
Penalties for payroll errors
3 year contract term
Employment Equity LOU
Expedited Arbitration Process
Lead Screener responsibilities
Advanced training by Seniority
Written notice of changes to SOP’s/Policies
50% perdiem increase for unscheduled OT
G4S direct payment of MSP premiums
We would like to thank Bernie Jardine and Tara
Phillips for their hard work on the Bargaining
Committee. Due to their dedication and the
solidarity shown by all the USW Screeners we
were able to ratify an agreement to be proud of.
Marty Gibbons
President, USW 1-417
USW Representatives from YXX USW Local 2009 (Abbottsford), YKA Local 1-417
(Kamloops) and YXY Local 8646 (Whitehorse)
BULLPINE
Seven Week Emterra Strike Ends
with Victory for Workers
In early June the USW members, frustrated
with their employers’ unwillingness to
negotiate a fair Collective Agreement,
withdrew their services and commenced
striking. Emterra is a privet company who
holds the contract for processing curb side
recycling for the city of Kamloops and other
outlying areas. The immediate result of the
strike was the discontinuation of recycling
collection for more than 90,000 Kamloops
residents.
It also caused area reginal
districts to stockpile or truck recycling to
Kelowna
More than 100 supporters show up for picket duty.
Special thanks to USW Locals 1-423 and 7619 for hosting a BBQ and
Irene Lanzinger President of the BC Federation of Labour
The workers demands was simple, fair pay.
Their fight received tremendous public support.
The solidarity shown by other Unions through picket line
support and donations was beyond our wildest hopes. The
strength and determination of the Emterra USW members
combined with the overall support resulted in the employer
returning to the bargaining table. After two days of
bargaining a memorandum was signed, the new four year
Agreement included raises of approximately 22.5% and
strong bargaining unit work language. This agreement was
quickly ratified by the members with them returning to
work the following Monday.
The USW members stood strong and in the end lasted one
day longer than the employer. Every gain was fought for
and won due to to the determination of the USW members
on the picket line. It was an honour to stand with them in
their fight for a living wage.
Marty Gibbons / President, USW 1-417
October 24/25
Local Union Safety Conference
November 27/28 Basic Steward Training
Brother Gibbons explains to the RCMP he has no idea why the
Emterra truck can’t get past picketers
December 5
Local Union Safety Chair meeting
January 2016
Local Union Executive Board
To be announced Local Union Women's Committee