Well done! - Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied

Newsletter for Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers, affiliated with ABTC
Well done!
UBC’s new Alberta home opens in style
see page 4
FALL/WINTER 2008
Executive Secretary Treasurer’s
News & Notes
Report
Information for all members
MARTYN A. PIPER
EST Report
3
Official PTAC Opening
4–5
Opening Photos
6 – 12
Douglas J McCarron Speech
13 – 14
Millwright Training Centre
15 – 17
PTC Report
18
Union e-News 21
Project Manager’s Report
22
1460 Millwrights Report
25
Retirees’ 3rd Annual Social
25
South Alberta Updates 26 – 27
1460 Millwrights Dispatcher’s Report
29
Keephills Keeps On Growing
32
Hands Across the Atlantic
32
Incorrect mailing addresses continue to cause problems for our hardworking office staff! Please ensure your correct information is on file at
your Local Union office.
To do its job properly for you, your Local always needs current contact
information on file. Without your current address and phone number,
they can’t keep you in touch with important information. If you have not
received any correspondence from your Local lately, please contact the
Local to make sure your file is up to date.
Even with your new UBC ID number in place, it’s still important that
the Trust Funds office has your Social Insurance Number on file so you
retain your benefit and pension eligibility. The SIN is the method used by
employers for reporting on hours, as they do not have access to your
UBC ID number. The next time you need to contact the trust fund office,
please validate your Social Insurance Number. Also check the accuracy
of your date of birth, as several of the forms completed at sign-up don’t
follow the same order of month/day/year order.
Im p or ta n t P h o n e Nu mber s
FALL/WINTER 2008
Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters & Allied Workers
15210 – 123 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5V 0A3
Ph: (780) 474-8599
Fx: (780) 474-8910
2
hardhat
FALL/WINTER 2008
Submissions for hardhat are welcome, but
may be edited for length and suitability.
Edmonton Office
(780) 471-3200
If you have suggestions for articles, or
Fort McMurray Office
(780) 743-1442
photographs for future editions contact:
Calgary Office
(403) 283-0747
Alex Macdonald
Carpenters Training Centre
(780) 455-6532
Carpenters Health and Welfare
(780) 477-9131
Carpenters Pension North
(780) 477-9131
Carpenters Pension (South)
(403) 283-0928
Industrial Workers
(403) 283-0747
Millwright Local 1460
(780) 430-1460
Local Union 1325 & 2103 Dispatch
1-888-944-0818
(780) 504-4905
[email protected]
EDITOR:
Martyn A. Piper
15210 – 123 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
T5V 0A3
This edition of Hard Hat is
appropriately full of pictures of
the grand opening of our new
building, and rightfully so. An
event as auspicious as the grand
opening is something we should all
celebrate, whether you attended or
not. I am sure that each and every
member who has visited the new
facility since it opened has felt a
sense of pride and accomplishment
in that this building represents the
present – but more importantly
the future – and each one of
you owns a part of it. This is a
place where we can train future
generations of Carpenters,
Scaffolders, Millwrights, Interior
Systems Mechanics, Roofers and
Floor Layers. The possibilities
are unlimited and with room
to expand, the sky really is the
limit. I congratulate the members
of all four local unions for their
foresight, commitment and support
as we managed the building process
to a successful conclusion.
Right from buying the bare land,
which did not come without
some gyrations as to the location,
to the final gallon of paint on
the walls, we stuck to the game
plan… and the results speak
for themselves. Discussions will
continue long into the future
about the design, the location,
the cost, the colours, and on and
on. That’s not unusual. In fact
that’s perfectly normal; however
we did what we set out to do and
hopefully every member across this
province will be a net benefactor
of this facility in years to come.
To successfully complete a project
of this size you have to have
good management and oversight
and without getting into a lot of
thank-you’s and at being at risk
of missing someone, I think it is
important to at least say a great
big thank you to Bob Provencher.
As I and many of you know, Bob
is not always the easiest guy to
get along with and controversy is
never far away when Bob’s around,
but when all is said and done, he
has done a fantastic job to bring
home a first class facility for all of
us. I have watched Bob in action
over the past number of years,
and while sometimes we have
had to remind him it is not his
building, he has never been shy to
take on contractors and vendors,
all in the cause of getting the job
done at the right price, and on
time. There have also been many
days he has strapped on the tools
to see a job through rather than
waiting, at time and expense, for
the contractor to do it…a true
indication of his commitment and
passion to see the job through.
Again, thank you to Bob!
It is often said we do not advertise
ourselves enough and tell the
world what it is we do. Well, the
opening of the building certainly
got us lots of airplay, and now
we must follow through on our
commitments regarding training
and professionalism.
The timing could not be better
to ramp up our training to levels
we have never experienced and
provide our contractors with
skilled, productive, competent and
safe tradespeople. With all the
work scheduled to go forward, our
opportunities are unparalleled in
the history of this union. We must
be there to deliver!
I’ve had the opportunity to visit
a good number of owners and
contractors over the past number
of weeks, and they’re unanimous
in believing that if a union such
as ours can deliver the supply
to meet their demands, we will
become the labour provider of
choice. So, not withstanding the
current financial meltdown and
some skepticism about upcoming
work, we must be prepared
and in a position to supply,
and in the required numbers.
Reliability is the key; reliability
to supply, reliability to be at
work everyday, reliability with
respect to timekeeping, reliability
to be free of drugs and alcohol
in the workplace and reliability
to be productive. While our
organizers are out there meeting
with and recruiting tradespeople
for organizing purposes, we all
can do our bit by being best in
class. What better time for those
who work non-union to join us?
The results of sucking away more
people from the other side can only
benefit us and our contractors.
As this is the last Hard Hat for
2008, on behalf of all the staff and
delegates, I wish everyone a great
festive season and best wishes for a
prosperous New Year!
FALL/WINTER 2008
Make sure we can contact you!
In this edition
3
Provincial Training & Administration Centre’s impressive opening weekend
A few months ago, as our new
Provincial Training & Administration
Centre (PTAC) was moving toward
its final stages of construction,
members of the Executive Board
made a major decision.
In the lifetimes of all current
Alberta Regional Council members,
we would never again open a
building of this magnitude, or one
so important to our future.
The building was shaping up to be
an architectural gem, with 55,000
square feet of offices and training
shops designed for maximum
efficiency, all served by Alberta’s
largest geothermal heating and
cooling system.
Its owners – all Alberta UBC
members, through the ARC, Locals
1325, 2103, 2010 and 1460, and
the training and benefits trust funds
– did not owe a single cent against
its $21 million cost.
And the PTAC was a bold statement
of our union’s belief in the value
of lifelong training and upgrading,
as well as our confidence in our
growing strength within the
construction industry as Alberta
continues its march into the future.
FALL/WINTER 2008
So the Executive Board decided
back then that, if we were going to
4
officially open the Centre, we were
going to open it in style.
After months of preparation
and many hundreds of hours of
volunteer effort on the part of
many of our carpenter, scaffolder,
millwright and industrial worker
members, open it in style is exactly
what we did!
A whole series of events was
planned for the three-day period
between Friday, September 12 and
Sunday, September 14.
“Each event was geared toward a
specific audience,” says Executive
Secretary-Treasurer Martyn
Piper. “We planned a ceremony
for groups of people we wanted
to impress with our businesslike
approach to world-class training.
We planned an Owners’ Day for
our members and their families.
And we organized a day of tours
for the general public, aimed mostly
at recruiting new members.”
The magnitude of our building and
its meaning to UBC’s future in this
part of the world drew some key
players from the Brotherhood’s
International level, including
General President Douglas J
McCarron (see his speech to
members on page 13), General
Secretary-Treasurer Andy Silins,
Canadian VP Jim Smith and UBC
International Training Centre
Executive Director Bill Irwin.
The weekend began with a Friday
afternoon Special Guests ceremony
attended by more than 300 people,
including senior representatives
of our employers and the major
plant owners who are their clients,
executive members of our Alberta
UBC Locals, many of the people
who provide services to our unions
and trust funds, as well as federal,
provincial and municipal politicians.
Speakers at that event included
representatives from Edmonton
City Council, the Governments of
Alberta and Canada, ARC President
Bob Hugh, PTAC building project
manager Bob Provencher and the
building’s architect Daryl Procinsky.
Brother McCarron delivered the
keynote speech.
While most of the guests were
served refreshments and light food
following the ceremony, Local
1460 member and bagpiper Ian
Smythe piped Brother McCarron
and a group of about 30 people
close to the millwrighting trade
out of the large meeting hall
and into the nearby Provincial
Millwright Training Centre
portion of the building.
Provincial Training & Administration Centre
Official Opening Weekend Committee Chairs
Bill Alton Orientation | Len Bryden Training & Demonstrations
Joe Budac Security & Grounds | Gregg Budd Hosting and Tour Guides
Maureen Gander Trust Funds | Bob Provencher Building Liaison
Bob Hugh Millwright Ceremony & Open House | Martyn Piper Committee Chair
Terry James Registration, Welcome & Member Draw | Gord Hrycun Catering/bbq
Owners’ Day
On Saturday, more than a thousand
UBC members and their families
showed up for a tour, and a whole
raft of family-oriented activities.
They were entertained by a jazz
band and a keyboard musician
(who every now and then played
“If I were a Carpenter…”).
Their kids lined up for elaborate
face painting and painted tattoos,
or to have some of the most
intricate balloon figures custommade for them by clowns who were
artists in their own right.
Members entered their names for an
HDTV draw with Wii consolation
prizes (see page 29 for winners), and
all members picked up special PTAC
T-shirts to mark the occasion.
Under the warm sun, outside a
huge marquee ‘eating hall’ tent,
volunteers cooked up a constant
stream of hot dogs and hamburgers
and kept freshening the supplies of
iced pop and water.
In the morning, personalities
from two popular Edmonton FM
radio stations broadcast live from
the PTAC’s impressive entrance
foyer, using their commentary to
talk up our union, our collective
agreements, our safety record, the
PTAC’s training programs, and the
open house for the general public to
be held the next day.
and Organizer Rob Carlson took
turns speaking to groups of up to 20
interested non-union carpenters and
scaffolders at a time. They covered
all of the advantages of strong
representation, a high safety record,
solid pension and benefit plans, and
a good collective agreement.
Many of the estimated 150 people
who expressed interest in joining
UBC actually began filling out their
paperwork right at the open house.
Also in the morning, after short
speeches from Brothers Smith,
Hugh, Piper, Provencher and
Alberta Carpenters Training
Coordinator Len Bryden, Brother
McCarron delivered his keynote
speech and unveiled a plaque
that is now mounted on the
building’s inside foyer wall.
Brothers Bruce Payne, Local 2103
President and Bob Hardy, Local
1325 president, represented their
members at the ceremony.
Public Open House
Though the Sunday event was
also open to members who hadn’t
been able to attend Owners’ Day,
it was aimed primarily at people
working in our trades, but not
represented by our union. During
the previous week, we ran many
radio advertisements highlighting the
advantages of working union and
inviting people to the Sunday event.
Again, visitors were treated to the
joys of a complimentary BBQ, kids’
face painting and balloon artistry,
and musicians. The mood was
upbeat and very positive.
One of the busiest places in the
building was the Local 1325
Orientation room, where Union
Education Coordinator Bill Alton
Thank you, Bob.
Thank you, Volunteers!
The sod around our new had not
been laid yet, and the elevator
hadn’t received its permit, but for
the most part, Bob Provencher and
general contractor EllisDon had
worked wonders to get the building
ready for its first public viewing.
Members and visitors alike
were impressed by our vision
in building it, by its intelligent
design, and by the pride it so
obviously instilled in members.
‘I want to especially thank all
the volunteers, and many of their
spouses, who worked so hard and
for so many hours to host these
events,’ says Brother Piper. ‘Their
enthusiasm – both for the new
building and for the strength of the
union – was truly inspiring.
‘It rubbed off on all of our visitors,
big time.’
If you haven’t seen the building
yet, we’ve included a few pages of
photos from the opening weekend
(see pages 6 to 12) – and we urge
you to come and see it soon.
Once you see it, you’ll want to give
yourself and your brothers and
sisters a big pat on the back.
Our new home is something of
which we can all be truly proud!
FALL/WINTER 2008
Welcoming our new home – in style!
While the rest of the guests toured
the building, observing the training
demonstrations that were taking
place and asking questions, Bob
Hugh led a short official ceremony
commemorating the establishment
of Alberta’s first millwright training
centre. Brother McCarron and
Doug Mitchell of Petro-Canada
popped champagne to ‘christen’
the multi-million-dollar hydrogen
compressor that Petro-Canada
donated to the centre as its kingpin
training equipment.
5
It’s Our New Home!
Grand Opening Weekend
Provincial Training & Administration Centre
Sept. 12-14, 2008
Public Open House
Owners’ Day
Life-long training critical
If we’re going to cost more, we have to be worth more!
Owners’ Day Speech by Douglas J. McCarron | General President
I welcome the opportunity to join
with you today to mark the opening
of this training facility, and it’s
mission, which is at the heart of our
Brotherhood.
But at the Carpenters, we also
recognize that our members must
compete. I’ve said it before, and I’ll
say again here: If we’re going to cost
more, we have to be worth more.
So, let me start by recognizing the
leadership and delegates of the
Alberta Regional Council for your
vision. I also want to recognize
the training fund trustees. Without
your commitment this center could
not have become a reality…I thank
you for your partnership.
As a union, it’s our responsibility
to give members the skills and
the training they need to compete
in today’s market. The tools and
skills come through training, and
that’s what this center is about.
Partnership with the industry,
partnership with our contractors,
partnership with our communities.
If training is at the heart of our
mission, then partnership is what
makes it effective. And I can think
of no better example than the
facility we’re opening today.
Construction is a tough, competitive
business, everyone here knows
that. In a booming market like this,
owners are competing to get their
jobs built…on time and on budget.
Our contractors are competing for
the work…and at the Carpenters
union, we recognize that our
members have to compete too.
We compete through our skills
and ability.
Every carpenter deserves to be paid
a living wage, with benefits, that
allow him to care for his or her
family and retire in dignity.
We’re a union. That’s what we stand
for…and I make no apology for that.
And I also want to be clear. That
commitment is matched by our
International Union.
Our commitment to training has
been at the heart of our union-wide
restructuring effort.
‘Training’s the way members can earn the
wages and benefits they deserve.’
Giving our members the skills
and training to earn the wages
and benefits they deserve.
Like any profession, our union
and our members need to make a
commitment to life-long training.
The industry changes, technology
changes, jobs change. Carpenters
have to change too, and that means
skills training.
The commitment you have made
here will help our members meet
that challenge. This center will
provide our members with the
chance to sharpen their skills and
learn new ones. To keep up with
new technology. To meet industry
standards, throughout their career.
They’ll be better craftsmen.
Better able to meet the demands
of a competitive industry, and to
contribute to the communities in
which they live and work.
In 2001 we opened our International
Training Center in Las Vegas. Since
then, we’ve doubled the capacity of
that facility. This fall, we’ll open the
latest phase of that expansion, which
more than doubles the dorm facility,
from 120 to over 280 rooms.
We’ve made a huge financial
commitment to that facility and
we’re already planning the next
expansion…because, like all of
you here, we understand the need
for skills training – and we’re
committed to supporting your
efforts at the International level.
Our Carpenters International
Training Fund has undertaken a
complete overhaul of our training
curriculum. Instructors from our
training programs from throughout
Canada and the US serve as the
subject matter experts. They’re
paired with professional curriculum
continued on page 14
FALL/WINTER 2008
And partnership is what I want to
talk about today.
I applaud your vision in building
this center and the commitment
it shows – to carpenters, to the
industry and to the community.
13
continued from page 13
And we’re making that curriculum
available to all our training centers.
We’ve also harnessed technology.
The way you build here in
Canada, is a little different from
the methods they use in a climate
like Florida. Using the internet,
regional training programs can
pick and choose parts of the
curriculum and customize training.
Our Canadian affiliates can
combine and choose the curriculum
that makes sense for you.
You can develop programs to
supplement provincial training and
build new journeymen training
programs based on the curriculum
we’ve developed, and you can put
them to work here in this center,
giving members and our contractors
a competitive edge in today’s
technology and today’s market.
The third-year program will give
our apprentices a chance to learn
about the industry they’re working
in. They learn how tough and
competitive this industry is, and
what it can mean to their paycheck
and benefits when a job comes in
on time and on budget.
a Frame Five Turbine at our Las
Vegas facility and have run more
than 7,000 UBC millwrights through
a week-long training program that
qualifies them to work a power plant
outage) we have made and kept our
commitment to work with industry
to meet their training needs.
To create a career path for members,
and to help our contractors,
we’ve also developed foreman
and superintendent training. The
industry needs trained supervisors,
and we’re committed to helping the
industry meet that need.
Union-wide, our commitment to
training will mean work for our
members.
The programs are another example
of our commitment to partner with
the industry, to meet the industry’s
needs and provide opportunity for
our members.
Our superintendent program was
developed in conjunction with
some of the leading university
construction education programs.
We bring instructors from schools
‘Union-wide, our commitment to training
will mean work for our members. This
building is a sign of that commitment.’
We’re also using our International
training center to conduct union
training programs – like the one
we’ve launched this year for thirdyear apprentices.
FALL/WINTER 2008
The Canadian district was the first
to go through that program. But
every district will, every year.
14
We are going to bring third-year
apprentices to our International
Training Center in Las Vegas
for three days of training, much
like the delegate training that
many of the Council delegates
here already attended.
like Auburn University and the
University of California system,
together with participants selected
and sponsored by their employers.
The program combines on-the-job
work with classroom training and
a mentoring program to develop
the next generation of construction
superintendents.
In program after program, from
scaffold training (where we
partnered with the industry to
develop the program that ultimately
served as a model for the US
Department of Labor) to GE Gas
Turbine Training (where we installed
And today, this center is another
example of the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters keeping that commitment.
It’s a commitment made and kept
by the carpenters of Alberta…but
it’s a commitment backed by our
entire Brotherhood.
I am proud to stand with you today.
I honor your efforts and your vision.
To me, this building represents a
commitment.
A commitment that offers the
communities in which we live and
work access to a skilled productive
workforce. A chance to attract our
industry partners with a workforce
that can meet their needs.
A commitment to partner with our
contractors to work for the good of
the industry.
But most of all, it’s a commitment
as old as our Brotherhood, a
commitment to our members, a
commitment to help give them
skills they need. Skills to meet
the challenges of the industry and
of providing for their families.
That’s what our union has always
been about, and today the carpenters
of Alberta have renewed that
commitment – not just with words
but with action.
And with that, it is my honor and
pleasure to declare this center
officially open!
Popping the corks on Alberta’s first
Provincial Millwright Training Centre
If there was a prize for the most
creative original touches in an
official opening ceremony, Bob
Hugh and his crew at Local 1460
Alberta Millwrights would be major
contenders.
They’re so proud of their new
Alberta Millwrights Training
Centre, which is part of our
new UBC Provincial Training &
Administration Centre (PTAC), that
they wanted to give it a ‘sendoff’
equal to the level of their pride.
project owners, as well as political
representatives from all three levels
of government.
Bob Hugh, Local 1460’s senior
business representative, presented
the four key guests with some gifts
reflecting the breadth of skills that
exists in Local 1460’s membership:
They especially wanted to say
an extra special thank you! to
Doug Mitchell and his colleagues
at Petro-Canada, which donated
a contemporary, multi-milliondollar hydrogen compressor to the
millwright centre for future trainees
to enhance their skills on.
Their centre’s opening ceremony
started with Local 1460 member
Ian Smythe, a bagpiper wearing
full regalia, piping UBC’s General
President Douglas J McCarron
and other Local 1460 guests out
of the building’s large meeting hall
following the September 12 opening
ceremony for the whole PTAC.
Honoured guests included Brother
McCarron, UBC General SecretaryTreasurer Andy Silins, Canadian
VP Jim Smith, UBC International
Training Centre Executive Director
Bill Irwin and Petro-Canada’s Doug
Mitchell (who promoted within
Petro-Canada the idea of donating
the compressor).
Other guests included Local 1460
executive, representatives of
some of our major employers and
• Bottles of special reserve red and
white wine made by Siegfried
Ladda, an Edmonton Brother
who has won many top awards
for the quality of his wines.
• Intricate scroll-saw art plaques
(requiring as many as 300 cuts
per piece) bearing images that
ranged from portraits of the
recipient (McCarron) to an
image of the donated hydrogen
compressor (given to Mitchell).
These were made by Stan Buller,
Local 1460 member and General
Manager of KBIM, one of the
Local’s largest employers.
• The men were also presented
with white Stetson hard hats!
Against a backdrop of red, white
and black balloons decorating the
3,000 square-foot training space
– thanks to Local 1460’s office
staff Laurel MacFarlane, Annette
Borthwick and Jeannelle Lavelle
– Mitchell and Brother McCarron
‘christened’ the compressor by
popping champagne corks (and
sharing the result with the rest of
the attendees).
Brother Stan Buller, whose KBIM
crews (led by Local 1460 President
Dave Knight) had installed the
compressor, also presented the
training centre with a steel work
table bearing his company’s logo,
intricately inlaid in brass.
The ‘final act’ was the unveiling of
a permanent and prominent sign
saying thank you to Petro-Canada
for the donation of the compressor.
‘It’s hard to explain the amazing
advantage that compressor will give
us in our training programs. We
can now provide training that’s not
available at any other UBC regional
training facility…not even at our
International Training Centre in
Las Vegas,’ says Brother Hugh.
FALL/WINTER 2008
writers and editors to redevelop the
entire skills training curriculum.
15
Alberta Millwrights Training Centre
Provincial Training Coordinator’s
Report
GREATEST.
New Centre, New Courses, Strong Future
Len J. Bryden | Director of Training and Apprenticeship, Alberta Carpenters Training Centre
Greetings to all of our members,
contractors and friends who have
all worked together achieve this
milestone. The move into our new
facility is nearly 100% complete as
of this writing, and we here at the
ACTC couldn’t be more proud of
what the Regional Council along
with all of its partners in this
building have accomplished.
FALL/WINTER 2008
What this new facility does for us is
bring our organization together under
one roof, and this has already begun
to create a real sense of community
within our walls and impressive
halls. Our new membership meeting
hall, fitness centre, training shops,
and administrative areas are truly
impressive and will lead to greater
efficiency for all members as we all get
organized in our new surroundings.
18
Our new Training Centre consists
of two large scaffolding shops, one
with a specially designed catwalk
to build hangers. This frees up time
to inject hoisting and rigging, and
blueprint training into our existing
scaffolder program.
I will be sending six Instructors to
our International Training Centre
in Las Vegas in the first week of
December to complete Train-TheTrainer programs in both of these
programs. We will then integrate
them into our regularly scheduled
classes, and we’ll have the ability
and the UBC accreditation to offer
them as stand-alone courses as well.
We are currently working on our
new Carpenter Shop set-up, and
will be seeking Alberta Government
accreditation for our Carpentry
apprenticeship training in the New
Year. We have Block 1 Carpenter
training starting Jan 05/09 for any
members who would like to enroll,
so call now! This training is eight
weeks in duration, and will cover
the theory and practical aspects of
the Period One Carpenter using the
AIT Learning Modules.
The new course schedule for
Winter 2008 and Spring 2009 is
complete and posted on our training
website (www.abcarptc.ab.ca).
Please call or visit our office to
pick up a hard copy of the schedule
to learn about our programs,
or to register for training.
Our website is a great resource
for information regarding
training and approved courses for
reimbursement, and to register
for classes. This also saves our
Training Fund a lot of money. It’s
really expensive to do a mail-out to
more than 8,000 members, many
of whom (understandably) never
actually receive some of their mail
due to the nomadic nature of our
work. You can access the web
and our information and course
schedule from any connected
computer. As well, copies of the
course schedule are available for
pickup at your Local Union Hall
or Training Centre. Again, you can
also just print off a copy on your
home computer.
GREATESTER.
I look forward to training more
Carpenter apprentices in our facility
in the future, as well as looking at
the floor laying industry and the UBC
INSTALL program. We are now in an
enviable position in our industry and
truly becoming the training leaders
we have always aspired to be.
GREATESTEST.
Feel free to contact me at
780-455-6532, ext 4222 or email
me direct at lbryden@abcarptc.
ab.ca. If you have questions, I or
one of our ACTC staff are here
to help you achieve success in
your career as a member of the
International Brotherhood of
Carpenters.
The Stanley Tape Family.
No Shortage of Sibling Rivalry Here.
Meet MaxSteel, with 9 feet of standout.
FatMax, with 11 feet of standout and Blade Armor protection.
And FatMax Xtreme, with 13 feet of standout and super tough,
dual rubber construction. Learn more at stanleytools.com
Be safe, and keep up the good
work!
Always wear safety goggles.
©2007 The Stanley Works
Every month, more and more
members are signing up to receive
news about their Local, and about
UBC as a whole, both on the web
and via ‘flash’ emails.
The key to ‘plugging in’ to these
forms of union news is to sign up
with Local 1325’s online dispatch
system, no matter what your trade
is, even if you are in another Local,
and even if you will never actually
USE the online dispatch system.
Union news items are frequently
posted on the Members’ side of our
web site (www.albertacarpenters.
com), but you need a password to
access the Members side. Because of
UBC’s protection of your personal
information, the only way you can get
that password is to be registered with
Local 1325’s web dispatch system.
news items that are sent out when
time is of the essence.
Recent flash emails, for example,
have contained important
information and web links related
to advance voting in the recent
federal election, or reminders about
members-only Owners’ Day on the
weekend of the official opening
of the Provincial Training and
Administration Centre in Edmonton.
But if you have NOT yet signed up
for online dispatch and you want
to receive important union news on
the web or via email, please follow
these steps:
Once you’re signed up for that
system, you are also on our
emailing list for important email
For Members Of Local 1325
Edmonton
Italian Cultural Center
14230 – 133 Avenue
Edmonton
All family members welcome!
Children aged 12 or younger will receive a gift.
Santa will be there to wish Merry Christmas to all!
Celebration includes entertainment & luncheon
Sunday, December 7, 2008
11:30 am – 3 pm
Registration deadline: November 21
To ensure space for everyone, pre-registration is required for
children receiving gifts and for all taking part in the luncheon.
To pre-register, call the Edmonton office:
780 471-3200 or toll free 1-800-272-7905
Registration requires the following information: member’s
name, number of family members attending function, boy or
girl & child’s age. Please register early.
We will not accept registrations after November 21, 2008.
1. Call the Edmonton Carpenters
office at 471-3200 or 1-800-2727905 with your UBC number and
your email address. Say you want
to register for online dispatch.
2. You’ll soon get an email with a
password and instructions on
how to use the new online
dispatch system.
3. To see union news on our
albertacarpenters.com, click the
Members Site button at the top
of the Home Page. Enter your
UBC number as your Username,
and the password you were
given. On the next page, click
the yellow tab (Members and
Locals: News and Info) at the
top of the page.
4. From time to time, you
will also receive news
from UBC via email.
A final note: if you are registered
for online dispatch and you don’t
want to receive union email
news, look at the bottom of any
email news message and click the
‘Unsubscribe’ link. Presto! You’re
off our list.
They’re the first!
This happy crew has something to
smile about! Not only have they just
completed their Scaffold Journeyman
upgrade course, but they’re the
first such class to ‘graduate’ from
our spiffy new training facility at the
Provincial Training & Administration
Centre (PTAC) in Edmonton.
Congrats, gentlemen, you’ve earned a
symbolic place in scaffolding history!
Class members are: Back row, L to R: George
Touhakis, Philip Walker, Glen Masear, Scot
Burbell, Brian Woodworth, Terry Moore, Craig
Mooney; Front row, L to R: Leslie Bursey,
George Pekarchik (Instructor), Chris McGrath,
Claude Charron.
FALL/WINTER 2008
2008 Children’s Christmas Party
Get connected to union news!
21
Project Manager’s
Loc
al
Report
2008
Children’s
Robert Provencher | Project Manager
Brothers and sisters, our new home
has reached substantial completion.
We are currently in the deficiency
stage of the project. It is our goal to
have finished this final stage by the
first week of November.
In spite of the deficiency stage of
construction, our new home is in
full operation, with the exception
of the fitness facility. Carpenters
LU 1325 membership and dispatch
services, Millwrights LU 1460
membership and dispatch services,
Pension plan and H&W plan
administration, Regional Council
BAs and organizers and, of course,
the Training Center and staff, are
all located and fully functioning
within the building.
Many of you have expressed strong
interest in the fitness facility. Let me
start by telling you that membership
in this facility is intended for
the general membership of the
Regional Council and indeed this
facility was designed specifically
for that purpose. We are currently
investigating staffing requirements,
as well as membership user fee
requirements. It is our intention
that fees be minimal (maintenance
and operating cost recovery, rather
than profit, is the goal). Onsite staff
is an insurance requirement. Our
intention is to recruit staff with
professional fitness credentials.
Look for this facility to be open
early in the New Year.
The Grand Opening was held in
September and was an outstanding
success. Over the course of
three days, approximately 4500
2103
dignitaries, media people,
interested non-union trades
people and member/owners (the
real VIPs) attended. It was very
gratifying to hear the many,
many positive comments.
Ch ristmas
Par
ty
I would like to take this
opportunity to personally thank
the many friends of our union,
clerical and RC staff, members
and their spouses and family, who
volunteered selflessly to staff our
grand opening. They went about
their tasks without complaint, but
rather with diligence and a great
deal of humor, friendship and
camaraderie. These people were
the tops!
FALL/WINTER 2008
A Union on the rise!
22
Just in time for our mid-September
official opening, the UBC seal
rises to identify the spanking new
$21 million Provincial Training &
Administration Centre in west
Edmonton. Proudly marking the
occasion are many of the people
who run our Locals, Training Centre,
Trust Funds and the Regional
Council. They were joined by some
of the construction workers and
managers who were putting the
finishing touches on the building.
Are you a member of the UBCJA Local 2103 with children 12 years and under?
If so...you and your little ones are invited to a Christmas Party
– complete with Santa, gifts and goodies!
Carpenters Union Hall, 301 – 10 Street NW, Calgary
Sunday, December 7, 12 noon – 3:30 pm
Please contact the Union Hall office (403-283-0747)
Monday to Friday, 8-noon and 1-4:30 pm
Registration deadline: Friday, November 21, 2008
Hope to see you all there!!
For registration, please provide your union ID, contact telephone number, as well as the full name, age, and gender of your children.
This information ensures that each child has an appropriate gift under the tree! You must be in good standing with the Union at the time of registration,
and on the date of the event in order to participate. Only children present at the Christmas party will be given a gift – sorry, no carry-outs.
Local 1460 Millwrights
Alberta Millwrights Local 1460
Report
2008 Children’s
Christmas Party!
Alberta Millwright Training Centre
Bob Hugh | Millwright Senior Business Representative
Sunday, December 7, 11 am to 3 pm
Meeting Hall, Provincial Training
& Administration Centre
15210 – 123 Avenue, Edmonton
To ensure space and food for
everyone, and appropriate gifts
for children aged 12 and under,
pre-registration is a must!
Registrations not accepted
after November 21.
Pre-registration requires the
following information:
• Member’s name
• Number of family members
attending
• Age and gender of children 12
and under
To pre-register, call Jeannelle at
780-430-1460, ext 2164, or toll-free
at 1-877-250-5079 no later than
November 21.
from the highest quality training
and upgrading possible. We also
welcome our responsibility to pass
our knowledge and our values on to
those who follow us.
The Petro-Canada hydrogen
compressor donation was also a
challenge to us to deliver valueadded training to our members.
When the contractor and clients are
confident with our skills, there is
more demand and job opportunities
for our members - and more income
and security for members and their
families.
Millwrights respect the value – to
our brothers and sisters, to our
contractors and clients, and to
the trade as a whole – that comes
Local 1460 Retirees’ 3rd Annual Social
The third annual retirees’ social
was held June 17 at Sherwood
Park’s Our Lady of the Perpetual
Help parish hall. We were
honoured to have three charter
members of our Local present:
Bill Bililda, Herb Huber and Don
McIntosh. Special guests included
John Bartok, Ursula Buller and
Local 1460’s office staff, Annette
Borthwick and Laurel MacFarlane.
Special thanks to Guy Dunand
for organizing such a successful
event, and to the staff and
volunteers at the parish hall who
hosted our social.
FALL/WINTER 2008
All family members are welcome! Children 12 or
younger will receive a gift. Come between 11 am
and 1 pm for face painting and a balloon artist!
Luncheon between 12 noon and 1 pm, followed by
a 50-minute magic show.
Our belief in training and upgrading
has resulted in our newly-opened
Provincial Millwright Training
Centre that includes over 3,000
square feet of shop training space.
25
Southern Alberta Updates
2103 Volunteers
Paul Zarbatany | Director of Organizing, Southern Alberta
Prior to this date we were
in negotiations with Quinn
Construction for a first contract,
which is very difficult but not
impossible if done in good faith.
What the Red Deer members want
is to have their Union benefits
and Union pension as all the
other members receive throughout
Alberta. They do the same work
and have the same training
that we provide as members in
Fort McMurray, Edmonton and
Calgary and wonder why they
should be penalized for working
at home close to their families on
the same type of plants that exist
in other part of the province.
We had two negotiating meetings
cancelled on short notice and time
was running short, so the members
decided to make a move to show
Quinn that they were serious about
their fair demands. We scheduled
a strike vote for August 18…and
on that same day all the scaffolders
were laid off. The strike vote was
still held, winning by 80%.
What our members must realize is
if they give their service to those
companies, they are agreeing to
work for less and jeopardizing the
possibility for those jobs being
L to R :Nancy Doblej, Mike Gayle, Richard
Perry, Hughi Bruce, Barry Lively, Scott Lively,
Mark Bruce
Fortunately Aluma picked up a
major project at Nova and was
able to hire almost all the laid
off scaffolders, and with full
union wages. The remaining
members, however, went to
work for non-union contractors
at three other sites that Quinn
lost as a result of our strike.
done union. The Union is all about
solidarity, and as members we
should look at the big picture and
not for immediate self-interest that
might look good but undermines
the collectivity of its members.
Making Friends at the Sikh Parade
FALL/WINTER 2008
Calgary’s annual Sikh Parade is a BIG deal – more than
30,000 people attended and/or took part in this year’s
parade, held May 17.
26
Never ones to ignore a recruitment opportunity, volunteers
from Locals 2103 and 2010 cooked up a bunch of great
food for more than 1200 people and gave out information
about the Union at this function.
L to R: Gurtej Saini, Zakaria Khirala, Mike Cooper, Sean Watkinson, Paul
Zarbatany, Parwinder Rana, Kashmir Sohota, and Gurmeet Saini who
organized the event.
Local 2103 says a Stampede
Yahoooo! once again
On July 12, Local 2103 held
its Annual Stampede Breakfast.
Approximately 1,200 people
moseyed on up for a delicious
pancake breakfast with all the
fixin’s, served up by none other
than the members of Local 2103.
The sun was shining, people
were dancing and oh, how the
band was playing! Hughie Bruce,
Alberta Carpenter’s Training
Centre Regional Coordinator and
Instructor, entertained the crowd
with his band, Preferred Guest
(booking info: www.preferredguest.
ca). Lots of people inquired about
Local 2103, and members were
on hand to give out pamphlets
and answer questions. The two
grinnin’ cowgirls in front of the
Brotherhood sign are Calgary office
part-timer Stephanie Carter and
full-timer Sonia Vieira. We had
good times, pardners!!
Thanks to Hughie Bruce for this item and the
photo below.
FALL/WINTER 2008
News from the Red Deer area
On August 18, we had an eventful
day in the Red Deer area.
Members of Local 2103 showed
off their Carpentry and Interior
System Mechanical skills during the
weekend of the official opening of
the new ARC facility in Edmonton in
mid-September.
27
Picture Yourself Here
Volunteer.
Donate.
Local 1460 Millwrights
Dispatcher’s Report
Ted Remenda
Our recruitment campaign, dues
arrears structure and the calculation
of apprentice wage rates were
discussed in the previous Hard Hat
articles. I would like to comment on
each of these topics.
The recruitment campaign has
increased our membership to nearly
1,000 thanks to our members’ help
in referring workers to our office
and website (www.workunion.
ca). Reports from our contractors
still confirm that we need more
millwrights to fulfill future
construction and maintenance
commitments.
We have addressed arrears notices
and have found a significant
decrease in letters being sent out
to members, again thanks to our
members’ diligence.
Our Journeymen are telling our
apprentices to get their books
stamped by the apprenticeship
board and get the half-year
increment while serving their
Your carpentry skills and
time will help build communities.
Consider how you can build homes
and hope for Albertan families.
We still have a couple of
outstanding issues that I would
like to comment on; grievances and
signing the Out-of-Work books.
Grievances can be time consuming
and costly, but sometimes necessary.
We have many agreements that
we work under, but the grievance
resolution process is based on the
Provincial Collective Agreement.
A list of our agreements can be
found on www.clra.org and www.
gpmccanada.com. We also have
copies at our office. In order to
streamline the process, members
have to document events, comments
stated and time of day events
transpired. For payroll issues,
please jot down all hours worked
in the daytimers we send our
members, and provide these hours
with pay stubs or time cards. Again
documentation is key. With all this
evidence and the help of our Job
Stewards, we can process issues in a
timely manner.
When a member has completed a
job, he or she must sign the Outof-Work books the next working
day. Many members wait 1-2
weeks, or even 2 months, to sign
back on the books. This practice
is unacceptable. Signing the books
is on an honor system. It is time
consuming to track down members
who refuse to call in. In order to
run our lists effectively we have to
know who is not working.
Growth in our union brings
many challenges, but also many
opportunities. It is the diversity and
flexibility of our workforce that
makes our union successful. We
need our members’ participation
in training. Our new building
will provide a home to deliver the
necessary skills in a timely fashion
to facilitate this endeavor.
Prize Winner!
403.253.9331
www.calgaryhabitat.ca
To find the Habitat for Humanity affiliate nearest you, visit habitat.ca and click on
“Find a Local Affiliate.”
Brother Peter Cyprien (R) was really happy he attended
Owners’ Day during the opening weekend of events at the
new Provincial Training & Administration Centre (PTAC). His
entry was drawn for the Grand Prize of a big flat-screen TV!
Winners of Nintendo Wii’s were Roger Cyre, Luis Oliveira,
Leonce Saulnier and Allan Purdey. The draw was organized
by Brother Terry James (L).
FALL/WINTER 2008
780.479.3566
www.hfh.org
apprenticeships. If you are not sure,
please call the office and we will
explain the calculation.
29
2008 Children’s Christmas Party
Job postings
Alberta and Northwest Territories (District of Mackenzie)
Regional Council of Carpenters & Allied Workers
The Alberta Regional Council is the governing body for all United Brotherhood affairs in Alberta. The vision
and mandate for the organization is to service, organize and educate construction and industrial workers,
resulting in increased union market share and superior terms and conditions of employment for members.
REPRESENTATIVE – FORT MCMURRAY/WOOD BUFFALO REGION
The Regional Council is currently accepting applications
The position will require work in off-hours, evenings and
for a full time Representative/Organizer, based in Fort
weekends without overtime, and possession of a valid
McMurray responsible for servicing in Fort McMurray and the
Alberta driver’s license is essential. Training during a
Wood Buffalo area and who reports directly to the Executive
probationary period will be provided prior to the successful
Secretary Treasurer. This position requires a proactive,
candidate assuming full time responsibilities. Acceptance
high-energy self-reliant individual who is results driven and
of a contract outlining remuneration and working terms and
who is capable of working with minimal supervision and is
conditions is a condition of employment. Local residents
committed to the expansion of our Union. The successful
will be given preference of employment if qualifications and
candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills and be
suitability are equal. In the event there is no suitable local
able to work effectively with diverse groups of people both
candidate, consideration will be given to a non resident,
union, nonunion and management. Effective written and
with the expectation that they will reside in accommodation
verbal communication skills are essential. Knowledge of
provided for by the Council and which will not include living
Alberta workplace legislation would be an asset.
out allowance.
REPRESENTATIVE – EDMONTON/CENTRAL ALBERTA
Fort McMurray
communication skills are essential. Knowledge of Alberta
a full time Representative/Organizer, based in Edmonton
workplace legislation would be an asset.
responsible for servicing in Edmonton and Central Alberta
and who reports directly to the Executive Secretary
Treasurer. This position requires a proactive, high-energy
self-reliant individual who is results driven and who is capable
of working with minimal supervision and is committed to
the expansion of our Union. The successful candidate
will possess strong interpersonal skills and be able to
work effectively with diverse groups of people both union,
The Sawridge
530 MacKenzie Boulevard
Fort McMurray
Sunday, December 14, 2008
11:30 am – 4 pm
Registration Deadline: November 28
The position will require work in off-hours, evenings and
weekends without overtime, and possession of a valid
Alberta driver’s license is essential. Training during a
probationary period will be provided prior to the successful
candidate assuming full time responsibilities. Acceptance
of a contract outlining remuneration and working terms and
conditions is a condition of employment.
nonunion and management. Effective written and verbal
Please forward resumes for either position by mail to:
Martyn A. Piper, Executive Secretary Treasurer
All family members welcome!
Children aged 12 or younger will receive a gift.
Santa will be there to wish Merry Christmas to all!
Celebration includes entertainment & luncheon
To ensure space for everyone, pre-registration is required for children
receiving gifts and for all taking part in the luncheon.
To pre-register, call the Fort McMurray office:
780-743-1442 or toll free 1-866-739-7017
Registration requires the following information: member’s name,
number of family members attending function, boy or girl &
child’s age. Please register early.
We will not accept registrations after November 28, 2008.
Regional Council of Carpenters & Allied Workers
Suite 200, 15210 – 123 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5V 0A3
Closing date: January 14, 2009
FALL/WINTER 2008
For Members Of Local 1325
The Regional Council is currently accepting applications for
31
Keephills keeps on growing!
Business agent George Wilson
provided these shots of the
Keephills 3 Expansion project and
some of BFI Constructors’ Local
1325 crew at work.
Hands across the Atlantic!
Eric Fleming (in the blue shirt, to the right of our
seal), National Construction Sectoral Organizer
with the Irish Services Industrial Professional and
Technical Union, visited our offices recently to
discuss possible temporary worker opportunities.
He met with (R to L) EST Martyn Piper, Organizer
Rob Carlson, Union Education Coordinator Bill
Alton and Dispatcher Derrick Schulte. Fleming
was in Edmonton the week following the grand
opening of our Provincial Training & Administration
Centre, and was a featured speaker at the Alberta
Building Trades convention.
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063788
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:
ALBERTA AND NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
(DISTRICT OF MACKENZIE)
REGIONAL COUNCIL OF
CARPENTERS AND ALLIED WORKERS
EAST WING, 10425 PRINCESS ELIZABETH AVENUE
EDMONTON, AB T5G 0Y5