October 28, 2009

The H1N1 or “swine flu” vaccine is now approved for use by Health Canada and will be available to health care workers in British Columbia the first week of November .

The IUOE encourages members to take advantage of immunization programs that will be offered.

As with the annual seasonal flu shot, vaccination against H1N1 is considered by public health officials to be an effctive measure to prevent spreading the virus or developing serious illness.

However, immunization is a matter of personal choice.  IUOE members who have medical concerns about either the H1N1 or the seasonal flu vaccines should talk to their doctor.

If you have issues with your employer regarding immunization, please contact your shop steward for assistance and advice.

With Health Canada’s approval of the H1N1 vaccine on October 21, provinces and territories are putting immunization plans into place. 

H1N1 symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, headache, general body aches and may be accompanied by a runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomitting and diarrhea.  Anyone experiencing symptoms is advised to stay home.

October 28, 2009

With collective agreements in the community social services (CSS) sector set to expire on March 31, 2010, preparations for contract talks are getting underway.

The multi-union negotiating committee held initial meetings in June and will be resuming those discussions during another three-day session, beginning October 28, 2009.  At that time, they will be reviewing the bargaining priorities put forward by each member union in the Community Social Services Bargaining Association (CSSBA), which bargains on behalf of all unionized employees in this sector.

Upcoming discussions among the members of the multi-union bargaining committee will begin the work of preparing the association’s detailed bargaining proposals.

There are currently 11 union in CSSBA, who together represent the more tahn 15,000 employees working throughout the sector.

Member unions include the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Health Employees’ Union, the Health Sciences Association, the United Steelworkers of America, the Professional Employees’ Union, the United food and Commercial Workers International Union, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union, the Christian Labour Association of Canada and the BC Nurses’ Union.

Thursday October 15, 2009

BRITISH COLUMBIA & YUKON TERRITORY BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL: # 204 – 4333 LEDGER AVENUE, BURNABY, BC V5G 3T3 TEL: 604-291-9020

NEWS RELEASE THURSDAY OCTOBER 15, 2009

Workers at troubled $820 million Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant tunnel project throw out Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) in favour of maximum protection provided by three BC Building Trades unions.

NORTH VANCOUVER – Unionized workers at the troubled giant $820 million Seymour – Capilano Filtration Plant twin tunnel project have voted for a second time to reject representation by the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) in favour of the maximum protection of their rights provided by three BC Building Trades Union.

The results of a Labour Relations Board-supervised vote were announced Wednesday and turn the job of representing about 130 workers over to three BC Building Trades Unions working together in a “poly-party” certification – the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 115, the Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union Local 1611 (Labours’ Union) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 213.

The huge water diversion project has been slowed by serious cost over-runs and unsafe work conditions.  The original contractor, German-based Bilfinger-Berger, stopped work in January 2008 and is now being sued by Metro Vancouver for the additional costs of hiring a new contractor.  Earlier this year the GVRD selected an American company. Frontier-Kemper, to complete the project and tunnel boring operations resumed this summer.

Bilfinger-Berger workers had already previously voted to replace CLAC with the Building Trades poly-party but lost their union representation when Bilfinger left the project.  CLAC was able to resume representation of the employees with the new employer Frontier-Kemper.  Now, for a second time, workers have rejected CLAC for representation by the poly-party.

“There’s something drastically wrong with the system when workers have to vote not once but twice to be represented by the union of their choice” according to Gary Kroeker, Business Manager of the Operating Engineers, Local 115. “This is a difficult and potentially dangerous project, so workers want the best protection they can get”.

“Fortunately for these workers, lightning did strike twice,” said Mark Olsen, Business Manager for the Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union Local 1611.  “Buit is is obviuosly time to review the BC Labour Code process that let CLAC return even after workers had clearly rejected them.”

Said Rick Dowling, Business Manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 213:  ”We believe other construction workers currently represented by the Christian Labour Association of Canada should take the same hard look at CLAC that Seymour-Capilano Filtration Plant workers did, because it is in their best interests to be represented by bona-fide Building Trades unions who will fight for their rights on the job, including health and safety.”

The three unions look forward to establishing a productive and stable relationship with Frontier-Kemper, which is certified to Building Trades unions in several American states.

For further information contact:

Gary Kroeker, Business Manager, Operating Engineers Local 115 – Tel (604) 291 – 8831 Mark Olsen, Business Manager, Construction and Specialized Workers Local 1611 – Tel(604) 432 – 9300 Rick Dowling, Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 213 – Tel (604) 571 – 6500

BC Building Trades website: www.bcbuildingtrades.org