Hello Union Family

Recently, Local 110 has been contacted by the Chateau Lacombe Hotel regarding the Local 110 Adult Christmas Party. Due to the restrictions placed on social distancing and the normal size of our group they are not able to accommodate our Christmas Party, however Local 110 will have our deposit moved forward to next year.

At last night’s Executive Board Meeting, we discussed possible options for the Christmas parties and the years of service recognition that usually takes place at the Adult Christmas party. Unfortunately, it was quickly decided that there is no possible way of safely accommodating these celebrations under the current Government regulations. Even if the restrictions were to change over the next few week, it is unlikely Local 110 could ensure the safety of our Members and Families. As such the Executive Board voted unanimously to cancel the 2020 Kids and Adult Christmas Parties.

I know that this is a disappointment for all the Members that normally would attend these events, but it is especially disappointing for the Members that were to be recognized for their years of service to our Local. Our staff will ensure that each Member is mailed their service pin and these Members will be recognized at the 2021 celebration.

Remember to stay safe, stay healthy, and take care of your loved ones.

 

In solidarity

Kevin Lecht                                                                          

Business Manager

International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, Local 110

Good day Union Family

Earlier this week Local 110 was informed that a Member had contracted COVID 19. The Member was working at the Suncor Base Plant Site in Fort McMurray, they have returned home and are self-isolating and recovering well. All Employees that were exposed have been contacted, tested, and are currently receiving test results.

However, since that time I have been informed of two other cases of COVID 19 in our membership with members who have already recovered. I would like to ask that any member who has had COVID 19, currently has COVID 19, or has a positive test in the future please contact the hall and let us know. The International has requested as part of our weekly updates to the International Vice President that we include the number of members with COVID 19.

Lastly just a quick reminder to everyone to follow the recommendations of Alberta Health Services, when at work follow all the additional Contractor and Owner protocols and ensure your own safety and the safety of those around you.

In solidarity

Local 110 is sad to announce that Member Brian Sereda passed away on September 2, 2020. Brother Brian has been a Local 110 member since September 2002. He last worked at Elite Scaffolding in September 2019.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 9 at Evan J Strong in Calgary.  Please visit their website at www.evanjstrong.com for details.

The funeral will be held on Thursday, September 10.  We will update when details are known.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the Lung Cancer Association in Brian’s name.

Local 110 Officers, Staff and Members extend their deepest condolences to all of Brother Brian’s Family and Friends.

Kevin Lecht

Business Manager

Good day Union Family

Labour Day is the only holiday that honours working people in Canada. It stands to commemorate the great accomplishments of Labour Unions. Such as over-time pay, pensions, health coverage, child labour laws, and labour standards and the list goes on.

In the past Labour Day was a day for Labour Unions to rally and have parades, to show the strength of the Unions and provide members a visual of how they are part of something much bigger than themselves that makes positive change for everyone in Canada. Although these have almost disappeared across Canada, if you ever have the opportunity to be involved in a large Labour Day parade do yourself the favor and attend. I know for myself marching with the Brothers and Sisters of Local 95 in Toronto’s Labour Day parade in 2003 is a fond memory of my time working on travel card in Ontario.

Labour Day this year obviously has a different tone then any that most of us can remember. No matter what your views are on the COVID 19 pandemic, at some point in the last few months a worker woke up, went to work, and did their job believing that in doing so they or someone they love could die through contracting this virus at work. They did this so our lives could continue. So, take the time to thank one of these workers, even if you are one of these workers. Without these people, the last months would have been horrendous and none of them have been compensated enough.

No matter what Labour Day means to you personally, or how you choose to spend the time, remember this is your day. Your contribution to Canada through the work you do is important, we all rely on each other. Enjoy the day and thank you for all you do for our Union, our Trade, our Contractors, and our Community.

Lastly, just a reminder Local 110 offices will be closed September 7, 2020 in observance of Labour Day.

In solidarity

Kevin Lecht                                                                   

Business Manager

Good day Union Family

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome D&F Manufacturing Ltd as a signatory contractor with Local 110.

D&F Manufacturing is a small contractor that currently has the long-term maintenance at the Celanese plant in Edmonton. Although this is a small contract it will have a few of our members employed year-round, there is also a number of scheduled shutdowns coming up for the next two years. With the opportunity to grow the crew significantly.

This has been a successful top down organizing campaign that would not have been possible without a Client that values the ongoing relationship with Local 110. Thank you to all the members that have worked at this site putting union values and production on display to help make this possible.

In solidarity

Kevin Lecht                                                                          

Business Manager

Local 110 is sad to announce that Member Robert Rose passed away August 14, 2020. Brother Rose has been a Local 110 member since May 1976.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Brother Rose may be made to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan.

Local 110 Officers, Staff and Members extend their deepest condolences to all of Brother Rose’s Family and Friends.

In solidarity

Kevin Lecht                                                                          

Business Manager

Good day Union Family

Since March Local 110 has not been able to hold proper General Membership Meetings, due to the restrictions on gatherings that have been placed by the Provincial Government, and the International Office cancelling all meetings and elections until further notice. Each month I am hopeful that we will be provided authorization for meetings, that is why the Local 110 Executive Board has been meeting as close as possible to the end of the month, but it is clear that with the number of cases spiking in some areas we still have a long way to go.

In light of the situation Local 110 is going to attempt to have a “town hall” style meeting using Zoom. Obviously, Local 110 is not able to ensure that the information will not be recorded and or provided to individuals outside the Membership, so we will not be able to make motions or complete the financial report. The meeting will be in an information style focused on Bill 32 with BTA Executive Director Terry Parker, and Local 110 Bargaining. Members will be able to ask questions through an Email address provided during the meeting.

The meeting will take place Wednesday August 26, 2020 starting at 7:00 PM Mountain Standard Time.

The Zoom system has the ability to have video through the app on your computer or mobile device or the meeting can be attended through a call-in number from any phone. We need members who are interested in attending the meeting to email Dispatch@insulators110.com with your name and email address you want us to send the meeting access code.

This is the first time that we will be hosting a meeting with this number of people. If this works well more of this style of meetings will be scheduled, if not we will look into other options. If there are any questions, I can be reached at the Edmonton Union hall.

In solidarity

Kevin Lecht                                                                          

Business Manager

Good day Union Family

As some of our membership knows, and some may not our Health and Welfare Fund and Pension Plan have Reciprocal Agreements with a number of Union plans across Canada. These include all Insulator funds in Canada, most of the Sheet Metal Worker funds, and a number of the Electrical, Pipefitter, Carpenter, and Labourer Plans.

These Agreements have been set up for basically two reason. The first is being able to send the funds collected on behalf of a worker to another Plan reduces the liability to your Plan. Once the money is transferred there is no more cost to your plan, this was a big help to our Pension Plan over the last few years, because we are not bearing the cost of people taking commuted value buyouts due to break in service. The second is for most employees on a short project will not complete enough hours to gain Health and Welfare benefits and depending on the pension laws of the province they may receive no value for the money being paid on their behalf to the Pension plan. So, these Agreements allow the money to follow the worker and obtain value for the money being paid on their behalf.

Reciprocal Agreements are signed in good faith between the plans, not the individual Unions or Locals. When working with a Reciprocal Agreement in place keep all of your documentation regarding the money paid on your behalf, and check with your plan administrator to ensure that proper amounts have been received on your behalf.

Currently, the Asbestos Workers Benefit Trust (Health and Welfare) and the Asbestos Workers Pension Plan are receiving reciprocal payments on behalf of a number of our members. Although as Business Manager, I am not provided the names of the members or where the payments are coming from it is my understanding that some of these payments are being made from Plans that are covering Wall to Wall Labour Agreements. This is concerning as these Agreements were not developed to have members working as Mechanical Insulators for other Unions. Just because there is a Reciprocal Agreement in place does not mean that Local 110 authorizes our members to work as Insulators for another Union. The jurisdiction of Local 110 ends at the boarders of Alberta and we do not provide dispatch slips or Salting Agreements for members working outside of our area.

With the change to legislation in Alberta more and more Unions will be enacting Wall to Wall Agreements. It is highly likely that some of these Unions will have Reciprocal Agreements with our Plans. It needs to be said that if a Member is working doing Mechanical Insulation work for another Union, that member is most likely in violation of Article XXIV Section 1 (g) and could be subject to charges by the Local Union. If this Member is working in another Locals jurisdiction that Local has the right to file inter local charges against our Members doing this work. These charges will be heard by the International General Executive Board and historically when found guilty the fine is set at $1500, however this amount could change at any point.

A big selling feature of our International to Clients is the ability of Local Unions to on a short notice bring in skilled Mechanical Insulators through our Travel Card System. This system allows Unions that have exhausted their local manpower to still fulfill their obligation to the Contractor. Local 110 has utilized this system extensively for the last twenty years, and without it could never have completed the Mega Projects across Alberta. However, if this advantage is lost due to Members willing to work for other Unions under Wall to Wall Agreements our jurisdiction will slowly be eroded until the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Works will no longer exist and the Mechanical Insulation trade will be represented as a sub sector of a larger Union and most likely not given the attention or respect our trade deserves.

Hopefully I have provided some much-needed clarity on these issues. If you have any questions, comments, or queries please contact me at the Edmonton Union hall.

In solidarity

Kevin Lecht                                                                          

Business Manager

Good day Union Family

Today Edmonton City Council has made it mandatory for people to wear masks in all indoor public spaces. This is a similar bylaw to the one made by the City of Calgary earlier this month.

To ensure that Local 110 is staying in compliance with the new city bylaw, face masks will be required for all individuals entering the Local 110 offices on or after August 1, 2020. Our International provided the Local with masks for all active members and a majority of these have been handed out to the members. If you have already received these masks the Local will not be able to supply you with a new mask, so please bring a mask with you.

I understand that everyone has their own views on wearing masks, and even in our office there is a spectrum of opinions on this issue. However, the Local does not have an option to follow the City bylaws, so I hope that all our members will understand that we have the same frustration as you do and comply with the mask requirement while conducting business at the Edmonton and Calgary offices.

Please follow the link for the news story on the new bylaw.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7222365/edmonton-covid-19-mandatory-mask-debate/

In solidarity

Kevin Lecht                                                                          

Business Manager

Good day Union Family

As the membership knows political engagement has been important to Local 110. Our Local has promoted the “Green Initiative” pushing for changes to the Master Specifications for Alberta Infrastructure to take on higher standards for Mechanical Insulation in Public Buildings. We have supported plans and Bills that were of value to our trade or our Union. However, our Union does not support any political party, we only support those who support the ideals of organized labour and the Collective Bargaining rights of our Union.

The Employment standards section of Bill 32 has a number of changes that every Albertan should be concerned about, there are changes to overtime, final pay, required shift breaks, number of days worked with time off, and minimum age for legal employment. I am sure that good Nonunion employers will continue to keep their core people above the Employment standards minimum, but that will leave a lot of people with negative employment situations.

The changes being made to Union Dues opt in or out for Political or Charitable donations, will not impact Local 110 in a significant way. Our Union stopped paying any Political donations with the last Government’s Bill 1 and with the downturn Charitable donations have been significantly cut back. With the addition of this Bill we will no longer be able to donate when members pass away to the Charity of the family’s choice in lieu of flowers, and our yearly donations to the Hope Mission, Alberta Lung Association, and Mesothelioma Research fund will have to end. The reason Local 110 can no longer make these donations is the financial impact to our Local and to our Contractors to set up individual dues structures for each member that wished to opt out of one or more donation would be crippling. So, to every Charitable foundation that has received funds from a Union I would say now is the time to voice your concern to the Government, because Alberta Unions and the BTA provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in support each year that will quickly be coming to an end.

Recently the Building Trades of Alberta sent out a notice highlighting section 7.1 that allows the Building Trades of Alberta to bargain site agreements as a bargaining agent of the trades, essentially allowing the BTA to create Wall to Wall agreements with clients or contractors while still holding trade jurisdiction. This is being looked at as a “bone” being given to the BTA. Personally, I see this as a very sharp double edge sword, if the BTA is able to find a way to build agreements that all the trades can agree to and don’t fall into the traps of trying to “whip saw” wages up by playing contractors against each other  or allowing Clients to “whip saw” wages down by playing us against each other. It could result in some in roads for additional work for our memberships. However, on the other side of the sword there is a real opportunity for larger Unions within the BTA to run roughshod over the council, take over the process, and take over the jurisdiction of smaller Unions. In the end this has the ability to tear the BTA apart and leave smaller Unions gutted with their members being dispatched and represented by larger Unions.

Over the last few months most Albertans that are working have taken 10% or higher wage reductions. The maintenance contract for one CLAC contractor shows a 22% reduction in total package. With this Governments want to move toward right to work legislation, but not doing so completely because they would not win the Charter Challenge, working people in Alberta, both union and nonunion, will see further reductions in available work, wages, and working conditions until we define working poor in Canada.

In solidarity

Kevin Lecht                                                                          

Business Manager