Some background information regarding the RRSP payments and the PITT Fund.  Some of you know but for those that don’t, the PITT Fund makes an RRSP deposit for individuals working under Commercial contracts and/or Enabled Industrial jobs.  Federal legislation prohibits the Pension Plan from accepting contributions into the Pension Fund from PITT as they are not the employer.  Because of this Federal legislation, the PITT Fund makes a deposit to the individual’s RRSP in the amount which would have been payable to the Pension Plan, if not for the legislation, based on the hours worked and  the applicable pension contribution rate.

Reports are provided monthly by Commercial Contractors and the hours are tracked through Excel spreadsheets.  Each year, individuals that fall under the RRSP deposit must provide the PITT Fund with a copy of their Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Notice of Assessment, which indicates the amount of RRSP room they have for the year as well as, sign a document that states they will not self-contribute to their RRSP such that they would go over their CRA limit for the year when combined with the PITT Fund deposit.

The PITT Fund issues deposits twice a year, July and December.  If an individual does not submit their documents within the specified time frame to meet the deadline for the deposit (July or December) then the deposit is not made at that time and is held until the next deposit due date.  If an individual does not provide the required documents in that year or if they don’t have RRSP room, then his/her amount is carried forward into the next year when the documentation process starts over.

Last year all spreadsheets were reviewed to ensure that all hours for each individual were being tracked correctly.  While there were some errors where the hours in the spreadsheet did not match the hours on the report, these were corrected and the RRSP amount was re-calculated and where applicable deposited to the individual’s RRSP.  These types of errors are the result of a Contractor submitting the report late or because the Contractor did adjustments to hours that were previously reported in a subsequent month and as with any job there is possible human error.  

In a few cases individuals received the full amount of the required contributions deposited into their RRSP which exceeded their CRA RRSP limit for the year. The result is the member must deal with the over contribution to the RRSP as per the rules set out by the Government of Canada or they will be issued a fine for the over contribution. All members that have been affected by this situation have been contacted and are taking appropriate steps as they see fit.

There was no misappropriation of funds, nor were there any overpayments such that an individual received more than what the pension amount would have been.  Individuals that have not received a deposit simply have not provided the required documentation or they don’t have the RRSP room for a deposit to be made.

Local 110 in conjunction with the PITT Fund Trustees have implemented on-going reviews of the spreadsheets and limited the number of staff that can access the spreadsheet files. If an error is discovered, it will be corrected and recalculations performed with all necessary steps taken before the next RRSP deposit.

Lastly, I would like to thank the members for their concern on the implementation of this program. However, the mistakes that happened over the last few years were corrected before the PITT Fund T4s were sent out in February 2015.

Thank you all and please keep in mind that your Business Agents and Manager’s office doors are always open.

NOTICE from UA Local 488

WORKERS DAY OF MOURNING

A CEREMONY WILL BE HELD ON

TUESDAY APRIL 28, 2015

LOCAL UNION 488 MEETING HALL

(NORMAN DARBYSHIRE HALL)

16214 – 118 AVENUE

EDMONTON,  AB

LUNCH WILL BE SERVED 5:30 PM

CEREMONY COMMENCES 6:30 PM

BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

I would like to thank Gerson Villeda, his wife Karla, Susan Markine, Todd Bidzinski and Audrey Auclair for donating their time to stuffing envelopes for the upcoming Provincial Collective Agreement Ratification vote. Their participation was a great help in reducing the overall cost of the mail out and kept our office running smoothly by freeing up our staff to focus on the day to day duties of the office.

A number of times during the year there are opportunities for our members to volunteer. To help this process we would like to start a list of members that would be willing to donate some time to our local. You would be helping with such events as the Children’s Christmas party, Car show/poker run, Golf tournament, Labour Day BBQ, and mail outs.

If you would be interested in putting your name forward to be contacted as need be for these kinds of activities please contact Shannon T at the Edmonton Union office 780-426-2874 or Email her at shannont@insulators110.com.

Thank you and hope to see you soon.

Good day Brothers and Sisters

The Local 110 Bargaining Committee has reached Memorandum of Agreement with the CLRA (Construction Labour Relations Alberta) for the 2015 Provincial Construction Collective Agreement.

All members of Local 110 from 1^st year to Journeyman have the right to vote on the Collective Agreement as per Alberta Labour Law. As such Local 110 will be doing a mail in ballot for the ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement. Early next week our members will be getting the voting package with a copy of the memorandum of agreement, ballot, self-addressed and stamped envelope, ballot envelope, and voting instructions; all ballots must be returned and received before 4:30 p.m. May 8, 2015.

In addition to the mail out there is a special called information meeting being held on April 25, 2015 at the St. Albert Inn and Suites, 156 St. Albert Trail starting at 9:00 a.m. This meeting will be for a complete review of all changes and additions from the current Provincial Construction Collective Agreement and questions from the floor.

If you have any questions regarding the Memorandum of Agreement once you receive your copy, please contact me or any of the other members of the Bargaining Committee (Doug Casemore, Doug Johnson, and Pat Tilley)

Also in an effort to reduce the substantial cost of this mail out if any members would like to donate some of their time to help stuff envelopes please come to the Edmonton Union Hall 9335-47 St Edmonton Alberta any time tomorrow Thursday April 9, 2015 after 8:00 am

Good day Brothers and Sisters

Recently there has been some confusion regarding Red Seal Certification and Local 110.

The Insulation trade became Red Seal Certified in 1991. Since that time there has been little notice of this certification by contractors, clients, and engineers when it came to our trade. However this is starting to change.

Engineering groups have been adding the requirement for “Red Seal Journeyman and Registered Apprentices” for installation of mechanical systems for a number of years. This specification is usually followed and checked for most mechanical trades on a project. However for insulation this specification is over looked due to the lack of knowledge of our trade by general contractors, as such most of this work is being performed by nonunion contractors. A number of Local throughout the United States have used similar wording in the mechanical specifications on capital projects to have nonunion contractors replaced with signatory contractors.

Clients have started to ask about the percentage of Red Seal Journeyman, Certified Journeyman, and Non Certified Journeyman that make up the membership of Local 110. Certification is an easy benchmark when comparing Union labour to Non Union labour and the cost of labour on a project.

As such Local 110 in partnership with the Insulator Training Trust of Alberta, have put in place reimbursement for the cost of obtaining Red Seal Certification for all Journeyman members of Local 110 and are currently developing a Red Seal Upgrading Course for Local 110 Journeyman. These steps are being taken so that Journeyman members that want to obtain this certification will not have a financial burden or lack of formal training standing in the way. If you are a Brown card Journeyman through our International you have already completed all the prerequisites that Alberta Industry Training require for the Red Seal Certification.

In no way is it mandatory to obtain the Red Seal Certification.

Name	Status	Tentative	Final
Colleen McFadden	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Zachariah Paton	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Marlon Weir	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Samira Rusman	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Abdullahi Aden Isack	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Terry Hines	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Bernard Woycheshen	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Victor Santini	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Ryan Degruchy	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Philippe Monbaron	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Carlos Solis	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Bisrat Tekletsadik	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Clifford Cardinal	Journeyman	Accepted	Accepted
Darrel Stock	Journeyman	Accepted	Accepted
Ryan Clements	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Awoul David Chol	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Norman Klassen	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Justin Froehlich	1st year	Accepted	Accepted
Vern Denesik	1st year	Accepted	Accepted

 

Good day Brothers & Sisters

The PITT Fund Trustees have started the process of hiring a Client and Contractor Liaison. This position is open to all Journeyman members of Local 110, only successful candidates will be contacted for interview. The full job description is below; however any questions please contact Business Manager Kevin Lecht at the Edmonton union hall (780) 426-2874. The dead line for applications is 4:00 pm Friday February 20, 2015.

If interested please send resume to PITT Fund Trustees care of Shannon Tilley at shannont@insulators110.com

Job Title

Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 110 Client and Contractor Liaison

Reports To

Local 110 PITT Fund Trustees and Local 110 Business Manager

Summary

Identify and recruit worker leaders from non-union operations who are in need of union representation. Direct contact with clients and non signatory contractors regarding the benefits and utilization of a union workforce. Evaluate potential organizing targets, contact un-organized workers, develop leaders, mobilize members to support external organizing, plan and conduct campaigns.

This is not a 9 to 5 job – it requires long and varied hours, including early morning, evening and weekend work (as necessary). This opportunity requires travel and periods of being away overnight for varied amounts of time.

Job Duties

• Know the services the union provides
• Have an understanding of certification process
• Researching into company or sector that is being targeted to find out history, funding, ownership, and other relevant information.
• Demonstrate that the workers will be better able to resolve workplace issues of wages, benefits, and working conditions by forming a union
• Anticipate and neutralize doubts that workers have about forming unions before these fears and loyalties to the status quo are kindled by the employer
• Must travel
• Negotiation
• Public Speaking
• Other duties as required.

Requirements

• Journeyman member of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 110
• Both Verbal and Written Communication Skills
• Public Relations
• Marketing
• Able to work in a team and self-motivated
• Effective Listening
• Creative Problem Solving
• Working Under Pressure
• Time Management
• Confidence and Self Awareness
• Research Skills
• Computer Proficiency
• Thorough knowledge of Employment Standards, Labour Relations Code (Federal and Provincial),
• Valid Driver’s Licence
• Ability to obtain valid passport
• Alberta resident or willing to relocate

Working Conditions

• Must work irregular hours with travelling required

If interested please send resume to PITT Fund Trustees care of Shannon Tilley at shannont@insulators110.com

List for Membership Vote at the February 07, 2015 General Membership Meeting

Name	Status	Tentative	Final
Mary Jean Morrison	1st year	Accepted	A
Prince Kegwaehi	1st year	Accepted	A
Viviana Palacio-Pena	Industrial Helper	Accepted	A
Sary Pich	1st year	Accepted	A
Magan Abdi Mohamed	1st year	Accepted	A
Joshua Chatman	1st year	Accepted	A
Mohamed Abdulkadir Salad	1st year	Accepted	A
Hussein Mohamed Aden	1st year	Accepted	A
Brandy MacNeil	Fire Stopper	Accepted	A
Andrew J. Langridge	1st year H to H	Accepted	A
Elhadji Malik Sow	1st year	Accepted	A
William Budd	1st year	Accepted	A
Adeyonbo Aladjare	1st year	Accepted	A
Abdessattar Messaoudi	1st year	Accepted	A
Wesley Thomas	1st year	Accepted	A
Ryan Oliver	1st year	Accepted	A
Ahmed Mohamed Yousuf	1st year	Accepted	A
Cody Romanetz	1st year	Accepted	A
Fritz-Gerald Dumont	1st year	Accepted	A
Nelson McFadyen	1st year	Accepted	A
Jeffrey Francis	1st year	Accepted	A
Tanner Stewart	1st year	Accepted	A
Brian Karim	1st year	Accepted	A
Brian Anderson	1st year	Accepted	A
Boris Taguimdjeu Taguenang	1st year	Accepted	R
Pablo Botello	1st year	Accepted	A
Melissa Girard-Poirier	1st year	Accepted	A
Jennifer Tourigny	1st year	Accepted	A
Jase Dawesom	1st year	Accepted	A
Philip Henstridge	Journeyman	Rejected	R
Alicia Liew	1st year	Rejected	R
Hremann Kuate-Wafo	1st year	Rejected	R
Rose Tremblay	1st year	Rejected	R
Mohamed Nour Hamud	1st year	Rejected	R
Mark Maidment	1st year	Rejected	R
Dut Dut Mabior	1st year	Rejected	R
Tyler Hurst	1st year Traveler Local 95	Hold over

 

Good Day Brothers and Sisters

Our new slate of officers have now been in the office since January 5, 2015 and I would like to congratulate all on their positions. We have lots of work ahead of us but I am excited to be part of this team and know that working together we will have a positive impact on our unions future.

The last week we have all been scrambling to get our feet under us and up to speed, as much as possible. However with the change over there can be some information missed so if you have been working with our Previous BM on any issues please contact me at the Edmonton union office so that we can make sure things are moving forward and all the required information is in your file.

Lastly I would like to remind all of our members that we have the January General Membership Meeting tomorrow January 10, 2015 starting at 12:00 at Kings University Edmonton. Hope to see you all there.