Hard Hat - Fall 2015

Page 1

Uniting Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers across Alberta

Fall 2015

National

PRIDE Mike Yewchin takes top honours at the National Apprenticeship Contest TOP JOBS

Union carpenters talk shop about work in Calgary’s public sector

FORE THE KIDS

Annual golf tournament benefits juvenile diabetes research

Safe sca BTA con ffolding; fer Behind ence; t UBC sh he ield;


CORDLESS 7-1/4" SLIDING MITRE SAW

NO CORD REQUIRED TO OPERATE

UP TO

275 CUTS PER CHARGE**

Introducing the NEW 20V MAX* Lithium Ion CORDLESS 7-1/4 Inch Sliding Mitre Saw. With the DCB204 4.0Ah battery, the DCS361 Cordless Mitre Saw can make 183 Cuts of 2x4 pine or 275 cuts of 3-1/4 pine base molding, per charge, on average. The XPS™ light casts a shadow exposing the "cut line" for the user, allowing for a precise cut to be made. Weighs in under 32lbs and allows you to carry it easily using 2 metal handles. Easy transport from jobsite to jobsite. With cordless performance like this, who needs a cord? Copyright ©2015 D EWALT. The following are examples of trademarks for one or more D EWALT power tools and accessories: the yellow and black color scheme; the “D”-shaped air intake grill; the array of pyramids on the handgrip; the kit box configuration; and the array of lozenge-shaped humps on the surface of the tool. *Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18. ** On average when used with a D EWALT 20V MAX* 4.0 Ah battery in 3-1/4˝ pine base molding.


2"- 3-1/2" DUAL SPEED CORDLESS FRAMING NAILER

NO GAS REQUIRED TO OPERATE

XR® CORDLESS FRAMING NAILER. NO GAS CELLS, NO GAS CELL FUMES, JUST CORDLESS POWER. In this Framing Nailer, DEWALT’s 20V MAX* XR® LITHIUM ION Battery System combined with advanced Brushless Motor technology supply the power and extreme runtime professional users demand without the additional cost and annoying fumes of gas fuel cells. Mechanical rather than gas operation offers consistent performance at temperatures as low as -15°C and as high as 50°C with minimal cleaning/service requirements. The dual-speed selector design optimizes motor speed to drive 2" - 3" nails in first speed, 3 1/4" - 3 1/2" nails in second speed setting. Get off your Gas and Get DEWALT.

D E WALT’s Perform & Protect ™ line of Power Tools & Accessories is designed to provide a high level of one or more of the following: control, dust containment, or low vibration, without sacrificing performance

20V MAX* XR Lithium Ion Brushless Dual Speed Framing Nailer DCN692M1

* With respect to 20V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18. † Based on results using the 20V MAX* Premium XR Lithium Ion 4.0 Ah high capacity battery pack (DCB204) Copyright ©2015 D E WALT. The following are examples of trademarks for one or more D E WALT power tools and accessories: the yellow and black color scheme; the “D”-shaped air intake grill; the array of pyramids on the handgrip; the kit box configuration; and the array of lozenge-shaped humps on the surface of the tool. * With respect to 20V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18.


Executive Secretary Treasurer’s

REPORT

The End of an Era Martyn A. Piper

A

s you may have heard, Len

Bryden, carpenters training director, is leaving us at the end of the year to take up a position with the Atlantic Canada Regional Council of Carpenters, Millwrights and Allied Workers – and it goes without saying he is going to be missed, big time. His vision, commitment, dedication and service to our training institution over the years has, without question, been enormous. During his tenure as director, Len has trained, developed and nurtured a team that is unified, motivated and dedicated to the cause of equipping our members so they can be safe and productive employees of the signatory employers we work for. Despite losing a key player on the team, we hope that tradition will continue in the years to come. To take nothing away from the previous directors who have worked for the fund and been part of the journey to make it the professional and respected training institution that it is today, Len has surely taken the carpenters to a different level. This page is not long enough to cite his and his team’s many achievements, but suffice it to say, the Alberta carpenters’ program today is recognized across North America, particularly in the area of scaffolding, where arguably we have the best program anywhere. The peer groups around the Building Trades of Alberta know Len as a leader, and government departments both provincially and federally know Len and who he represents, and he is highly regarded within the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, both nationally and internationally. I think Len’s best attributes are his ability to communicate and develop meaningful rela-

4

HARDHAT | FALL 2015

tionships and to just be a guy that everyone likes. Not because he caves in and does not take firm positions and assert himself – because he does this and more. But his uncanny ability to do it in a way that is respectful, caring, thoughtful and sometimes even humorous, has enabled him to get the job done and in a way that does not leave dirty footprints all over the place. For me personally, I have had nothing but loyalty, co-operation and a willingness to help when I have approached Len on an issue or sought his advice. I have told my counterpart in the Atlantic region how fortunate he is to be gaining such a knowledgeable and skilled guy in Len. And while we are sad to be losing Len, I am excited for him and his opportunity to be returning home to his roots, be close to family and take on new challenges. I know how his reach and influence will continue to be felt across Canada, given the knowledge he has gained working in the West. On behalf of the members of all four local unions and the Regional Council, we wish Len and Carrie all the very best as they make their way east to start a new life. It goes without saying, the legacy of Len Bryden will be felt for many years to come here in Alberta and we thank him for that.


Contents Undeliverable mail should be directed to ARCCAW 200-15210 123 Ave Edmonton, AB T5V 0A3 Email: lhelmeczi@albertacarpenters.com Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement # 40063788

PUBLISHED FOR

Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters & Allied Workers 15210 – 123 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5V 0A3 Tel: (780) 474-8599 / Fax: (780) 474-8910 www.albertacarpenters.com

10 On the Links Annual charity golf tournament benefiting juvenile diabetes a swinging success at its new venue

PUBLISHED BY

Venture Publishing Inc. 10259 – 105 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1E3 Toll-free: 1-866-227-4276 Phone: (780) 990-0839 Fax: (780) 425-4921 www.venturepublishing.ca

12 The Real Deal Alberta Regional Council members have good relationship with longtime Calgary employers, such as the City, the Stampede and the Board of Education By Jacqueline Louie

PUBLISHER

Ruth Kelly

Fall 15

FEATURES

10

20 West is Best Carpenter brings the top prize home to Alberta from the National Apprenticeship Competition

ARCCAW EDITOR

Martyn A. Piper EDITOR

Shelley Williamson

25 Behind the Shield

ART DIRECTOR

The roots and meaning of the UBC’s emblematic symbol are storied and deep By Shelley Williamson

Charles Burke

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Andrew Wedman

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Betty Feniak

PRODUCTION TECHNICIANS

DEPARTMENTS

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

4

Note from the Executive Secretary Treasurer

Brent Felzien, Brandon Hoover Len Bryden, Martin Dover, Grant Freeman, Jacqueline Louie, Martyn Piper, Ted Remenda CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Bluefish Studios, Dylan Giesbrecht, Buffy Goodman, Bill Hewitt, Darryl Propp VICE-PRESIDENT, SALES

Anita McGillis

12

By Martyn Piper

6

Site Lines

18 On the Level

20

A Safway job steward talks about Goal Zero, working safe on the jobsite and being a leader

DIRECTOR OF SALES

Allyson Kurian

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE

Kathy Kelley

23 Training & Apprenticeship Report

SALES ASSISTANT

By Len Bryden

Julia Ehli

Contents © 2015 by ARCCAW Inc. No part of this publication should be reproduced without written permission.

24 Geared Up 26 Meet the Journeyman 27 Meet the Apprentice

Important Phone Numbers Edmonton Fort McMurray Calgary Carpenters Training Centre Carpenters Health and Welfare Carpenters Pension Industrial Workers Millwright Local 1460 Local Union 1325 and 2103 Dispatch

780-471-3200 780-743-1442 403-283-0747 780-455-6532 780-477-9131 780-477-9131 403-283-0747 780-430-1460 1-888-944-0818

28 Safety Report By Grant Freeman

29 Millwrights Report By Ted Remenda

30 Parting Shot 31 Training & Events; In Memoriam

ON THE COVER: Mike Yewchin brings home the hardware from the National Apprenticeship Contest PHOTO: Bluefish Studios FALL 2015 | HARDHAT

5


Site Lines

News in Brief

A roundup of news and events from around the region

Sisters on the Small Screen You could say that New Jersey and New York Sisters in the Brotherhood are doing it for themselves, thanks to a pilot program designed to attract females into the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. The campaign includes print advertisements and a new recruitment and marketing video, featuring Sisters from the Northeast Regional Council. Visit carpenters.org/sisters to watch the video.

A Show of Solidarity Members of Calgary’s Local 2103 came out swinging this year, showing their skill as champions on the softball diamond at this year’s Building Trades of Alberta’s Solidarity Slugfest. Held over the weekend of September 12-13 at the Okotoks On Deck Recreation Park, Local 2103’s team went undefeated at the tourney. This annual event, presented by Vida Events and the BTA, is an opportunity for members of BTA-affiliated unions to celebrate camaraderie within the trades and cut loose with family and friends. In addition to a weekend of softball, member players and their families enjoyed camping on site, a bouncy castle, dunk tank, magician and airbrush tattoos.

Winning in Vegas For those of you heading down to Sin City to attend conferences and training at the International Training Center, UBC members now have the chance to take advantage of reduced rates at the Homewood Suites-Las Vegas Airport. Discounts of 15 per cent off the best available rate are now being offered to all UBC members. Other amenities included in the discounted rate include a breakfast buffet, shuttle to the Vegas strip, free Internet, as well as a swimming pool and putting green. For reservations, which are only accepted online, visit www.carpenters.org. 6

HARDHAT | FALL 2015


Know Your Rights When you are part of a union, these are 35 things your employer can not do 1.

Attend any union meeting, park across the street from the hall or engage in undercover activity which would indicate that the employees are being kept under surveillance.

2. 3. 4. 5.

Tell employees that the company will fire or punish them if they engage in union activity.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Ask employees about union matters, meetings, etc.

16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35.

Make anti-union statements or show preference for a non-union worker.

Lay off, discharge or discipline any employee for union activity. Grant employees wage increases, special concessions or benefits to keep the union out. Bar employee-union representatives from soliciting employees’ memberships on or off the company property in nonworking hours. Ask an employee what they think about the union or a union representative once the employee refuses to discuss it. Ask employees how they intend to vote. Threaten employees with reprisal for participating in union activities. Promise benefits to employees if they reject the union. Give financial support or other assistance to a union. Announce the company will not deal with the union. Threaten to close, in fact close, or move the plant in order to avoid dealing with a union. Ask employees if they belong to a union, or have signed up for union representation. Ask a prospective employee, during the hiring interview, about his or her affiliation with a labour organization or how he or she feels about unions. Make distinctions between union and non-union employees when assigning work. Team up non-union workers and keep them apart from those supporting the union. Transfer workers on the basis of union affiliations or activities. Choose employees to be laid off to weaken union strength or discourage membership. Discriminate against union people when disciplining employees. By nature of work assignments, create conditions intended to get rid of an employee because of his or her union activity. Fail to grant a scheduled benefit or wage increase because of union activity. Deviate from company policy for the purpose of getting rid of a union supporter. Take action that adversely affects an employee’s job or pay rate because of union activity. Threaten workers or coerce them in an attempt to influence their vote. Threaten a union member through a third party. Promise employees a reward or future benefit if they decide against a union. Tell employees overtime work (and pay) will be discontinued if the plant is unionized. Say unionization will force the company to lay off employees. Say unionization will do away with vacations or benefits and privileges in effect. Promise promotions, raises or benefits if employees leave or refrain from joining unions. Start a petition or circular against the union or encourage or take part in its circulation if started by employees. Urge employees to try to induce others to oppose the union or keep out of it. Visit the homes of employees to urge them to reject the union. FALL 2015 | HARDHAT

7


Site Lines

News in Brief

A roundup of news and events from around the region

Millwright’s Medal of Honour A Local 1460 member was recognized recently for his quick thinking and bravery eight years ago in his native Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Kenneth MacNeil, who is from Sydney Mines, received the Medal of Bravery on October 6 from Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil at Province House in Halifax. The Medal of Bravery is given to those who risk their lives while protecting the life or property of others. The award stems from an incident in June 2007 in North Sydney, N.S., during which MacNeil rushed to save a teen being swarmed and assaulted by a group of about 25 youths who were either participating in or watching the attack. MacNeil was knocked unconscious and suffered a shattered jaw and eye socket in his act of defending the boy. He has since had to have several surgeries, including dental. “When I saw what was going on, I had no choice but to try to help him. They were jumping on his head and he would have been seriously injured or killed if I hadn’t jumped in. They had no mercy,” he says. “If it were my son I would be grateful if someone helped him, and if you didn’t help and you could have, you’d have to live with that.” MacNeil, who has worked as a millwright through Local 1460 for employers across Alberta including Albian and Syncrude, calls the award “humbling.” He even passed up a job in Alberta to stay and receive the award but is looking forward to arriving back out West soon for another posting.

Scaffolder Nets ‘Transit Fairy’ Gift workday for Calgarian Paul Shingler, but the scaffolder with Local 2103 ended up with more than he’d planned on being thankful for. Shingler told the Calgary Sun he was paying for his ticket while headed for work via C-train at the Chinook station when he found an envelope on top of the ticket validating machine. On the front it read: OPEN ME. Shingler did, only to find a typewritten letter stating the enclosed monthly pass was a gift in the form of a transit pass for the month of October. “This pass is not lost. It is a gift from me to you. If you cannot use this pass, please pass it on to someone who can,” it read. Stating it’s not the only pass out there, the note, simply signed J.R., also asked that recipients take to social media using the hashtag #YYCTransitFairy when referring to the free passes. The note ended with the words “I hope this brightened your day.” Shingler obliged, posting photos of the envelope and its contents on his Facebook page (while other recipients of the free passes, worth $99 each, did the same on Twitter). Shingler called the measure, “A random act of kindness that reminded me of the awesomeness of some people that are in the world still.” 8

HARDHAT | FALL 2015

PHOTO: LYLE ASPINALL/CALGARY SUN/POSTMEDIA NETWORK

Thanksgiving Sunday may have started like another


BY THE NUMBERS

Carpentry Stats at a Glance

11.3%

$28.04

The percentage of employment in Alberta the construction industry accounted for in 2014.

The average hourly wage of a carpenter starting out in Alberta as of 2014.

37, 800 The number of women employed in the construction industry in Alberta in 2014.

1333 The year the Carpenters’ Guild, the parent body of today’s labour unions, was formed in England.

40% The number of employees needed to sign the petition to bring the company to a vote on forming a union.

550, 000 The number of United Brotherhood of Carpenters members in North America, including unionized carpenters, millwrights, scaffolders and allied workers.

$103 million

The amount the North American UBC union has invested in the International Training Center in Las Vegas, where staff from many regional training centres from the U.S. and Canada receive world-class train-the-trainer instruction.

Santa brings gifts to children 12 years and under Millwrights 1460 members and family welcome Sunday, November 29, 2015 | 11 am to 3 pm Double Tree by Hilton (Formerly Mayfield Inn) 16615 109 Avenue, Edmonton Luncheon: 12 to 1 pm Entertainment: face painting, a balloon artist and a 50-minute magic show 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, email info@millwrights.1460.com or call 780-733-2164, or toll-free at 1-877-250-5079 no later than November 20 2015. 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 20.


PHOTOS: BILL HEWITT

10

HARDHAT | FALL 2015


On the Links Annual charity tournament benefiting juvenile diabetes a swinging success at its new venue

Despite a rained-out first attempt at holding the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers’ annual golf tournament in July, this year’s Barrie Regan Golf tournament was a banner day. An impressive 110 golfers turned out for the September 21 Texas Scramble style start, on the links of the Edmonton Garrison Memorial Golf and Curling Club for the very first time. With prizes in categories from longest drive to longest putt, participants enjoyed fantastic weather, not to mention a chance to try out new greens at the 18-hole course built by the military back in the

By MARTIN DOVER

1950s. While final tallies are still unknown, approximately $9,000 was raised through the event for juvenile diabetes research. Jenelle McCaw of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, who has long benefitted from the annual ARCCAW event, says charity events like this one are important to organizations like hers as proceeds go directly toward key research initiatives, such as the groundbreaking stem cell-derived, encapsulated cell replacement therapy taking place at the University of Alberta, as well as artificial pancreas, glucose control, complications and prevention research for diabetes.

FALL 2015 | HARDHAT

11


PUBLIC SERVICE: After the floods of 2013, union carpenters were instrumental in rebuilding Calgary’s Stampede Park just days before the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

12

HARDHAT | FALL 2015


The Real

DEAL

Alberta Regional Council members have a good relationship with longtime Calgary employers, such as the City, the Stampede and the Board of Education

By JACQUELINE LOUIE

Y

ou’re forgiven if you don’t instantly think of public

sector carpenters when you think of the aftermath of the 2013 floods. Two weeks before the Calgary Stampede opened, the entire park was flooded. And public sector carpenters played a major role in the Stampede’s recovery. Likewise, there are a number of other places and events that public sector carpenters make possible, drawing on a hugely diversified skill set to do their jobs. The Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers (ARCCAW) focuses on helping its members develop and enhance their knowledge and skills, so they can do the best job possible, in the safest way possible. In Calgary, the ARCCAW represents carpenters who work for public sector employers the Calgary Board of Education and the City of Calgary, as well as for the Calgary Stampede, a not-for-profit organization. The work of the three public sector employers is as varied as it is interesting.

“Carpentry down here is so diversified. The apprentices are so eager to learn. They come to me with questions, I teach them and they’re good to go,” says journeyman carpenter John O’Neil, who has worked for 27 years at the Calgary Stampede where he is job steward, negotiating contracts on behalf of ARCCAW. “It works out really good all around.”

O’Neil has a close-up view of the work carpenters do to make the Stampede happen. They’re responsible for set up, ongoing maintenance throughout Stampede Park, and keeping the grounds safe. They do everything from framing and fixing roofs, to pouring sidewalks, laying carpet, and repairing drywall. They build furniture, do ceramic tilework and laminating, and install cabinets, countertops and cabinetry. They hang and replace doors. They resurface the bull ramps, do banquet table repairs for the BMO Centre, and make draw drums and menu covers out of plexi-glass, among many other tasks. “We do a multitude of things down there,” O’Neil says. “There is nothing we can’t do. We are all hands-on.” Just 14 days before they were to welcome people from all over the world to the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” the Stampede grounds was under several feet of water and silt. Not only did the carpenters play a lead role in getting the park up and running in time for the fair, but up to 50 carpenters were employed for the entire year after to help rebuild Stampede Park. According to O’Neil, working as a unionized carpenter at the Stampede brings a wide range of benefits. The Stampede provides training, and if they need to outsource any training, union members can go to the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers’ training facility in Calgary. “Some of the guys have even taken welding courses. It’s being a member of the union where there’s FALL 2015 | HARDHAT

13


an unlimited amount of information that’s so important.” Another plus to working at the Stampede is that workers can go home to their family every day. “You’re not stuck up north, you’re in town, you’re at home,” O’Neil says. For union member Doug Bowley, a journeyman carpenter who spent 26 years working for the Calgary Stampede, “every day was a new experience. With the Stampede, it’s so versatile. We do everything.” The Calgary Stampede stretches out over 10 days each July, but the planning goes on year-round, keeping carpenters busy throughout the year. “There is a lot we’re preparing in the wintertime,” says Bowley, who was in charge of the Stampede’s Nashville North setup from 1995 until his retirement this past spring. He is deeply appreciative of how he was treated by the Stampede. For example, “I never had weather layoffs – they give you inside work when it gets bitterly cold,” he says. Bowley, who joined the union in the mid-1970s, also appreciates the Stampede supplying its carpenters – as well as the other trades – with the clothing and equipment

required while on the job – everything from pants, shirts, coveralls, fleece jackets, windbreakers and winter coats, to hard hats, safety glasses and gloves. “To me, that was a really big perk. And they give you an allowance for boots.” And there is a fleet of vehicles available to all the trades and laborers working at the Stampede, with fuel sponsored by Petro Canada. “It’s so much nicer than you having to go in and say, ‘I do this and this, and I deserve a raise.’ It’s so much better to negotiate together with your co-workers – that’s where the union came in really good for us. I don’t think there’s a better union job.”

“My role is working with the employer to help them be successful; in making sure they have the very best workers on the jobsite,” says Bruce Payne, business representative with ARCCAW. “We also work with these employers to continue to see our numbers grow, and provide sustainable jobs for our members into the future.” Payne says the Calgary Board of Education has approximately 17 carpenters who look

Let Momentum support you in your hiring process. Momentum works with SAIT and employers like you to train apprenticeship-ready Plumber/Pipefitters, Carpenters, Welders and Heavy Duty Mechanics. Your company can hire apprentices right out of SAIT or participate in our work experience program.

Why Momentum?

Workers are assessed, ready to work, knowledgeable and trained. Call 403 204 2677 or visit momentum.org for more information. The Momentum program consistently ensures that participants have the qualities an employer seeks. - Victor Jensen

after 230-plus buildings, doing a wide range of work that requires a well-rounded knowledge base. “Carpenters provide maintenance to all of their buildings. That means they need to know how to do a little bit of concrete, how to build, install and repair cabinets, hang doors, and repair hardware. They need to be able to keep doors functioning properly,” Payne says. “Working in that environment, you need real team players. They need to know if the water leaks, for example, how to open up a ceiling or repair the roof. A carpenter working there has broad knowledge and skills.” Says carpenter shop foreman Tom Reeson, a journeyman carpenter and member of the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers: “We provide good quality work for the taxpayers. I’m proud to be a union member and very happy to be working for the Calgary Board of Education.”

And public sector carpenters employed by the City of Calgary help keep Canada’s economic powerhouse running – all of them members of the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers. These carpenters do a wide variety of tasks in the city’s hundreds of buildings, including renovating, rebuilding, reconfiguring and maintaining structures and interior systems in buildings, facilities and parks. During the 2013 flood, “the carpenters did an awful lot of good work,” says Joe Maloney, who was a journeyman carpenter at the City for more than two decades before retiring last fall. In the main municipal building, for example, carpenters helped clear out the flooded basement, hauling everything up three levels of the basement and into disposal bins. “Those guys really worked hard – they were working 12 hour shifts,” Maloney says. He describes the City of Calgary as “an excellent employer. They do the best for their employees. They have excellent benefits, fitness centres and programs, as well as opportunities for training. They’ll send you on training programs and courses, and the safety training is second-to-none.” Maloney, who has been a union member for more than five decades in the U.K., Toronto and in Calgary, compliments the people who run the City of Calgary’s construction shop, “for the considerations they give the relationship between the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers, and their employees working for the City of Calgary.


respect the relationship, and the responsi“Working for the City of Calgary in bilities that those organizations have,” says a unionized environment is extremely Martyn Piper, executive secretary-treabeneficial, both for the employer and for surer of the Alberta Regional Council of the employees, because we have in place a Carpenters and Allied Workers. situation where, if there are any issues to be resolved, we can have a negotiated settlement “We provide good quality work for between the City of the taxpayers. I’m proud to be a union Calgary and the union. member and very happy to be working There are typically job stewards that look after for the Calgary Board of Education.” the welfare of the union– Tom Reeson, shop foreman ized employees on the job site, and the carpenters take direction from the foremen that are also The type of carpentry that union members members of the union.” do for these employers “provides exposure to our members to get involved in doing various facets of carpentry. It can mean anything Bargaining agreements between from interior work and fine finishing, to the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, exterior work,” Piper notes. “For an apprenthe Calgary Board of Education, the City tice, it’s an excellent opportunity to learn of Calgary and local 2103 of the United different parts of the trade, because you get Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of exposure to diversity.” America (now the Alberta Regional Council Payne echoes the sentiment, saying that of Carpenters and Allied Workers), date back being represented by the union, “means their more than half a century. needs are addressed, taking their interests “We have a historical relationship with into consideration in a meaningful way. these three employers. We appreciate and

I am pleased that our members have the opportunity to work for these really good employers.” ARCCAW offers services that benefit both union members and employers. For example, the union provides extensive training, including safety training, at its three training centres in Edmonton, Fort McMurray and Calgary. “Our carpenters are able to take specific training for door hardware, for internal systems, and for new technologies that are coming out,” Payne says. “Our carpenters that are working at these employers are able to access training that puts them on the cutting edge of construction technologies coming.” Payne says the union can create custom programs for the needs of the employer. And the employers have access to the union job board. “That’s a tremendous benefit. When they call and say, ‘I need a couple of carpenters,’ we can put a posting out.” And that posting goes in front of about 9,000 carpenters in Alberta – members of local 1325 and local 2103, represented by ARCCAW – arguably the province’s best trained trades people.

LOCAL 1325 CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY 2015 r 20, 2015 e , b 6 ber ovem G ecem:00 p.m. riday, N D Hall, , y F e a 3 r : t d e – ing Sun 0 a.m. deadlin Cen xpoFree Park E 11:0 tration n o s ont monton Regi - Edm , Ed s ifts W d der. ing g . lan Avenue N n v i ! u h e t e d c r n .m re a om No – 118 eon. children ter 2:30 p h welc , aged 12 c 5 s n 1 r r f 5 u e 7 nd l out a red fo n only e mb ent a n is requi e handed ly mer’s childre i m m n i a o er t a All f for memb will b istrati s ente, pre -reg presents e d Gifts u l o : n o N nc a a t io n ion ie for ever y luncheon. t m Sant here r a r o f b n c e e i l a t h t e p C ng art in sure s ill be 0 p.m. lowi l w o f To en r taking p t he 2:3 on y o functi uires until ish Merr and f g q n e i r d n te er io n e to w ristmas ers at d und m strat Regi mber’s na mily memb ren 12 an Ch all! e offic -7905 to • Me ber of fa er of child n o t 2 m mon 800) 27 • Nu and gend d E e r ee ( ll the • Ag r, ca or toll-fr ions afte e t s i t g a 0 e r r 0 2 ist re To p 0) 471-3 cept reg 2015 c 8 , 7 a ( 0 t at ber 2 ill no it ed We wy, Novem is lim e c a a Frid – sp early r e t s Regi


The STANLEY® TLM99s Bluetooth® Laser Distance Measurer is a simple design packed with functionality. With a range of 100’ and accuracy of ± 3/32" instantly calculate area, volume, distance and more! The STANLEY® TLM99s & STANLEY® Floor Plan layout app work together or alone to make measuring quick and easy.

© 2015 STANLEY Tools The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth® SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Stanley Tools is under license. Apple, the Apple logo, iPad, and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play is a trademark of Google Inc.

STANLEYTOOLS.COM


THE 14OZ. FATMAX速 HIGH VELOCITY HAMMER The NEW FatMax速 High Velocity Hammer swings like a 14oz. but strikes like a 28oz. so you can hit harder, longer and more accurately. stanleytools.com


REPORT

Safety

Toe the Line Proper hoisting and rigging practices are crucial to maintaining a hazard-free job site

H

ard Hat magazine sat down with Grant Freeman, division safety lead for Aluma Systems, to talk safety and best scaffolding practices on a job site. Here are his tips:

Training: To eliminate, control or minimize work site hazards, it’s important that each employee involved in hoisting operations be trained by a qualified person, while also fully recognizing the hazards associated with the lifting and lowering of scaffold materials.

Flagging: Flagging alerts employees not involved with a particular task of the potentially hazardous activities around them, and restricts traffic flow through a specific work area. To this end, yellow caution flagging is used for normal activities such as manual material handling, material raising or lowering. Red (Do Not Enter) flagging is used when hoisting material in high-risk potential areas or areas with a high level of traffic through the work area or when blind corners exist. Any time we use flagging, the following procedures should be followed: • Establish a control zone with barrier tape around the work area, and tag hazards. • Use the proper flag type associated with the hazard or task. • Avoid leaving gaps where a person could walk into the control zone. • Ensure any areas of unfinished work are barricaded and tagged, identifying hazards. • Remove flagging at the end of shift or when the job has been completed.

Hand-line or light-line hauling: Hand-line or light-line hauling consists of tying a rope to the load and lifting it hand-over-hand to the scaffold platform. Loads should be no more than 22 kilograms, and a worker should be positioned behind a scaffold member and be protected by a personal fall-arrest system. Avoid interference between the load and the edges of the scaffold and any other existing material or equipment. All personnel involved in hoisting should be protected from fall hazards. As well, a tie-off is required whenever you break the vertical plane of the handrail. All scaffold material must be raised and lowered in a controlled manner. (That means that no material should be allowed to free-fall or be tossed or dropped to another worker at any time.) It is also important to ensure the area below the lift/ lowering area is clear of obstructions and that there are no workers in the line of fire. Consideration might be made to install overhead protection for ground personnel, and before starting a hoisting or lowering, the installation of hand rails and mesh is recommended.

Toeboards and Decks: Complete decks and toeboards are required for material storage. Do not stow material higher than toeboards, unless mesh or grating is installed against the guardrails. Never exceed the duty rating of the scaffold deck or store materials on decks which are supported by side brackets or cantilevers. Do not stand or lean up scaffold materials. Instead, always lay material flat and be sure to ensure good housekeeping practices to avoid tripping hazards. And, if using Sure-Lock 18

HARDHAT | FALL 2015

Grant Freeman, Division Safety Lead Aluma Systems style material, do not hold the ledgers or sway braces by the end wedges, as it is possible for the wedge to separate and the component to free-fall to the ground below.

Gin Wheel: When pulling on the rope, always stand close to the load but not directly under it, to minimize the lateral load applied to the scaffold. A bowline knot or material hook should be used (see diagram next page).

General Tips: (Don’t) weather the storm. Work on or from scaffolds should be prohibited during storms or high winds, unless a competent person has determined that it is safe for other employees to be on the scaffold – and those employees are protected at all times by a personal fall-arrest system. Know your limits. Know your own physical limitations and the limitations of your crew, and never lift or lower more than you are capable of doing safely and in a controlled manner. Rotate workers in and out of positions that require long periods of physical exertion. Share the load.


Odds and ends. Bundle tubes or braces in odd numbers so they interlock tightly together. It is recommended that no more than three members are hoisted at a time unless an approved hoisting canvas bag is used. Secure small parts by carrying them in an approved canvas bag, and never hoist materials in plastic pails or buckets. Do not fasten smaller components such as right angles to larger components such as tubes and or ledgers to standards, as the friction lock could let go. Learning the Ropes:Rope width should be five-eighths of an inch. Workers should inspect ropes before each use to ensure they are free of cuts, excessive fraying, abrasions, burns and discoloration. Material hoisting or load ropes should never be used for fall arrest or fall restraint at any time.

KNOTS - There are four basic knots used to hoist and lower scaffolding materials when material hooks are not available or are otherwise considered impractical for the task: Timber Hitch – A knot used when hoisting wood scaffold boards.

Maintenance Management Professional Certificate REAL TIME • REAL INSTRUCTORS • REAL RESULTS

Clove Hitch with Half Hitch – Knots used when hoisting tubes.

Canada’s only LIVE Online provider* (*English Language)

Certified MMPs are qualified to provide cost effective management of a business’s physical assets.

Half Hitch – Used to keep load vertical and apply pressure to clove hitch.

The courses in the Maintenance Management Professional Certificate Program are approved for the Achievement in Business Competencies (Blue Seal) Program through the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Department and for “CEUs” for Alberta Water/Waste Water Operators. For a full list of programs and courses, click on the Continuing Education icon at

Bowline – Used to attach an approved canvas bag.

www.northernlakescollege.ca or contact us directly at

1-866-652-3456 ext. 8623 Plant Engineering and Maintenance Association of Canada

Customized and Private Training Options available!


20

HARDHAT | FALL 2015

PHOTOS: DYLAN GIESBRECHT


In Carpentry, the West is Best By SHELLEY WILLIAMSON For the first time in six years, an Alberta apprentice proved this province stacks up best in carpentry during the UBC’s National Apprenticeship Competition (NAC) at Saskatoon’s Kiwanis Park North. Edmonton’s own Mike Yewchin beat out competitors from east to west at the September 11-12 contest, in the end earning the coveted hand-carved trophy which will proudly hang in his local hall. Len Bryden, director of training and apprenticeship at the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre (ACTC), says the annual contest – which sees carpenters, millwrights, floor covering installers and interior systems apprentices show off their skills – is about more than mere bragging rights. “We are showcasing our trade, and these competitors that are chosen are the best of the best that we have,” he notes, “and to get there they have achieved the highest marks in

school or they have won a regional competition.” In Yewchin’s case, he earned his spot by winning the regional contest in Edmonton last June, and he calls the competition “the experience of a lifetime; I got to put to use everything I’ve learned in school. I was just going full tilt the whole time.” The NAC – which has been up and running for 20 years – will also return to Edmonton in August 2016, during which the trades of tomorrow will show their skills at Fort Edmonton Park. Next year will also mark the first year scaffolding is a represented trade, which is a boon for Alberta, Bryden says. Yewchin, 34, who is finishing up courses at the ACTC toward his journeyman ticket this fall, is mulling his next steps in his promising carpentry career.

FALL 2015 | HARDHAT

21


ALBERTA REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS AND ALLIED WORKERS MILLWRIGHT BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE, FORT MCMURRAY, ALBERTA The Alberta Regional Council is the governing body for all United Brotherhood affairs in Alberta. The vision and mandate for the organization is to organize and educate construction and industrial workers, resulting in increased union market share and superior terms and conditions of employment for members. The Regional Council is an efficient, effective, and accountable organization meeting the challenges of the future. The Regional Council is currently accepting applications for a full time Millwright Business Representative based in Fort McMurray. This position is responsible for servicing the Wood Buffalo area and 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, nonunion and management. Effective written and verbal communication skills are essential. Knowledge of Alberta workplace legislation would be an asset. The position will require work in off-hours, evenings and weekends, 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. Please forward resume by mail to:

Martyn A. Piper Executive Secretary Treasurer Regional Council of Carpenters & Allied Workers #200, 15210-123 Avenue T5V 0A3

Closing date: November 30, 2015

LOCAL 2103 CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY 15 0 2 , r 15 e b ovem 3pm tel N , y a o to y Sund 11am Royal H , Calgar ive et NE 3 t u c 210 ld? l a Exe 3 Stre c 2 f Lo years o o ies 8 r e 2 good re 2 d b 8 n 1 2 m fo ts a

if be me n up to ere g ter them .m. from be a h w l re you :30 p Party regis u wil Are as child a Christmadso is call t0o a.m. anTdh4at way, .yo h e to d to tree n 8:0 ren. nvite l you hav , betwee ur child ristmas 015. i who e r o a 2 l h

.A eC 221 of y r 2, nes tle o d to them 47 ext. 5 nd ages under th ovembe t i l r ute y, N you -07 gift es a If so, be distrib (403) 283 the nam ll have a er Monda the will er 2 at lling us child wi tions aft e at here! b o b t e a t m , ch tr ou t ave Nove to Friday n that ea ept regis en h ft. See y r d l i i y c a i h da cert ill not ac he c eir g Mon hat t ceive th t w e e t W e no to re Pleas as Party tm Chris


Local 1460 Millwrights

Brothers and Sisters It’s essential for union members to treat each other with respect and charity

I

pledge myself to be obedient to authority, orderly in meetings,

respectful in words and actions and charitable in judgment of my Brother and Sister members. To all of this I promise and pledge my most sacred word and honour. This is an excerpt from the obligation all of us have sworn to, our “Commitment to Excellence.” I’ve highlighted one sentence “and charitable in judgment of my Brother and Sister members,” and I wanted to take this opportunity to comment about these important words. Our union members face many issues that challenge our ability to succeed as trade unionists. Among those are the following: • Long hours and extended periods away from family and friends, which can lead to marriage breakdown, alcohol and drug abuse, stress and anxiety; • Periods of unemployment; and • Physically demanding work with a high potential for job-related injuries. Jurisdiction is another significant challenge. International agreements, Alberta labour laws and company patronage all force us to concede work. We thank our millwright-friendly owned-and- operated companies for their favourable assignments, but many of our signatory contractors still favour other trades. On many of our job sites, in fact, other trades are in superintendent or management roles well before any Local 1460 member arrives, again compromising our job security. This is not a new problem. We have been fighting this since Art Evers was our business manager. What has changed is the in-fighting, bickering and undermining of our own members on job sites. Retired business manager Bob Hugh described it as “shooting ourselves in the foot.” Every time we have conflict in view of the contractor, owner or 1460 apprentice, we lose market share. Every time we do not follow our “Commitment to Excellence” protocol, we lose market share. Competition to do millwrights’ work is all around us. Members from Local 1460 need to work as a cohesive unit to maintain what we have as well as helping us earn more work. We need to focus our efforts to fend off jurisdictional challenges, not on fighting amongst ourselves. We succeed when we work together. Previously, conflict resolution may have been administered behind the lunch trailer, but today we have our “Commitment to Excellence” protocol to effectively deal with internal conflict. We have always engaged our stewards and business representatives. In addition, I am asking our Local 1460 executive and delegates to the regional council to become involved. Our new executive will strike a Code of Conduct Committee, to process incident reports from the job site in a timely fashion. We need our job site leaders to engage in better supervision training to attain Industrial Construction Crew Supervisor accreditation so they can be selected as future superintendents. Well-trained leaders and stewards can mitigate many

Ted Remenda, Senior Business Rep Local 1460 Millwrights

issues on the job site. Members who are now owner-employees must not forget how their previous dispatches got them into those roles. I thank the ones who are helping us and ask the others to aid their Brother and Sister millwrights of Local 1460 with those same work opportunities. I would like to thank our members, who do all the right things every day to help us grow stronger, as well as senior members who teach our apprentices and other new members the right way. These are the true unsung heroes on our job sites and in our lunchrooms. I would like to thank our retired members who have donated their tools to the training centre. We have had many apprentices benefit from this contribution. These apprentices realize that the tools were in the hands of the best and most experienced our industry has to offer. Thanks again! FALL 2015 | HARDHAT

23


Geared Up

By MARTIN DOVER

Work Smarter, Not Harder HANGING TOUGH

BOOST YOUR BATTERY

If tunes are a must-have on your job site, look no further than to DEWALT’s new ToughSystem Music Player (DWST08810), which is geared to provide unprecedented three-dimensional sound in a durable package. Available starting in November from Home Depot and other retailers, work-friendly features include remote control access to up to 100 feet, multiple charging options and high-powered speakers designed for distortion-free sound. The case also holds a rating of IP54 for water- and dust-resistance and includes sealed compartments for the battery and wall-mounted transformer or personal belongings. The Tough System Music Player will retail for $279 and, like most DEWALT tools and accessories, can run on either a 12V or 20V Lithium-ion power tool battery or be plugged into a wall outlet. It can be carried by its suitcase-style handle or as part of the stackable ToughSystem Carrier cart. For more information, visit dewalt.com.

DEWALT tool users looking to use their 18V tools with the higher-powered (20V) battery platform can now invest in an adaptor that opens up their power possibilities. The 20V MAX Power Adapter is designed to help most DEWALT 18V tools operate off new and advanced Lithium ion battery technology, giving users six choices of battery, including 1.3Ah, 1.5Ah, 2.0A XR, 3.0Ah, 4.0A XR and 5.0Ah XR. Adaptor kits are packaged in two ways, as a standalone (DCA1820) for $54.99 or as a combination pack with two DEWALT 20V MAX 2.0Ah batteries and a charger (DCA2203C), from $199. Available beginning in October, both options come with a three-year warranty, 90-day money-back guarantee and a one-year service contract. For more information, visit dewalt.com.

SMOOTH OPERATOR

MAXIMUM IMPACT Measuring twice and cutting once is now even easier, thanks to STANLEY’s new FatMax Premium 25- and 35-foot Tape Rules with a new 13-foot standout and detachable hook. Among innovative features in the new line of tape measures are an Air-lock that acts as a shock absorber to protect the slide lock when dropped, and a Mylar coating on the tape blades themselves, to promote better durability and a lifespan of up to 10 times longer. Meanwhile, the 13-foot standout and hook feature is the first of its kind, providing greater reach and more accurate measuring. The FatMax Premium Tape Rules, which also come in a metric version, will retail for $32.99 to $42.99 and will be available from home centres and hardware stores this fall. For more information, visit StanleyTools.com. 24

HARDHAT | FALL 2015

As part of its line of Perform and Protect power tools, DEWALT has just announced the release of its new Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander. The shortest and one of the lightest five-inch random orbit sanders in its class now on the market, it stands 140 millimetres and weighs just shy of three pounds, allowing users to get closer to their sanding surface for more accurate results. The DWE6423K is designed for use on a host of sanding applications, from top grit flat or edge sanding to body grip sanding projects. Now available in stores where DEWALT products are sold, the sander retails for $79 and is guaranteed for use on wood, metal, solid surfaces and fibreglass. For more details, visit dewalt.com.


Behind the Shield The roots and meaning of the UBC’s emblematic symbol are storied and deep.

4 In 1884, delegates to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters’ Fourth General Convention adopted this emblem to serve as a symbol of the union’s ideals. The emblem was originally designed by the old National Union of Carpenters which was organized in September, 1864. More than 130 years after the founding of the UBC, some of the tools within the emblem are no longer common on jobsites. However, all of the design elements and the values they represent remain a vital part of the Brotherhood.

1 The Motto

: The inscribed Latin, “Labor Omnia Vincit,” means “Labour Conquers All Things.”

4 The Colours:

Pale blue signifies ideas as pure, clean, and lofty as the skies. The dark red denotes that “labour is honourable,” and that through honourable labour red blood flows through the veins of those who toil.

1

5

2

6

3

2 The Rule:

3

Signifies the desire of the organization to live by the Golden Rule: “To do unto others as we would wish others to do unto us.”

The Compass: Indicates that we shall endeavor to surround our members with better conditions, socially, morally, and intellectually.

5 The Shield or base of the

6 The Jack Plane:

Emblem: Indicates that those legally

A tool emblem-

atic of the trade.

wearing the emblem are morally bound to safeguard and protect the interests of the organization and its members.

Similar elements and symbolism make up our union label, which is affixed to quality products made by UBC members. FALL 2015 | HARDHAT 25


Meet the Journeyman

By MARTIN DOVER

The Millwright Stuff

A

rt Walker has worked as a journeyman

millwright for as long as he can remember. In fact, he recalls one of his first jobs with Sherritt International up in Fort McMurray in the early 1960s, before he was old enough to legally have a beer post-shift. “I wasn’t even of age to go to the bar back then. You had to be 21 in Alberta at that time,” he muses from his Fort Saskatchewan home. Starting out as a labourer and honing many of his millwrighting skills on the job in early days of the oil patch, much of 74-year-old Walker’s career was spent in Fort McMurray, where he apprenticed through Sherritt in between courses at NAIT as he worked towards his journeyman ticket. He recalls how things have changed over the years – and in more ways than just the drinking age. “In those days, we improvised a lot on the job. We used to make a lot of things to make the job better, like making brackets. Today, you can’t do that. Now it’s got to be engineered, approved and stamped,” he explains, noting he started to see a shift toward safety and improved procedures about 20 years ago.

Apprenticeship Contests. “It was a shame, he came in second,” says Walker, who still has the Liberty Bell replica to commemorate his trip to the Philadelphia contest back in 1974. Listing a slew of employers as long as his arm, from PCL and KBR, to Jacobs, Black and McDonald, Alberta Newsprint, Syncrude and Suncor (where he worked until July), Walker has enjoyed a fulfilling life as a millwright and says he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“The union was the best thing that I ever did, for sure. It’s been good to me. I never seemed to have any trouble getting on a job.”

PHOTO: BUFFY GOODMAN

In addition to Sherritt, Walker spent a great deal of his professional life with Syncrude in Fort McMurray. “Boys were all leaving because of opportunities to work in the millwright union, so I left Sherritt when I was about 33. I spent a lot of time at Syncrude working construction. A lot of us at the time just used it as a fillin job because you could come and go as you pleased.” Seeing the benefits of its membership, including a steady supply of work and access to a pension when the jobs dried up, Walker joined the millwrights union, Local 1460, in 1974. “The union was the best thing that I ever did, for sure. It’s been good to me. I never seemed to have any trouble getting on a job. I got run off a few times, but who hasn’t,” he says with a laugh. When he was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer in his mid-60s, he credits his union with helping out. “I am very lucky that they supported me financially,” he says. Walker’s younger brother and nephew have also followed in his millwrighting footsteps, with his brother even competing at one of the first United Brotherhood of Carpenters’ National

ART WALKER 26

HARDHAT | FALL 2015


Meet the Apprentice

By MARTIN DOVER

Freeze Frame

N

ative Torontonian David Bonyun has long recognized his ability to frame a photo, but what he has also come to appreciate since relocating to Alberta is that he can stack up some sturdy scaffolding, too. The Level 1 scaffolding apprentice has not looked back since switching gears on his career a year ago. A portrait photographer for years, Bonyun, 34, says he has no regrets about putting the lens cap on his Canon indefinitely back in Ontario to pursue a new way of life in the Wild West. With two brothers back east pursuing their own blue-collar calling as plumbers, Bonyun says he comes by his aptitude in the trades honestly. “I came out here looking for work in general and then I met someone who was a scaffolder and he recommended it. It was a great decision, and I am really happy with it. My only regret is not having started sooner.”

shutdown. I have only had really good experiences with the fellows I have worked with. Most of them are just there to feed their families, are very positive and just great guys.” He still rents a studio in Edmonton and does portrait photography, mostly shooting headshots of models for their portfolios. “You can’t just do scaffolding. You have to mix things up a bit,” he says.

“If you had asked me a year-and-a-half ago what scaffolding was, I really wasn’t sure what scaffolders did. So it’s all very new to me. I just want to take it as it comes.”

PHOTO: DARRYL PROPP

He admits getting dirty on the job site as part of a crew is a little different from working solo in his studio taking portrait photos (which he still does on the side). But, he is enjoying learning from his Brothers and Sisters at Safway at Shell’s Scotford Refinery, where he’s worked as a scaffolder since last February. He feels his biggest challenge is being the new kid on the scaffolding block after years behind the lens. “There’s always going to be challenges because it’s a change. But most of the guys are willing to help. Even before the challenges come up, I find there is someone there with a solution.” Having taken every first aid and safety course offered at the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre in Edmonton, Bonyun would like to pursue his journeyman ticket in scaffolding and possibly carpentry. He laughs when he looks back at how his life has changed. “If you had asked me a year-and-a-half ago what scaffolding was, I really wasn’t sure what scaffolders did. So it’s all very new to me. I just want to take it as it comes,” he says. For now, when not getting his hours in on the job site, Bonyun will soak up every bit of learning being offered by his building trade peers at ACTC and enjoy membership in Local 1325. “It’s fun. You’re always busy so the time goes by quicker and you are not sitting in front of Photoshop all day. You don’t get restless; there are very few dull moments, especially during a

DAVID BONYUN FALL 2015 | HARDHAT

27


on the level

SAFETY FIRST A Safway job steward talks about Goal Zero, working safe on the jobsite and being a leader By MARTIN DOVER

M

ike Quaedvlieg, a journeyman scaffolder and

job steward at Safway, has participated in a number of Tripartite HSSE Meetings. For this issue, we sat down with him and here’s what he had to say: Q. How would you describe your role at Scotford? I have always seen my role as doing my best to help people. When I came here, I noticed some people were reluctant to speak at safety meetings. That’s something I have no problem with, so I took on the job steward role. As a job steward I get to meet a lot of people from all over the site and through this position I am able to help members raise their concerns or ideas. I encourage our trades to be proud of what they do, do their best, pull together and be honest. I meet new hires at orientation, discuss what it means to be a professional and what Safway and Shell expect. I am involved in any member incidents; I help foremen and crews sort things out. I find it’s usually lack of communication. It’s about being open to different ideas, being a good listener and always being respectful, even if you have different opinions.

“Getting hurt and seeing people get hurt forced me to change my way of thinking, to take the time. I learned the hard way.” Q. How did you come to be at Scotford? I moved here from Castlegar, British Columbia 24 years ago. I had a renovation business, and there were more potential clients in Alberta. Friends who were union members encouraged me to join. When I wanted a change I thought I’d try scaffolding, so I joined the hall in 2001 and was dispatched to Safway at Scotford in 2010. Q. What is your experience with Goal Zero? Pretty much everybody I talk to has heard of Goal Zero. I was at a Goal Zero workshop recently, where a fellow from Chemco told us his story about why he works safe. He spoke from the heart. Speaking 28

HARDHAT | FALL 2015

from the heart is what I believe in and try to do. I have never hesitated to approach someone if I was concerned about their safety. Now with Shell, promoting Goal Zero and Tripartite, it’s becoming more the norm throughout the trades and that’s a good thing! Q. Why do you work safe? I’ve been injured several times. When I started working, there was no mention of safety first. There were no safety glasses, ear plugs or harnesses. We just got it done. So now I’m hard of hearing, have a scratch on my eye and I am missing part of my middle finger. Getting hurt and seeing people get hurt forced me to change my way of thinking, to take the time. I learned the hard way. Now I try to make a point of using PPE (personal protective equipment) always, like when mowing the lawn. I don’t want others to learn the hard way. It’s about your family, your friends, your co-workers, your life.

Q. Do you have any additional comments? Last spring Safway was recognized as having the best safety record at Scotford. One thing we did was work on making safety and toolbox meetings more interesting by introducing team-building games. People started to get to know one another, which in turn reduced incidents in the field. I always say, this is the life you’re given – protect it and have fun with it! Source: The Scotford Tripartite Safety Leadership Initiative For more information, visit bta.ca/tripartite-initiatives.


REPORT

Training and Apprenticeship

Alberta Carpenter Wins National Trophy

W

hat a year. Not only did we equip thousands of members

provincially with top-notch safety and skills training, but we also hosted our annual Provincial Carpenter/Scaffolder Competition this past July – and once again could see the number of professionals this organization has in its ranks. In August, we attended the 41st UBC General Convention at the International Training Center (ITC) in Las Vegas, the same location of our annual one-week Canadian Thanks to the win, we now get District Training Conference. the national trophy to hang in This yearly conference in July together instructors, our Training Centre for all to brings co-ordinators, and training see, not to mention bragging directors hailing from coast rights for the next year. Great to coast, to network, update training and upgrade skills to job, Michael [Yewchin]! serve their membership even better. Also notable during this past quarter were the third-year and journeyman programs that were well-attended at the ITC; these programs are changing attitudes and the lives of members across North America. The ITC’s Department of Education has also been responsible for starting various other programs such as Collaborative Leadership Training, which takes contractor employees to the next level. Wow! We have come so far in the past 15 years; it truly is encouraging for our future and those of local members. I would like to offer a big congratulations to Michael Yewchin of Local 1325 for winning the top spot in this year’s National Apprenticeship Competition in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in September! Thanks to the win, we now get the national trophy to hang in our Training Centre for all to see, not to mention bragging rights for the next year. Great job, Michael! Alberta will be hosting the coveted national contest next August at Fort Edmonton Park, so stay tuned as we need volunteers and event helpers. New this time around, Alberta will be running the very first National Scaffolder Competition, so be on the lookout for some stiff competition in the following categories: carpenter, drywaller, millwright, floor covering installer – and now scaffolder. Meanwhile, we continue to train our members throughout the economic slowdown in our province, and we still have quite a bit of work on the go. It is with a heavy heart, but great optimism for our continued success, that I write my last article as director of training and apprenticeship for the Alberta Carpenters Training Fund. Working for this fund and with everyone I have had

Len J. Bryden, Director of Training and Apprenticeship Alberta Carpenters Training Centre lbryden@abcarptc.ab.ca the pleasure of working with over the past 15 years has truly been a blessing and will be a tough career to match. In my new role as education director for the Atlantic Canada Regional Council (ACRC), which I will start at the end of the year based in Halifax, I plan to continue to work for the betterment of our members and this organization through education and training. As I have always said, I encourage you all to continue to take those opportunities right in front of you. Learn about apprenticeship and engage in all aspects of it and a career in the building trades. Support your training centres, their staff and your local unions and councils. Together we are all stronger and better for it. Oh, and thanks for reading this issue of Hard Hat. Please read the entire magazine, as it truly is your magazine! Keep up the good work, and be safe! FALL 2015 | HARDHAT

29


Parting Shot

Battle River Generating Station

Located in Forestburg, Alberta, about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, the Battle River Generating Station is a coal-fired thermal generating plant that employs many people from surrounding farming communities. The Battle River Generating Station has been in commercial operation since 1956 and is now owned by ATCO Power and is operated in conjunction with mining company Westmoreland Coal Company. Water for the station is provided by a reservoir created in 1954 and a 12-metre-high dam in Battle River.

30

HARDHAT | FALL 2015


UPCOMING

Training + Events

MEETINGS First Wednesday of each month: Local 1325 meeting Third Thursday of each month: Local 2103 meeting Fourth Tuesday of each month: Local 1460 meeting TRAINING Alberta Carpenters Training Centre The following is a sample of training courses that are open for registration at the time of publication of this issue of Hard Hat magazine.

For full listing or more information on training courses, visit abcarptc.ab.ca or phone the Edmonton office at 780-455-6532 or toll-free, 1-877-455-6532. All courses are at the Edmonton location unless otherwise indicated. There are several ways of registering for a course. Period 2 Carpentry January 18, 2016 to March 11, 2016

Industrial Technical Training: November 23, 2015 to December 6, 2015 Pre-employment Carpentry Programs (Tradewinds to Success Society, Calgary) January 4, 2016 to Febuary 26, 2016 MILLWRIGHTS TRAINING CENTRE Visit www.albertamillwrights.com for a current listing of training courses available.

Blueprint Reading 1 & 2 December 14-18, 2015 January 4-8, 2016

In Memoriam ARCCAW notes with sorrow the passing of the following members.

LOCAL 1325

Gerald Boyko July 22, 2015 Age 63

Gerard Dussault August 29, 2015 Age 94

Ivone Kahiko-Owens May 9 , 2015 Age 29

Michel Dubeau September 13, 2015 Age 36

Brad MacKenzie July 24, 2015 Age 46

LOCAL 2103

Filipe Desousa July 13, 2015 Age 82

Emery Caissie September 19, 2015 Age 60

Richard McDonald-Chiasson March 7, 2015 Age 28

Bryan Head July 29, 2015 Age 57

LOCAL 1460 Paul Green July 19, 2015 Age 65

ALBERTA CARPENTERS TRAINING CENTRE DIRECTOR OF TRAINING & APPRENTICESHIP FOR ALBERTA The Board of Trustees of the Alberta Carpenters Training Fund is currently accepting applications for a full-time Director of Training & Apprenticeship based in Edmonton, Alberta. This position is responsible for servicing the Province of Alberta and reports directly to the Board of Trustees of the Alberta Carpenters Training Fund. This position requires a proactive, motivated, 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. Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience. Successful candidate will be required to maintain a United Brotherhood of Carpenters Union Membership. Key responsibilities include: • Promote and lead the Training Centre’s with a vision for the future • Develop & implement business plans for training members • Set and manage operation budgets • Develop policies & procedures that will improve and enhance training programs • Manage & supervise a team of instructors and clerical staff in multiple facilities • Procure relevant training materials, curriculum and programs

Please send your resume via: email: Kim Belbin at kim@abcarptc.ab.ca Subject: DTA Resume, or mail: Kim Belbin Alberta Carpenters Training Centre 176, 15210-123 Ave NW Edmonton, Alberta T5V 0A3

Assets and skills required: • Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work effectively with diverse groups, both union, nonunion, government officials and different levels of management • Effective written and verbal communication skills • Knowledge of Alberta workplace legislation and national apprenticeship programs • Demonstrated experience managing staff, human resources and labor relations • Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook) • Valid Alberta driver’s license • Passport & the ability to travel to the US

Closing date: November 30, 2015 @ 4:30pm



Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.