Boilermakers Lodge 359 Summer Newsletter (2024)

Sep 4, 2024

 Boilermakers Lodge 359 Summer Newsletter (2024)

 

Business Managers Report

The Boilermakers were successful in signing three new contractors to collective agreements in past two months. Albion Marine to an Independent Collective Agreement. Avangard Construction to the BCA agreement. Along with I.A.P (Interior Alloys Piping) to a field agreement in Kamloops.

The Union Training and Innovation Program

We were successful in receiving funding from the federal government to purchase the JLG Rough Terrain Telehandler.

The Telehandler will help Boilermakers improve the quality of training through the investments in equipment and materials and support innovation and broad-based partnerships to address the challenges faced by apprentices entering the workforce. With this investment, more members will be able to gain the skills and experiences they need to become certified and achieve success in the trade. As Boilermakers we are a key component of Canada’s workforce.

The Telehandler training project is an excellent fit with the Boilermaker Lodge 359 training program providing opportunities and continued progress in B.C.

The Boilermakers Apprenticeship and Trade Advancement Committee’s mission is to promote excellence in all Boilermaker training and education. Its goal is to ensure clients get the best-qualified Boilermakers no matter where they are in Canada.

The Boilermaker Lodge 359 telehandler program is innovative because it is the first program that offers Telehandler training to Boilermakers members in Cananda. This training innovation will help increase demand for the Boilermakers in British Columbia. Supplying manpower for some of Canada’s largest infrastructure projects. This training will introduce new methods, ideas, and equipment to an evolving work force.

 

 

Overall, the lodge is operating efficiently, and our programs and initiatives are progressing as planned. We continue to work toward improving member services and strengthening our position within Industry. I encourage all members to stay engaged and participate in upcoming events.

Fraternally,

Brother Gord Weel

Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer

 

 

Assistant Business Manager’s Report

Dear Members,

As the summer season draws to a close, we hope this newsletter finds you and your families well. We’ve seen tremendous dedication from our members on the job sites, and I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your hard work and commitment, and we wanted to take a moment to reflect on our achievements, share important updates, and look ahead to the coming months.

Teck Kivcet Update:

The scheduled Kivcet demo and rebuild started in February and was completed by the end of June this year, employing approximately 150 Boilermakers. Our IBB Hygienist Jason McInnis and I were invited to tour the Teck site and the biological monitoring program which has made some engineering improvements to the 3M Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR). We also had the opportunity to tour the Warfield biological testing and mineral purity laboratory for a complete breakdown of the processes to keep our members as safe as possible.

We have always recognized the potential hazardous environment while working at the Trail Teck site and commend the safety protocols in place that are always being reviewed by the Contractors, Teck Operations, Hygienists and the Governmental safety agencies that work together on implementing improvements. The Boilermaker trade has had an effective impact and long standing history with respect to the continued monitoring and implementation of safety measures at this site. This project went very well, with no significant safety issues and along with the Contractor (Cims), the client has expressed a job well done!

Health and Safety Reminders:

As we transition into the fall, it’s important to remain vigilant about health and safety. Please continue to adhere to safety protocols and report any concerns to your supervisors. Your well-being is our top priority, and maintaining a safe working environment benefits us all.

Workplace Safety:

Tip 1: Always use the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for the task at hand.

Tip 2: Stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings and potential hazards on the job site.

Tip 3: Report any unsafe conditions immediately to your supervisor.

Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication. Together, we are building a stronger and more resilient union. Stay safe, stay informed, and keep up the great work! As we head into the fall season, let’s continue to work together to achieve our goals and support one another.

Stay Connected:

For the latest updates and announcements, make sure to regularly check our website at [boilermakers359.org]. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Local 359 office.

Wishing you all a productive and safe end to the summer.

In solidarity,

Brother Dave French

Assistant Manager/Vice-President

 

President’s / Signatory Shops & LNG Canada Report:

As we cross the midpoint of 2024, we’re excited to update you on the significant progress we’ve made in the past six months. Here’s a summary of some highlights from the ISO Division, LNG Canada and Union events.

Ratified Shop Collective Agreements

We are pleased to announce that we have successfully ratified two new collective agreements:

In April we reached a new agreement with Farr Fabricating Ltd in Prince George. This included a wage increase that meets or exceeds current industry standards, ensuring fair compensation for our members.

More recently, we concluded bargaining with BM&M Screening Solutions. The newly ratified agreement has a lot of positives for the bargaining unit, including productive language changes, increases to the health and welfare benefit plan and most importantly, securing the highest wage increases in the company’s history.

We continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our agreements uphold the highest standards for all of our ISO division shops.

LNG Canada

LNG Canada continues to move forward towards completion. Initial commissioning has already commenced and a full start up is just around the corner. We currently have 32 Boilermakers still on site. Over the past few months, they’ve been working vigorously to get the plant ready for start-up by installing internals and trays in various vessels. They have finished the work on the absorbers and completed all the stack lifts. All construction work packs are complete in Train 1 and the first fire of 1 of 4 compressors is slated for the end of the month.

Union Events

Our annual golf tournament was once again a successful event thanks to the enthusiastic participation of our members, guests and sponsors. Held at the spectacular GreenTee Country Club in Langley, the event featured a day full of laughs and of friendly competition, with the team of Josh Savoie, Kris Hoffbeck, Mike Horvath and Troy Marks taking first place with a score of 12 under par.

There were also significant efforts made by everyone off course as well, as we were able to fundraise over $1000 for Canucks Place Children’s Hospice in Abbotsford.

In addition to the Golf tournament, there were also some local picnics held this summer in Ladysmith and Kamloops. These are fantastic opportunities for our members to relax and connect in a casual setting alongside other Union brothers and sisters and their families. Both events were well attended, with delicious food provided and plenty of activities for children.

Big thank you to brothers Shane Borza, J’onn Giese and Jim Wymer who played a big role in organizing the picnics.

These type of events continue to help promote the importance of having a strong and supportive Union community.

We continue to strive for improvement in our engagement with all of our members and look forward to more successful functions in the future. Please keep an eye out for some of the fall/winter events like the Pension Banquet, December meeting/Christmas dinner and our annual Children’s Christmas party.

In Solidarity,

Brother Jeremy Kwok

President/ Business Representative

 

 

Apprenticeship and Training Report:

Congratulations to Scott Stephenson and Terry Blasco–Morris for winning the team competition at the National Apprenticeship Competition held in Edmonton Alberta. Your hard work and dedication have earned you this impressive achievement! A big thank you to all the 359 Journeyman who help guide and train the next generation of 359 Boilermakers. Thank you to Roger Prior, Russ Osbourne and all the staff at BCIT. This is a win for the Boilermakers Lodge 359 and BCIT.

On August 8th 2024 the Boilermakers Lodge 359 accepted 12 students who passed the Boilermaker Foundations course from BCIT. These apprentices have been placed on the Apprentice board and are eagerly waiting to be dispatched.

The next Boilermaker Foundations class will start on September 3 2024. BCIT is now accepting applications for the March 2025 Foundations.

The JLG Telehandler has been delivered to the Union Office. Training courses will be held periodically throughout the year. Training for the Telehandler will be combined with the Aerial Work Platform and Forklift. The Lodge will also be looking to schedule Supervisor and Shop Steward training courses. All information in regards to training courses will be posted to the nightly callout and our Boilermakers 359 website.

The welding shop is available to members Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Members can use the facility to practice or test for any PWP procedure. Welders that need to renew Class A certifications please call at least 2 weeks in advance to book time with Sheldon Frank. To reserve a booth members can call the General office at 778 369 3590 and ask to speak with the apprentice coordinator.

Fraternally,

Brother Sat Chatta

Apprenticeship & Training Coordinator

 

 

Site C Report:

Dear Boilermakers,

As we approach the final stages of the Site C hydroelectric project, we want to take a moment to recognize the hard work and dedication of our brothers and sisters. Here’s a snapshot of where we stand and what lies ahead:

Current Status

  • Construction Milestones: The Site C Dam is rapidly approaching completion. Most of the structural work is finished, and focus has shifted to finalizing the power generation components.
  • Power Generation: We anticipate the first units of the hydroelectric plant will begin generating electricity by late 2024, with full operational capacity expected by the end of 2025.

Boilermakers’ Contributions

  • Critical Installations: The Boilermaker’s expertise has been pivotal in the installation and welding of key metal components for the powerhouse and spillways.
  • Maintenance Success: Thanks to your diligent maintenance work, we’ve managed to keep critical equipment operational and minimize downtime.
  • Fabrication Excellence: The precision in fabricating and assembling metal parts has been crucial to maintaining the integrity of the project.

Looking Ahead

  • Final Touches: The next few months will involve completing final installations and conducting thorough inspections. The Boilermaker’s attention to detail will be essential during this phase.
  • Safety First: As always, maintaining high safety standards is a priority. Please continue to follow all safety protocols and report any issues immediately.

Acknowledgements

The Boilermaker’s hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. We are proud of the progress we’ve made and are grateful for your continued commitment as we wrap up this monumental project.

Thank you for your outstanding contributions. Let’s stay focused and finish strong as we bring Site C to successful completion.

Best regards,

Martin Hertweck

Business Representative

 

Dispatcher’s Report

As we transition from the spring shutdown season and long-term projects start wrapping up, we are heading into the fall with CIMS and TVE expected to have the majority of the upcoming shutdown work.

Shutdowns: Shutdowns are projected to begin in early to mid-September, with the last of them winding down by early November. Upcoming locations include:

  • Teck (Trail)
  • Cariboo Pulp (Quesnel)
  • Covanta (Burnaby)
  • Paper Excellence (Crofton)
  • Northwood (Prince George)
  • Celgar (Castlegar)
  • Kruger (Kamloops)

Long-Term + Capital Projects: Group Lar is expected to complete their projects by the end of the year, along with Horton CBI’s three tanks in Surrey & Voith will have a small crew going into early 2025.

The Kitimat LNG Canada site will see substantial completion with Fluor and the introduction of a new contractor, Waiward.

TiW has secured a new construction Tank job at Kruger Pulp mill, anticipating a 8-10 Man crew for one 50’ x 50’ Diameter Stainless Steel tank.

Midwest Mechanical has been awarded work at Teck to install a new Stainless Steel Stack in Trail this fall.

New Contractors: Waiward will be starting a long-term maintenance contract at LNG Canada in Kitimat, anticipating 2-3 Boilermakers initially, with more hires projected in the new year. Waiward is operating under the PMRC Agreement, a multi-trade agreement. You can review it here. The Waiward job is not your typical shutdown or new construction job, it is a full time permanent job. For more information on the PMRC : https://prmcbc.ca/

Avangard Mechanical Group is currently at Ioco (Port Moody) Repairing a tank for Imperial Oil with a crew of 9 Boilermakers, and Avan Gard is planning on bidding on more work around the province.

As mentioned in the Business Manager’s report, we have recently signed on two new contractors. I look forward to receiving job orders from them soon.

The Union will continue to seek out & sign additional contractors to diversify our work scope across the province and reclaim jurisdictional work currently performed by others.

Emergency Jobs: This year so far we’ve received over 50 emergency jobs, As the shutdowns conclude late fall, I anticipate more emergency jobs afterwards.

I’m proud to say that we’ve successfully filled every one of these jobs, with some starting within an hour of receiving the call.

I’d like to give recognition to our members who have been able to take these calls and for any everyone on the board ready to take them when they get the chance.

Our ability to provide qualified Boilermakers and Boilermaker Welders at a moment’s notice gives us a significant advantage over non-union contractors, ensuring these critical jobs are executed successfully. We have received thank-you letters from clients such as Covanta, Paper Excellence, and others, expressing their satisfaction with the efficiency and professionalism of our work.

Website: Our website was down for over a week this summer due to issues with our previous web hosting company. We have since moved to a new host provider, and the website should now be stable. If any members experience issues with the website or Memberlink, please email  CRobertson@Boilermakers359.org

JRD (Job Ready Dispatch): A reminder to all members to ensure your Job Ready Dispatch tickets are up to date before the fall shutdown season begins. Locations for renewing expired tickets can be found on our website, along with online links for Fall Arrest and Confined Space ticket renewals here. For online courses, please send a screenshot of your invoice and pictures of the renewed ticket(s) to JRD@Boilermakers359.org for reimbursement.

Beneficiary Information + Health & Welfare: For changes to beneficiaries under the death assessment policy, please call the Union General Office at 778-369-3590

For changes related to life insurance and pension, contact the Bisland Griffith Administrators’ office at 1-877-926-4537

It’s important to notify both offices when making beneficiary changes.

Mental Health Supports:
If any members are experiencing mental health issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to our provider, Telus Health. Remember, reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness. You can find the following information below:

All interactions with Telus Health are strictly confidential, ensuring your privacy and peace of mind. The program is free, anonymous, and available 24/7.

Whether you’re facing a crisis or just need someone to talk to, Telus Health offers a range of resources to support your mental well-being. If any members are having difficulties, don’t hesitate to reach out to the hall so we can point you in the right direction and get you the help you need.

Death Assessment: The Annual Death Assessment is overdue. As per the bylaws, any members who have not paid by September 31st and remain in arrears will have their membership suspended. Please pay your assessment in time as we do not want to see anyone get suspended.

Travel Carding: Members interested in travel carding should ensure they have an account set up on the IBB Travel Card website. If you need help setting up an account or navigating the website, please call the General Office at 778-369-3590.

Lodge 191 will be looking for members this fall for work at Vic Ship.

If any members are looking to work in the Nukes at L-128 & need nuclear clearance forms, please reach out to Local 128 for questions, and find the forms here.

Lodge 146 typically posts their jobs on their website. You can check when work orders are open to travel card members here.

In closing, I look forward to sending members to work this fall, and I’m confident that the membership will continue to demonstrate to our clients why Local 359 is the best in the industry.

Fraternally,

Brother Collin Robertson

Dispatcher / Business Representative