Gallagher says Union is prepared to face threats on multiple fronts positive energy SPECIAL E-BOARD & GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS D espite all the talk of trade wars, tariffs and political turmoil sweeping Canada,
Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher struck a refreshingly optimistic note during the Special Executive Board and General Membership meetings held at the OE Banquet and Conference Centre in Oakville in March. Ready to Bargain and Win With contract negotiations underway, Brother Gallagher announced that in a bid to strengthen the hand of our bargaining committees and to aid cross-union cooperation, Local 793 had rejoined the Ontario Federation of Labour and that the Defence Fund had been doubled in size. He said this was done to send a strong message that the Union was determined to fight for the best possible deals for members. Taking on LiUNA Turning to the behaviour of fellow Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario affiliate LiUNA, the Business Manager didn’t hide his disappointment that the Labourers had chosen to raid Local 793 instead of focusing on unionizing new workers. Hear directly from our members about LiUNA’s failed raiding on pages 4-5. Brother Gallagher then backed a motion from the floor that proposed ending the practice of having management appoint trustees to the Union’s trust funds, saying this was to ensure that only those people who have the best interests of Local 793 members at heart should be able to make decisions about how members’ money is handled. The sole responsibility for appointing all trustees will, in the future, lie with the Business Manager. Backing Carney for PM On the same weekend that Prime Minister Mark Carney set April 28
Business Manager Mike Gallagher addresses members in Oakville.
as the date for the federal election, Brother Gallagher said that the Union would be supporting the new Liberal Party leader’s attempt to win his first mandate. While supportive of the PC Party of Ontario due to its worker-friendly policies, he said Local 793 could not get behind the federal Conservatives or its leader Pierre Poilievre. “We don’t need an enabler government to Donald Trump’s madness,” he explained. The decision would prove to be the correct one just weeks later as Carney returned to Ottawa as PM. Reports Across the weekend, various officers and staff delivered reports, including Vice President Mike Scott, preparing to enter tough negotiations for a new EPSCA contract, Labour
Relations Manager Melissa Atkins- Mahaney, who outlined the steps being taken to block LiUNA’s attempts to muscle in on Local 793 work, and Director of Operations Ken Lew, who spoke on the opportunities for growth in an expanding mining sector. Treasurer and OETIO Executive Director Rick Kerr delivered both the financial report and the training report. Area delegates also outlined work conditions throughout the province. These were: Cody Kuipers (Barrie), Roy Tyer (Belleville), Daniel Collins (Cambridge), Stephen Bianco (Hamilton), Tory Lampman (London), Seth Burt (Sault Ste. Marie), James Fleckie (Sarnia), Greg Kelly (St. Catherines), Daniel Therriault (Thunder Bay), Benoit Daguerre (Timmins), Dylan Penrose and Daniella Dines (Toronto), and Mahmoud Ibari (Windsor).
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