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Summer 2013
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REPORT
Just Do IT
Martyn A. Piper
ts no secret that technology is playing a greater role in our lives every year, both personally and professionally. In light of this, Ive asked Murray Ballas with Renatus, the company in charge of the information technology (IT) work for the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers (ARCCAW), to share his companys vision with our members moving forward. From Murray Ballas, BSc, CMA: Would you like fries with that? Technology junk food can stifle the agility of any organization; a healthy balanced lifestyle always gives an organization an edge. Dont get me wrong, the occasional fast food feast isnt the end of the world, but a steady diet of it spells disaster. Technology is not a goal, but should serve a larger vision. Our organization has been guided by people with a passionate vision and our leadership team embraces that tradition. When acquiring technology, play the long game. The media abounds with the disasters of a short-game strategy; many so-called leaders quickly embrace the latest trend, mainly to achieve a quick win. True leaders travel with the crowd when appropriate, but it is vision that guides them, with an understanding that time and effort are required to achieve goals. The ARCCAW is 130 years strong, and understands the importance of the long game. The ARCCAW is making technology investments according to a clear vision, leading the industry in a number of ways. In the past, different parts of the organization only had access to the information they directly collected, creating data silos. The ARCCAW continues to create a series of systems that communicate data and information across the organization so as long as personal privacy is not being violated information updated in one part will be available across the organiza-
tion. For example, something as simple as a change of address can be communicated just once throughout the system. More sophisticated interactions are also possible. When a member registers on the out-of-work list, the system could recognize that one of their certifications is about to expire and enable the member to immediately enroll in the update course. But theres a difference between data and information. Data appears on the scoreboard at your favourite game, and has limited significance until the game is over. Information is what is in the coachs hand and head during the game so he can call the right plays, at the right time. The ARCCAW is leveraging information in the form of its new dispatch system, to launch shortly. It brings together member information, training information, contractor requirements, and third-party information to ensure the right person is on the right job. New technology is there to support members, anytime, anywhere, anyway. Great care must be taken to address these requirements cost-effectively. Anywhere: the ARCCAW systems are deliberately location agnostic. As long as there is some way to get the information there, the system can be instructed to use the appropriate delivery method for that location. Further, a member will be able to select the preferred method of communication for their needs. Anytime: the ARCCAW systems have builtin rules engines so that the system can be taught how to respond in a certain situation. For example, this rules engine is going to be used in ARCCAW to adjudicate health benefit claims, and could be taught to do so even when the administration offices are closed. Anyway: the new ARCCAW systems distinctly separate the message from the messenger. In that way we can leverage and retire
communication methods as it makes sense. Initially, the systems will handle paper, fax, email, web, telephone, text, and likely a smartphone app in the future. This organizations vision, determination and investments are being used to develop a series of systems according to its vision. It will support and strengthen the membership to meet the challenges well into the future, because of its focus on building for tomorrow.
Contents
PublisHeD FoR:
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
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
PublisHeD by:
FEATURES
Take advantage of the unions gym By Matt Smith
10 fit@work
Summer 13
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
PublisHeR
Ruth Kelly
AssociATe PublisHeR
Joyce Byrne
ARccAW eDiToR
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Jordan Wilkins
ART DiRecToR
Charles Burke
DEPARTMENTS
note From the executive secretary Treasurer
By Martyn Piper
Betty-Lou Smith
Brent Felzien, Brandon Hoover Tricia Radison, Scott Rollans, Robin Schroffel, Matt Smith, Samus Smyth
conTRibuTing PHoTogRAPHeRs AnD illusTRAToRs conTRibuTing WRiTeRs
PRoDucTion TecHniciAns
10
site lines
Skills Canada; Third Years Visit ITC; Day of Mourning; Trade Winds to Success
25 KidZone
Birdhouse blueprint
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
27 on the level 28 Around the nation 30 Parting shot 31 Training & events; in memoriam
on THe coVeR: Lafarges Pipe Plant in Edmonton is home to 55 Local 2010 union members PHOTO: Kelly Redinger
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Site Lines
Go Mobile
News in Brief
Its a sign of the times. The website of the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers will soon be accessible from anywhere, on smartphones or tablets. The website will feature a responsive design that reconfigures each page to fit the screen of any device. This will make www.albertacarpenters.com easier to navigate and more user friendly for Brothers and Sisters who want to see the site on their mobile devices. Recent statistics show that more than 55 per cent of the websites views come from iPhones alone. With the plethora of options available, its fair to assume that the percentage of total mobile views is much greater than that. As with the carpenter website, the millwright website will be upgraded with the same technology and have a new look in the months to come. The Local 1460 website, www.albertamillwrights.com, will receive a completely modernized redesign that also incorporates the same userfriendly system for mobile devices.
Site Lines
News in Brief
Winds of Change
Bob Hugh is quick to point out the changing demographic in the current Trade Winds to Success millwright program at the Alberta Millwright Training Centre (MWTC). Of the five participants in the eight-week training course, three are female. As the senior business agent of Local 1460, Hugh knows that the Trade Winds to Success program has produced numerous union members over the years, and he says that it is particularly exciting to see the uptick in numbers of future Sisters. Trades Winds to Success is a really good program that we are very proud of. Weve seen a lot of our Brothers and Sisters come through the course, he says. Its great to know that well see even more in the future. Trade Winds to Success is a 16-week Aboriginal pre-apprenticeship training program that provides students with the skills and knowledge to start a trades career in several of Albertas most popular trades, to become carpenters and millwrights. The program consists of three stages. The first stage is a two-week trades orientation to ensure the student has made an informed career choice and selected the career path best suited to them. The second stage is a four-week upgrading course to confirm the student has the knowledge to pass the Alberta Industry Trade
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Exam. Once completed, the students can start the third stage, an eightweek shop training course at a facility like the MWTC to learn the basic skills needed to become an apprentice. On the completion of the course the students have the chance to become the unions newest Brothers and Sisters. The Trade Winds to Success program started in 2005 after discussions between the Building Trades of Alberta (BTA) and the federal and provincial governments. BTA was seeking the governments support to find a way to provide training to more people through existing training facilities, with the ultimate goal of increasing the skilled labour available to the industry. The federal government guided BTA to consult with the Aboriginal community as a potential partner for the initiative. This created a partnership between the federal and provincial governments and the Aboriginal communities to dramatically increase the number of Aboriginal people in Alberta working in the trades. The Trade Winds to Success program is non-profit organization that provides the skills and knowledge to Aboriginals in Alberta who are interested in pursuing a career as a boilermaker, carpenter, electrician, ironworker, millwright, plumber, steam/pipe fitter, or welder. For more information on Trade Winds to Success, or to see a full schedule of future intakes for the program, visit www.tradewindstosuccess.ca.
Retirement Ready
Its fitting that Dan McCarthys official retirement ceremony was held in conjunction with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) annual leadership convention in Toronto earlier this year. McCarthy, a lawyer by training, is known as a great leader within the UBC since he joined as the Canadian director of research and special programs in 1996. In that time he has worked closely with district vicepresident Jim Smith on the restructuring that created in the strong and streamlined regional council system that the union enjoys today. One of McCarthys most notable achievements is his work on training with the National Apprenticeship and Training Advisory Committee (NATAC). Under his guidance, training centres previously operating in isolation developed into a national network that communicates, shares curriculum and best practices, and aligns training standards for the betterment of the membership. McCarthy was also on the forefront of the UBCs shareholder activism where the UBC used union investments to leverage and promote proper accounting practices and to reign in excessive executive compensation in corporations. This initiative brought the UBC to national attention in the press. Officers and staff of the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers (ARCCAW) were heavily involved in attending corporate annual general meetings and boardroom discussions involved with the shareholder activism. ARCCAW would like to congratulate Dan McCarthy on his retirement and his great contributions to the UBC.
fit @ work
TrAInInG DAyS G
The unions gym facility should be viewed as a fitness resource instead of as just another weight room
By MATT SMITH
10
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iant health clubs have tens of thousands of paying members who sign up to use their facilities. The interesting thing is, between the New Years resolution crowd and people who cant find the time to go to the gym, only a portion of these members actually trains at the facility on a regular basis. Unfortunately, this is exactly what these large health clubs want; it comes down to a numbers game where they want as many paying members as possible with the least amount of wear and tear on their equipment. The unions gym facility is different. At the training centre, we want wear and tear on our equipment and we love to see our members living active and healthy lifestyles. There are no profit margins or membership requirements to hit each month. Our only goal is a well-maintained
if they just bought a membership that was in close proximity to their house. But, ask yourself this: how much time would you save if you received all the right information handed to you on a silver platter before you started in the gym? How much stress would this save you in the long run and how motivated and confident would you feel when entering any facility? How much would this information and instruction normally cost you if you went to see a trainer at your local health club that may or may not have the experience you need? A gym is a gym is a gym, but the accessibility of proper resources can be invaluable. Your union supplies both. The benefit of the The benefit of the union gym is not just being union gym is not just able to use a free facility once in a while, but being able to use a the idea that you can save massive amounts free facility once in of time, money and progress by learning from a while, but the idea that you can save an experienced trainer familiar with all the massive amounts physical demands of industrial work. of time and money, and make progress by learning from an experienced trainer opportunity for great careers to support busy familiar with all the physical demands of lifestyles. Although important, staying in shape is a secondary priority. Thats not to say industrial work. This trainer can teach you all the basics and set you up with a program our facility cant help you get in shape. Is our that you can take with you wherever you go, facility filled with top tier equipment? Yes. Is whether its another gym, your home or the gym used by our membership? Absolutely. while staying in camp. But, do all the members in our union get to Basically, you dont need to come to the fitexperience the benefits as much as theyd ness centre every day for months on end just to like? No. This is of course the obvious dilemtry and take advantage of it being part of your ma with our facility. Im going to put a differmembership. Instead, think about how it can ent spin on how this health centre can be a help you reach your overall goals. Maybe what more effective resource instead of just a desworks best for you is to stop by once in a while tination to lift weights. and get your program pumped up or ask any If I were to sit down with a new client or questions you need answered from someone give advice to someone wanting to start a whos been there and knows exactly how to workout program, my first piece of advice help you. I can only meet you halfway but am would be to find a gym as close as possible willing to put forward as much effort as youre to their home or work. This is extremely willing to. If you have any suggestions on how important as it removes a common excuse for to create a stronger resource everyone can avoiding exercise. When we know our gym is benefit from, feel free to contact me. I receive just down the street, its much easier to stay emails all the time and Im open to answering compliant with our fitness goals. With that any and all questions regarding your fitness in mind, I wouldnt expect someone to drive challenges. No matter which way you slice it, from the opposite side of the city through health and fitness continues to grow in imporrush hour traffic and spend copious amounts tance in our society and is quickly becoming a of money on gas to use a free gym. Frankly, major part of almost every industry. At some theyd probably save money, time and stress health centre that benefits our Brothers and Sisters. Unfortunately, Im not sure everyone sees the gym in this way. I feel like we were all expecting the gym to run like a large commercial fitness centre where members have it in place for their daily routine. The reality is its an entirely different beast than your typical gym, and this is not bad or good just different. Unlike the large fitness facilities whose membership consists strictly of people wanting to stay fit, our membership consists of hard-working individuals whose main focus is to be part of a strong union that allows for fair wages, safety of its workers and an
point, we need to step back and appreciate being part of a union that supports the health and well-being of its members. If youd like more information, please contact Matthew at matt@smithtrained.com . Working with all types of trades and athletes, Matthew is a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, National Strength and Conditioning Association and National Academy of Sports Medicine.
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PiPeline
Down the
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ocal 2010 workers at the Lafarge Pipe Plant in Edmonton have been working hard to keep up with demand recently, but the 55 union members at the plant have exceeded expectations according to Rick Orrell, the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers (ARCCAW) business representative for industrial shops. Since its construction five years ago the Lafarge plant has been staffed strictly by Local 2010 union members (with the exception of the administrative team, who are employed by Lafarge). Because of the complex process involved with manufacturing concrete pipe at the plant, Local 2010 isnt only comprised of carpenters and millHARDHAT SUMMER 2013
wrights like most of the other unions represented by the ARCCAW. Pipefitters, electricians, plumbers and just about every other construction trade is represented by Local 2010. Logistically, Local 2010 makes it easier for shops that include workers from multiple trades to make the smart choice and unionize. Orrell says that, since the union was created over a decade ago, shops from all corners of Alberta have joined, increasing from the original 7 industrial shops to a total of 11 in that time. Still, Orrell says that Local 2010 is always looking for more shops to join the union and encourages anyone looking for more information to visit the ARCCAW website at www.albertacarpenters.com.
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Fast Track
By SAmuS SmyTH
The
ACTCs Period 1 and 2 classes are the way to go for carpentry apprentices
he Alberta Carpenters Training Centre (ACTC) offers first and second year apprentices the opportunity to skip the usual lengthy wait period accompanying postsecondary training courses and attend equivalent classes at the Edmonton facility. While many carpentry apprentices are often forced to wait as long as a year to finally be accepted into a class at one of the primary postsecondary institutions in the province, there is currently no waiting list for the ACTCs upcoming Period 1 and 2 programs. This has left many at the training centre scratching their heads over why more union members arent taking full advantage and jumping to the front of the line to finish their first and second year apprenticeships.
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BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS: As a final project, each Period 2 student constructed a childrens playhouse. The project was selected because it incorporates a lot of the basic carpentry skills, just on a smaller scale.
Instructor Wilf Pipke admits that more advertising may be the key to ensuring union members are aware that the Period 1 and Period 2 classes are available. Nonetheless, he continues to endorse the programs highly as he sees many apprentices benefit from the substantially smaller classes and experienced instructors. There is more individual time for students because we want to give them a great education, explains Pipke. We can take the time to go through everything because of the low volume of people in our classes. The centre follows essentially the same format a student would receive at SAIT or NAIT, but with a student-teacher ratio that encourages greater access to the instructor. While SAIT and NAIT classes will generally have about 20 students per class, the centres Period 2 class never has more than 12 students at one time. Drew Godberson, a 27-year-old Brother, is currently enrolled in this intimate learning environment. He, too, has a hard time understanding why more carpenters arent taking advantage of the Period 1 and 2 programs that the centre offers and says that the ability for carpenters to gain their first and second level apprenticeship training at the centre is a great opportunity that his fellow Brothers and Sisters should look into. Godberson also knows how frustrating it can be to put your career on hold due to a lack of class availability. After successfully challenging his first-year exam, he contacted NAIT to inquire about registering for his Period 2 training. He originally asked in January 2013 and was disappointed to hear that there was no room available until the following December. Disappointed but not discouraged, Godberson signed his union papers shortly thereafter and was ecstatic to hear of the opportunity to complete his second-year training through the union and at a fraction of the cost of the NAIT program. Youd pay $1,000 at NAIT for this course, says Colin Belliveau, another instructor at the training centre. Here, you pay $10. That low price does not come with low expectations, says Pipke, adding that the unions courses cover the same basic curriculum as the post-secondary equivalents. Its a heavy load. When you come for those eight weeks, youre going to work, believe me. You dont just sit
in class for a couple of hours. If you want to succeed and do well, youre going to be doing some homework every night. Godberson agrees that the program is no walk in the park but says that it has been vital in honing his skill set as a carpenter. I wish I would have done this when I was 18 years old, he says. Godberson has been enrolled at the ACTC since May 13, and he credits the small class size as a great attribute to his overall learning experience thus far. Everybody gets to know each other really well. We are all helping each other out somehow, and you get more one-on-one time with the instructor, he explains. It makes for a nice atmosphere to work and study in. To assure his own success in the program, Godberson took the advice of his instructors and started visualizing every project as early as possible in the construction stage. This technique has made him a better carpenter because he now has an inherently better understanding of every project before he even begins. You have to find a way that the project can relate to you, he says. Find a way that you can visualize what you are learning and then picture it in your head and apply it to a real-life situation. This sort of creativity is a vital characteristic to the program. Pipke assigned his students, who recently completed the Period 2 program, a final project where each one had to construct a playhouse completely from scratch. A childrens playhouse is ideal because they learn everything, just on a smaller scale, Pipke explains. We incorporated everything into these houses and it has worked quite well. We had them do the siding, the roofing; they got to touch on almost everything except the foundation. The next Period 1 class will begin October 1. Period 2 will be open for January 6. Complete schedules are available online at www.abcarptc.ab.ca . Besides apprentices, Pipke recommends that Brothers and Sisters of all skill levels take advantage of the courses available as the union continues to build upon having the most skilled labour force in the industry. You can never have too much knowledge, says Pipke. I have yet to meet a man who is too smart.
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Always Wear Safety Goggles. Copyright Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
Good Day
By TRICIA RADIson
A PERI
Instructors become students for a day and master the PERI UP scaffolding system with help from PERI representatives
hange is a constant in construction. Its essential to know about the latest technologies, techniques and equipment, and that means instructors have to return to the classroom every now and again. Recently, industry leader PERI Scaffolding Services Inc. paid a visit to the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre to spend a day teaching instructors how to work with the PERI UP scaffolding system. Based in Germany with offices around the world, PERI is the largest manufacturer and provider of formwork and scaffolding on the planet. The PERI UP system is modular and highly flexible, and scaffolders employed by PERI are exposed to a variety of different components that they need to know how to use. Scaffolding is a massive component of the industry in Alberta, especially in the oil sands, where workers must comply with some of the highest standards in the world. Len Bryden, director of training and apprenticeship at the training centre, thought that training apprentices on the PERI UP system would benefit those who will be working with the system in the future, helping to ensure that they are able to set up the systems safely. And, to ensure that the apprentices are up to par on the system, its imperative that the training centres instructors are as well.
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Greg Smith is one of the instructors who attended PERI Day. He worked in the scaffolding industry in the oil sands for 31 years before becoming an instructor and he says that PERI UP systems have been designed to overcome some of the problems related to traditional scaffolding in the area. In particular, they make it much easier to get around obstacles. Scaffolding in those big plants has to go around all kinds of obstacles. This system is so modular that it makes doing that a lot easier. For example, you can just create an opening and put a smaller component in. Everything works in increments too; you can increase or decrease the size and everything will still work together, explains Smith. Rod Skelton, western regional manager, and Dave Lawrence, western resource manager, were the PERI representatives who provided the training for PERI Day. The session began with a PowerPoint presentation that included photographs of some of the many projects around the world where PERI UP has been used. There were also images of the various components of the system. Because the images could be rotated 360 degrees, the instructors got a comprehensive view of each piece. PERI shared engineering data with the group as well. Smith says that he was pleased to discover that PERI has this kind of data, particularly
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SKY HIGH: The modular PERI UP system provides the flexibility workers in the oil sands need
really important. And if we didnt have a certain tool, either they did to prove that its scaffolding can be used as a fall arrest anchor. With other systems, people are tying off to the scaffolding but they or they could get it quickly and easily from PERIs yard in Edmonton, he explains. are not always sure if its strong enough. The only way you can really It took the instructors most of the afternoon to set up the system trust that its strong enough is to have something in writing to back it and they now feel prepared to teach apprentices to do the same. The up. Otherwise its just hearsay, he says. system will remain assembled to give students the opportunity to see Along with providing training, PERI donated a PERI UP system to what it is supposed to look like and the training centre, complete with Scaffolding is a massive component of the to visually examine how its put a stair system, vertical ladders and together before they take it apart cantilevers. This is the second sysindustry in Alberta, especially in the oil and rebuild it. tem the company has generously sands where workers must comply with Having industry provide given the training centre. After some of the highest standards in the world. resources the way PERI has done is studying written material about the important to instructors like Smith and to the union as it helps ensure donated system, the instructors headed to the shop to put their new future apprentices have the best education possible. theoretical knowledge to the test. We want our apprentices trained and able to take on any companys The system they provided has the kind of layout where PERI can product, safely and efficiently, says Smith. Its important for the incorporate a lot of different components. Its a good instructional companies too and it helps us make sure our union membership is able scaffolding with a bit of everything you might see, says Smith. to obtain work in the future. Smith adds that having Skelton and Lawrence with the group while The Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers they set up the system was another huge benefit of PERI Day. would like to thank PERI Scaffolding Services, Rod Skelton and Dave Many of the instructors didnt have a lot of experience with PERI Lawrence for providing PERI Day. UP. Having PERI representatives there to answer questions was
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19
Build Your
By ScoTT RollAnS
Future
Now is the right time to pursue a career in the construction trades
20
or young people today contemplating university, but worried about student debt and uncertain job prospects Wilf Pipke offers a suggestion. Carpentry has always been a solid, satisfying career choice, and these days, learning the trade makes more sense than ever. Through an apprenticeship, any capable and determined young person can emerge from the training process not just debt-free but with money in the bank, says Pipke, an instructor at the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre in Edmonton. When you finish off your apprenticeship, you really shouldnt be in any debt at all, as far as student loans or anything else. And every time you go to school, you get an increase in your salary. After four years as an apprentice, an emerging journeyman should never have to fret about finding work in a construction-mad province like Alberta. But, job security like this may not be available for those taking the university path, Pipke points out. Sometimes, you come out [of university] and are not really guaranteed a job. Thats not to say youre not qualified to do something, but youre maybe a little less employable. With demand for carpenters currently outstripping supply, governments and employers offer plenty of incentives to make apprenticeship even more appealing. The latest example of this is the
Canada Job Grant, a system of matching federal, provincial and employer Public Schools Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) had funding that can provide up to $15,000 per person towards accredited drifted away from carpentry before taking a second look at the training programs in skilled trades. The program will be launched in 2014, trade in his 20s. Now re-indentured as a carpenter apprentice with full implementation planned for 201718. By that time, the federal by PCL, hes simultaneously pursuing his ticket in scaffolding government says the program will provide funding support for nearly through courses offered at the Edmonton training centre. Im 130,000 Canadians each year. a third year scaffolder, and Im doing my The starting qualifications for a beginning In other jobs, you can work second year as a carpenter now. So, Ill be carpenter are pretty straightforward, says for months on a project, and a third year after this assuming I pass! Colin Belliveau, who also instructs at the he laughs. when youre done you might training centre. Attitude would be the big Beauchamp enjoys the hands-on have nothing to show for it. For nature of the work, and the feeling of one, he says. If youre willing to learn, you can go a long way. us, we have something to show accomplishment you enjoy when you And you have to be responsible enough to for it. When were done, theres produce a tangible result. I just like what come to work every day, adds Pipke. To be you can do with wood, he says. You have a house, and somebodys going the creativity to build things. You can think, there on time, and to take pride in your work. to live in that house. If youve got those things and most people Oh, I want to build a house, or I want to do, if they think about it youre going to be a build some furniture. good carpenter. Youre going to be in demand all the time. Belliveau sees a similar sentiment in many of the students. Pipke encourages young people to start with the union and to stay In other jobs, you can work for months on a project, and when with the union. Weve got people that stick together and look out for youre done you might have nothing to show for it. For us, we have each other it really is a brotherhood, he says. Our benefits package something to show for it. When were done, theres a house, and is second to none, and weve got a great pension package. somebodys going to live in that house. Young people with little or no carpentry experience can contact Adds Pipke, Ive been at this game for over 40 years. I can drive the union for advice on finding entry-level work in the trade. Once all around the city, and say, I worked on that job or I worked on you become indentured with an employer, the union offers excellent that building. If theres a building there, and its still standing, then training opportunities for its members. I guess we did it right! Levi Beauchamp is one member taking advantage of the unions For information on training as a carpenter, visit training opportunities. The 24-year-old graduate of the Edmonton www.abcarptc.ab.ca.
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Instructor Update
By ROBIN SCHROFFEL
Millwright Mentor F
rom large-scale turbines, refineries and coal mines to breweries, package handling and printing presses, theres not much Dave Knight hasnt done during his 46 years as a millwright. Not all of it, but Ive seen pretty well the whole outlay of the millwright world, he says. Knight is not just the president of Local 1460 a role hes held since 1988hes also the Alberta Millwright Training Centres coordinator and an instructor at the facility. His career started in a machine shop in Vancouver just after high school. In 1967, he headed to Alberta to take a job with Great Canadian Oil Sands at the companys first oil sands plant. Knight joined the millwright union in 1969, and when he got his ticket, spent the next 35 years travelling around Western Canada doing turnaround work, specializing in turbines. By chance, Knight was working for a contractor installing the large Peter Brotherhood compressor at the then-new training centre when Bob Hugh approached him about sticking around to set things up, install the props and develop the curriculum. Knight accepted. Since that time, hes developed and refurbished training tools such as various pumps and a small seven-stage General Electric turbine that was originally used in a pulp mill. In September, well have been at the training centre here for five years, he says. Before that, we had nothing we had to work out of an office. Knight enjoys mentoring the millwright apprentices and passing down the knowledge hes gained from all his years in the field. Mentorship is key to the success of the millwright apprentices, a concept hes also worked hard to instill in the journeymen. Mentorship is something that was very hard to come by many years ago. When I started out, the apprentices werent all that well thought of. We usually just picked things up as we went along, he says. Under Knights leadership, the number of millwright apprentices has exploded from about 15 a decade ago to around 350 today. I did rally the troops to say, Listen, you guys,
we have to hire apprentices here, otherwise this trade is going to go the way of the dodo bird. At the training centre, he and colleague Jim Archer have customized the curriculum, often going over and above even what the International Training Centre in Las Vegas provides. Theyve added elements like laser alignment and different procedures for turbine inspection, better preparing apprentices for work in the Alberta oil and gas industry. We work on an Alberta standard, Knight says. And, as those the industry know, there is none higher.
DavE KNIgHt
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HaRDHat SUMMER 2013
By ROBIN SCHROFFEL
apprenticeship program. He attended culinary school back on Vancouver Island, intending to become a cook, and headed out to Fort Nelson to find a cooking job in one of the camps. But, he arrived at a bad time and, broke and unemployed, his luck turned and he found himself with a job offer from the sawmill. He was on the bus to Whitecourt that very day. It was there where I started working with the millwrights and, like I said, thats when I knew I wanted to become one myself. Now, here I am.
NICk ZEttERBERg
HARDHAt SUMMER 2013
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REPORT
n the previous issue of Hard Hat, I mentioned our training schedule, some upcoming offerings and how busy the construction industry continues to be in Alberta. Once again, I encourage all of our Brothers and Sisters to contact the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre (ACTC) in Edmonton and continue to look for openings in our programs. We offer a wide range of courses and programs that are valuable to all skill sets. Since our last issue, we have continued to train hundreds of members every month with various courses in our centres around Alberta, as well as fund hundreds more for our members in all corners of the province. In addition, we have promoted ourselves and our various skills during events like Skills Canada, our annual Carpenters Apprenticeship Contest (as well as the more recently added Scaffolder Games) and other similar events. These events and meetings take effort for everyone involved and Id like to thank anyone who helped out. Our involvement during these events is imperative in order to promote the future apprentices in our trades. The Provincial Skills Canada Competition was a two-day event that saw over 1,000 young people go through our Try-A-Trade booth and learn exactly what a carpenter does. I want to thank the Period 2 Carpentry class, as well as the two different scaffold classes I recruited to help with the setup, for their involvement with the event. They did a great job manning the occasion and then dismantling the equipment once the day was over. There was a fair amount of work involved, and Im proud to say that our members pulled more than their fair share of the workload. I also recruited Sister Crystal Bowen who did a great job as a Skills Canada ambassador. We look forward to working with the Skills Canada group next year, which will mark our fifth year of doing so. As I write this report, tens of thousands of people are struggling to deal with the massive flooding in Alberta that occurred in June. I urge all members to do what they can to assist and help rebuild these destroyed and damaged areas of our province. Be warned though: these are times when the predators come out of hiding; the unscrupulous businesses and contractors that see an opportunity to make a buck off of others misfortunes. This is when our union principles of fair play, fair work and justice should
Len J. Bryden, Director of Training and Apprenticeship Alberta Carpenters Training Centre
be most apparent. It angers me greatly to know that this unfortunate disaster can bring out the worst in some people when it should be a time for everyone to come together. Use your talents and your skills to make sure your neighbours are not scammed by some fly-bynight contractor that promises the world. They usually expect money up front and disappear immediately after their shoddy job is finished; thats if they even show up at all after they receive payment. Be careful. That being said, I want to thank all the good businesses and various contractors that have stepped up and really shined during this difficult time. Lets not forget all of the union workers, from emergency responders, to doctors and nurses, police, and our military, for the work they do for all of us during unforeseeable events like this. Good luck to everyone affected by the flood; my thoughts are with you all.
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KidZone
By ROBIN SCHROFFEL
Matching Game
Have you seen these backyard birds? See if you can match each birds photo to its name.
r r r r r
6.
Word Search
Birds of Alberta Hidden in this puzzle are the names of just a few of the many birds found in Alberta. Can you find them all? BLACKBIRD BLUEJAY CHICKADEE CROW DUCK FALCON FINCH GOOSE LOON MAGPIE NUTHATCH OWL PARTRIDGE ROBIN SEAGULL SPARROW SWALLOW THRUSH WOODPECKER WREN
MATCHING GAME ANSWERS: Red-winged blackbird-1; Robin-2 ; Magpie-3; Sparrow-4; Chickadee-5;
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REPORT
Online Upgrade
fter five years with our current website, Local 1460 has decided to take a step in the right direction by incorporating a new look for our online presence. Our website is currently undergoing an upgrade that will come with plenty of enhancements and a large scope of future improvements. Our first website was commissioned back in 2008. We were content to conserve money and were pleased that the little money we spent resulted in a well-designed site that was, at the time, good enough for what we needed. However, as the amount of content and the number of users grew, we became aware of its limitations, both in terms of flexibility of content display as well as in terms of the processes involved in updating the site. We commissioned Parcom Online, the company that produced the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers (ARCCAW) website, www.albertacarpenters. com, to redesign our site and to incorporate a new content management system that will make the site a dream to update with new content. During the upgrade, Parcom is focusing on several key aspects of our site. It is being redesigned in a way that will present our content in a more contemporary and refreshing way. We hope to look quite professional, yet keep it exciting at the same time. Parcom is applying whats known as a responsive design to the website. This means that whether you look at it on a laptop, an iPad, or a smartphone, the layout of the pages will neatly adjust to the proportions of the screen youre viewing it on. Finally, Parcom is using a platform for the site called Drupal, which is an entirely open-source platform. Im told that this means the programming of all of the sites components and functions is freely available on the web. No one owns and no one sells it. This gives us tremendous future control of our site, one of the reasons, we suppose, that the White House recently switched all of its web sites over to the Drupal platform as well. The new site will enable us to create new pages and sub-pages quite easily. Well be able to show more photographs. We think youll be impressed with the user-friendly presentation of the dispatch list. We also plan to add a lot of detail to the training
section, including bullet points that will outline the content of each training program. There will be direct links to the training office so you can express your interest in specific courses. And, of course, in time it will be easy to link our new-look website to a future live, online job-bid system, a project thats regrettably behind schedule. On the positive side, our new website should be up and running by the end of July, and once its up, thats just the beginning; www.albertamillwrights.com will continue to be upgraded and improved in the future to ensure it meets all of your needs.
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on the level
MY Three-DaY immeRsioN
I knew Id gain a lot of knowledge that wouldnt stay in Vegas
By Nique BRuce, Third Year Scaffolder
ttending the third year apprenticeship program in Las Vegas was truly an inspiring experience. The program was very motivating for me, not to mention extremely informative. The instructors and other union members treated everyone with amazing hospitality, and I know I can speak for the entire group when I say that our expectations were well exceeded. I am very glad to have this opportunity to share the experience with my Brothers and Sisters because this was an amazing weekend and the messages behind this program are for everyone. Throughout the weekend, we learned about the industry and also the Brotherhood. We had the opportunity to meet a panel of major contractors from across Canada as well as the general president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Douglas J. McCarron. Douglas was also very keen to hear our feedback from Canada and assess any of our concerns. We had the chance to ask any questions we wanted and we quickly learned that the contractors need and respect us just as much as we need and respect them. An
interesting fact we learned is that a contractor only makes an average of three to six per cent profit from each job. The goal of the program is to achieve 70 per cent of the market share. In other words, to have 70 per cent of the work in North America signed to the union. This would mean less competition with non-union companies, more work for union members and, ultimately, increased job security and more money in our pockets. We were also reminded that a good attitude, efficient mentoring skills and a positive work ethic will make this goal attainable and will make life easier on the job. Because this goal is so important to the union, the UBC wants to share this message with all members. With that in mind, the union is working hard toward bringing every third year and journeyman apprentice to the training centre in the coming years to share this message. I believe this is an important note because it displays that the program is intended for each and every one of us. It was an amazing experience and I am very excited for the apprentices who will be attending in the future.
HARDHAT SUMMER 2013
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Home
L
ast summer, Habit for Humanity Edmonton (HFHE) proudly unveiled the first ever Union Built Home for an Edmonton family. It was the first time that one of the organizations houses was built completely by volunteers from Building Trades of Alberta unions. This year union members are once again showing their philanthropic attitude by volunteering their time and skills to build another home for another family in need. The project officially started at HFHEs pre-fabrication shop on May 2 and work will wrap up this November. Since this is a non-jurisdictional build, project organizers have invited members of building trades unions to lend a hand throughout
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Parting Shot
For as long as machines have been a driving force behind industry, millwrights have been there to ensure the machines were properly assembled and meeting maximum capacity. The beginning of the 1880s saw the dawn of the machine age; a particularly important time for millwrights, especially in the emerging industrial societies around the globe. The millwright trade had come a long way from its roots in the construction of flour and paper mills; the trade had evolved to incorporate the important machines of the day such as turbines, purifiers and mechanical belts.
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UPCOMING
Training + Events
May 12 to May 23, 2014 June 23 to July 6, 2014 OSSA Confined Space: July 20, 2013 July 26, 2013 August 4, 2013 (Calgary) August 8, 2013 August 9, 2013 August 17, 2013 August 23, 2013 August 31, 2013 OSSA Fall Protection: July 13, 2013 July 16, 2013 July 19, 2013 July 23, 2013 July 27, 2013 July 30, 2013 August 2, 2013 August 3, 2013 (Calgary) August 6, 2013 August 10, 2013 August 16, 2013 August 20, 2013 August 24, 2013 August 24, 2013 (Calgary) August 27, 2013 August 30, 2013 Period 1 Carpentry: May 20 to July 11, 2014 Period 2 Carpentry: January 6 to February 28, 2014 Pre-Employment Carpentry Program: July 29 to September 20, 2013 March 10 to May 2, 2014 Rigging: December 9 to December 13, 2013 Standard First Aid & CPR: July 20 and July 21, 2013 August 3 and August 4, 2013 August 17 and August 18, 2013 August 31 and September 1, 2013 UBC Builders Level and Transit: July 22 to July 26, 2013 December 16 to December 20, 2013 Millwrights training Centre Visit www.albertamillwrights.com for a current listing of training courses available.
In Memoriam
ARCCAW notes with sorrow the passing of the following members.
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 sampling of training courses that are open for registration at the time of publication of this edition of Hard Hat. For full listing or more information on training courses, visit www.abcarptc.ab.ca or phone the Edmonton office at 780-455-6532 or toll-free at 1-877-455-6532. All courses are at the Edmonton location unless otherwise indicated. Aerial Work Platform: July 15 and July 16, 2013 July 27 and July 28, 2013 August 17 and August 18, 2013 October 7 and October 8, 2013 October 26 and October 27, 2013 November 4 and November 5, 2013 Blueprint Reading 1 & 2: July 15 to July 19, 2013 December 9 to December 13, 2013 Commercial Door Hardware Installation Course: March 10 to March 14, 2014 (Calgary) April 7 to April 11, 2014 May 26 to May 30, 2014 (Calgary) Forklift / Zoom Boom (Power Industrial Truck Operator): July 13 and July 14, 2013 July 17 and July 18, 2013 September 28 and September 29, 2013 October 10 and October 11, 2013 November 7 and November 8, 2013 November 21 and November 22, 2013 H2S Alive (Enform Certified): July 14, 2013 July 21, 2013 July 28, 2013 August 4, 2013 August 11, 2013 August 18, 2013 August 25, 2013 Industrial Technical Training: January 27 to February 9, 2014 March 24 to April 6, 2014 May 5 to May 18, 2014
lOCal 1325 Gary Cooper April 2013, Age 62 Theodore Langner May 2013, Age 87 Walter Maslanko May 2013, Age 91 Charles Morris May 2013, Age 51 local 1460 Robert Namor April 2013, Age 62 Sam Yarrow April 2013, Age 86 local 2103 Art Loude May 2013, Age 60
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