September 1, 2009

TRADES BULLETIN
OCHU GTA Vicepresident Joe Reddy and OCHU GTA Trades rep Jim Tsoutsas prior to a meeting with senior staff of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities about legislation creating a new trades College

Trades College Legislation Update OCHU trades reps lobby Ministry staff
By Joe Reddy

In a meeting with Marsha Seca, Senior Policy Advisor, Ofce of the Hon. John Milloy, and other Ministry of Training, Colleges and University staff, held July 30, OCHU President Michael Hurley, Area 3 V.P. Joe Reddy and Area 3 Trades Rep Jim Tsoutsas, our concerns over the impending Bill 183 were discussed. The discussion took shape after an overview of the legislation and what the College would look like. The framework for the College was taken from a blueprint of existing Colleges ( Nursing, Teachers, Physicians ) with an overlaying theme of selfregulation for the board.

We expressed our concerns over the issue of self-regulation. The College system will leave tradespeople subject to double jeopardy- the possibility of both being red and losing their license to practice their trade. The Ministry intends to retain their control of Apprenticeships, the curriculum, duration, wage schedules up to the point of certication. The ministry intends to create a culture to make the trades more attractive to youth, and see to promoting diversity amongst the trades.

As for the College the goal is to have it operational by Jan, 2012, with the trades boards in place at that time. We expressed the concern that the structure of the new College will leave unionized tradespeople underrepresented on the Colleges trades boards. An approximation of $100 annual fees was indicated. The boards will also have representation based on diversity, including union representation. Questions now remain as to what that would look like.

TRADESBULLETIN September 1, 2009

Urgent Trades Meeting Sept. 25 Called to discuss the legislation

It was indicated that the priority of the Public Appointments Secretariat, would be one of balance in terms of representation. We raised the concern that order in council appointments ( all made by the provincial government ) left the composition of the College completely in the hands of the province.

Both OCHU and CUPE Ontario are making presentations to the legislative committee which is studying Bill 183.
In central bargaining OCHU has just negotiated local union/local hospital apprenticeship committees which are intended to help encourage apprenticeship programs.

Some unions representing trade unions have expressed support for the bill, which will have some measures that are attractive to them. In particular One CUPE hospital local, 1974 in Kingston and the the construction trade unions are supportive of the Kingston General Hospital have a working legislation. apprenticeship program, with a signed letter of agreement and an apprentice working in HVAC. We learned that there are approximately 154 prescribed trades under the Ministry, with The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions is holding a Approximately 25 compulsory trades. There have special trades meeting September 25 at the been no new compulsory trades brought in since Intercontinental Hotel on Bloor Street ( at Avenue 1982. Road ) in Toronto. As for the trades themselves, occupations, or job This meeting is being held to discuss the legislation classications, as we would dene them, are listed as and to give a full update on our meeting with the voluntary trades where certication is not Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. mandated. The Ministry also expressed a great deal of interest in our ability to bring women into apprenticeships, due to our demographics. We would hope to have assistance in developing policy for Hospitals to encourage these apprenticeships.

Barry Bell, Engineer at Clinton Hospital and Don McIntosh, Millwright at St. Marys Hospital will both be affected by the new Trades legislation