Bruce with Teddy Peterson, middle, (56 year member) and Manuel at a Union meeting in Vancouver.

Transcription

1 Spring 2012 Construction & Specialized Workers Union, Local 1611 represents the largest number of retired members, 1100 LIUNA A Proud Affiliate of the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) CSWU Local 1611 Retiree Council Executive Board R.L. McDonald President Manuel Alvernaz Secretary-Treasurer H.T. (Bud) Smith Recording-Secretary Jack Fierreira Manuel Figueiredo Merrick Walsh Trustees Words from R.L. Dear Brothers and Sisters; The start of this year weather wise was terrific and I just hope it continues on through the summer as we have a busy one ahead of us. This year is the 75th Anniversary of the Local, so we intend to celebrate it properly. When we go on the Kootenay Trip in September we have changed the format a little bit. At every dinner the working members and their wives will be invited, this will apply to all our functions this year and this should liven things up a bit. All of the luncheons and dinners will be held in the month of September and this will include Victoria, Nanaimo and Prince George. The Vancouver Christmas Party will also include the working members and their wives so we should have quite a crowd this year. Mark your calendar for December 8, The Canadian Conference of our International Union is to be held in Vancouver this year. Two by-elections are coming up in B.C., and we certainly need the NDP to win these seats. The seats are in Port Moody and Chilliwack so if that is your area be sure to get out and vote for the NDP candidate. On behalf of the Retiree Council, we would like to thank CSWU Local 1611 Executive Board for all their help. R.L. (Robert) McDonald President Retiree Council Bruce Ferguson Union Liason Don (Stretch) Strank Advisor Tom Petras LIUNA National Retiree Council Representative for Western Canada Bruce with Teddy Peterson, middle, (56 year member) and Manuel at a Union meeting in Vancouver. Tommy Blair receiving his 50 year gold watch and card from Bruce VANCOUVER - LOWER MAINL AND RETIREE MEETINGS 2012 April 22 and August 26, 2012 starting at 1:30pm Location: Clock Tower (above piano shop in Circle Square) donuts and coffee to be served See inside for 2012 Events

2 YOUR RETIREE VOICE MUST BE HEARD Once again, we need to call on our retirees to get involved, to contact both the federal and provincial governments, to let your voices be heard. We must not take it anymore. FEDERAL CONSERVATIVES Prime Minister Harper is slowly, but surely changing our country forever. We will not recognize Canada, when he is finished. Some examples; Billions of dollars spent on new prisons. More billions spent on new fighter jets. Raising the entitlement age for Old Age Security (OAS) to age 67. Spying on the s of Canadians, without a warrant. Purposely underfunding health care. Cutting environmental standards and cutting food and product inspections. And who knows, who the controlling mind was, in the latest election fraud allegations, where Canadian citizens were called and told to go to non-existent phony polls, or harassed on the phone. A judicial inquiry must be called. PROVINCIAL LIBERALS Can you believe the latest BC Liberal budget? BC Hydro, ICBC, MSP, and gas tax increases, and no tax relief for lower income seniors and families. Despicable. Canada is still a wonderful country, thanks in large part to retirees like you, who have built and serviced this province. Now, both the Federal Conservatives and Provincial Liberals are deliberately destroying the very social fabric of Canada. We ask that our retirees contact both levels of government, and let them know your views. If enough of us speak out, we will be heard. We must take our Country and Province back. This is the start. Federal Conservatives # Albert St., Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5G4 to , go to the website under contact. Provincial Liberals PO Box 21014, Waterfront Centre, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3K3 premier@gov.bc.ca In closing, on a better note, we very much look forward to seeing all of our retirees at our 75th Anniversary events, to be held around the province, starting this fall. They will be fun. Please take care, and stay healthy and safe ROLAND B. GORDON SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Winner s Name member s Name Alex Pang $1, Wendy Tse Burnaby Darcy Neu $1, Dan Neu Armstrong Mark Olsen Business Manager Bruce Ferguson President Rick Clarkson Secretary Treasurer (l to r) Nav Maholtra Business Rep. with Local 1611 member Wendy Tse and her son, Alex Pang holding his Roland B. Gordon Scholarship Award with Richard Saunders Workers Advocate and Bruce Ferguson President of 1611.

3 Autobiography: Alisdair (Dair) Miller Diamond in the Rough by Alisdair Miller and R.L. McDonald I was born in North Vancouver and raised in East Vancouver and was very proud to be called and East Ender. Growing up money was still pretty tight so if you wanted any spending money you worked for it. Hot walking horses at Hasting Park was one of my jobs. I got up at 5:00 am and worked 3 hours before going to school. My friends said I smelled Horsey at times as I never had time to shower. Eventually gave this up for a 100 customer paper route. My dad was a Driller and Drill Mechanic for Boyles Brothers Drilling. The company would let me work in the shop and warehouse on my summer holidays. After I finished school it seemed only natural that I would continue working on the Drills. There was lots of drilling going on so I had no problems hiring on as a helper. It took me 2 years working as a helper before I was upgraded to a Driller. That was something every helper worked for. Working on the Drills was a great way to make a living and also to see lots of different parts of Canada and get paid at the same time. Diamond Drilling is like any other job in the construction industry. It s as safe as you want to make it. Drilling up at Goldbridge, my helper and I had to run for cover when some boulders came flying down the mountain in line with our drill. We ran for cover, but a piece nailed me and I ended up in Bralorne Hospital with a broken back. A blast on the other side of the valley set this movement in motion. That was the itchiest six months I ever had, as I was in a body cast. When the Second Narrows Bridge went down, I was at the north end of the bridge with a drill setup. We could hear this popping sound which was the bolts letting go and then the bridge came down. That is one scene I will never forget, and I still think about it to this day! Working in Smithers in 1968 we were underground drilling at Hudson Bay Mountain. I banged up my foot pretty bad and they had to cut the boot off me. While recuperating in town, Bill Milner Business Manager of the Tunnel and Rock Workers Local 168, asked me if I would like to give the Diamond Driller Business Our dear Brother, Alisdair (Dair) Miller Agent a hand. The B.A. passed away on Saturday March 10, retired very shortly after so I asked to take his place. This was a great challenge as we had just come into the Local shortly before, we were previously Mine/Mill. At one time we had the majority of Drill Companies under our Local s Agreement. There was lots of drilling going on and these were very good years for the men and the Local. Due to health problems in 1988 I was forced to retire. I found it was just to difficult to continue and do the job the way I wanted. My wife Norma and I have made our home in Brackendale (near Squamish), and have the pleasure of having our children close by. I would like to remind you Brothers and Sisters that the decent wages and benefits were all made through the hard work and negotiations of our Unions.

4 2011 Christma s Party Vancouver 550 members and spouses attended In remembrance for our longtime member of 55 years, Peter Bobiash who has recently passed away, with his granddaughter. Nick Vanikiotis a 38 year member with Mark.

5 CSWU Retiree Council Unity a PROUD member Solidarity Retiree Council Executive and Mark Olsen with (front left center) Don Davies Federal MLA NDP and (front right center) Harry Bains Provincial MLA NDP. 50/50 winner Herbert Svensson with Mark and R.L. Nick Vanikiotis (center) with some of the Local 1611 and Benef it Plan staff.

6 Victoria Dinner 2011 (above) Other Retiree Events Around the Province in 2011 Kamloops Dinner Nanaimo Lunch Nelson Dinner Prince George Dinner Kelowna Dinner Revelstoke Dinner th Anniversary Events Around the Province Local 1611 Supporting Communities Local 1611 has recently supported these charities and benevolent efforts; USW Burns Lake Fund Green Thumb Theatre Children s Wish Foundation Canadian Red Cross for famine relief in Somalia and Ethiopia Child Find s 20th Annual Ball Tournament of Hope Snowflake Community Fairgrounds Society in Kitimat Relay for Life (cancer) September 06 Kamloops September 07 Revelstoke September 08 Nelson September 09 Penticton September 10 Kelowna September 22 Prince George September 29 Victoria September 30 Nanaimo December 08 Vancouver Invitations to be sent out in the Summer. Hope you can attend. M a r k y o u r c a l e n d a r s.

7 International News for Retirees Dear Brothers and Sisters, My topic for this issue of Generation U is probably the one I feel best about, whether in my articles for Generation U or other publications over many years. My subject is Peter Panza, a retired member of LIUNA Local 79 in New York City. What makes Peter so exceptional, intriguing and inspiring (and, dare I say, downright awesome) is the fact that he is 94 years old, yet he continues to go in to his local union office 5 days a week to volunteer his services. He is especially noted for going on picket line duty any time he is requested, which is frequently. Socially, among his many interests, he likes going to a jazz club every Tuesday evening. I became aware of Peter s remarkable contribution to Local 79 (and LIUNA) on September 14, 2012 when he was introduced to attendees at the 24th Convention of the Laborers International Union of North America in Las Vegas, Nevada. How Peter came to be introduced at the Convention is another feel good story in itself. Terence J O Sullivan, our National Retiree Council Coordinator, heard about Peter through Local 79, he insisted on meeting Peter, and after talking to him, said that he would do whatever possible to ensure that Peter was invited to the 24th Convention. Terry came through with his promise and Peter received a very well deserved invitation from the General President to be a special guest at the convention. Peter had never been to a General Convention nor to Las Vegas and was understandably excited to be honored in this way. Tom Petras LIUNA National Retiree Council Rep. for Western Canada As could be expected, attendees at the Convention were unrestrained in their applause and welcome when Peter was introduced. In my opinion, he should be admired and respected not only for his longevity, physical and mental stamina and drive, but especially for his dedication and commitment to the union movement and the Laborers in particular. His position is that he benefitted greatly because he is a union member and only wants to reciprocate. I believe that Peter should act as an inspiration and role model to all union members, whether retired or still working. It has long been understood that keeping active in retirement is one of the best ways to maintain a long and healthy life, and Peter appears to be proof positive of this theory. It seems to me that if he can achieve what he has, and continue to contribute at age 94, then the young ones who are only 70 or 80 should have no problem emulating him. There are numerous ways that retirees can keep active, but one that I hope all of you will consider is to be like Peter and help your local union by volunteering to help when and if needed. Incidentally, in closing, I have heard from a very good source that Peter has a standing invitation to attend the 25th General Convention in R.L. visiting Doug Cowin a 57 year member. Front Peter Panza Rear L to R Armand E. Sabatoni, General Secretary-Treasurer, Raymond M. Pocino, Eastern Region Vice-President, Terence J. O Sulllivan, National Retiree Council Coordinator, and Terence M. O Sullivan, General President

8 Recipients 50 YEAR GOLD MEMBERS Francis Courneya Tom Blair Marvin Cardinal Domingos Gomes George Pater Hermano De Fontes Fred Eggert James Brough Julio Tome Joaquim Almeida Anibal Gaspar William Tettolowski Robert Jamerson William Winsor Peter Bobiash Raymond De Cosse Giovanni Rossato William Cowin Imiclino Marques Tony Gasbarro Nelson Morey Michelino Pallotta Siro Santarossa George Gibson Ian Hinksman Hugo Hauptfleisch Jose Guerreiro Steve Branyik George Pasichnyk 55 YEAR RECIEPENTS Augusto Chies Adolf Walter Marcien Poiron Umberto Trentin Al Madsen Victor Zupanc Hugo De Angelis Domingos Gomes, and his wife Alzira receiving his 50 year gold watch. R.L. with Manuel Luis and his wife Ester holding his 50 year gold watch with Bruce. Jose Branco with his wife Otilia receives his 50 year gold watch. Walter Galm a 50 year gold watch recipient. UNION SCHOL ARSHIPS AVAIL ABLE There are 3 different scholarships that our members or their dependents can apply for: Cal Callahan Memorial Bursary offered through the Pipeline Industry for the sons, daughters or legal wards of members who derive their principal income from the Pipeline Industry. All information requested must be in by the 30th of September. Roland B. Gordon Memorial offered through CSWU Local All information requested must be in by the last day of January. W. Vernie Reed Memorial Fund offered through the Labourers International Union. All information requested must be in by April 1st. Contact the CSWU Local 1611 office for the applications. Publication Agreement Number Produced and printed with union labour. Return undeliverable canadian mail to: 3542 Kingsway Vancouver B.C. V5R 5X7 Tel: Fax: info@cswu1611.org web: Published by: Construction and Specialized Workers Union, Local 1611