| ng Standards: | | | | October 2008 the Minister of Labour agrees to |
| The Ontario Council Representatives are busy | | | | begin a regulation amendment and a committee is |
| working for you throughout Ontario beginning with | | | | formed to write regulations with the MOL legal and |
| support to significant pieces of legislation brought | | | | technical departments. |
| forward at Queens Park. The highlight of all legislation | | | | May 2009 a training committee is formed |
| may be an Act to revise and modernize the law | | | | facilitated with the CSAO to accommodate the MOL |
| related to the apprenticeship and trades qualifications | | | | requirements. |
| and to establish the Ontario College of Trades, Bill | | | | September 2009 with completion of proposed |
| 183. What this means for our industries could lead to | | | | regulations and training program the provincial |
| compulsory certification for all of our certified trades: | | | | committee agrees to send regulations to the |
| Painter and Decorator, Drywall Finisher, Exterior | | | | Construction Legislative Review Committee and to |
| Insulated Finishes applicator and the Architectural | | | | the CSAO Labour/Management network throughout |
| Glass and Metal Technician. The 3rd reading of the bill | | | | Ontario for a 90 day review and feedback. |
| occurred in October and it is now time to implement | | | | October 2009 IUPAT representatives attend the |
| governance and directors to move forward. | | | | Labour/Management meetings around the province to |
| You may be wondering what this means for you? | | | | explain and seek support of the proposed stilt |
| In the event our designated crafts become | | | | regulations. |
| compulsory, it means every tradesperson in every | | | | November 2009 the accumulated feedback |
| craft must serve an apprenticeship and become a | | | | regarding the regulation changes are to be evaluated |
| certified journeyperson. This will bring our trade | | | | and presented to the Minister of Labour for a change |
| standards to a higher level and will make our | | | | in regulation to legalize stilts. |
| industries competitive and on the same level as | | | | Timing of when the legislation is presented for a |
| non-union workers. This will gain us market share and | | | | change in the Act to legalize stilts is pending. Positive |
| provide more work for our members. You can view | | | | discussion with the Minister and Ministry of Labour |
| this legislation by visiting the website of the Ministry | | | | staff is ongoing and near to the point of legalizing |
| of Training Colleges and Universities of Ontario. | | | | stilts. |
| Stilts: | | | | It has been a long road and not without taking steps |
| The journey to legalize stilts in the residential | | | | forward and then being pushed back on several |
| construction industry for drywall finishers continues. | | | | occasions. This is a controversial issue among other |
| Your Representatives have been working diligently | | | | trades but we are confident we will get the job done |
| throughout the process and I am happy to report | | | | because we have been patient and addressing this |
| we are on the final stages before a regulation change | | | | matter with transparency. |
| to the Occupational Health & Safety Act | | | | Contract Negotiations: |
| presented to Labour Minister, Peter Fonseca. I can | | | | In the past meetings have been held regarding |
| give you a short summary of activity: | | | | market share issues prior to negotiations. This has |
| March 2005 a proposal for a pilot project is | | | | not occurred this time because it is obvious the work |
| presented to the Minister of Labour. | | | | flow that is in your area. It appears to be boom |
| May 2005 the proposal is presented to the | | | | or bust and in most places of Ontario it is pretty |
| CSAO Provincial Labour/Management Committee and | | | | bad. After 15 solid years of work in southern Ontario, |
| accepted for further research. | | | | the north has the bulk of construction along with |
| January 2006 meetings are taking place with local | | | | downtown Toronto. I am not convinced it will |
| trade and labour/management health & safety | | | | continue in the next 2 years and we need to be |
| committees to dispel the fear of stilts being enforced | | | | cognizant of our future. In February 2010 it will be |
| on other trade industries. | | | | the legally within our right to commence collective |
| June 2006 the research for comprehensive data | | | | bargaining in all of our trades. Proposal meetings will |
| to prove stilts are a benefit to workers ergonomically | | | | be occurring in January in every local union in the |
| and do not pose a hazard to the industry — | | | | Province. You should be thinking of progressive |
| no research can be found. | | | | changes to the collective agreement now and have |
| February 2007 the University of Waterloo is | | | | them presented at the proposal meeting in your local |
| commissioned to do an ergonomic study and an | | | | in January. |
| assessment of work using stilts versus a bench. | | | | Raiding: |
| April 2008 the first report from the University of | | | | Once February comes along it is time to commence |
| Waterloo is complete to measure. performance of | | | | collective bargaining. This is also the time an |
| and balance to test proficiency of stilts. | | | | enthusiastic and greedy union may come along and |
| June 2008 the second report from the University | | | | ask you to sign a card for their organization to |
| of Waterloo outlines the recovery during tasks and | | | | displace the IUPAT. BEWARE, this will not be in your |
| comparing stilts and work benches. | | | | best interest. If that occurs you must call your |
| August 2008 the third report from University of | | | | representative as soon as it happens and report it. |
| Waterloo to validate, measure and assess stilts and | | | | During this period it is an opportunity for you to |
| benches along with an executive summary with final | | | | decertify from your employer and have your |
| report — final report favours stilts over | | | | employer to become non-union. DO NOT sign any |
| benches. | | | | petitions of any sort without talking to your union |
| September 2008 Dr. Prentice (U.of W.) presents | | | | representative first. Signing a card from another union |
| his findings to the Provincial committee — the | | | | or a petition to decertify your employer may have |
| Provincial committee endorses the study results and | | | | serious complications for you, your family and your |
| agree to regulation amendments. | | | | future. |