Brothers and Sisters,
Please find the below message sent out on behalf of James Barry. It includes a link to the recently revised list of essential workplaces.
Sections of the document that are pertinent to the construction industry have been pulled out for your perusal.
The article is also live on our website via the link below:
https://ibewcco.org/news/revised-list-of-essential-workplaces-for-covid-19-including-construction/
Message from Executive Secretary Treasurer, James Barry:
Following advice from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, on April 3, 2020, Ontario updated the list of essential businesses that can remain open. The restrictions are aimed at further reducing contact between people and stopping the spread of COVID-19.
By 11:59 p.m. Saturday, April 4, 2020, businesses that are not identified on this list must close their physical locations.
The full updated list of essential businesses is linked below. Among the list, are construction services that will impact IBEW members and the construction industry as a whole, including:
- Construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector, including new facilities, expansions, renovations and conversion of spaces that could be repurposed for health care space.
- Construction projects and services required to ensure safe and reliable operations of, or to provide new capacity in, critical provincial infrastructure, including transit, transportation, energy and justice sectors beyond the day-to-day maintenance.
- Critical industrial construction activities required for,
- the maintenance and operations of petrochemical plants and refineries,
- significant industrial petrochemical projects where preliminary work has already commenced,
- industrial construction and modifications to existing industrial structures limited solely to work necessary for the production, maintenance, and/or enhancement of Personal Protective Equipment, medical devices (such as ventilators), and other identified products directly related to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Residential construction projects where,
- a footing permit has been granted for single family, semi-detached and townhomes
- an above grade structural permit has been granted for condominiums, mixed use and other buildings, or
- the project involves renovations to residential properties and construction work was started before April 4, 2020.
Construction and maintenance activities necessary to temporarily close construction sites that have paused or are not active and to ensure ongoing public safety
I think we’re all aware of just how quickly things are changing in our communities, our province, and our country. Changes to our workplaces are also changing, and will likely continue to change as our governments try to slow down the spread of this virus. We will try to stay on top of these changes as they occur and push this important information out to you as it develops. Please stay safe.
Yours in Brotherhood,
Lorne Newick
Business Manager/Financial Secretary
IBEW Local 105
685 Nebo Rd. Hannon On.
L0R 1P0
Office (905) 387-1721 Ext. 2
Mobile (905) 516-4097
Brothers and Sisters,
Please find attached News Bulletin released by the Minister of Labour earlier today.
The article addresses ongoing concerns regarding worker safety on construction sites in Ontario.
There will be additional inspections on construction sites, delivering stronger enforcement of the COVID-19 protocols that have been put in place.
in efforts to increase worker protection in the construction sector, there will be “stop work orders” issued on sites that are found to be non- compliant with the protocols .
Please click on the below link to read more on the government’s latest action.
Please stay safe,
https://news.ontario.ca/mol/en/2020/03/ontario-stepping-up-measures-to-limit-the-spread-of-covid-19-on-construction-sites.html
Lorne Newick
Business Manager/Financial Secretary
IBEW Local 105
685 Nebo Rd. Hannon On.
L0R 1P0
Office (905) 387-1721 Ext. 2
Mobile (905) 516-4097
Brothers and Sisters,
Please find attached Memorandum of Agreement between the IBEW/CCO, (Construction Council of Ontario) and the ECAO, (Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario).
This Memorandum was agreed to by the eleven Business Managers from across the Province via a conference call yesterday afternoon.
As is explained in the Memorandum, these measures have been taken with the health and safety of our membership at the forefront.
It is our expectation that our contractors will give consideration to adjusting work schedules where possible, to reduce the exposure of our members to the COVID-19 virus.
As we’re all aware, physical distancing is necessary to limit, and prevent the spread of the virus. These steps, if taken will help in accomplishing this.
I appreciate your co-operation and understanding on this initiative, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Please stay safe.
Yours in Brotherhood,
Lorne Newick
Business Manager/Financial Secretary
IBEW Local 105
685 Nebo Rd. Hannon On.
L0R 1P0
Office (905) 387-1721 Ext. 2
Mobile (905) 516-4097
A message on behalf of James Barry:
The provincial government has released a list highlighting essential business that will remain unaffected by the province-wide mandatory closing of all non-essential businesses in order to contain COVID-19 (closing to take effect by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, March 24, 2020).
This information can also be accesses via our website https://ibewcco.org/news/message-from-james-barry-re-lisy-of-essential-services-for-covid-19-including-construction/.
Among the list, are construction services that will impact IBEW members and the construction industry as a whole, including:
13. Businesses that provide support and maintenance services, including urgent repair, to maintain the safety, security, sanitation and essential operation of institutional, commercial industrial and residential properties and buildings, including, property management services, plumbers, electricians, custodial/janitorial workers, cleaning services, , security services, fire safety and sprinkler systems, building systems maintenance and repair technicians and engineers, mechanics, (e.g. HVAC, escalator and elevator technicians), and other service providers who provide similar services;
14. Businesses engaged in providing or supporting Information Technology (IT) including online services, software products and related services, as well as the technical facilities such as data centres and other network facilities necessary for their operation and delivery;
15. Businesses providing telecommunications services (phone, internet, radio, cell phones etc.) as well as support facilities such as call centres necessary for their operation and delivery;
26. Construction projects and services associated with the healthcare sector, including new facilities, expansions, renovations, and conversion of spaces that could be re purposed for health care space;
27. Construction projects and services required to ensure safe and reliable operations of critical provincial infrastructure, including, transit, transportation, energy and justice sectors beyond the day-to-day maintenance;
28. Constructions work and services, including demolition services, in the industrial, commercial, institutional and residential sectors;
29. Construction wok and services that supports health and safety environmental rehabilitation projects;
41. Utilities, and Businesses that support the provision of utilities and community services, including by providing products, materials and services needed for the delivery of utilities and community services:
(c) Electricity Generation, transmission, distribution and storage;
(e) Road construction and maintenance;
42. Businesses engaged in or supporting the operation, maintenance and repair of critical infrastructure (railways, dams, bridges, highways, erosion control structures, etc.).
Special Announcement re: COVID-19
Please have a look at the following correspondence from IBEW CCO.
Below are recent updates from the provincial and federal government, as well as information on the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020.
https://ibewcco.org/news/message-from-james-barry-regarding-recent-updates-and-government-response-to-covid-19-pandemic/
https://ibewcco.org/news/message-from-james-barry-regarding-covid19-and-the-employment-standards-act-infectiouse-disease-emergencies/
March 17,2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
IBEW Local 105 is currently taking action to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and we ask for your cooperation at this time. The Health and Safety of our membership is of upmost importance and our top priority. We will be closing the Local 105 Building and Training Centre to the public. The office will be closed to walk in traffic effective Tuesday March 17, 2020 until further notice.
Due to recommendations from Health Canada, we will be cancelling the following:
- Annual Health and Welfare Meeting scheduled for March 24th, 2020
- Annual Pension Meeting scheduled for March 24th, 2020
- Seniors Club – weekly cards, lunch meetings and executive meetings – all cancelled until further notice
- Retirement Breakfast scheduled for April 5th, 2020
- Membership Meeting scheduled for March 17th, 2020
- Training Courses – all upcoming courses until further notice
- Hockey practice and IBEW Hockey Tournament scheduled for April 16, 17, 18, 19, 2020
- Around the Bay Race scheduled for March 29th, 2020
Once we are past this time of crisis and things are back to normal, we will re-schedule some of the above. We will send out notices to provide plenty of time for you to attend in the future.
Dues
Regarding payment of dues we ask members to call in 905-387-1721 ext. 0 or email frontdesk@ibewlu105.com and pay via credit card as far in advance as possible. Include your full name, credit card number, expiry date, CVD and number of months you’d like to pay for.
Dispatch
Until further Notice, the operation of the Local Union's hiring hall rules are amended as follows:
Where, as a direct consequence of the current COVID-19 emergency, a member is laid-off and receives an ROE and applies for EI benefits, the member is relieved of her/his obligation to sign the Local Union's unemployed record book, so long as the lay-off and the reason for the lay-off (which must be a direct consequence of the COVID-19 emergency) is confirmed in writing by the employer and communicated to the Local Union. The employer will be permitted to re-hire the laid-off employee, notwithstanding that the member was not placed on the Local Union's out of work list or ready to hire list, so long as the employer promptly informs the Local Union in writing.
For any Non-COVID-19 layoffs please call in or email to have your name added to the out of work list. Members will not be able to physically sign the books.
Doug Dunham
905-387-1721 x6
289-922-8130
ddunham@ibewlu105.com
Members dispatched to an employer will be sent their dispatch slip via electronic form i.e. email, text. If this is not an option, slips will be left in the mailbox at the front entrance.
Health and Welfare
For questions pertaining to Health and Welfare contact Mary Ann at 905-387-1721 ext. 3, leave a message and she will return your call shortly, or contact her by email at lera@ibewlu105.com
Training
The Training Centre will be closed at this time, including all courses.
Apprentices that have textbooks, please keep them and return to the hall at a later date.
Currently Trade School is closed, please see the link below for more details and for future updates.
https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/covid-19-coronavirus . Anyone who is supposed to attend trade school, stay with your current employer until trade school becomes available.
For Further Information, please click the links below:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
https://ipac-canada.org/coronavirus-resources.php
The Local 105 Office will have some of the staff working remotely. If you need to contact anyone directly, please see below.
Lorne Newick Steve Fox Chris Swick
newick@ibewlu105.com sfox@ibewlu105.com cswick@ibewlu105.com
905-387-1721 ext. 2 905-387-1721 ext. 1 905-387-1721 ext. 9
905-516-4097 289-925-6005 905-981-3491
Rich DiPietro Joe Brogly Brad Smith
rdipietro@ibewlu105.com jbrogly@ibewlu105.com bsmith@ibewlu105.onmicrosoft.com
905-387-1721 ext. 7 905-387-1721 ext. 7 289-659-7459
905-512-0449 905-981-7743
Lucy Moretti: moretti@ibewlu105.com
Crystal Onifrichuk: crystal@ibewlu105.com
Alicia Ainsworth: aainsworth@ibewlu105.com
Jessica Cialini: jessica@ibewlu105.com
We are monitoring this situation very closely. Updates with new information will be sent out as soon as possible. Please check your email and our website to keep yourself informed.
Our focus is to protect our membership and stop the spread of the virus to ensure public safety.
Thank you for your understanding,
Lorne Newick
Business Manager/Financial Secretary
IBEW Local 105
