words from r.l. - cswu local 1611 · cal callahan pipeline scholarship ... he signed a card with...

Construction & Specialized Workers’ Union, Local 1611 represents the largest number of retired members, 1200 in LIUNA

A Proud Affiliate of the Laborers International Union of North America

(LIUNA)

VANCOUVER - LOWER MAINLAND RETIREE MEETINGS 2009April 26 & November 29, starting at 1:30pm

Location: Craft Centre – next to the Union office, donuts and coffee to be served See

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R.L. (Robert) McDonaldPresident Retiree Council

Dear Brothers and Sisters;This is our second annual publication of

GENERATION U. Any suggestions which you think will

improve the newsletter would be appreciated. The title Generation U means Generation Union, and that includes each and every one of you.

Our trip to the Kootenay Region was quite successful again. There are a great bunch of retired members who really look forward to the dinners. The conversation flows quite freely and the meal is always top notch.

On the trip up-country we traveled to six different areas which included Kamloops, Revelstoke, Castlegar, Pentiction (this year), Kelowna and Prince George. The events were great.

As for senior citizens this year, we are in a better position than a lot of the work force. Our pay cheques stay the same,

and there is no one waiting to hand you a termination or lay-off slip at the end of the day. The financial situation is definitely in a downturn. It looks like it will take quite awhile to recover as our

economy depends on the economy of our next door U.S. neighbor. When you are making any large purchases or taking a vacation, look around and compare because I believe it will be Boxing Day all year.

I hope you liked the new location

for our Vancouver Christmas luncheon. The round tables made it so much easier to move around and to have a conversation without having to holler. I promise you that we will have the PA working better next year. I am also thinking of changing

the name of our Christmas Luncheon to the Retiree’s Fashion show. Ladies, you were all dressed to the nines and looked absolutely fabulous!!!

On behalf of the Retiree Council, we would like to thank CSWU Local 1611 Executive Board, for all their assistance and generosity.

Take care for now.

CSWU LOCAL 1611RETIREE COUNCIL ExECUTIVE BOARD

R.L. McDonaldPresident

Dave PringleVice-President

Manuel Alvernazsecretary-treasurer

Ann Beilrecording-secretary

H.T. (Bud) SmithManuel Figueiredo

Merrick Walshtrustees

Bruce Fergusonunion Liason

Tom PetrasLiuna nationaL retiree counciL

rePresentatiVe for Western canada

Words from R.L.

Local 1611 members enjoying a retiree event.

WE HONOUR AND THANK OUR 1200 RETIRED UNION MEMBERS

Construction & Specialized Workers’ Union Local 1611 Retiree Council Construction & Specialized Workers’ Union Local 1611 Retiree Council

This is our second annual Generation U publication. We hope you find it interesting.

Your Local 1611 Executive Board greatly appreciate the continued membership, support and participation of our retirees around the province.

In fact, we have established a two year plan to invest more in our retirees. With the world wide economic situation, it is critical that we do more.

Our plan includes;• No increase in retiree dues for at least two

years (2009 & 2010). Dues to stay the same.• No increase in self payments for medical

coverage this year. And by this years end to establish additional self payment coverage and options for our members. (For example can we cover dental cleaning or other items?)• Continue to fully fund the Retiree

Council, and support all of their area lunch and dinner events.• Expand scholarship opportunities for the

relatives of our retired members.• Use Robo call technology to send

automated telephone messages to members on important issues.• Expand support for charities and other efforts

that interest our retirees. • We have offered to our International Union

(LIUNA) that we are prepared to host a North America wide Union Retiree Council Conference in B.C. (and if accepted, all of our retirees would be invited to attend).

In closing, we greatly appreciate your efforts and we ask for your input. Let us know your ideas.

Please take care, and above all stay safe and healthy.

Local 1611 Supporting CommunitiesLocal 1611 has recently supported these charities

and benevolent efforts;Annual Clover Valley Soap Box DerbyUnited Way CampaignFood Bank CampaignVictoria Mustard Seed Food BankCastlegar Minor Hockey Association’s

Novice TournamentLillooet Minor Hockey ClubDAD’ Day – to combat DiabetesCamp Jubilee for disadvantaged children

75 STORIES IN 75 YEARSLabourers’ Union Local 1611 will celebrate its

75th Anniversary in 2012. Do you have any stories? Do you have any pictures of job sites or

crews you worked with?Please let us know. Call the Retiree Council

at 604.432.9300 or 1.800.663.6588 attention R.L. McDonald.

Pictured from left Mark Olsen Business Manager, Bruce Ferguson President and

Rick Clarkson Secretary Treasurer.


UNION SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLECSWU Local 1611 has the following Scholarships available;Cal Callahan Pipeline Scholarship

All applications, from pipeline members, must be received by the Pipeline Contractors Association by the end of September 2009.

Rolly B. Gordon All applications must be in by the end of October 2009.Vernie Reed Memorial Scholarship

All applications must be in by the end of March 2010.Please call Donna in our Local 1611 Office at 604-432-9300

for scholarship information.

We salute and thank Vic Morden, a longtime active member on the tools, Business Representative, International Representative, LIUNA Sub-Regional Manager, and LIUNA National Retiree Council Representative for Western Canada.

Vic is one of the true pioneers and gentlemen in the Union movement, and on behalf of the Union Executive Board, Retiree Council Executive and our 6000 members, we greatly appreciate his efforts.

Some of his accomplishments include; In 1967 Vic was employed by Ralph

M. Parsons Construction Co. Ltd. on the Anvil Mine Project in Faro, Yukon, where he signed a card with Tunnel & Rock Workers’ Local 168 during an organizing drive. He continued to work on the project as an Industrial First Aid Attendant and Safety Supervisor until 1970.

Between 1970 and 1980 he was employed on numerous industrial, commercial institutional, residential and transmission (power) line construction projects throughout B.C. The positions he held during this time frame included; Industrial First Aid Attendant, Safety Supervisor, General Labourer, Labour Foreman, Job Steward, and he also ran field office and payroll on transmission line projects.

Then in 1980 he was appointed Business Representative by the Construction & General Workers’ Union Local 602 and was responsible for the Southern Interior, based out of the Kamloops office.

In 1985 Vic was appointed by our LIUNA General President to the position of LIUNA International Representative, based out of the Vancouver Sub-Regional office.

In 1990 he was appointed to the position of Manager of LIUNA Western Canada Sub-Regional

office, and his area of responsibility was B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, and the Northwest Territory.

In 1997 Vic was instrumental in achieving the amalgamation of Union Locals 168, 602, 1070 and 1093 to produce Local 1611, and in establishing our Local 1611 Retiree Council.

Vic retired in December 1999. 2001 to 2008 Vic was appointed the LIUNA

National Retiree Council Representative for Western Canada.

He now resides in Summerland with his wife Samantha, enjoying their children and grandchildren.

WE SALUTE A GENTLEMAN LABOURER

2008 ROLAND B. GORDON SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Kristen Favel $1500.00Kristina Malekow $1500.00Janice Infanti $ 750.00Jessica Van Elk $ 750.00Peter Germaine $ 750.00Jorga Zabojova $ 750.00

CONGRATULATIONSthese are our future community leaders.

Vic Morden

2008 ch r i s t m a s Pa r t y - Va n c o u V e r


Tom Petras, LIUNA National Retiree Council Rep. for Western Canada speaking to the retirees.

Mark Olsen, Business Manager of Local 1611 addressing the retirees.

Retiree Council President, R.L. McDonald handling a draw with Council Executive, Manuel Figueiredo

and staff member Donna Mansel

448 members and spouses attended

other eVents around the ProVince

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8. Nanaimo Retiree Lunch 2008

7. Victoria Retiree Lunch 2008

6. Kelowna Retiree Dinner 2008

5. Victoria Retiree Lunch 2008

4. Castlegar Retiree Dinner 2008

3. Kamloops Retiree Dinner 2008

2. Revelstoke Retiree Dinner 2008

1. Osoyoss Retiree Dinner 2008

Prince George Retiree Dinner 2008 (above)

DEWEY MCLELLAN: a dear friend to the endby Chuck Chatten, Business Representative for the Kootenay Region.

What does Dewey mean to us? Well, many different things, a friend, a husband, a lover, a father to Jodie, Jessica, Carlotta, Chrstal and Nigel, but to all of us a brother – always honourable, always a gentleman, always a kind and considerate man, always fun to work with. He made things happen, he wanted the working man to get a fair shake. What he wanted for himself he wanted for all others.

Dewey was a pleasure to talk and listen to on any subject, a great story teller, a gentle giant that will always be with me.

I had known Dewey for over 35 years. He loved his family and spoke with pride about his children, his mother and his siblings. They can all be proud that he was exceptional at his work and that safety for the crew was more important than production.

“Safety is the #1 priority on my shift, a man shows up with 10 f ingers and 10 toes he is going home the same way”.

I remember Dewey hollering at a young engineer who was crossing a loaded blast area that was cordoned off. The young fella objected at first but when Dewey began to hurry towards him he scampered up the bank recognizing how serious he was. Later that night Dewey promised to spank him if he ever repeated such a foolish stunt.

Donna Mansel, Local 1611 Office Supervisor, summed it up when she said nobody received the same respect and trust as Dewey, when it came to tunnels, drilling and blasting. R.L. McDonald said the same words when I spoke with him.

I remember coming to Lilooet to present a scholarship to Jessica and he was so proud. Once again we chatted about family, work and losing weight. There are so many stories for a man who had so many friends.

I remember a dance in Hudson Hope where Dewey insisted that the band keep playing and in the end we were crying to “Danny Boy”. I remember him at a jobsite telling a bully to act his age instead of his hat size. I remember the laughter and knowing this is a man that cares about the right things and is a man that can be trusted – Dewey was a true friend.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF DEWARD (DEWEY) ERNEST MCLELLAN

1949 – 2009A hard rock miner he was known to be

His drilling and blasting proved to be the keyTo the life that he carved and the many successes he’d seeAll the while taking great pride in building his family tree

He was like a diamond in the roughWith a gentle demeanour but tunneling tough

A gift from the heavens to those that he knewThere was no-one quite like our Dew

A special blend he did put on life as a wholeWhile using the many spices that will go untold

Keeping them secret for his only his eyes to beholdEven refusing offers of them to be sold

He was an influence to many with examples he setImpressions long lasting to those that he met

A special place in our hearts he will always remainHis memories we’ll cherish with fondness and gain

Our hearts they are heavy as we say our goodbyesA journey long lasting, to the lord he will rise.

written by Colleen, Dewey’s sister

Dewey was a member of the Tunnel & Rock Workers’ Union Local 168 and Local 1611 for 43 years.


Proud father and Local 1611 member Dewey McLellan looks on as his daughter Jessica Colleen McLellan received LIUNA’s 2005 Vernie Reed

Scholarship from Chuck Chatten Local 1611 Kootenay Business Representative.

RETIREE DUES GOOD NEWSRetiree monthly dues of $8 will remain

the same for at least two more years.

NO INCREASE

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR 2009

You will receive notification in the mail before the event with further details.

Luncheons and/or dinners in:September Kamloops, Revelstoke,

Castlegar, Penticton, Kelowna

November Victoria, NanaimoDecember Vancouver

Note: Prince George to be announced

We have an industry leading Medical and Benefit Plan in B.C.

What is the coverage if you are over 65 and are self paying for over 65 coverage?

Benefits Include; MSP coverage

Otherwise the cost is $54.00 per person, $96.00 per couple and $108 per family.

Extended Health Benefits DRUGS reimbursed at 80%; other benefits

reimbursed at 100% such as hearing aids $2,000 every five years; vision care (glasses etc) at $500 every two years; psychologists, counselors, physiotherapists, each at $500 per year.

Even includes prostate testing and erectile dysfunction drugs. (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra). Full upper or lower Dentures made by Dental Mechanic or Denturist every 5 years per Fee Schedule. No deductible.

Life Insurance of $12,500 ages 65-69. Reduces thereafter.

Notes: Additional coverage if you are younger than 65. Covered widows or widowers may continue to self pay for coverage if they wish. See the new up-dated Plan Booklet for a complete summary. Please call our Benefit Plan administration office at 604.437.8598 or 1.800.964.3666 if you have any questions.

OVER AGE 65 BENEFITS FROM YOUR MEDICAL AND BENEFIT PLAN

Your Local 1611 representatives in attendance at a General Staff meeting in January 2009.

Local 1611 Brother Jim Murray

working at his outside shop on a bench project in Castelgar, 2008

PUBLICATION AGREEMENT NUMBER 40850545RetuRn undeliveRable canadian mail to: 3542 Kingsway vancouveR b.c. v5R 5X7 tel: 604-432-9300 FaX: 604-439-2043 email: [email protected] web: www.cswu1611.org

Published by: consruction and specialized workers’ union, local 1611

words from r.l. - cswu local 1611 · cal callahan pipeline scholarship ... he signed a card with...

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