Fort McMurray Update

Work Picture

Jacobs at Syncrude on the S.E.R. Project still has another 12 months of Boilermaker work with manpower requirements of 100 – 140. Hiring will be as required. This job attracts out of province workers as it has turnaround flights. A large percentage of 146 Boilermakers have been on this job for a long time and the Local salutes these members as there have been some difficult times. However, the good outweighs the bad and we will bring this project to completion. All in all, it’s a good job with a good contractor.

Kearl Lake has now kicked off with Horton taking its first steps on the site. This has come with some aches and pains for the 40 Boilermakers currently there. The commute to get to the job/ camp and the schedule; (1,2,4) has caused some grief not only for the workers but also for the employer. However, with some fine tuning this project will be Northern Alberta’s site of choice for new construction. The projected manpower requirements for Horton (settlers, P.S.V., tanks) is approximately 300 and PCL is rumoured to have work on this site as well but there is no scope of work or manpower requirements available as of yet.

Firebag 3 at Suncor will have pocket jobs for various affiliated contractors as they secure work as either a sub or warranty work. The best advice I can give for finding out about future work is to monitor the website and call-out tape.

Most of the major sites have Boilermakers on long term maintenance, typically working a 10 on; 4 off shift. It’s hard to predict the hiring requirements for these jobs as they are on an ‘as needed’ basis. The upcoming shutdown work is posted on our website.

To those members and travel cards that take maintenance slips and stick it out, again the Local salutes you. Maintenance work has been, and always will be, a large portion of our market share. When a contractor is awarded work as a long-term maintenance provider it means work for Boilermakers.

Once you have pulled your referral slip from dispatch it is expected that you will do your pre-access test in a timely manner and report for work once you have your negative test. A few have been turned away from their dispatched job due to late arrivals.

Do not contact payroll, or have your buddy contact them. This procedure needs to be followed if your pre-access test has gone for further testing and needs a M.R.O. to give clearance. If you don’t have the phone number for the job site, call the Union and speak with the area representative who will get the number for you.

Okay, okay, you’re as sick and tired of hearing it as I am of writing it. 2010 has brought new policies from some owners for quits and terminations. Syncrude – 90 days and then you must submit a site application form (available at the Hall),

Suncor – 60 days, Shell – up to 90 days with indefinite no access for terminations. Each contractor has their own policies ranging anywhere from 30 to 180 days. All dispatch halls are notified when those change and are told to self manage the policies. Even though the dispatch hall might not get a notification letter for each individual, these policies still apply and are not grievable if you show up at a site you have been suspended from and get turned around. Camp suspension falls under the same procedure and if you are suspended from camp it means indefinite. These are harsh realities and ignorance on your part will not sway the interpretation of the policies.

Fourteen months of banging heads between the BTA committee and representative of the CLR and REO has resulted in a decision to bring in a mediator to help facilitate a mutually acceptable agreement. The biggest hurdle for the BTA committee is accountability on the employer’s part. Their argument is that they have no control over owner and third party camps abiding to the terms and conditions of the Camp Rules and Regulations. If the BTA committee can’t get assurances of accountability we feel any agreement reached is nothing more than ink on paper.

Millennium Camp has had some cosmetic surgery done, and reports are that this camp is no longer what it once was. There is a new kitchen, new beds, no more gang showers, new paint, etc. The stigma may never go away but it is more of an updated camp.

In closing I and Brother Tim Ford appreciate the effort of all the members who take on the role of job steward and keep the Union apprised of issues or concerns that arise on the job site.

All for one and 146.

Dale Werner

With the previously estimated $110,000,000,000 of work projected being downscaled by a significant amount, all is not lost. Less than the original projections yes, but there will still be work for our members. Kearl Lake is a perfect example. While there have been a few changes to our terms and conditions, sites like these are becoming the norm rather than the exception. We are not used to new beginnings such as this one, but it can, and will, only get better. These projects are far better than what they’ve been in times gone by. Camp life is never easy but it has come a long way and for many it is a good opportunity to save some money and build that bank account. I am sympathetic to the brothers and sisters who cope with the isolation of a segregated society. Some handle it well but some find it difficult to manage. It is definitely a deficiency of normality. I have worked in those conditions; each man knows their own limitations. All that can be expected from ones’ brother or sister is to try to do what we can to support one another, to make the best of it and to not bring your fellow worker down. With much of the new construction coming to a halt, projects like Kearl Lake and others hopefully to come, might turn into a good a source of income where there was none before.

Fraternally,

Tim Ford