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The Government of Canada officially released the final report and findings of the Task Force on Monday, March 11, 2019.

The following links are the final report and findings of the Task Force:

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/task-force-just-transition/final-report.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/task-force-just-transition/what-we-heard-report.html

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Today, March 8 is recognized as International Women’s Day, women around the world will come together in solidarity to celebrate women’s struggle for equality. It is a time to reflect and take stock of women’s accomplishments over the past year and for all of us to renew our commitment to ongoing change.

The International Women’s Day 2019 campaign theme of #BalanceforBetter is a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world. How will you help make a difference?

At the 1892 National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (NBEW) Convention, the first women became members of the union. Four years later, when only one organizer was on the NBEW payroll, a second, Mrs. Mary Honzik of St. Louis, was hired. This development gave our Brotherhood the distinction of being the first union to have a female organizer on its staff.[1]

The demographics of the union began to change as women joined the IBEW in larger numbers; and in 1897, Local Union 80—the first all-women’s local union—was chartered in Cleveland, Ohio.[2]

On May 1, 1919, Winnipeg’s building and metal workers went on strike for higher wages.  Two weeks later, the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council appealed for a general strike in support of the metal workers. The response was overwhelming. The first to walk out were the “Hello Girls,” Winnipeg’s telephone operators. By 11 a.m., 30,000 union and non-union workers had walked off the job.

A strike committee was formed and for six weeks, it virtually ran Winnipeg. Elevators shut down, trams stopped, postal and telephone communications came to a halt, and nothing moved without approval from the strike committee. Sympathy strikes were breaking out across the country.

In fact, Canadian Women in the IBEW played an integral role in the Winnipeg General Strike, where over 500 telephone operators, better known as the “Hello Girls”, walked off the job at the end of their shift and their shift replacements didn’t show up. Virtually shutting down all telecommunication in the city. These women later became members of IBEW Local 435.

I am very proud of the strong, unique, and proud IBEW sisters I have met throughout my career in the IBEW and of late in my current role as International Vice President for the First District (Canada).  I have witnessed the passion, dedication, and solidarity displayed by our IBEW sisters at a variety of conferences including at our recent 2017 IBEW Canada Women’s Conference. The energy and enthusiasm that radiates from our sisters at gatherings and conferences is second to none and can only continue to make our organization a better and more inclusive one for everyone.

Coast to Coast, our IBEW Local Unions are beginning to start Local Union Women’s Committee’s so that our sisters can gather and discuss issues important to them and their respective industries, jobsites and provide peer-to-peer support. These committees have been actively involved in their communities and Local Unions in various capacities and I hope to see this trend continue to grow across the country.

The Canadian Labour Congress launched a campaign one year ago today on International Women’s Day 2018, called #DoneWaiting which calls on the Federal Government to end wage discrimination, end sexual harassment and violence, and to fix the child care crisis. I encourage all our members to add their voice and sign the petition to support the campaign.

It is my desire that the IBEW in Canada double down our efforts to attract and retain more female members, and that can only happen with the positive support and recognition that we as an organization can provide to our current female members.

Please take the time today on International Women’s Day, tomorrow and in the coming weeks and months ahead to thank our sisters of the IBEW and support them in their efforts to achieve the 2019 campaign theme of a #BalanceforBetter  and their professional and committee goals within your Local Union.

[1] IBEW History and Structure

[2] IBEW History and Structure

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Last year, the Alberta Council of Turnaround Industry Maintenance Stakeholders (ACTIMS) held the fourth Women in Trades Awards & Bursary Program for members of the Building Trades who are working in the heavy industrial construction/maintenance industries in Canada.

From the dozens of applications received, ACTIMS were able to recognize three (3) women from various Locals across the country who demonstrated excellence, integrity, and leadership in their respective trades at their workplace.

Once again, ACTIMS has commenced the program for 2019, and is hoping to attract even more participation in the upcoming year!

The information package outlines the program in detail, and an application form, which interested candidates can complete and return with their pertinent documents, to the ACTIMS office. Applications can be submitted from now till April 30^th, 2019.

A tripartite committee comprised of members of the ACTIMS Board of Directors will assess the applications during the month of May 2019, and present their recommendations to the full Board for approval. Winners will be recognized at the ACTIMS Annual General meeting on July 3, 2019.

Please note that this information and the application form can also be downloaded from the ACTIMS website www.actims.ca

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The IBEW Local 37 Training Trust Fund has been awarded the 2018 Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) Award of Excellence for Innovation in HR Practices for an Educational / Training Institution.

Toronto, ON — February 21, 2019 — At the annual awards ceremony hosted by the EHRC, a number of individuals and organizations were recognized for their achievements as leaders in the electrical industry. The IBEW Local 37 Training Trust Fund was one of them as it was the recipient of the 2018 Innovation in HR Practices Award of Excellence for an Educational / Training Institution. This award was established to acknowledge organizations that educate and/or train the next generation of employees for the electricity sector.

According to the EHRC evaluation committee the IBEW Local 37 Training Trust Fund is “an excellent example of a program designed to support and encourage training and people development ensuring their members future success in an ever-changing work environment.”

The Local 37 Training Trust Fund (TTF) recognized long ago that technical skills alone are not enough to be truly effective in the workplace.  For almost 30 years, both IBEW Local 37 and NB Power have partnered to contribute to supporting and offering learning opportunities for union members through the IBEW Local 37 TTF. With a board of trustees representing both partners, the TTF works to encourage a common goal: to support and encourage training and development activities that contribute to success in the workplace and career development.

The TTF strives to offer quality and relevant knowledge and skills-based training that meets the current and future needs for over 2200 of its members working in the ever-changing utility industry. Because of this, the TTF’s primary focus has been on offering learning opportunities for members that help develop and strengthen their skills in leadership, problem-solving, interpersonal and intrapersonal communication, critical thinking, etc. Initiatives have included workshops and an annual conference themed around leadership, mental health, personal development and employee well-being, with financial support available for individual learning activities to ensure access for all.

EHRC 2018 Awards ceremony – from left to right:  Jim Kellett – EHRC Chair, Cathy Lerette – Board of Director Member, Michelle Branigan – EHRC CEO, Ross Galbraith – IBEW Local 37 Business Manager, and Ali Heighten, IBEW Local 37 Education Coordinator.

Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) is a not-for-profit organization “that works to strengthen the ability of the Canadian electricity industry to meet current and future needs for their workforce – one that is highly skilled, safety-focused, diverse and productive.”

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Thank you to everyone who submitted their names and essays for the 2018/2019 IBEW First District Scholarships Award; we received entries this year from 221 applicants.

A random draw was made this morning at the First District Office; and congratulations to the following 5 applicants who are the winners of a $1000.00 scholarship award:

Hannah Milic – Local Union 213, Vancouver, BC
Katrina Cayer – Local Union 2034, Winnipeg, MB
Sébastien Cormier – Local Union 37, Fredericton, NB
Jared Stringer– Local Union 1620, St. John’s, NL
Julianne Daniels – Local Union 37, Fredericton, NB

We, at the First District Office, and the other sponsors (TD Insurance Meloche Monnex and AIL) wish these dedicated young people a successful year in their continued education.

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