June 17, 2008

Local 793 strikes back at Runciman

MPP charges “Liberal-friendly” unions benefit from funding

TORONTO

Recent comments made by provincial opposition leader Bob Runciman about funding for an operating engineer training centre being politically motivated are way off base, say officials for the union involved.

Runciman, the Conservative MPP for Leeds-Grenville, made his comments after the Liberals unveiled their three-year, $355 million retraining program for laid-off workers.

He charged that Liberal-friendly unions had been awarded apprenticeship program funding, highlighting the $5 million in grants the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 793, received between last June and this January for training centres.

Earlier, the union local also received $1.98 million in provincial training grants.

“It is ludicrous for Mr. Runciman to suggest such a thing and it shows he has not done his homework,” said Mike Gallagher, business manager of Local 793.

“He is twisting the truth and there is no evidence whatsoever to support his claim.

“It is outrageous that he would float such an idea without first checking the facts.”

Gallagher explained that provincial funds for training centres in Oakville and Morrisburg, Ont. were approved under the Skills Training Infrastructure Program as a result of a transparent process administered by the public service.

He also noted that the campuses of the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO) are a separate entity from the union and managed by a joint labour-management board of trustees. “Provincial governments of all political stripes — including the Conservatives — have supported these training facilities in the past,” Gallagher said. “In fact, Mr. Runciman himself has given provincial funds to the OETIO campuses. In 2001, for example, when he was Conservative minister of economic development, he presented the OETIO with a cheque for $2.3 million under the Strategic Skills Investment Grant.” Gerry Hughes, executive director OETIO, noted that provincial funding covers only a small fraction of the cost of operating the two training institutes. Local 793 contributed about $17 million to build the facilities and another $30 million in operating costs over the past 10 years. Local 793 also puts in approximately $4 million per year through contributions by its members.

“This is significant as the funds are contributed at no cost to the taxpayer,” said Hughes.

“We must keep in mind that the grants from the province, while welcomed, are only enough to cover a portion of the costs of buying new equipment and training aids and keeping these two facilities going.”

Hughes said various governments have provided funds in the past for the design and development of programs, as well as simulators, training aids and equipment.

— DCN Staff

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