News & Media

IBEW Local 105 and friends protested outside Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn’s office on Friday January 13th. In spite of the cold, protesters waved signs, cheered and helped bring the issues around Schedule 17 to public attention.

We’re pleased to announce that Steven Martin is returning to the Presidency of the IBEW EPCO (Electrical Power Council of Ontario). He is taking over from outgoing president George Couch, who served after Martin’s initial term.

IBEW Local 586, UA Local 71, and SMWA Local 47 demonstrated outside MPP Bob Chiarelli’s office on January 6, 2017 and earned some great media exposure that will help more people understand the issue.

The fight against Bill 70 Schedule 17 in not over – we can still make a difference, and this article explains how. In January and February 2017, let YOUR voice be heard!

Here’s a brief summary of why IBEW CCO and many other trades are against Bill 70 Schedule 17. You’ll see it’s about having skilled trades continuing to do the work they’re licensed to do – whether they are unionized or not.

Further protests against Schedule 17 happened in Hamilton and Ottawa on December 16, 2016. Schedule 17 will compromised public safety in Ontario by having unqualified workers do dangerous electrical work.

Over 250 Kingston trades protested against Schedule 17 of Bill 70 on December 9. MPP Sophie Kiwala met with the demonstrators outside her office.

Members of IBEW Local 586, IBEW Local 105, UA Local 71 and SMWA Local 47 worked together to bring traffic to a standstill outside the Shaw Centre on December 8, 2016.

On December 6 2016, over 300 members of Locals from across Ontario travelled to Hamilton to protest Schedule 17 outside the Trillium Dinner, an annual Liberal fundraiser.

The Tony Dean Report proposes using “risk of harm” to decide what work needs to be done by a certified skilled trade and what can be done by general labourers. The problem is that no one knows what this term really means.