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Delegates from Local 793 attend IUOE convention.

The International Union of Operating Engineers 37th general convention was held April 27-30, 2008, at Las Vegas, Nevada.
A total of 17 delegates from Local 793 attended the four-day event and executive officers of the local were on a number of important committees.
Business manager Mike Gallagher was secretary of the resolutions committee. He presented four items on behalf of the general executive board and they received unanimous support.
Assistant business manager John Anderson was on a committee that proposed a total of 25 amendments to the constitution of the IUOE. President Gary O’Neill was on a credentials committee and treasurer and social services director Joe Redshaw was on the officers’ report committee.
The convention featured remarks from general president Vincent Giblin, as well as updates on the pension fund, legislative efforts and political action and other activities being undertaken by the IUOE.
It was an ambitious agenda and, in the end, delegates passed a total of 19 resolutions on everything from organizing to occupational health and safety.
Business manager Gallagher said the convention was a success and much was accomplished by the delegates who attended.
“This was an extremely positive convention for the IUOE and the delegates who attended on behalf of Local 793,” he said. “I’m sure all delegates who attended the convention came away from the event with a renewed sense of optimism about the future of our union.”
Gallagher presented a resolution on behalf of the general executive board that stated the IUOE should continue to lead the effort to push for increased government infrastructure investments, another that stated the IUOE supports comprehensive energy plans for the U.S. and Canada, and another that called on the convention to applaud the contributions of current and former members of the U.S. and Canadian armed services and further recognize the service, commitment and sacrifice of brother and sister operating engineers who proudly served, or are in the armed services, of the two nations.
He also spoke in support of a fourth general executive board resolution to grant retired general secretary-treasurer Budd Coutts the honourary title of general secretary-treasurer emeritus. The resolution received unanimous support.
Gallagher said it was an honour to support the resolution to grant Brother Coutts the title because he was such an integral part of the operating engineers in Canada and the U.S.
Coutts joined Local 115 in B.C. in 1957 and transferred to Local 955 in Alberta in 1961 where he rose rapidly through the ranks to become business manager. In 1978, he became a general vice-president of the International and four years later he was appointed as Canadian regional director.
In other business at the convention, Gallagher was re-elected as an international trustee of the IUOE. He was nominated by president O’Neill. The nomination was seconded by Alex Law, vice-president and South Central Ontario area supervisor of Local 793.
Gallagher has been business manager of Local 793 for 12 years.

Click here to download a special report from the 37th general convention. (pdf)