Labourers’ International Union of North America Local 183 to vote for leadership

Members of Labourers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 183 will head to the polls tomorrow to determine who will best represent one of construction’s largest labourer unions.

Local 183 represents almost 32,000 members in the Greater Toronto Area. The union’s current executive team was elected in September 2007 in record numbers after 14 months of trusteeship. By 2007, Local 183 had been dogged for almost two years by allegations of mob connections, fraud, illegal surveillance and misappropriation of funds. Also, the union was in a battle for control with LIUNA’s Hamilton-based national office.

This battle pitted the Hamilton office against Tony Dionisio, Local 183’s then-leader and ended when the Ontario Labour Relations Board upheld allegations of earlier investigations against Dionisio. The Local was ordered into trusteeship in June 2006 and Dionisio was removed from his position and the union. Durval Terceira was elected as the union’s new business manager in 2007.

In this year’s election, Terceira is running to be re-elected as business manager and is joined by Jaime Melo for president, Daniel Avero for secretary treasurer, Gaetano Strazzanti for vice-president, Micheal O’Brien for recording secretary, Calvin Bolger and Horacio Leal for executive board members, Michael A. Reilly for sergeant-at-arms and Noel P. Reilly, John Bevand and Mario Carvalho for auditors.

Jack Oliveira heads the opposing slate in this year’s election hoping to be elected as business manager. Oliveira is joined by Nelson Melo for president, Luis Camara for secretary treasurer, Bernardino Ferreira for vice-president, Marcello Di Giovanni for recording secretary, Jaime Cortez and Pat Sheridan for executive board members, Gord Parsons for sergeant-at-arms and Paolo Boni, Leo Stellino and Iole Di Giovanni for auditors.

Terceira’s team states it will continue to focus on: protecting the Local’s jurisdiction, access to jobs, workplace safety, pension protection, membership training, improving support for retirees and stopping “the breakup of 183.” The team points to new financial controls and growing the union’s membership by 4,800 workers among its past accomplishments.

Oliveira’s team states it will: “restore democracy” at membership meetings, protect the union’s jurisdiction, ensure a “fair hiring hall” where all members have an “equal opportunity,” enforce workplace safety by working closely with stewards and health and safety representatives, ensure strong pensions, conduct membership training and continue to improve retiree benefits.

Local 183 members can vote on June 18, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., at the union’s Toronto Office, 1263 Wilson Ave., the Simcoe County Office, 62 Commerce Park Dr., Barrie and the Eastern Office, 560 Dodge St., Cobourg.

For more information on the two slates running visit www.durvalanddanny.com and www.proud2b183.ca