BC Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Local 2
Bricklayers, Stone & Marble Masons, Tilesetters
All Members and Contractors contribute to CIRP the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan…its more than just residential treatment. Harm Reduction Model is in use and one of the ways we prevent death and injury from substance abuse is through the Build Strong App. You can get the app for android on google play or apple on their app site. Look for Build Strong.
click here to go to the CIRP page link for more information
our code is 2
New Health and Welfare Plan Booklet click HERE. Updated April 1, 2022.
Letter from Vicky Waldron of the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan.
Hi Everyone,
You may have seen the heartbreaking overdose numbers in the media and news recently. The opioid crisis has seen increasing numbers of overdoses year on year and now with the added impact of COVID 2020 was by far the most deadly year since the epidemic began. Sadly this year is expected to be even worse. Data from numerous sources including the BC Coroners office have identified that the construction industry is ‘disproportionately’ represented in the overdose deaths. Other studies have shown that construction workers are dying at a rate of 5-7 times higher than workers from other industries. Over the last 5 years with the organisation, I have spoken to many of you, and I can honestly say that there is not one person I have met that hasn’t been impacted either directly or indirectly, by the death of a construction worker due to overdose.
It is because of this that CIRP is undertaking a new pilot project aimed to get as many naloxone kits into the hands of as many construction workers and as many job sites as possible. We are in the first phase of this initiative which includes a number of trade schools. As part of this initiative we are training as many business managers and reps as we can on ‘overdose reversal’ (naloxone training). The training itself uses the ‘train the trainer’ model, so the idea is that the business managers and reps are then able to go out into industry and continue the training for their members and provide kits for everyone that is trained. CIRP is a registered naloxone site, and as such we can provide you with the kits and training supplies as needed.
We delivered our first training for 20 reps/managers this last month, and are now looking to book our next round of training. If you have anyone that is interested in receiving the training please let me know and we will set up a second training. We can generally accommodate 20 people per training session.
With thanks,
Vicky Waldron | Executive Director, BSc (Hons). MSc Health Psych (Hons).
Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan
Suite #402,
223 Nelson’s Crescent,
South Tower,
New Westminster, B.C.,
V3L 0E4
T: 1-604-521-8611 | C: 1-604-838-2304
We acknowledge, respect and thank the First Nations Peoples for the unceded and traditional lands in which we live, work and play.
If you have symptoms and/or have tested positive for COVID 19 in an Alberta Camp job and are forced to self isolate you may be eligible for WorkSafe Alberta claim for lost wages if the infection occurred on the job. Local 1 AB, Business Manager and financial Secretary Alan Ramsay should be contacted. Local 1AB has a workplace advocate, Mr. Bob Iskiw, who will be taking up the case for COVID 19 wage loss claims for members working under the 1AB collective agreement. Local 1AB can be contacted at 1-780-426-7545.
In BC if at an industrial camp the contractor has to provide daily wages if you are self isolating. Contact Geoff Higginson at 778-847-2472 or the Hall at 1-855-584-2021.
If you are returning from Alberta and intend to accept work on a BC job, please, monitor yourself for symptoms and use the BC Government online symptom checker (click here) to determine whether or not you should get a covid 19 test. Don’t take a chance at bringing the virus to a shutdown in BC…everyone will suffer if we get a job shut down.
Please get to your hospital emergency room if you start having difficulty breathing. Don’t take any chances brothers and sisters.
In Solidarity, Geoff Higginson
2021-05-01 Travel for work is allowed. You can travel back and forth through the health regions for work. If you go through a traffic stop all they can ask for is the driver’s id and home address and where he is going. That’s it, they cannot make a record of your travel and location etc., unless they suspect you of trying to make non-essential travel. Call the hall or Geoff Higginson if you have any problems.
2021-04-27 Current rules and orders allow you to travel in and between health regions in BC. You should not require anything other than telling law enforcement that you are travelling to work, if you do want a clearance slip we will send one. Contact info@bac2bc.org or outside regular hours ghigginson@bac2bc.org. Or Call 778-847-2472.
Currently our work is considered essential and travelling between health authorities is allowed if it is your work. We have contacted the government today and were advised that if there are any changes to the rules for travel when you are going to work the government will announce these changes on Friday probably just after noon.
The union will draft a “clearance letter” that we can issue to prove you have been dispatched to work and will work with the contractors to ensure there are no problems with your transit to the jobs you are hired on. If you are travelling send an email to ghigginson@bac2bc.org to register so we can send you a personalized clearance letter if necessary.
We are hearing anecdotal accounts of exposures and quarantines in Alberta in the patch. Alberta does not have rules guaranteeing daily wages when quarantined. BC does for any of our industrial camps named in the Provincial health Officers Orders and Guidance. If you are in Alberta working contact Bricklayers Local 1 AB for official information.
BAC Local 1 Alberta 1-780-426-7545.
Coming this fall, direct pay for para medical like eyeglasses, chiropractic, pharma, dental. New plan card and a phone app for those who want to use it. Take a photo and send in the claim and get payment by direct deposit. More info soon.
We support our brothers and sisters in Locals 97, 115, 2404, 38. Watch The Last Ironworker HERE.
The BC Building trades has submitted policy recommendations to the Workers Compensation Board to INCLUDE Communicable Viral Pathogens on schedule 1 of the Workers Compensation Act. Schedule 1 is called “Presumption of Occupational Disease Related to Specific Process or Industry”. The goal is to have viral pathogens in particular COVID-19 on the list, so that workers who are infected from work will be compensated for the illness. Click HERE to see the letter.
Member Assistance Program (MAP) Click on the underlined text to find out about MAP
This is a free and confidential service for members.
These are still crazy times. We all must stay informed and when we go to work not accept anything less than what is required by the Provincial Health Officer, Center for Disease Control and WorkSafe BC. Below are links to critical information about what employers have to do to protect you on the job. Hand in hand with that is what we should be doing to protect each other. Remember many of us have contact with older relatives in our home, children and spouses. If you have any symptoms stay home for at least ten days. If you have been exposed to someone with a Positive COVID19 test, then self isolate for 14 days. They are making it much easier to get tested now. Just call your doctor for a telephone consultation and explain your symptoms. You will most likely be given an immediate appointment for testing. Remember if you have to stay home because of the covid you can collect the CERB benefit of 500 per week for up to 16 weeks. Check the link to confirm you would be eligible.
Provincial Health Officer Order re Industrial Camps
Provincial Infection Prevention and Control Officers
Guidance to Construction Sites-BC Public Health