The Society is welcoming members of IFPTE Local 164, who voted on March 19 to merge into the Society of United Professionals.
Local 164 was affiliated to the same international union as the Society, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers. Local 164 brings with it 32 members who work in engineering and technical roles for Andritz Hydro and BWXT Nuclear Canada in Peterborough, as well as for Babcock and Wilcox Canada in Cambridge. These members design and oversee manufacturing of key components in the Ontario energy supply chain, such as turbines, boilers, transformers, electric motors, and nuclear equipment.
“This is a good day for us,” said Ryan Byrne, Local Vice President of these new Society bargaining units and a leader at Local 164 before the merger. “We are looking forward to building even greater union power for our members with the combined strength of over 8,500 Society members across Ontario.”
Through a servicing agreement in place over the past few years, the Society had been supporting Local 164’s collective bargaining and collective agreement administration. Through that experience, Local 164 members saw the value in joining a larger union with a full range of services, including labour relations, research, external relations and communications support.
“On behalf of all of us at the Society, I am delighted to welcome the members of Local 164 to our union,” said Society President Scott Travers. “You have a long and proud history and we are honoured that you will be continuing it as members of the Society.”
