Business Manager Brian Cochrane was especially pleased to present Brothers Stan Stenger and Dan Dalziel with their 20-year membership pins at the October District 2 meeting. That’s because he and former president Brad Mackenzie signed them on as members 20 years ago during an organizing campaign with their company BFI Canada.
BFI operates garbage and recycling trucks in many communities.

“The company fought us tooth and nail in bargaining,” said Cochrane. “We went on a brief strike for a number of issues.”

Stenger, who’s been with the company for 29 years and drives a truck in Victoria, said, “It was kind of scary…There was the fear of getting fired. You were just a number and if you caused them any grief, they’d just fire you.”

Although it was a long time ago, Cochrane said, the tactics used then were the same as those used now. Employees were threatened with losing their jobs and subjected to statements like: “‘The company will shut down…The company will never agree to a pension…The company will lose business,’ etc. etc.”

Read the full story on Pg. 11 of the December editon of IUOE News.