International Union of Operating Engineers Local 793 Commemorative Plaque, 2020.
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Resource ID
8228
Access
Open
Address
65 Shuter Street, Toronto, ON, M5B1B2
Date of Creation
2020
Historical Themes
Program Category
Time Period
Caption
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 793 Commemorative Plaque, 2020.
Description
In 1919, 11 steam shovel operators, known today as operating engineers, gathered at the Elliott House Hotel on this site to establish the Local 793 chapter of the International Union of Steam Engineers. The Trade Unions Act, passed in 1872, legalized unions in Canada. This was in response to the growing power of people who were fighting for workers’ rights. IUOE Local 793 was formed 47 years later to advocate for safe and fair working conditions for Toronto’s steam engineers, who laboured in a dangerous industry. IUOE Local 793 members have helped build much of Toronto’s key infrastructure and many of its landmarks, such as the CN Tower, the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre), and New City Hall, as well as residential and commercial buildings, subway lines, and hospitals. Union members operate a wide range of hoisting and earth-moving equipment in all areas of the construction industry. The union’s priority is to ensure the health and safety of its members, provide skills training, and negotiate with employers for wages, pensions, and benefits. In 2020, IUOE Local 793 represented more than 17,000 operators and industrial and mining workers in Ontario and Nunavut.
Marker lat / long: 43.654769, -79.376267 (WGS84)