Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) is expanding its head office property in Oakville.
The executive board of the local recently approved the purchase of a 6.14-acre parcel of land at 2201 Speers Rd. for $7.1 million. The property abuts the east border of the union’s current grounds.
“The purchase of this property makes sense for our union and the members of Local 793 because we are growing and in need of more space,” said Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher. “The executive board and I felt this was a great investment for the future of our union.”
The deal officially closes June 15. With the purchase, the union will own close to 20 acres at the site in Oakville.
Gallagher said the union plans to build a new residence on the property for students training at the nearby Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO). There is a single-storey, 27,000-sq. ft. building on the property which will be demolished to make way for the new residence.
The property was purchased from Procor Ltd., which manages conventional and special purpose rail tank and freight cars. Procor will lease half the building on the property until December.
Gallagher said the union is in the process of developing plans to expand the banquet hall on its head office property and will now be able to use the additional space for the new student residence.
“We are excited to be purchasing this property, as it will provide us with the additional space that we need to expand,” he said. “The officers and I intend to keep growing our union and we have taken another step in that direction by making the decision to purchase this additional property.”
Local 793 president Joe Redshaw said building a student residence on the property will enable apprentices training at the OETIO to reside on site, rather than seek accommodation at nearby hotels. “Purchasing this property will enable students to be housed in one location in one residence,” he said. “Apprentices will no longer be forced to commute back and forth to the training campus. That way they will be able to concentrate on their training instead of looking for accommodation.”
Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers represents about 15,000 crane and heavy equipment operators across Ontario. The union has a head office, banquet hall and training campus in Oakville, and another training campus in Morrisburg.