Our History
The history of local 89 starts in 1927
It started with five mechanics working for Otis Canada Inc.. At that time the hourly rate was $0.33 an hour for a mechanic and helpers earned 50% of mechanics rate. The regular work week was one of 60 hours.
Once the company found out that five of their mechanics were planning to form a local union, the said employees were transferred to different towns in the province of Quebec. This transfer only served to further our brothers conviction that founding a local union was of the highest importance. Our five founding brothers would meet every weekend and succeeded in establishing our local. The charter of our local was granted on February 7, 1928 and revised on March 29, 1965. A year later in 1929, a mechanic earned $1.00 an hour and worked a 44 hour week.
Since the establishment of our local, we have negotiated every contract for our trade with the goal of continually improving the salaries, benefits and working conditions of our members.
Ninety seven years later we are still here representing the majority of workers in our industry, tirelessly striving for greater goals. We have the highest salaries of all the construction trades in the province of Quebec that being $50.00 an hour for a mechanic with a regular work week of forty hours. Outside the regular work hours of 8:00 am. to 5:00 pm. we earn a premium of double time.
We were the first to have a complete pension and welfare plan created in 1962 which is the envy of all construction trades. Our pension plan presently has assets of over 1.2 billion dollars for 5,300 active international elevator men across Canada.
Our local union office is manned by three people a business manager, business representative, and office secretary. These people are there to run the day to day operations of our local as well as answering the needs of the members.
We hold union meetings the fourth Thursday of every month where all initiated members are invited to come and participate. We value the opinions and input of are fellow members.
All of our activities go back to the early years when our local was first formed. We perpetuate the traditions of camaraderie and fraternity. We owe the success of events to the broad participation of our fellow brothers which only goes to prove that we are but one large family. We are conscious of the importance of fostering the bonds which unite us in this local and throughout international.
Here is a list of annual activities:
- Christmas tree party
- Golf tournament
- Picnic
- Retirement party
