High steel photos won’t lead to discipline, union says
None of the ironworkers who posed in photos last week from the top of the Stantec Tower were disciplined following an investigation, a union official said Thursday.
“The guys were all tied off … There really was no unsafe activity going on. That’s the normal process for putting steel up,” said Keith Stevenson, business manager for Ironworkers Local 720.
“My understanding is the owner (One Properties) has taken this and they want a positive spin for it. I don’t think there will be any negative repercussions.”
About a dozen of the local’s 2,200 members installed trusses and put in bolts near the top of Edmonton’s 66-storey Stantec Tower.
The structure is expected to be completed by the end of the year. When it’s done, it will be Canada’s highest office building west of Toronto.
The skilled tradespeople were captured in a series of photos last week standing on girders. The photos were posted on Facebook by the Building Trades of Alberta.
Some workers lost a day’s pay last week for on-site meetings while contractors investigated, but no one was suspended or fired for what happened, Stevenson said.
The concern wasn’t about safety, but about the release of images from the work site without company permission, which at places such as oilsands projects can lead to termination, he said.
Stevenson said he has heard One Properties might be interested in putting some of the photos on its website, and his local is looking at sending pictures to its international headquarters.
The company couldn’t be reached for comment.
In an emailed statement, the Ice District joint venture would only say, “We have been advised by our general contractor PCL that they are conducting an investigation regarding this matter. Ice District JV has no further comment at this time.”
Ironworkers will be returning to help with further construction this fall, Stevenson said.
“Safety is always at the forefront on our jobs,” he said.
“I think the guys did a good job … It’s good PR for us.”