Being a member has its perks
Local 1059 members enjoy all the benefits of unionization including a robust pension, health insurance, and higher wages. We also place members in rewarding careers with tremendous opportunities.
Membership Application
Once we have reviewed your application, if we think you're a good fit with LIUNA, we will contact you.
Already a skilled labourer?
Want to start a rewarding career?
Become a Skilled Labourer
If you’re not yet a certified skilled labourer but you’re interested in pursuing the skilled trades as a career, you’ve come to the right place! Construction is a thriving industry and skilled tradespeople are in higher demand than ever before. Click below to learn how to launch your career.
Start Your Career TodayMyths & Facts
Myth #1
My union dues go toward making union executives rich.
Fact
No, your union dues go to building and maintaining a strong union. LIUNA Local 1059 is a non-profit organization, with the biggest expenditures going towards representing its membership, including Business Representatives, grievance settlement, organizing and administrative costs, which all contribute to ensuring that collective agreements are negotiated and enforced professionally. Local 1059 also invests in up-to-date skills and safety training courses for members, to help them remain employable.
Myth #2
I can be fired for organizing a union/signing an authorization card.
Fact
Punishing or in any way penalizing an employee who intends to or has signed an application card is illegal. This goes directly against the unionization rights provided by law. When workers unionize, signed cards are submitted to the government Labour Board and are cross-referenced with an official employee list supplied to the Labour Board by their employer. Your employer will know how many employees signed, but will not know who specifically, and is unable to punish any worker.
Myth #3
Unions are strike-happy.
Fact
Unions always negotiate for collective agreements, not conflict. At Local 1059, we consider striking a last resort. Strikes happen only if a clear majority of the affected membership votes for it. When the public learns about strikes in the news, they assume it is the norm. However, strikes are the exception: 97 out of 100 collective agreements are actually resolved without striking.
Myth #4
Unions protect the lazy.
Fact
No collective agreement protects employees from the logical consequences of their actions. What unions do is ensure that the process for discipline is fair according to the law and follows the process laid out in the collective agreement. At Local 1059, it is our responsibility to make sure members are treated fairly and are offered the support they need throughout the discipline process. However, we cannot protect them from themselves.
Being a Member Has its Perks
Local 1059 members enjoy the benefits of unionization including pensions, health insurance and higher wages. We also place members in rewarding careers with tremendous opportunities - from profitable and interesting careers as skilled workers to the ability to take a career path that leads to leadership positions, both within companies and on the job site.
Health Coverage
Local 1059 takes pride in taking care of its members and their dependents with a comprehensive benefits package that includes prescriptions, dental, paramedical, optical, mental health and addictions counselling, and even medical cannabis coverage. In addition, Local 1059 members have access to the MembersHealth 24/7 telemedicine service to connect with a doctor in minutes.
Skills & Safety Training
The safety of our members is of paramount importance, and that’s why Local 1059 offers an extensive variety of safety training and certification courses on-site at our brand new state-of-the-art Training Centre in London, Ontario. Visit the Upcoming Courses section of the site for more information.
Pension Coverage
Local 1059 is dedicated to helping its members build a stronger future through the Labourers’ Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada, a multi-employer pension fund where every company contributes to the same plan.
Job Security
In these uncertain economic times, more and more people are citing job security as a primary driver in the career they choose to pursue. The great news is, construction is a thriving industry and skilled tradespeople are in higher demand than ever before. Local 1059 works hard to ensure our members remain employed, and we refer out of work members to our signatory employers.