The People of Local 63

A couple of years ago, I was introduced to a website called “The People of Site C.” It was a website that featured stories about the individual people who were working at the Site C Clean Energy Project in British Columbia. I felt that it was such an awesome idea to feature the people on that project. To read their stories was inspirational. 

In my opinion, CLAC has always been humble in its approach—and that’s not a bad thing. It helps keep you grounded and it’s a safe, controlled path.

I had been taking up arms in Facebook pages and posts where people would talk trash about our union behind a keyboard, and I had had enough. I started pushing back, pointing out the flaws in their stories and changing the topic. I call these people NPCs, or nonplayer characters, a reference to video games where you interact with the computer-generated characters that have a limited script.

So, Kevin and I bantered back and forth while working the night shift and came up with “We Are 63.” It seemed to sum up the message I was trying to make. I had a logo made and thought about simple but effective messages to communicate.

Then I needed a platform, a way to connect with people who were as proud to be Local 63 members as I was. Facebook seemed like the obvious choice so I proceeded to create a page. I paid for stickers and hats out of my own pocket. I paid for Facebook ads. I didn’t ask for financial help, but I didn’t ask if I could make the page either.

In fact, I’m still waiting for someone to tell me I should take it down. If you look on the page, it says, “This page is not maintained or endorsed by CLAC.” Because it’s not. It’s maintained by me, a proud Local 63 member who believes we shouldn’t have to scroll past comments on the Internet that are wrong about our union.

I believe we should be proud of what we’ve built in the province and proud of our members. I know CLAC is proud of all that too, but I felt the need to take a grassroots approach and kick it up a notch.

The reaction has been mixed, as expected. It’s caught the attention of more than just our Local 63 members. There’s been a few members of other unions who feel the need to come in and be negative, but I just thank them for coming out and wish them a good day. My intent has never been to attack other unions, but I won’t stand idly by while they attack mine. I keep it honest and don’t take it personally.

There are a couple posts on the page that mean a lot to me. The first was the jerseys that a Local 63 steward made for a bunch of the guys at the Kearl Lake camp. It generated a lot of views because one of the guys in the picture shared it on his own page. Another is the University of Lethbridge project completion announcement where they replied to the post with a thank you to our members. There’s even one about a member that likes to tour the world when he’s not building or maintaining sites in Alberta.

That’s the stuff I’m talking about. That’s the feel-good stuff right there. We are the people of Local 63.

If you want to follow stories like these about Local 63, you can find the page at facebook.com/WeAre63. If you want to help out or have something that’s worth a post, send me a message on the page. #WeAre63 #CLACProud.