About Philip M. Venoit
Philip Venoit
“My vision for Local 230 is one solidly planted in our Island community, relevant in our work, strong and responsible in Labour Relations, with fair and credible Leadership, a foundation that our Local can be built upon for the next century.”
Philip M. Venoit
Initiated into Local 230 in 1981, Construction Electrician;
While on the tools Phil worked in the Industrial, Commercial, Institutional, Marine and Motor Winding Sectors. During that time Phil served as Shop Steward, Occupational Health & Safety Committee Member, Fire and Emergency Rescue Team, receiving the IBEW Life Saving Award in 1986.
Local 230 Organizer from 1996-97
In January 1996 Phil was asked to come into the Local 230 office to develop and implement the Local 230 Organizing Strategy.
Appointed as the Delegate to the Dockyard Trades & Labour Council in 1997 to present.
Business Representative from 1998-99
Phil started writing Local 230’s Grievances and presenting them in Arbitration, as well as Labour Relations Board, and small claims court cases. After organizing the Railway Phil co-authored the Railway Council’s Constitution and acted as their new President.
Assistant Business Manager from 2000-02
Started writing the Local 230’s Workers Compensation Board Appeals, served as an Executive Council Member of the Highway Constructors Council during the Vancouver Island Inland Highway development. Served on the BC Federation of Labour Political Action Committee, then Legislative Research and Labour Board Advocates Committee
Business Manager from 2002-Current
IBEW
Elected as the Chair of the IBEW-BC Provincial Council in 2007 to present. Appointed as Canada’s IBEW’s International Executive Council member from 2021-2022. Appointed as Canada’s Charter member to the IBEW’s Electrical Workers Without Borders North America.
Served as a Delegate to the IBEW 36th, 37th, 38th, 39th & 40th IBEW International Conventions, as well as appointed as Canada’s representative on the Law Committee for the purpose to review all proposed resolutions proposing to change the IBEW Constitution. Phil has also served as the Canadian on the Resolutions Committee and the Credentials Committee.
BC Federation of Labour
Throughout the last 21 years Phil has served as an Executive Board Member and an Officer of the BC Federation of Labour.
Building Construction Trades
Elected as the President of the Vancouver Island Building Construction Trades Council from 2002-2018, then after serving as the IBEW Executive Board member for several years Phil was elected as the BC Building Trades Council President from 2018 to 2020.
Shipyard Metal Trades
Vice-President then President of the Vancouver Island’s Metal Trades Council from 2006-2018, elected at the IBEW’s 38th and re-elected at the 39th International Conventions as the first Canadian Delegate in the IBEW’s history at Convention as one of the two Metal Trades Delegates to the American Federation of Labor (since 1908).
Delegate to the Dockyard Trades & Labour Council from 1997-present, and appointed to the Dockyard Liasson Committee from 2024-present,
Education
Phil has served as the Western JETS President and Chair, Chair of the Skilled Trades BC Maritime Sector from 2015- present, on the Board of Governors of Camosun College from 2018-2021, and on the National Electrical Training Council.
Health & Welfare/ Pension Benefits
Phil was one of the first Canadian Trustees to achieve his Masters in Trustee Management Standards. Advanced Trustee Management Standards Certificate for Group Benefits Management, as well as a Certificate in Pension Fund Management & Certificate in Jointly Managed Training Funds.
Other relevant Committees and/or Appointments
Phil served on the Canadian Employment Insurance Commission’s Board of Referees overseeing and writing decisions on over 250 appeals. A number of Island and Provincial Economic and Legislative, and social Policy Committees, the United Way Labour Committee.
Phil spearheaded the stand-alone Local 230 Building and Training Societies to manage the purchase of Local 230’s real estate. Hosted the 2007 IBEW All Canada Progress Meeting, Local 230’s 100th, 110th & 120th Anniversaries.Phil attended the 2nd Congress of the International Trade Union Confederation representing over 80 million union members from around the world.
Phil has negotiated over 100 collective agreements in various industries that are clean, clear documents giving our members superior working rules and good solid increases into wages and benefits. One thing Phil has learned is, to be very aware of what is taking place around the rest of North America and the World, as today’s immediate global transfer of knowledge, technology, trade and movement of labour and events around the world will eventually end up on our doorstep, and finally, without our membership, the retirees of yesterday, the members of today, and the youth of our tomorrow, without you, this is all for nothing…