April 2017

Aviation Safety Submission to Tran Commitee
Opinion

Submission to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities on Aviation Safety Who we are The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is the largest union in the air transport sector in Canada and in North America. The IAM represents over 50,000 members across Canada, of which 20,000 work in the aviation, aerospace and air transportation sector. We represent over 500,000 members in North America. In the airport

NDP has double digit poll lead in BC Election Forecast
Machinists' News

Vancouver, BC – The latest public opinion poll by Mainstreet Research shows the BC New Democrats under John Horgan with a ten point lead over the incumbent Liberals of Premier Christy Clark, at the half way point of the provincial election campaign. “We’re happy with these numbers,” said IAM District Lodge 250 Directing Business Representative Walter Gerlach. “However in 2013 the NDP had a 24 point bulge and Clark wiped

Sky Café kitchen staff latest airport group to join IAM
Machinists' News

Thursday April 27, 2017   For Immediate Release   Toronto, ON – Employees at Sky Café are one big happy IAM family after kitchen staff joined the Machinists today. The IAM organized 35 drivers at the same company in February of this year. “Two voting polls were held, one in the morning and one in the evening and I’m pleased to announce that 75 per cent of the eligible voters

Killips tenure must be a record!
Machinists' News

Edmonton, AB – The IAM doesn’t keep tabs on how long someone serves his or her Local Lodge as president, but after Glen Killips stepped down as president of IAM Local Lodge 1722, we might consider doing so.  When he handed over the reins of the Local Lodge in February of this year, Glen Killips had served as its president for more than 30 years! The legacy he leaves behind

Ontario NDP moves back to their roots!
Machinists' News

Toronto, ON – More than 1,000 delegates rose to their feet applauding Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath for pledging to create a universal provincial pharmacare plan. The pledge came during the Ontario New Democratic Party Convention held in Toronto April 21-23, 2017 “Just like Tommy Douglas started in one province and built Medicare step-by-step, we’re going to start building universal pharmacare right here in Ontario,” Horwath said. “You shouldn’t have

Low-cost doesn’t necessarily mean best value!
Machinists' News

Most of us are familiar with Low Cost Carriers (LCC) by now. The names are familiar: WestJet, Rouge, Southwest, Ryanair… After about 15 years of existence and rapid growth, LCC are now reviewing how to expand their wings again to keep up with the same growth as in the past. While they continue to post profits along with other airline carriers, their costs continue to climb as they expand their markets

CLC Convention comes to Toronto
Machinists' News

Toronto, ON – The 28th Constitutional Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre May 8-12, 2017. The Convention kicks off with a CLC Young Workers Strategy Session on Sunday May 7th, the main convention body convenes on Monday May 8th at 9 AM.  IAM delegates are putting forward 15 resolutions covering everything from Pay Equity, Old Age Security and Employment Insurance to

As Trump pushes Buy American – Pickthall cautions “Canada is not China!”
Machinists' News

In his latest executive order signing, US President Donald Trump directed US federal agencies to implement the “Buy American, Hire American” mandate that was the cornerstone of his election campaign. During a visit to of the headquarters of Snap-On Tools, in Kenosha, Wisconsin this week, Trump lauded American “grit and craftsmanship while calling the NAFTA trade deal a complete and total disaster. “This order will protect workers,” he said. According

CNC Machine Operators join IAM
News Releases

Monday April 10, 2017 For Immediate Release Port Coquitlam, BC – Failure by the employer to deliver on promises of past wage increases drove CNC operators into the arms of the IAM. CNC machine operators and shipping and receiving personnel at Advanced CNC Machinery Limited are the newest members of IAM Local Lodge 692. “These people have been waiting a long time for promised wage increases and they never materialized,” explained

BC Forklift Operators join IAM
News Releases

Monday April 10, 2017 For Immediate Release Delta, BC – Forklift operators at South Fraser Container Services, part of the Sankyo Group of Companies, have joined the IAM. “Wage disparity among the workers and respect in the workplace were the key reasons for this group joining the IAM,” explained IAM District Lodge 250 Business Representative Al Cyr. “This is a very solid group of workers, they stuck together during the