June 2017

Liberals make good on election promise with Bill C-4
Machinists' News

Ottawa, ON – True to their word, the Trudeau Liberal Government has eliminated anti-union legislation with the passing of Bill C-4. The old legislation, both created by the Harper Conservatives through private members bills from backbenchers, were a sore point with the IAM and other unions. Bill C-377 required labour organizations to make a series of public financial disclosures including all transactions of more than $5,000.00. Bill C-525 replaced the

Site visit winning formula continues in Edmonton
Machinists' News

Edmonton, AB – Since he took office, Canadian GVP Stan Pickthall, has invested a considerable amount of time and travel conducting face-to-face meetings with IAM Canada members. The recent visit to Edmonton was by all accounts, another success. “For many of the members we talked to, this was their first opportunity to meet and talk with a union official from our national office,” explained IAM Chief of Staff Gord Falconer.

Job security plain and simple and British Airways Machinists got it!
News Releases

Wednesday June 14, 2017   For Immediate Release   Toronto, ON – “The members and the bargaining committee at British Airways took a long hard look before the talks began and this round of bargaining was about job security, plain and simple!” explained IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson Mike Corrado. “After watching the numerous contract flips at Toronto Pearson and Dorval Airports over the past few years, this

21st Annual Dave Ritchie Invitational Golf Tournament
Machinists' News

Thanks to all the sponsors, participants and volunteers at the 21st Annual Dave Ritchie Invitational Golf Tournament, benefiting the Guide Dogs of America. Guide Dogs of America provides much-needed support to people who have lost their sight. With the assistance of a guide-dog, they gain the independence to participate in many of the acts of daily living. Guide Dogs of America works to provide this independence, but it can be

Two Canadians among 2017 IAM Scholarship Winners
Machinists' News

Toronto, ON – Two Canadians were among the 16 winners in the 2017 IAM Scholarship Awards. Caitlyn Harper of Rothesay, New Brunswick and Britney Trieu of Edmonton, Alberta were chosen from among 292 applicants. The award is given to outstanding students by the union on the basis of his/her fine academic achievement and various activities of service to the school and the community. The winners are selected by a committee

Swissport Cargo workers ratify first contract
News Releases

Tuesday June 6, 2017   For Immediate Release   Vancouver, BC – With strike action only a week away, members of IAM Local Lodge 16, employed as warehouse workers for Swissport, ratified their first collective agreement. “To say our members are ecstatic would be an understatement, “explained IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 Chairperson Todd Haverstock. “The wages that the employer was paying their current staff was not consistent with seniority,

56th OPCM an outstanding success
Machinists' News

Toronto, ON – Within minutes of the closing of the 55th OPCM Conference in Sault Ste Marie last year, work began on the 56th Conference to be held in Toronto, hosted by IAM Local Lodge 1295. This year 70 delegates and 18 guests took part in a most successful conference. None of that would have been possible without the tireless work by the host committee. From left to right in

Williams – 2017 Norman Court Award recipient
Machinists' News

Toronto, ON – Sister Betty Williams an IAM District 78 Retiree and Vice President of IAM Local Lodge 1295, was the recipient of the 2017 Norman Court Award at the 56th OPCM Conference. The award is given each year to a DL 78 member who displays a combination of activism as well as service to their union and their community. Williams who is known to be never short on words,

Pickthall tells OPCM, Ontario Bill 148 doesn’t go far enough
Campaigns

Toronto, ON – “All the people in this room should be proud of the work they have done to make changes to Ontario Labour laws a reality but I’m here to tell you that our work isn’t done yet,” explained IAM Canadian GVP Stan Pickthall. Speaking to delegates at the 56th conference of the Ontario Council of Machinists, Pickthall said the changes to the Ontario Employment Standards Act and the

OPCM gets better and better
Machinists' News

Toronto, ON – There are three Machinists Councils in Canada, the Maritime Machinists Council, the Quebec Machinists Council and the Ontario Machinist Council or OPCM and this past weekend, the OPCM celebrated its 56th conference. It began with a welcoming speech from Jim McDowell – President of the Peel Region Labour Council. The conference came on the heels of the changes to the Ontario Employment Standards Act and the Ontario