IAM Positions

IAM Position on Artificial Intelligence confirmed by Ontario Privacy Commissioner and Ontario Human Rights Commission

The IAM has consistently advocated for regulation of AI, which includes broad consultation with workers and the general public. The IAM’s report, “Charting Change: Workers’ Voices in an Automated World,” focuses on AI technology and its impact on Canadian jobs. The report offers conclusions and recommendations from focus groups with union members who voiced their worries and daily realities with automation.

Canadian Airport shamefully enabling contract-flipping

Montreal, QC – Earlier this month, Aéroports de Montreal announced that Menzies Aviation, Samsic Assistance and Trans-Sol Aviation Services are the successful companies that will be granted ground handling licenses to operate at Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport (YUL) resulting in a loss of hundreds of International Association of Machinists (IAM) jobs. Contract-flipping, which is what is happening at the Montreal Airport, is the practice of awarding service contracts for work,

Letter from David Chartrand to Minister Anita Anand concerning the procurement process

 January 19, 2023  The Honourable Anita Anand By Email: Anita.Anand@parl.gc.ca Minister of National Defense House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6  Dear Minister Anand,  I’m writing you on behalf of 50,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), a large number of whom are employed in air transportation and aerospace industries, to express concerns regarding the procurement process of replacing the aging CP140 Aurora’s. Recent developments

Expert Advisory Panel making recommendations on first steps to reopening of travel

Last week, the COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel released recommendations concerning land and border measures and a gradual reopening of air travel. The IAM has been monitoring the situation very closely and expects an announcement based on the recommendations from the Federal Government within days. “We are cautiously optimistic that the government will follow the recommendations of their Expert Advisory Panel and slowly reopen the borders when it’s

Still waiting - but for how long?

Ivana Saula Research Director Six months ago, talks between the federal government and airline companies began over financial aid for air transportation. As soon as the impact of COVID-19 was evident, the IAM began a continuous lobbying effort for assistance for aviation and air transportation. Also, over the last year, one by one, governments around the world announced aid specifically for the airlines. In Canada, we’re still waiting. A recent

IAM condemns killing in Atlanta, Georgia

18 March, 2021 The IAM in Canada strongly condemns the killings in Atlanta, Georgia. The murders of eight people, was a despicable act based on cowardice and hate and clearly targeted women of East Asian origin. The suspect, a 21-year-old white male, has been charged with four counts of murder in Atlanta, GA, as well as four counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault in nearby Cherokee County,

The future of the aerospace industry in the hands of the federal government - Chartrand

For immediate release Montreal March 9th, 2021 – After a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian aerospace industry is in serious trouble and may not survive without federal intervention. Called to testify before the Industry, Science and Technology Committee, the IAMAW called for a short-term assistance plan to help the aerospace industry recover quickly from the crisis and the implementation of a long-term pan-Canadian aerospace policy. “We are talking

Not In This Together: Pandemic Widening Gap between the Rich and Poor

By Ivana Saula Canadian Research Director We’ve heard about and seen the direct impact of the financial fallout as a result of the pandemic, but it’s not widely reported that some businesses have profited from this disaster. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) issued a study that puts the effect of the pandemic on workers and top paid CEOs in sharp contrast. The report found that a top Canadian

Canada’s Aviation Industry Requires Action Now!

For almost the entire year of 2020, the IAM has been lobbying the Federal Government for assistance directed toward the aviation sector. IAM members and their families are urged to support our ongoing efforts by signing onto the Federal NDP’s petition: https://www.ndp.ca/aviation. 2020 has been a year like no other – that is something on which we all can agree. And the Air Transportation and Aviation sector has been impacted

IAM Statement of Support for Belarus

November 2020 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) in Canada represents more than 50,000 workers in air transportation, aerospace, manufacturing, healthcare and many other sectors. The IAM joins the Canadian Labour Congress and many other Canadian unions in expressing grave concerns about the brutal violence and repression we are witnessing against the people of Belarus. There have been more than two months of peaceful protests against