Machinists’ News

Remembering: On This Day - 25 March

Remembering: On This Day25 March Toronto printers strike for the 9-hour day in what is believed to be Canada’s first major strike – 1872https://canadianlabour.ca/who-we-are/history/1872-the-fight-for-a-shorter-work-week/ Fire at New York’s Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, 146 workers killed.A fire at New York’s Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, a disaster that would launch a national movement for safer working conditions – 1911 (Triangle: The Fire that Changed America:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery

Basics and Best Practices for Hybrid Videoconference Meetings (Virtual – from the Winpisinger Center)

Are you interested in taking advantage of the IAM constitutional provisions allowing use of videoconferencing for Local Lodge and District Lodge meetings? If so, join us Wednesday, March 27 for a new virtual program: Basics and Best Practices for Hybrid Videoconference Local Lodge Meetings. The trainings will be held on Wednesday, March 27, at noon and 9 p.m. ET. Each session will run an hour and a half. The program

Living Wages:  Narrowing Wealth Inequality

ILO Reaches Agreement on Living Wages The International Labour Organization, an agency of the United Nations with a mandate to promote decent work around the world by setting international labour standards, reached a milestone agreement on living wages. Experts who studied living wages as a policy tool, agreed that living wages are essential for social and economic justice and equity. Living wages also play a role in reducing poverty and

Local 2797 and Local Lodge 712 winners in IAM Newsletter and Website Awards

Congratulations to IAM lodges who have created outstanding online and print work for the 2021 IAM Communications Contest. Their words, design, and imagery are invaluable tools to keep the membership in tune locally and union-wide. Over the years, the communicators, most of whom are volunteers in local and district lodges, work to capture, inform, and celebrate the work of their peers—communicating the importance of their members’ role in making North

Conservatives (again) show they are against workers!

On 18 March, 2024, the hopes of Manitoba’s workers were once again crushed by the political maneuverings of the Progressive Conservatives. The IAM and Manitoba’s Labour movement rallied together to proudly support the much-anticipated Manitoba NDP Government’s Anti-Scab and Single Step Certification legislation. “However, the PCs have once again chosen to prioritize political gamesmanship over the well-being of the working class. They opted to filibuster the day and effectively quash

New contract for IAM LL901 at Protectolite

Last week the members of IAM Local 901 working at Protectolite, ratified a new 4-year agreement. In addition to annual wage increases, improvements were made to the pension plan, life insurance, safety boots and glasses. “The negotiations committee of Eddie Gardner and Daniel Ladouceur did a great job”, said IAM District 78 Union Representative Vivianne Simon. Protectolite Composites, located in Toronto, manufactures molded composite components for a number of industrial

IAM Local Lodge 712 Members Vote to Strike Over "Unacceptable Offer"

Members at IAM Local Lodge 712 in the Mirabel plant, Quebec, have overwhelmingly rejected Airbus’ latest wage increase proposal and opted for a strike. Representing 1,300 out of 3,000 workers at Airbus’ Canadian plant, the members of Local 712 voted 99.6% against the contract and 98.9% in favour of striking. #IAMAW @MachinistsUnion Participation from members was over 80%. With their previous collective agreement expiring on December 31, the proposed three-year

Women’s Day Training at District 78

Last 8 March, 2024, which was International Women’s Day, IAM Canada’s Director of Research, and Women and Human Rights Representative, Ivana Saula, held a Women’s Committee training at District 78’s office in Toronto. Sisters from District 78 Locals: 1231, 2113, 1295, 907 and 901 attended the session. The training included a session on women’s history in the labour movement, emphasizing the key role women have played in the movement, and perhaps more