Machinists’ News

IAM joins rally to protest Boeing court battle with Bombardier

Montréal, QC – More than 150 IAM members joined other unionized workers in a rally and March through the streets of Montréal to the US consulate to protest Boeing Aircraft’s court battle with Bombardier.   Boeing has filed trade tribunal complaints and taken court action against Bombardier over the sale of 75 C-Series 100 commercial airliners to Delta Airlines. Boeing accuses Bombardier of being heavily subsidized by the Canadian and

2017 SYMPOSIUM – Martinez has our back!

Hollywood, MD – International President Bob Martinez loves to talk to Canadian members whenever the chance occurs but seldom does he get the opportunity to talk the entire Canadian staff, leadership and local lodge executives in one room. He did just that today during his address to the 2017 Canadian staff and leadership symposium at the IAM W3 Centre.   “We have listened to our members on how we can

Smaller ships – greater agility

Hollywood, MD – In excess of 110 IAM Canadian staff, Directing Business Representatives, Business Representatives, General Chairpersons as well as Local Lodge officers are attending the 2017 Staff Conference and Local Lodge Symposium this week at the IAM W3 Education Center. In his opening remarks to delegates, GVP Stan Pickthall used the theme of the Symposium, “Smaller Ships” to outline the future course of the union in Canada. “I had

Large Labour Day turnout does Machinists proud!

Toronto, ON – Labour Day in Canada was declared a National holiday back in 1894 and trade unionists have been marching through the streets of Toronto and across the country on the first Monday of September ever since. Labour Day 2017 in Toronto was highlighted by the largest turnout of Machinist members on record, in excess of 250 IAM members marched the 7 kilometer route from the heart of downtown

NAFTA #2: establishing a new Trade Policy that benefit working People

The IAM welcomes the renegotiation of NAFTA. It is the opportunity to protect Canadian jobs and public services. For one, the current federal government is including union and Labour stakeholders in the renegotiation process. IAM Chief of Staff Gord Falconer and Research Director for Canada Aurélie Sarrabezolles took part in the first meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland and Labour on August 15 in Toronto. It was the

IAM District 11 Golf Tournament scores big for Dion Foundation

La Chute, QC – One hundred seventy-seven golfers took to the fairways of Golf La Chute over the weekend in the IAM District 11 golf tournament on behalf of the Foundation Maman Dion. “This tournament keeps growing every year and this time we filled the two 18-hole courses in La Chute to near capacity,” explained IAM Québec Coordinator Dave Chartrand. “This year we raised over $46,000 from the tournament and

Toronto Airport Security Screeners meet Pickthall

Toronto, ON – Since becoming Canadian GVP in May of 2016, Stan Pickthall has invested a lot of his time meeting with IAM Canadian members in their workplaces across the country. In early August, he met with members of IAM Local Lodge 2921 who are employed as Security Screeners at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. “This is a dynamic and diverse membership we have with the screeners and I’ve known some

IAM Statement on Department of Labor-Supervised Rerun of Election

Responding to the U.S. Department of Labor, the IAM has agreed to a DOL-supervised rerun of the 2017 Grand Lodge elections for International Union officer positions, including International President, General Secretary-Treasurer and seven U.S. General Vice Presidents. The election excludes the Canadian General Vice President position. The DOL struck down the IAM members’ convention action requiring that candidates for Grand Lodge office show a minimal 10 percent level of support

Lakehead Motors owner goes on vacation – abdicates responsibility

8 August, 2017 For immediate release Thunder Bay, ON – IAM members in Thunder Bay remain on strike as the owner of Lakehead Motors has gone on vacation. “This is serious business,” said Pete Topetto, Directing Business Representative of IAM Local Lodge 1120 in Thunder Bay, “and the owner is pretending that by going away, the problem doesn’t exist,” he said. Local Lodge 1120 has been on strike since August

Machinists ratify new deal with Half-Way Mazda Motors

Wednesday 9 August, 2017 For Immediate Release Thunder Bay, ON – Half-Way Mazda Motors auto dealership in Thunder Bay has ratified a new collective agreement with IAM Local Lodge 1120. The three-year agreement provides wage increases of 3 percent in the first year and 2.5 percent in the following two years for all Schedule A and Schedule C classification workers including Technicians, body men and painters. Wage increases begin in