News Releases

March 18, 2026 – Richmond, British Columbia: 102 members working at Wexxar Bel in Richmond, British Columbia, established picket lines, marking a significant escalation in their ongoing labour dispute with the Company. The action reflects growing frustration among workers who say their concerns have been consistently dismissed and their proposals ignored at the bargaining table. At the heart of the dispute is the lack of engagement at the bargaining table.

Members covered under the Peel Cheshire Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) have officially ratified a new one-year agreement, marking an important step forward in securing improved working conditions and benefits. The agreement, which takes effect on April 1, 2026, and runs through March 31, 2027, was ratified by members on March 11, 2026. This renewed contract delivers several meaningful gains for members. Among the highlights is a 3.25% wage increase, reinforcing

60 Years of IAM Membership For this edition of Union Stories, we sat down with David James Varnes, a longtime IAM member, whose six decades of service reflect a deep commitment to unionism, democracy, and fairness for working people. 1. Which local are you part of, and what is your role? My name is David James Varnes. I am a member of Local 764 (Air Transportation). I am retired, but

On February 26, the IAM Union officially commenced bargaining with Menzies Aviation at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Menzies Aviation currently provides a range of above- and below-the-wing services for seven airlines operating out of Pearson, including WestJet, its largest customer. The negotiations mark an important step forward for approximately 530 members of IAM Local 2413 who are employed in Menzies’ ground handling operations. The Bargaining Committee presented a full and

February 25, 2026 – The IAM Union has officially launched a new round of contract negotiations with Air Canada, marking the start of discussions following a 10-year agreement and what union leaders describe as a critical moment for members. The kickoff meeting brought together a broad delegation of IAM representatives from Canada and the United States, including leadership, general chairpersons, coordinators, and experts from legal, strategic resources, communications, Air Transportation,

John Humphrey, an IAM Business Representative at District 250 in British Columbia, has been a committed member of the Nanaimo Duncan & District Labour Council (NDDLC) for more than 13 years, including eight years on the Executive Board. Over the past three years, he served as Vice-President, providing steady leadership and supporting the council’s initiatives. In September 2025, John stepped in to chair meetings while the sitting President temporarily stepped

IAM members of local 2309 from Samsic Unit and Air Transat, gathered at the District 140 offices to attend the shop steward training offered by the Quebec Machinists Council’s (QMC) education department. On the front lines of union action, these stewards will ensure compliance with the collective agreement and the quality of work life for their fellow members. Congratulations to each of them for their commitment and their dedication to

Nine members from Locals 712, 869, and 2309 recently took part in grievance handling training, enhancing their skills and knowledge to better represent members and navigate the grievance process with confidence. Participants included Stéphane Dumas, Sylvain Giroux, David Gosselin, Mohamed Amir Boulassel, Adel Mihoubi, Rolando Caballero Rodriguez, Al Jamri Abdellah, Elias El Yamani, and Rudi Le-Goarant-de-Tromelin. Congratulations to each of them for their dedication and commitment to defending the rights

On February 6th, 2026, the 120 members of IAM Local 412 at AstenJohnson in Kanata, Ontario, voted 93% in favour of a new Collective Agreement. The negotiations committee, made up of Shane Woito, Bill Dixon, Perry Cooper, and Lewis Hanna, was praised for its dedication and focus throughout the bargaining process. “The committee did a fantastic job sticking to the issues that were important to the membership and achieved a