Political Action

Screener Unions request meetings with Transport and Labour Ministers

Toronto, ON – Increased service pressures, airport privatization and successor rights in the event of a contract flip are areas of serious concern for Canada’s 6,000 airport pre-board security screeners. These issues top the agenda of a meeting the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and the United Steelworkers (USW) have requested with the Minister of Transport – Marc Garneau, and Labour Minister Patty Hajdu. The two unions

Lobby Day – Ottawa February 5-6-7-, 2018

Ottawa, ON – It’s time for another day of lobbying on Parliament Hill with the Canadian Labour Congress. We will be lobbying the government on the need for National Pharmacare and stopping the privatization of Canadian infrastructure which includes our airports, a subject of great interest to our IAM members. The schedule dates are February 5, 6 and 7, 2018 .Local Lodge Political Action Committees and Local Lodge presidents should

Private Member’s Bill introduced to save Workers’ pensions!

Ottawa, ON – It was somewhat fitting on the 150th anniversary of Canada’s first Parliament, NDP Finance Critic Scott Duvall introduced a Private Member’s Bill to save workers’ pensions. “This bill is designed to amend the Company’s Creditors Arrangement Act which currently permits legalized theft of workers’ pensions when an employer files for bankruptcy,” Duvall told a crowd of protestors on the steps of Parliament Hill. “When it comes to

Senator Bernie Sanders in Toronto: "Public health is a human right!"

TORONTO – U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders addressed a vibrant speech last Sunday on the Canadian public health care system to an enthusiastic and energized crowd at the University of Toronto. Senator Sanders was visiting Canada last week to get ideas from experts, politicians and medical workers on the Canadian universal health care system. He introduced a Bill in Congress to bring a government funded health system to his home country.

NAFTA’S Chapter 11 – why it has to go!

Toronto, ON – The Investor-state dispute mechanism under the current North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is known as Chapter 11. It enables investors in NAFTA countries to sue the government of any member country. Only foreign companies are authorized to intent lawsuits. This chapter was originally drafted to prevent companies from being expropriated or victims of unfair treatment by countries with unstable governments. Remember that key point, unstable governments,

IAM Aerospace Workers Reply to the Judgement of the U.S. Department of Commerce

For immediate release Montreal, October 16th, 2017 Judgement of the U.S. Department of Commerce: Aerospace workers reply Montreal – Following the imposition of a countervailing duty of 220% and an anti-dumping duty of 79.82% by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Machinists Union (IAMAW) has replied by launching a communications campaign aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing the general public. “We are facing measures that are dangerous for the stability

Ferguson wins NDP long term service award

Cambridge, ON – IAM District Lodge 78 Directing Business Representative Derek Ferguson is the recipient of the 2017 Monty Davidson NDP-Labour Award. The award is given each year by the Cambridge NDP Riding Association to an individual for life long service to working people. The award is named after the late Monty Davidson, the first Cambridge MPP elected under the NDP banner in 1975. Ferguson, a member of the Cambridge

Machinists back a winner – Singh takes NDP leadership!

Toronto, ON – Jagmeet Singh is the new leader of the federal New Democratic Party with a resounding first-ballot victory by a margin of 53 per cent in the NDP leadership in Toronto Sunday night. “Earlier last month the IAM endorsed Jagmeet Singh to be our new leader after a vigorous internal debate,” said IAM Canadian General Vice President Stan Pickthall. “At that time we concluded that he was the

Pensions – The money belongs to the workers not the companies!

Hamilton, ON – The federal NDP Pension Critic, Scott Duvall – Hamilton Mountain MP – announced he will introduce a private member’s bill this fall to protect workers’ pensions when their employer is allowed to restructure their financial affairs under the Company Creditors Arrangement Act. “The pensions earned by workers are deferred wages, plain and simple, explained Duvall. “Diverting, withholding or seizing those funds should be illegal. The current system

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