Ottawa, ON – On May 5th, the House of Commons considered the Senate amended Bill C-4. This Bill was introduced in the House to repeal the shameful Conservative government Bills C-377 and C-525. When this Bill went to the Senate for deliberation and approval, the unelected Senators found it necessary to flex some muscle and proceeded to negatively amend the House Bill by including some of the ill-conceived previous Conservative
Toronto, ON – There were many highlights at the 28th Canadian Labour Congress held in Toronto May 8-12th but two really stood out. More than 3,000 delegates took the message of the need for a $15.00 minimum wage to the financial district of Toronto on Thursday May 11th. It was a two pronged march through the streets of Toronto at noon hour culminating with a massive block party in front
Vancouver, BC – The ruling Liberals under Premier Christy Clark entered this election with a 49 seat majority and left with the first minority government since 1952. The NDP under the leadership of John Horgan won 41 seats, the Liberals retained 43 and the Green Party won three and hold the balance of power in this minority government. There were several close results that will require a recount which could
Toronto, ON – The rain was constant, the wind was biting and so was the IAM response to privatization of Canada’s airports. IAM members were the most prominent of the airport unions attending the 2017 May Day demo along the departure level at Pearson Airport’s Terminal One. The idea was to bring public attention to the trial balloon floated recently by the Trudeau Liberals. The government has calculated it can
Vancouver, BC – During the day, IAM members are knocking door-to-door in target ridings and in the evening they’re manning phone banks drumming up support for the NDP as the B C provincial Election Day of May 9th draws closer. “People are happy to see unions getting involved in this election,” said volunteer Rick Singh, President of IAM Local Lodge 16. “We’re calling this a Machinist Vote and we’re trying
The Liberal government of Kathleen Wynne tabled the 2017 Ontario Budget on April 27. After many years of austerity, Finance Minister Charles Sousa presented to Ontarians a balanced budget based on projections. This budget sets the tone for the next election in 2018. It is meant to attract new voters to the Liberal party. That centre-left shift is a way for the Wynne Government to distinguish herself from the Opposition
Vancouver, BC – The latest public opinion poll by Mainstreet Research shows the BC New Democrats under John Horgan with a ten point lead over the incumbent Liberals of Premier Christy Clark, at the half way point of the provincial election campaign. “We’re happy with these numbers,” said IAM District Lodge 250 Directing Business Representative Walter Gerlach. “However in 2013 the NDP had a 24 point bulge and Clark wiped
Toronto, ON – More than 1,000 delegates rose to their feet applauding Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath for pledging to create a universal provincial pharmacare plan. The pledge came during the Ontario New Democratic Party Convention held in Toronto April 21-23, 2017 “Just like Tommy Douglas started in one province and built Medicare step-by-step, we’re going to start building universal pharmacare right here in Ontario,” Horwath said. “You shouldn’t have
Toronto, ON – The 28th Constitutional Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress will be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre May 8-12, 2017. The Convention kicks off with a CLC Young Workers Strategy Session on Sunday May 7th, the main convention body convenes on Monday May 8th at 9 AM. IAM delegates are putting forward 15 resolutions covering everything from Pay Equity, Old Age Security and Employment Insurance to
In his latest executive order signing, US President Donald Trump directed US federal agencies to implement the “Buy American, Hire American” mandate that was the cornerstone of his election campaign. During a visit to of the headquarters of Snap-On Tools, in Kenosha, Wisconsin this week, Trump lauded American “grit and craftsmanship while calling the NAFTA trade deal a complete and total disaster. “This order will protect workers,” he said. According
