Fed-Forward Slate Sweeps to Victory as New OFL Executive

Toronto, On – A new slate of executive officers has been elected by delegates attending the Ontario Federation of Labour‘s 13th Biennial Convention. The New officers – President Chris Buckley of Unifor, Secretary Treasurer Patti Coates of O.S.S.T.F. and Executive Vice President Ahmed Gaied of UFCW were the candidates on the slate known as Fed Forward – supported by the IAM, Unifor, USW, OSSTF and UFCW. Buckley and Coates won

Martinez elected International President; replaces Buffenbarger Jan. 1

Washington, D.C., November 22, 2015 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) announced that General Vice President Bob Martinez, Jr. will succeed current International President Tom Buffenbarger, who steps down on Jan.1, 2016 after a 45-year career that spans service as a local IAM Shop Steward to more than 18 years as the IAM’s top elected official. The announcement follows a vote by the union’s 11-member Executive

Buffenbarger Makes Final Address to IAM Retirees

Las Vegas, NV – Tom Buffenbarger made his final address to an IAM Retirees Conference in his capacity as International President. He retires on January 1, 2016. “Your presence here shows you’re engaged with you union,” he told delegates to the 2015 IAM Retirees Conference. “Next year I will be sitting here as one of you and I look forward to it.” He spoke of the challenges facing retirees in

IAM Retirees: the Untapped Resource

Las Vegas, NV – When 15 Canadian delegates to the 2015 IAM Retirees Conference sat down together, they discovered that beyond monthly coffee clubs within their respective groups, they didn’t communicate much with their local lodges or districts. “Beyond a small group of us who get together for coffee at the local we never see other retirees until the annual retirees' dinner,” explained IAM Local Lodge 2323 retiree Larry Hutchinson.

Seniors can prevent falls and Improve Household Safety

Las Vegas, NV – You would think that falling wouldn’t be an issue of interest at a retirees conference but when clinical nurse specialist Cheryl Bradas asked how many attending IAM delegates had experienced a fall since they retired, more than a third of the audience raised their hands. The incidents of falling for seniors is on the increase. In 2011, there were 11,000 incidents daily in the US for

Machinist ALS Victim tells Retirees to Never Give up Hope

Las Vegas, NV – For 31 years Sam Beekman was a machinist at Boeing Aerospace and an active member of IAM Local Lodge 63. But in 2013, Sam was diagnosed with ALS – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. “That’s when my entire life changed in a heartbeat,” he said to more than 120 delegates to the 2015 IAM Retirees Conference. ALS is a neuro-muscular disease which

GVP Ritchie asks new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to invest in the Canadian Aerospace Sector

IAM Canadian General Vice-President Dave Ritchie and 120 other Canadian labour leaders met with new Canadian Prime minister, Justin Trudeau as part of the Canadian Labour Congress’ Canadian Council, a democratically elected group that governs the CLC between its national conventions. Ritchie met briefly with Trudeau to talk about, among other things, investment in an industry ignored by the previous Conservative government. The conversation is on the heels of a

Machinists Agree to Collaborate on the Revival of Bombardier

Wednesday November 4, 2015 Montréal, QC – Members of IAM Local Lodge 712 voted 92 per cent in favour of their next collective agreement with Bombardier Aerospace Inc. ‘’We have made the choice of making certain compromises for advancing the aerospace industry and to secure the defined pension plan,” explained IAM Quebec Coordinator David Chartrand. “We hope in return our employer is conscientious.” The workers of Bombardier will not have

Machinists Ratify New Deal with Kromet International

Wednesday November 4, 2015 Cambridge, On – Members of IAM Local Lodge 2707 have ratified a new collective agreement with Kromet International. The three-year agreement provides wage increases of 1.5 per cent in the first year and 2 per cent in the second and third year respectively. A key component to the agreement is the five per cent increase to the IAM pension plan in year two and 15 per

Machinists Ratify Prouse Motors Agreement

Wednesday November 4, 2015 Sault Ste. Marie, On – Members of IAM Local Lodge 2332 have ratified a new collective agreement with Prouse Motors. The three-year agreement provides wage and pension package increases totaling nine per cent while bringing the pension contribution in the IAM pension plan up to 11 per cent. “One of the key factors of this agreement benefitted general garage workers,” explained IAM Grand Lodge Representative Ralph