No Alternative – Machinists Strike Finning

Friday, October 21, 2005
For Immediate Release

Edmonton, AB – Members of IAMAW Local Lodge 99 are on strike against Finning International at locations across Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

“We were left with no alternative following the company’s rejection of our last offer,” said Bob MacKinnon, IAMAW District Business Representative. “The company refused to address our main issue of contracting out which has already cost us 240 jobs. There’s no point in continuing discussions until this issue is settled to our satisfaction.” The union wants the contracting out language changed so that no work customarily performed by employees covered by the collective agreement, can be performed by another employee of the corporation or by a person who is not an employee of the corporation.

Other issues include shift changes and a proposed letter of understanding, wage increases, paid benefit premiums and a regional wage adjustment designed to attract and retain workers.

“Based on four years of record profits, Finning International has done very well in Alberta and the Northwest Territories,” said MacKinnon. “They can afford to bring wages for trades people up to par with other industries in the communities in which they work and sell equipment.

The more than one thousand members of Local Lodge 99 provide maintenance and field service of heavy equipment and parts in Alberta and at the Acadie Mine near Yellowknife.