Monday January 15, 2007
For Immediate Release
Delta, BC – For the second time in less than four months, the employees of Wexxar Packaging voted to the join the IAM and this time the BC Labour Board accepted the results.
When Wexxar was absorbed by Pro Mach of Loveland, Ohio in 2006, many workers felt their Employees Association would be overmatched by the company at the 2007 contract negotiations. The need for a professional negotiator led the association to the IAM. On September 20, 2006, the members of the association voted to join the IAM but the BC Labour Board rejected the results. Another vote was ordered December 13, 2006 which resulted in 76 per cent of the members casting ballots in favour of the Machinists.
"The meetings I attended showed me why they would choose the IAM" said Grand Lodge Representative Ron Fontaine. “IAM District 250 Business Representative Al Cyr and Directing Business Representative Stan Pickthall did a terrific job in explaining to our new members what the IAM is all about. They answered questions clearly and concisely,” added Fontaine. "The president Rita Granson and vice-president Mulkeet Singh of their employees association did a remarkable job in keeping their membership informed on all the issues throughout this process", he said.
Shop Stewards and Bargaining Committee members have recently been elected, some of whom will attend courses on Collective Bargaining Basics at the Canadian Labour Congress Winter School. One of the deciding factors for the Association joining the IAM was the training the IAM provides to its membership.
The 42 new members of IAMAW Local Lodge 692 manufacture machinery for the packaging industry.
IAMAW, among the largest industrial trade unions in North America, represents more than 700,000 active and retired members, and administers more than 5,000 contracts in transportation, woodworking, aerospace, manufacturing and defense related industries.
