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Machinists Organize More Members in Ottawa!

Ottawa, ON – Employees at the Villa Orléans Retirement Home in the nation’s capital have become the newest members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. The 60 workers at the retirement home consist of personal support workers, kitchen and house keeping staff. They will become members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1295. The IAMAW also represents workers at retirement homes in North Bay, Stratford and Toronto. IAMAW, among

Canada Pension Plan – The Fight Isn’t Over

Most Canadians depend on public pensions – Old Age Security, the Canada/Quebec Pension Plan and Guaranteed Income Supplement – to provide for their basic needs in retirement.  Unfortunately, public pensions currently barely bring most older Canadians up to the poverty level.  A large proportion (over a third) of seniors have no significant additional retirement income, from workplace pensions or RRSPs and other savings. As employers cut back on workplace pension

The Big Bite – RRSP/Mutual Fund Fees

Many Canadians invest their retirement and other savings in mutual funds, frequently on the advice of “financial advisors”/mutual fund salespersons.   Remarkably, a lot of these Canadians don’t know how much they are paying in fees, and even more important, how big a bite even seemingly small annual fees can take out of their savings.  Canadian mutual funds charge the highest fees of any advanced country. Over the 30 or more

Breaking faith with jobless Americans over an applause line

By R. Thomas Buffenbarger Ever since he took office, President Barack Obama has repeatedly attacked corporate jets as a symbol of all that is wrong with American business, with the U.S. tax code and with government finances. In one White House news conference dedicated to extending the debt ceiling, he mentioned corporate jets no fewer than six times. Now, ending faster depreciation for corporate jets is one of the three

New Classifications and Language Highlight Burrard Deal!

Vancouver, BC – New classifications and significant improvement to contract language highlight a new collective agreement between the members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1857 and Burrard Acura. “Any warning, reprimand or discipline the company wishes to place on an Employee’s file must now be provided to the employee in writing within seven days of the occurrence which it documented,” explained IAMAW District Lodge 250 Business Representative Andrew Tricker. “The other

Machinists make Significant Gains at Kal Tire!

Sparwood, BC – Members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1857 make significant financial gains in their new collective agreement with Kal Tire. “These members have a very unique skill set that demands above average compensation and this agreement reflects that,” explained IAMAW District Lodge 250 Business Representative Andrew Tricker. Vulcanizers and Journeymen, also referred to as Tire Repair Technicians, received a $1 per hour increase to their base pay rate in

Murray-Latta Signs New Deal with Machinists!

Surrey, BC – Murray – Latta Machine Company has a new collective agreement with members of IAMAW Local Lodge 692. “After two rejected offers and a strike mandate we finally got it done,” explained IAMAW District Lodge 250 Business Representative Paul Pelletreau. The ratification margin was 96 per cent. The three-year agreement provides wage increases of 3 per cent in the first year, 2 per cent in the second year

Machinists Sign One-Year Deal with Canadian Tire!

Nanaimo, BC – Technicians at Canadian Tire, represented by the IAMAW, inched closure to parity with their dealership counterparts following ratification of a new collective agreement. “Our Technicians are on a flat rate pay system and work has been slow this year with many weeks bumping along on the 28 hours per week guarantee,” explained IAMAW District Lodge 250 Business Representative Alastair Haythornthwaite. “The Techs have a strong desire to

Machinists Ink New Deal with Dettson!

Sherbrooke, QC – Members of IAMAW Local Lodge 992 have ratified a new collective agreement with Dettson Incorporated. “We began negotiations on June 7th and came to a tentative agreement by September 15th,” explained IAMAW Grand Lodge Representative Mario Clermont. The membership ratified the agreement by a margin of 82 per cent. “This is a new employer and the creation of a joint labour relations committee to look over the

Equal Pay Coalition and Leadnow.ca Look to Party Leaders For Answers

Toronto, ON – The Equal Pay Coalition and Leadnow.ca launched their provincial election campaign today with the release of their new campaign website at: http://www.fairontario.ca and their first of three election videos. The Equal Pay Coalition sent letters to all four party leaders asking for their plan to create a FAIR Ontario by reducing the pay gap. Ontario has one of the highest pay gaps in the world. Despite the