Montreal, QC – IAM Local 869 is presently in negotiations with Rolls-Royce Canada (RRC) and without a contract since March 2020. For the last 50 years, the shop has ALWAYS been closed during the winter holidays, namely, the 30th and 31st of December. Interestingly, the company hired a union buster to negotiate on their behalf. The company tried to make our members believe the COVID-19 pandemic that they were losing
The IAM was advised this morning that Air Canada intends to use an extraordinary measure by placing approximately 284 IAM members on “off duty status” by invoking a “force majeure” provision contained within the collective agreement. The IAM categorically opposes the use of the “force majeure by placing our members on “off duty status” as it does not apply in the current situation. Air Canada is well outside the statute
By Ivana Saula Canadian Research Director We’ve heard about and seen the direct impact of the financial fallout as a result of the pandemic, but it’s not widely reported that some businesses have profited from this disaster. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) issued a study that puts the effect of the pandemic on workers and top paid CEOs in sharp contrast. The report found that a top Canadian
“I am far beyond disappointed to hear that the Canadian government has been providing wage subsidies (CEWS) to foreign-owned airlines who continue to fly into Canada!” That was the reaction of Canadian General Vice President Stan Pickthall, when news dropped that a dozen foreign-owned airlines have been granted CEWS relief despite having already received billions of dollars in relief from their own governments. The CEWS database shows precisely which corporations
27 November, 2020 For immediate release Toronto, ON – “Air Canada and other providers must be mandated to keep jobs in Canada! That includes all service jobs, maintenance and manufacturing. Let’s keep our Aviation industry Canadian!” That was today’s message from IAM Canadian General Vice-President Stan Pickthall, who participated in a press conference today with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, NDP Labour Critic Scott Duvall and four other unions, speaking about
Re-Nationalization of Canada’s Airlines – the Time is Now! October 20, 2020 The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance/Deputy Prime Minister The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Email: Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca Email: Marc.Garneau@parl.gc.ca Dear Ministers Freeland and Garneau: Subject: Re-Nationalization of Canada’s Airlines – the Time is Now! We have all watched with horror as the Covid Pandemic has impacted friends and families
16 October, 2020 For immediate release Toronto, ON – Yesterday, WestJet announced an 80% reduction in flights to Atlantic Canada and Quebec City due to the ongoing pandemic. With these cuts to service, combined with layoffs in the airline and aerospace sectors, as well as the onset of a “Second wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic, the forecast is dire. “The industry is in peril. The IAM is again calling on
Montreal, September 30th, 2020- Air transport and Aerospace are among the sectors most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Canada, tens of thousands of jobs and the survival of many businesses are at stake. The crisis that is simultaneously hitting these two sectors deserves the attention of a parliamentary committee “A perfect storm is hitting both industries,” says David Chartrand, Quebec coordinator of the Machinists’ Union. For several months now,
(The information below has been edited to accurately reflect the situation at Billy Bishop Airport.) The IAM received notice this week that screening operations at Billy Bishop (YTZ) airport would be temporarily closing as of October 5, 2020. The closure was due to a stoppage in incoming and outbound flights that require pre-board screening from the airport – an effect of COVID-19 on the airline industry. Billy Bishop airport remains
In this week’s Throne Speech the federal government announced they would be providing “further support” for industries that have been the hardest hit, including travel and tourism. “Covid-19 has devastated our members and their families, particularly in the transportation industry. We need more than just talk of support. We need action, and we need it now.” That was the response from IAM Air Transportation Coordinator Keith Aiken. Also announced this
