Ontario Patient Transfer Workers Join Machinists!

Monday January 5, 2009
For Immediate Release
Hamilton, ON – Ontario Patient Transfer workers in Hamilton-Wentworth Region are the newest members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
The one hundred new members of IAMAW District Lodge 78 provide non-emergency ambulatory patient transfers from Hamilton to Toronto in the east and as far west as Niagara Falls.
“Most of the credit for this organizing victory goes to Apprentice Organizer Ralph Martin,” explained IAMAW District 78 Organizer Scott Jackson. “Initially many of these people were very secretive about their views of joining a union and were scared of company reprisals if their intentions became known. But Ralph eased their suspicions and once they learned many of their fellow workers held similar opinions, the group became more cohesive and the union became a reality.”
The IAMAW also represents Patient Transfer workers at Medi-Van in Winnipeg, Manitoba.