04 March, 2021
For immediate release
Comox, BC – The IAM is rapidly becoming the preferred home of workers at auto dealerships in British Columbia, especially on Vancouver Island. 17 more workers at a local auto dealership voted overwhelmingly to join. They voted and their decision was certified by the British Columbia Labour Board on 02 March, 2021.
John Humphrey, Business Representative for IAM District 250 said of the group, “they were highly motivated and reached out to us to find out more about joining the IAM. We were glad to give them all the information they needed and the whole campaign went quickly and smoothly. It goes to show you that if workers are aware of their rights and how they can benefit from a union, they will join every time.”
The new group consists of technicians, parts, service advisors, warranty clerks, detail and wash attendants. The new members are part of the IAM family only a month after they contacted us. Their main reasons for joining were that the new ownership came in and changed their work structure as well as taking away basic thing like sick days.
Says Humphrey, “When the entire labour movement and the general public are calling for MORE sick days, this owner decided he would strip them away. They were also working at a flat-rate and just didn’t have they hours they needed.”
BR Humphrey will conduct meetings and commence preparations for bargaining a first contract immediately. Their first meeting is scheduled via videoconference. They will join Local 456.
The IAM represents workers at auto dealerships across the country. They are among more than 1,500 members at auto and truck dealerships on Vancouver Island, the lower mainland of British Columbia, Edmonton, Calgary, Fort Frances, Sault Ste. Marie, Markham, Toronto, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador.
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For more information:
John Humphrey, Business Representative, IAM District 250
jhumphrey@250.org
