OPINION By Frank Saptel Communications Representative, IAM Canada If history has taught us anything, it’s that if we don’t learn from past events, we will repeat the same mistakes. COVID-19 has caused havoc in Canada and around the world. Workers have lost jobs; businesses have closed and few in the world have remained unaffected. The standard of living for those negatively impacted is cause for concern. The recovery will
27 July, 2020 For immediate release Toronto, ON – In another stunning organising win for IAM District 78, the 530 Personal Support Workers (PSWs) that work for RNS Health Care in York Region voted by a 3 to 1 margin to be represented by our union. District 78 Organizer Rootisha Rampat-Sukhu and IAM Grand Lodge Organizer Scott Jackson worked with our newest members for several months, answering their concerns and assuring them
23 July 2020 For immediate release Toronto, ON – Members of IAM Local 907 working for the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) rejected their employer’s offer by a clear margin of 97%. The 35 members then took a strike vote which passed unanimously with 100% of the members voting in favour. Parental leave, pensions and benefits were the main items to be resolved. Ralph Martin, Grand
20 July 2020 Ottawa, ON – The 40 members of IAM Local 1148 are in a better position after an arbitrator ruled on items to which the union and employer could not agree. Overall, the members gained in terms of salaries: effective July 1, 2019, a 2% special adjustment to all classifications will take place, followed by a 2% increase across the board to all classifications. Furthermore, as of July
20 July 2020 Ottawa, ON – The 28 members of IAM Local 1295 are in a better position after an arbitrator ruled on items to which the union and employer could not agree. Overall, the members gained in terms of salaries: effective July 1, 2019, a 2% special retroactive adjustment to all classifications (except Housekeeping and Laundry) will take place, followed by a 2% increase across the board to all
20 July 2020 For Immediate Release Toronto, ON – The 35 members of IAM Local 907 are facing significant cuts to new parents’ parental leave financial support by their employer, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC). They have been in negotiations since January. In June, both parties went to conciliation. Immediately following that meeting, the employer filed for a No-Board Report, which typically starts a 17-day countdown to
As a way of streamlining the extension of the number of weeks for eligibility for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the federal government announced it would also extend COVID-19 related leaves. Eligibility for CERB was extended from 16 to 24 weeks, which is now mirrored in COVID-19 related leaves in federally regulated workplaces. The goal of CERB was to stabilize the economy and provide an income for workers who
14 July 2020 Vancouver, BC – Recently, Air Canada announced service to 30 domestic destinations would be indefinitely suspended, including the closure of eight smaller Canadian bases. The decision underlines the changing context of air transportation against a backdrop of uncertainty, which as all indicators show, will persist for the foreseeable future. Despite the harsh economic realities, it is regrettable that Air Canada made these decisions. It’s deeply concerning to
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology recently published an interim report evaluating the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report examined several areas, such as the healthcare system, Canada’s ability to manufacture medical equipment, the impact of the pandemic on frontline workers, migrant workers, children and youth, as well as, people living with mental health conditions. Given the tragic events in long term care,
IAMAW | Canada | May 2020 DOWNLOAD THE PDF Introduction The pandemic has ravaged the economy, and a recovery will be protracted, taking place in stages for the foreseeable future. This crisis has also exposed gaps in workplace policies, and legislation but also, the significance of certain sectors of the economy, which have either been chronically underfunded or have received very little support from the government. At the same time,
