August 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Surrey, B.C. – August 29, 2023 –IAM Local 1857 extends a warm welcome to 37 workers from OpenRoad Toyota Peace Arch who have chosen to embrace union membership. The workers initiated this step towards enhancing their workplace rights and conditions under the guidance of Business Representative (BR) Al Cyr. BR Cyr facilitated the process of union enrollment, providing valuable insight into the recent legal change that streamlined

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Vancouver, BC – 29 August, 2023 – Having embarked on the transformative journey of joining the IAM in November 2022, 17 dedicated workers of Compucom realised their goal of a new collective agreement that aligns with their needs. The resounding endorsement of 100% ratification underscored the unity and commitment of the Compucom workers. In the face of stagnant wages spanning three years and the presence of on-site

23 August, 2023 – Ivana Saula, IAM Canada’s Director of Research and Women and Human Rights presented her years of research on artificial intelligence (AI) to the IAM Unity and Growth Conference today. She added her ongoing monitoring of developments in AI to bring up-to-the-minute news to organisers at the conference. Saula shed light on the impact of #AI on unions and the need for a clear framework that protects

IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace, who has served in the position since October 2018, will retire on Nov. 1, 2023. “Rickey has been a dedicated and effective leader for the IAM,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “He has grown the membership in the Southern Territory, including the recent organizing campaigns over the last few months totaling nearly 600 new Service Contract Act members. Rickey has

Longtime aerospace negotiator and leader Jody Bennett will become IAM Resident General Vice President, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Bennett, a 33-year IAM member, initiated into IAM Local 2771 (District 776) in 1989 as an aircraft mechanic at DynCorps in Wichita Falls, Texas. He quickly became involved in the union once he and his coworkers organized with the IAM, becoming a Steward, Negotiating Committee Member, Conductor Sentinel, and Chief Steward. Bennett

The anti-union campaign and how to fight back was one of the workshops in the IAM Unity and Growth Conference in San Diego. A union buster is a professional persuader; in other words, a liar. They will tell lies, spread fear and try to divide the membership. The best defence is a good offence. To bust a union-buster you need to build an internal team, educate and inoculate, expose them,

IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway has announced his retirement, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Galloway began his membership in IAM Local 459 (District 77) in 1986 as a brewer at the Stroh Brewery Company in St. Paul, Minn. During his 11 years at Stroh’s, Galloway served as Union Steward, Bargaining Committeeperson, and Bargaining Committee Chairperson. He also served as an Executive Board Member of IAM Local 459 and

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2023 – After nearly eight years leading the union, two decades on the Executive Council and more than 43 years of membership, IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has announced that he will retire, effective Jan. 1, 2024. IAM Resident General Vice President Brian Bryant will succeed Martinez as the IAM’s next international president. Martinez’s historic tenure as the IAM’s 14th International President includes forging through some

Despite high winds, rain, hurricane warnings, delayed flights and an overall concern about bad weather, the IAM’s first-ever Unity and Growth had a successful launch on Monday, 21 August in San Diego, CA. Concerns about Hurricane Hilary came to very little even though many delegates from all over North America were delayed in getting to the host city. Everyone eventually got there and the organising conference began in earnest.  The

Canadian IAM Local 901 (District 78) negotiating committee members recently met for preparations on contract talks with RNS Healthcare. The team spent the week at the IAM’s Winpisinger Center in Hollywood, Md. to review the current contract and discuss and learn tactics for upcoming bargaining discussions with management. IAM member Jin Won Kang gives his comments about the education and training he received and talks about the healthcare system in