2023

Swinging Pendulum: women and human rights in 2023

On this International Women’s Day, as we celebrate accomplishments of the past, and trailblazers who made them possible, we also take stock of persisting challenges women continue to face in Canada, and around the world, which are numerous, so this is by no means an exhaustive list. Femicide may not be a word you’ve heard often, nor one you’ve heard associated with Canada, but for decades, Canada’s inaction on violence

Canadian Airport shamefully enabling contract-flipping

Montreal, QC – Earlier this month, Aéroports de Montreal announced that Menzies Aviation, Samsic Assistance and Trans-Sol Aviation Services are the successful companies that will be granted ground handling licenses to operate at Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport (YUL) resulting in a loss of hundreds of International Association of Machinists (IAM) jobs. Contract-flipping, which is what is happening at the Montreal Airport, is the practice of awarding service contracts for work,

More than 600 people will lose their jobs at Montreal-Trudeau Airport. IAM demands change from Ottawa!

Montreal, February 21, 2023 – Montreal Airport (ADM) has decided to revoke the licenses of airport services subcontractors Swissport and ATS, resulting in the loss of approximately 600 jobs by June. The IAMAW denounces the use of contract flipping in this case. “We have 175 members who will lose their jobs because of an unfair practice,” said IAMAW District 140 General Chairperson Peter Tsoukalas. “With a snap of the fingers

New agreement, New Gains for IAM Local 235 at Markham Acura

Markham, ON – IAM Union members of IAM Local 235 at Markham Acura ratified a new 2-year agreement. Language improvements include preferred promotion for internal applicants and to holiday pay. Economic progress was made with the introduction of a tool allowance, a new bonus structure for technicians and service advisors, increases to the boot allowance, and general wage increases. “The Negotiations Committee of James Kerr and Muhittin Ciplak did a

Canada’s newest local! 140 new IAM members as more labour staff join

(Photo: l to r Colby Briggs, Malcolm Lewis-Richmond and Celyn Dufay) 30 January, 2023 Ottawa, ON – More labour staff are joining the IAM and gaining strength in numbers. 140 staff working for the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) have joined the IAM. Canada’s newest local is IAM Local Lodge 3011, based in Ottawa, Ontario. Staff comprising servicing representatives, administrative, clerical, finance, mobilisation, organising and many

Lobbying for Change in Ottawa 2023

More than 400 trade unionists gathered in Ottawa to lobby our elected representatives and senators for change to laws in Canada. The lobby was organised by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and had some very specific topics. All topics had recommendations which were presented to the parliamentarians. The IAM, once again, made up the largest contingent of those participating in the lobby this year. We had 74 activists, first-time lobbyists

Black History Month in Canada

February is Black History Month in Canada and every year the IAM, and the labour movement throughout Canada honour the contribution of our Black members. It is also a time to reflect on the history of enslavement of Black Canadians and the discrimination still rife in our country. We must also reflect on how anti-Black racism is still deeply entrenched in Canadian institutions. Read this article in the Canadian Encyclopedia.

Letter from David Chartrand to Minister Anita Anand concerning the procurement process

 January 19, 2023  The Honourable Anita Anand By Email: Anita.Anand@parl.gc.ca Minister of National Defense House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6  Dear Minister Anand,  I’m writing you on behalf of 50,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), a large number of whom are employed in air transportation and aerospace industries, to express concerns regarding the procurement process of replacing the aging CP140 Aurora’s. Recent developments

IAM members at Elementary Teachers of Toronto ratify new three-year contract

January, 2023 Toronto, ON – IAM Local Lodge 1922 members working for the Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT) ratified a new 3-year contract this week, bringing important improvements. The agreement brings a wage increase each year of the agreement, a new annual Health and Wellness allowance, addition of travel insurance to healthcare plan, increase in professional development allowance, incremental increases to paid holidays each year of the agreement, coverage for

IAM Scholarship Competition 2023

The IAM Scholarship Competition is accepting applications for the 2023 year. The competition is open to members of the IAM and their children throughout the United States and Canada. Again, this year’s Scholarship Program will be fully accessible on goiam.org. Additionally, the IAM has a vocational-technical two-year scholarship available to members and their children. Please note that the application must be postmarked on or before February 10, 2023, if mailing in