Thursday June 27, 2019
For Immediate Release
Richmond, BC – For the first time in British Columbia, automotive sales people have been unionized. The IAM has broken new ground by organizing auto dealership sales people at Open Road Lexus of Richmond, they are the newest members of IAM Local Lodge 1857.
“If we are to grow this union, sometimes you have to think outside of the box and this certainly qualifies,” said IAM District Lodge 250 Business Representative/Organizer Al Cyr. “Roland Sturt-Smith and I were approached by this group for representation because their employer was cutting back on their commissions as well as making them pay for external items normally paid for by the employer.”
“This is a first for BC and perhaps in all of Canada that I’m aware of,” said Cyr. “We have traditionally organized mechanics, paint shop, auto body, detailers and service writers in the past but never sales personnel. But this group is quite unified and fed up with the manner in which they are being treated and we’re more than willing to give them a voice and representation.”
The IAM represents over 1,000 workers at automotive dealerships, tire stores, and truck sales and service centers on Vancouver Island, the interior and lower mainland of British Columbia. The IAM represents more than 1,900 automotive members not only in BC, but also Alberta, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
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For further information:
Al Cyr – IAM District Lodge 250 Business Representative/Organizer
604-513-3883/604-309-0443
Bill Trbovich – IAM Director of Communications for Canada
416-386-1789 Ext#31/416-735-9765
