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The challenges were there, but we got a fair collective agreement - Local Lodge 54 members at Novelis ratify new deal

“As lead speaker at this bargaining session, I would like to thank the WWW Centre for their hands-on Negotiatings Prep training course,” said Ted McGrath, President of Local Lodge 54. “The Committee Members: Mike Richards, Grant Strupp and Chase Wyate gained a great deal of knowledge that they put into practice at the table.” We were able to achieve an impressive 3-year agreement that included wage increases of 8% 3% and

DBR Eric Johnston appointed to Law Committee

IAM International President Brian Bryant, with Executive Council approval, has appointed two new members of the IAM Law Committee – District 78 Directing Business Representative Eric Johnston and Local 701 Assistant Directing Business Representative Ryan Haehnlein. The IAM Law Committee is responsible for collecting, reviewing and proposing constitutional changes submitted to the 41st IAM Grand Lodge Convention, which will take place Sept. 1-6, 2024 in New York. “The IAM Law Committee

15 May, 1919 – The IAM and the Winnipeg General Strike

For six weeks, 15 May to 26 June, 1919, more than 30,000 workers shut down the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Robert Boyd (R. B.) Russell and Peter Herenchuk, Machinist Union activists from Local Lodge 122 were strike leaders. The strike produced the worst repressive measures taken to that time against trade unionists. Arrests and killings eventually ended the strike but moved the labour movement into the field of political action.

IAM District 14 welcomes Steve Luba as new Business Representative

Steve Luba was elected Business Representative for IAM District 14 in Edmonton in April 2024. Steve became a member of IAM Local 99 when he started working at Finning Cat in 2006. A lifelong Edmonton native, Luba completed the Industrial Heavy Equipment Technology program (IHET) program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and has been a Journeyman Heavy Equipment Technician (HET) for almost 25 years. He has been a

200 more healthcare workers join the IAM in Ontario

The 200 nursing staff of Mackenzie Health Long Term Care in Richmond Hill voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining the IAM Union. “Only 2 employees voted against getting the Union”, noted District 78 organizer Rootisha Rampat Sukhu. “The workplace leaders worked tirelessly to get their co-workers signed up and held them together”, Rootisha further explained. The good work that IAM Union District 78 is doing on behalf of healthcare workers

Kevin Timms Appointed IAM Canadian Special Representative

May 9, 2024 IAM International President Brian Bryant has appointed Kevin Timms, a 15-year IAM Local 1681 member from Calgary, as a Canadian Special Representative assigned to organising. The appointment is effective on May 20, 2024. Timms, who most recently served as an IAM District 140 General Chair in Alberta, will help lead organizing efforts in Canada. He was recognized as the Canadian Territory’s top organizer of the year in

IAM gains new members at Arbutus

April 29, 2024 Early December 2023, workers from multiple locations at Arbutus RV on Vancouver Island contacted the IAM seeking representation. IAM District 250 Business Representative John Humphrey met with some of the workers over the following weeks to hear their concerns and how the IAM could represent them. Arbutus RV has more than 90 workers at seven locations on Vancouver Island. When the company heard there was high interest

Ben Osakue Makes History as Business Representative at IAM District 78

District 78 once again makes history by appointing Ben Osakue as Business Representative. Osakue becomes the first African-Canadian male to hold any servicing position in the IAM in Canada. This follows on the heels of last year’s election of Vivianne Simon as a Business Representative with DL78, becoming the first African-Canadian (and African-Canadian woman) to hold that position in Canada. Osakue, born in Nigeria, lived in West Germany, then moved

The State of Our Union on the IAM’s 136th Birthday!

Dear IAM family, Happy 136th birthday to the IAM! It’s a testament to all of you, and all those who came before us, that our great union has risen from a railroad pit in Atlanta in 1888 to the powerful force for working people that we are today. Since having the honor of becoming the IAM’s 15th International President on Jan. 1, myself and your Executive Council have hit the ground

An industry-best 5-year agreement for Airbus Canada union members

(Mirabel, QC, Wednesday, 1 May, 2024) – Members of Airbus Canada, IAM Local Lodge 712, voted 77.14 per cent in favour of their new contract. Nearly 81 per cent of the 1,300 workers cast ballots in the vote, which ran from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. In addition to the changes proposed by the conciliator from the Direction générale des relations de travail, the new contract includes most of