Bearskin Machinists Ratify New Deal

Toronto, ON – Members of IAMAW Local Lodge 2413 have ratified a new 5-year collective agreement with Bearskin Airlines.
The new agreement provides wage increases of 7.6 per cent in the first year, 2.5 per cent in the second and third year respectively, 3 per cent in the fourth year and 3.5 per cent in the fifth year. Other agreement highlights include :
• A Northern Allowance of $150/month for members employed at the Sioux Lookout operation
• Lead hand rates increased to $1.25/hour
• Improved meal allowance
• Improved boot allowance
The forty members provide baggage handling, cargo agent and ground handling duties for the Northern Ontario airline. Bearskin Airlines connects Northern Ontario communities with Winnipeg and Northern Manitoba to the west and to Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal to the south.
IAMAW, among the largest industrial trade unions in North America, represents more than 700,000 active and retired members, and administers more than 5,000 contracts in transportation, woodworking, aerospace, manufacturing and defense related industries.