Machinists’ News

Retirement security for everyone

Pension plans and retirement savings have been hit hard by the economic crisis and the security of many Canadians is at risk. Some companies even want to cut defined benefit plans that employees paid into throughout their working lives. People with RRSPs and other private pensions that invested heavily in stock and financial markets have seen their investments lose much of their value.   We must expand public pensions and

Jour de deuil national du 28 avril 2010

Chaque année, le syndicat des Machinistes se joint au mouvement syndical et aux organismes de santé et sécurité d’accréditation syndicale partout au pays dans le cadre d’un effort visant à rendre hommage à la mémoire des travailleurs tués ou mutilés tragiquement dans leur milieu de travail et, surtout, à continuer de dénoncer le carnage et la perte personnelle découlant des accidents de travail et des maladies professionnelles. Ces efforts jouent

LL 2413 Celebrates 40 years with Machinists!

  This week marked the 40th anniversary of IAMAW Local Lodge 2413. It began life with 55 members on March 10, 1970 and now boasts in excess of 700 dues-paying members in the aviation and transportation sectors. In honour of the 40th anniversary, several of the charter members were invited back to the lodge to receive certificates of appreciation. The founding fathers of IAMAW Local Lodge 2413 (L) John McQuhae

The 2010 Federal Budget: Canadian Labour Congress Analysis

The 2010 Federal Budget: Canadian Labour Congress Analysis< 1. Summary The Budget contains no big surprises but is still a big disappointment. Despite the fact that unemployment is and will remain very high, economic stimulus measures effectively end after this year. A few very small new investments in jobs and skills will be made, but they do not amount to even the beginnings of a strategy to build a new

IAMAW – IWD Statement 2010

Women around the globe would do well to mark Monday, March 8, 2010, International Women’s Day as a day not just for reflection but of Action. Women have worked hard to be recognized and to have their voices heard. There are those that say we have equality and Women’s issues no longer exist. Its true women make up 50% of the workforce in Canada. Along with this new statistic comes

Canadian and European Air Transport Unions Cooperate to Protect Aviation (by Louis Erlichman and Carlos DaCosta)

On December 18, 2009, Canada and the European Union (EU) signed an “Open Skies” air transport Agreement, which provides a framework for progressively deregulating air travel between Canada and Europe. What Does the Agreement Say? Like other “free trade” deals, this Agreement says that the ideal system is based on “competition among airlines in the marketplace with minimum government interference and regulation”.   While the Agreement makes reference to impacts on

Winning Photo Breaks the Ice for Obama

Ottawa, On – IAMAW Local Lodge 2323 member Jim Stewart’s photo of IAMAW members de-icing Air Force One during President Barack Obama’s first visit to Canada in February, was the first place winner in the 2009 IAM Photography Contest. Jim took the picture of IAMAW Local Lodge 2413 members Nigel George (left) and Al Johnston (right) as they applied de-icing fluid to Air Force One prior to its departure from

Maritime Machinists convention 2009

Moncton, NB – The Maritime Council of Machinists elected a new executive board for the upcoming term at the recent two-day MCM Conference held in Moncton, New Brunswick. Canadian GVP Dave Ritchie swears in the new slate of executive officers for the Maritime Council of Machinists in Moncton New Brunswick The new MCM Executive Board (from left to right) back row – Andrew MacFarlane – VP Nova Scotia, Mike Scully

Help Prevent Cervical Cancer

The Pearl of Wisdom campaign supports programs to prevent cervical cancer. Almost every case of cervical cancer can be prevented through programs using the Pap test, the HPV test, and the HPV vaccine. But many women around the world don’t know about or have access to these tools. As a result, 500,000 women develop cervical cancer and almost 300,000 die of cervical cancer – every year. The Pearl of Wisdom

Resist the HST (Ontatio only)

Next summer (2010) the Ontario Government is set to put into force its new harmonized GST/PST sales tax which will apply a 13% sales tax to everything we purchase. Things That Were Not Subject To The Current 8% PST Will Be Now Taxed As a result, things that were not previously taxed under the current Ontario Provincial Sales Tax (PST) will be taxed at 8%. The new 13% tax will