Machinists’ News

Welcome back – 65 workers from PLA rejoin the IAM

05 November, 2019 For Immediate Release Toronto, ON – “Welcome back to the IAM!” That’s the message to the 65 workers at Priority Lane Management (PLA) from Talwinder Rayat, General Chairperson for IAM District 140. The former IAM members were forced into another union due to the infamous “contract flip” which took place some years ago. Contract-flipping is what happens when one company underbids for a servicing contract at Pearson

Members of Local 1922 ratify offer – return to work today

06 November, 2019 For immediate release Toronto, ON – Members of IAM Local 1922 who are staff of the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union (COPE Ontario) voted almost 80% in favour of the employer’s offer last night. The 14 members had been on strike against their employer, COPE Ontario since 19 September, 2019. They return to work today. “At the end of the day, when members vote, members win.

Overwhelming support for new contract at Local 2413

01 November, 2019 For immediate release Toronto, ON – The 40 members of IAM Local 2413 (Signature Flight Support YYZ) ratified a new collective agreement with the employer. The membership voted 91% in favour of their new contract! The Negotiating Committee consisted of Mike Corrado, IAM DL 140 General Chairperson and Local members Glenn Richmond, Lana Bremner Crozier and Wesley Wolfe. The new 3-year contract contained a number of improvements,

Solution needed for the future of Canadian Aerospace say union, industry

02 November, 2019 For immediate release Ottawa, ON – “The IAM and industry stakeholders must plan for major labour shortages and that plan must include all levels of government and a long-range plan,” said Keith Aiken, Air Transportation Co-ordinator for IAM Canada. Aiken attended the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace (CCAA) Labour Market Strategy Event in Ottawa, held on October 23-24, 2019. Industry stake holders discussed important issues with

Report on DL140 Convention, Victoria, BC (John Vincent)

PHOTO: New Delegates at the DL140 Convention By John Vincent District 140 and Local Lodge 16 Communicator Transportation District 140 Convention 2019 was held in Victoria, BC located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Victoria is also the capital of British Columbia and it’s also known as the “The Garden City”. The convention was hosted at The Hotel Grand Pacific. Special thanks to both Local lodge 764 and Local lodge

IAM 3111 CULR STAFF Ratify New Agreement - Back to Work Tomorrow

For Immediate Release 30 October, 2019 Ottawa, ON – Members of IAMAW Local Lodge 3111 CULR (Canadian Union of Labour Representatives) held a ratification meeting on the evening of Wednesday October 30th, followed by a ratification vote. At 11:45pm, following the vote and tabulation of ballots, the union announced that the Tentative Agreement with the Employer (the Canadian Labour Congress) was ratified, ending the strike which began in the early

Bulletin: Air Canada CCAA Final Funds Distribution

Bulletin: Air Canada CCAA Final Funds Distribution October 17, 2019 -In 2003, Air Canada filed for and obtained Bankruptcy protection under the Company Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). Over the course of the following years, the Machinists Union (IAMAW) arrived at a settlement of claims filed by the Union in those proceedings, including a claim for the restructuring of the Collective Agreement. Between 2004 and 2007, the Union disbursed cheques of

In a Minority Government – We can make a difference

22 October, 2019 Last night’s election results confirmed that Canadians were not comfortable living with four more years of a Liberal majority government. The results also confirmed a rejection of the Harper-inspired, Doug Ford, Jason Kenney Conservative-led policies of slashing public services, giving tax cuts to the wealthiest while lining the pockets of their corporate friends. One of our own, Local Lodge 2323’s Dan Janssen ran a strong campaign in

New Federal Employment Standards, What's in Force and What is Not?

Weak employment standards negatively impact worker health and safety, particularly as they relate to hours of work and the employment relationship. Many provisions have yet to come into force, others have built in loopholes and many of these changes remain unaddressed. The majority of Canada’s employment standards were developed in the 1960’s when workers were generally employed in full-time, permanent jobs with living wages and benefits. Today, workers are increasingly employed in

IAM Protests another needless death at Fiera Foods

14 October, 2019 Toronto – On October 4, 2019, IAM activists joined labour and migrant rights activists from across the Greater Toronto Area to protest unsafe working conditions at Fiera Foods, an industrial bakery in Toronto, and demand that the company protect workers’ health and safety – and their very lives! The protest follows another needless death at Fiera Foods: 57-year-old Enrico Miranda, a cleaner at the bakery. Miranda was the