Las Vegas, NV – Canada took home its fair share of awards from the 2019 IAM Communications Conference. Benoit Blanchette of IAM Local Lodge 869 took home first prize in the Social Media Facebook Page category and took second place for best layout and design in the website category. From left to right – IAM Director of Communications Bob Wood, IAM Canadian GVP Stan Pickthall accepting the awards
Niagara Falls, ON – Patrons of the Rain Forest Café got more than their lunch over the weekend with a surprise visit by more than 100 IAM members of the Ontario Provincial Council of Machinists. The OPCM members marched through the restaurant in support of striking members of the Workers United Canada. The OPCM invited the workers to attend their convention in Niagara Falls. Workers United representatives spoke to
Winnipeg, MB – Over the weekend, organized labour in Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike. The Immediate post-World War 1 period in Canada was not a time of peace. Soldiers returned home wanting jobs and a normal lifestyle again, only to find factories shutting down and soaring unemployment. Corporate profiteering fed inflation and a high cost of living. Poor factory working conditions caused worker unrest.
Vancouver, BC – “We would like to believe that we have achieved some level of inclusion in our workplaces, but that simply isn’t true,” said IAM District Lodge 250 Directing Business Representative Walter Gerlach. “When representatives of BC Centre for Women in the Trades (BCCWITT) made their presentation to our delegates meeting earlier this month, they certainly opened a lot of eyes and minds.” BCCWITT is a two-year pilot project
North Bay, ON – The IAM encourages its members to become politically involved and that can take many forms – political activism, belonging to a political party, joining a riding association, and running for political office at the municipal, provincial or federal level. This is a profile story about two members of IAM Local Lodge 2412 who both work at Boart Longyear in North Bay, Ontario. They both decided if
The 22nd triennial convention of the Québec Machinists’ Council (QMC) took place last week in the historic town of Victoriaville, QC. IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. and IAM Canadian General Vice President Stan Pickthall attended and spoke to the delegation. “Thank you for everything Québec has done, is doing and is planning to do,” said Martinez. “I am pleased to have a very special relationship with our brothers and
Winnipeg, MB – One hundred years ago today the labour movement in Canada had learned clearly: it had to move into direct political action, if workers’ rights were to be protected. Today we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of The Winnipeg General Strike. The Immediate post-World War 1 period in Canada was not a time of peace. Soldiers returned home wanting jobs and a normal lifestyle again, only
Flin Flon, MB – IAM Local Lodge 1848 is celebrating its 75th birthday this year and Canadian General Vice President Stan Pickthall, Chief of Staff Gord Falconer and Grand Lodge Representative Tony Didoshak attended ceremonies over the weekend. ““It is an absolute privilege to be invited to attend with my Sisters And Brothers of Local 1848,” said Pickthall. “These members are Rock Solid in their support of one another and
Toronto, ON – Passengers using Toronto’s Pearson International Airport are being asked to sign the IAM CATSA petition to amend the Canadian Air Transportation Security Act. It’s the legislation that gives the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), ultimate and unchallenged authority over workers employed as airport pre-board security screeners at airports across Canada. Screening officers are certified by CATSA in the performance of their duties under a recurrent learning
Toronto, On – The annual May Day celebrations at Toronto’s Pearson Airport had international overtones this year. Canadian airport workers were joined by their brothers and sisters from Korea, England, Malaysia and Indonesia and they braved the cold weather in solidarity on the departures level of Terminal One. A variety of speakers voiced concerns on issues that impact airport workers around the globe, namely contract flipping, poor labour conditions as
