Machinists’ News

The Challenges Never End!

Las Vegas, NV – “The IAM is the largest Union in Air Transportation across Canada. DL140 our largest district,” IAM Canadian General Vice President Stan Pickthall told delegates to the 2019 IAM Transportation Conference here. “In the words of our Toronto Organizer Sam Jabbar, “every day in the airport is a great day to Organize.” District 140 continues to grow and organize across the country,” he said. “Last year saw

Trade Unions are the last line of defense for working families!

Las Vegas, NV – Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders didn’t paint a pretty picture of America for delegates attending the IAM Transportation Conference here. “For one in three American seniors who receive Social Security, it’s their only source of income, they have no pension, they live on $13,500 or less a year,” he told delegates. “As President, we’re going to expand benefits for those on Social Security.” He called Trade

Amy Klobuchar puts her presidential credentials to the IAM

Las Vegas, NV – US Democratic Presidential hopeful Amy Klobuchar put her credentials before delegates to the IAM Transportation Conference  here today. “I didn’t come from money but I have grit,” she told delegates, comparing her background to the silver spoon upbringing of US President Donald Trump. Her grandfather was an iron ore miner, her father a journalist and her mother a teacher. “I learned from my grandfather that when

Fighting Machinist Women: Uniting to Fight

By Ivana Saula, IAM Canadian Research Director April 3-6th marks an important event for the IAMAW and for advancement of women’s issues within our union. After nearly twenty years, the Women’s Department has organized an event to help female leaders network, address issues that affect them as members and women, and to discuss creative solutions. Attendees heard from trailblazing women who made it through the ranks and have taken on leadership

IAM joins AIAC in Support of Canadian Aerospace

Toronto, On – The IAM joined the AIAC (Aerospace Industries Association of Canada) social media awareness campaign, #ISupportCdnAerospace, launched today. Across the country, IAM members showed their support by distributing their pictures on Twitter, holding the sign which read #ISupportCdnAerospace.     The social media campaign is to generate public awareness of Canada’s aerospace industry in advance of AIAC’s report on the industry – “Vision 20/25 Beyond our Imagination”, to

Bread, Roses, and Pensions: Why Pension Is a Woman’s Issue - Ivana Saula

By Ivana Saula, IAM Canadian Research Director In celebrating Women’s History Month, we are not only reminded of struggles women have faced in the past, but struggles that remain. When we talk about women’s issues what comes to mind are a broad range of topics; gender violence, economic equality, reproductive rights, parental leave, child care, healthcare, discrimination, under-representation in the political sphere, the list goes on. One issue that is overlooked

Calgary, AB – Despite the best efforts by the Calgary Airport Authority, an IAM demonstration against privatizing de-icing services at the airport was an unqualified success. “We had an agreement in place with the airport authority to walk two by two inside the terminal and set up at each doorway to hand out information about the proposed centralized De-Icing Pad and a single use provider,” explained IAM Transportation District Lodge

Canadian Air Transport Security Authority’s Fate (CATSA): One Step Closer to Privatization

Ottawa, ON – The federal budget contained an important piece of information that was hidden deep within the 400 page document; the possibility of privatizing CATSA. It’s an issue that the IAMAW has lobbied on offering solutions that would ensure better services to the public as well as ensuring cost-efficiency. The information contained in the budget was scarce, leaving much to speculation signaling the possibility of privatizing CATSA should the

International Women’s Month – volunteer and get involved!

Toronto, ON – March is International Women’s month and Friday March 8th is International Women’s Day. Since the first International Women’s Day in 1911, the idea has become a global phenomenon, IWD is not a country, group or organization, rather it’s a collective effort of all of those who care about human rights. One of the strongest supporters of human rights is organized labour. The female members of the IAM

Balance for real change – It’s everyone’s business #BalanceforBetter

Balance for real change – It’s everyone’s business The first International Women’s Day occurred in 1911, supported by over one million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific. Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of