Progress provokes pushback, always has always will – Columnist Michael Coren Toronto, ON – January 1st marked an increase in the minimum wage in Ontario, it rose from $11.60 an hour to $14.00 an hour and it will increase January 1, 2019 to $15.00 an hour. Not surprisingly, the reaction from business was immediate and predictable. The Bank of Canada reported that this increase will cost 60,000 jobs. The surprise
Vancouver, BC – Members of IAM Local Lodge 692 proudly watched the launch of the first ship built under Canada’s new national shipbuilding strategy – the Sir John Franklin. The 64.3 metre vessel, designed and built at the Seaspan Shipyards in North Vancouver, is the first of three to be built for the Canadian Coastguard under the national strategy. “Our members are extremely proud of their contribution to this ship,
Barrie, ON – It’s not often a political activist gets to witness the fruits of their labour achieving their intended goal but Dan Janssen not only saw it, he also had the opportunity to speak about it. When the Barrie and District Labour Council was invited to an event where Ontario’s Labour Minister Kevin Flynn would be making announcements regarding how Ontario Bill 148 – The Fair Workplaces/Better Jobs Act
Las Vegas, NV – The Canadian Territory made its largest contribution ever to the Guide Dogs at the recent annual Guide Dogs Convention here. The $100,000.00 plus donation to the IAM’s official charity was made possible through funds raised at the 21st Annual Dave Ritchie Guide Dogs Golf Tournament and the 2nd Annual IAM District Lodge 250 Golf Tournament. The theme of the conference was team and attendees were encouraged
When the members of the IAM Local Lodge 2113 at Autoliv Electronics saw the hurricane disasters in the United States earlier this year, they sprang to action and raised $1,063.95 for the IAM Disaster relief. The Local matched the money raised, as did the employer. A total of $3,191.85 was raised and was sent to the IAM Disaster Relief fund that will help our Sisters and Brothers affected by these
Victoria, BC – IAM District Lodge 250 Directing Business Representative Walter Gerlach will once again serve as Labour’s member at large on the Provincial Executive of the B.C. New Democratic Party. Gerlach was acclaimed for the second consecutive time at the BC NDP 45th convention held recently in Victoria. Provincial Executive members are elected for two year terms and help guide the efforts of the party. This is Gerlach’s third
Toronto, ON – Increased service pressures, airport privatization and successor rights in the event of a contract flip are areas of serious concern for Canada’s 6,000 airport pre-board security screeners. These issues top the agenda of a meeting the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and the United Steelworkers (USW) have requested with the Minister of Transport – Marc Garneau, and Labour Minister Patty Hajdu. The two unions
Mississauga, ON – The IAM information booth at the 2017 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME) Association conference was a tremendous success. “We couldn’t have asked for a better result,” said a pleased IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson Dave Freeman. “I would give this a 9 out of 10, and we attracted a great deal of interest from people working in the industry, both Union and non-union alike. The
TORONTO – U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders addressed a vibrant speech last Sunday on the Canadian public health care system to an enthusiastic and energized crowd at the University of Toronto. Senator Sanders was visiting Canada last week to get ideas from experts, politicians and medical workers on the Canadian universal health care system. He introduced a Bill in Congress to bring a government funded health system to his home country.
Toronto, ON – Although the 40th IAM Grand Lodge Convention in San Diego doesn’t happen until September 2020, preparations began immediately after the 39th convention wrapped up in Chicago in 2016. Conventions like ours cost a considerable amount of money and require a tremendous amount of work from each and every IAM member on both sides of the border. To ensure that 2020 is a success, fund raising by local
