News Releases

IAM Successful – Air Canada Must Talk!

IAM Successful – Air Canada Must Talk! Tuesday July 29, 2008 For Immediate Release Toronto, On – Under pressure from the IAM and other unions, Labour Minister Jean Pierre Blackburn has denied Air Canada’s request for a waiver under the Canada Labour Code. That waiver would have allowed Air Canada to lay off more than two thousand of its employees November 1, 2008 without implementing a joint union-company committee prior

Machinists Expand in Québec Again!

Thursday July 25, 2008 For Immediate Release Montréal, QC – For the second time in less than two months the IAMAW has expanded its representation in the aerospace industry with a new application for certification for workers of CPS Industries, near Dorval Airport. On March 1, 2008, IAMAW District 11 signed a service contract with an independent union – Employees Association of CPS Industries. The Stewards and Officers of the

Machinists Ratify New Agreement with Dana Corporation!

Friday July 25, 2008 For Immediate Release Cambridge, On – Members of IAMAW Local Lodge 2330 have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with Dana Corporation, Thermal Products Division. Dana Corporation has just emerged from Chapter 11 in the United States and has been imposing many concessions during bargaining throughout the corporation. It came to the table looking for much of the same from the workers at the Cambridge facility.

Swissport Machinists ratify First Contract!

Wednesday July 16, 2008 For Immediate Release Montréal, QC – Members of IAMAW Local Lodge 2309 employed by Swissport have ratified their first collective agreement. The three-year agreement provides a lump-sum wage increase of 2.4 per cent in the first year retroactive to July 2007 and a 20 per cent wage increase in the second and third years. Other agreement highlights include : Lead hand premium increases of between 10 and

Crowne Plaza Workers Made the Right Choice!

Monday July 14, 2008 For Immediate Release Toronto, ON – Workers at the Crowne Plaza Hotel near Pearson International Airport, members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1295, are all smiles over their first collective agreement. The five-year agreement provides wage increases of 6 per cent including benefits in the first year, and 3 per cent in each of the remaining four years. “This contract removes any doubt in the minds of

Employment: Full-time policy needed

For immediate release Friday, July 11, 2008 OTTAWA – “Higher unemployment. Massive loss of full-time jobs. Lower participation rate. Public sector and private sector, there is serious deterioration in the job market,” says Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress about today’s Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey. (See below detailed analysis by the Canadian Labour Congress’ Senior Economist Sylvain Schetagne.) The Canadian Labour Congress blames the worsening jobs situation

New Buyer for GE Hydro Found – IAMAW Jobs Saved!

Tuesday July 8, 2008 For Immediate Release Lachine, QC – The 450 members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1660 employed at GE Hydro can face this summer with renewed optimism. The members were faced with losing their jobs because GE Hydro was to close the 89-year old facility at the end of June 2008. However the doors will remain open following the purchase of the facility by Andritz Va Tech Hydro

Boart Longyear Machinists benefit from Mining Boom!

Tuesday June 24, 2008 For Immediate Release North Bay, ON – A booming Canadian mining industry has paid dividends for members of IAMAW Local Lodge 2412 employed by Boart Longyear. “Our membership has tripled in size over the life of the last agreement because of the continual demand for drilling and exploration equipment by the Canadian mining industry,” said IAMAW Grand Lodge Representative Pat Murphy. “This agreement reflects the success

Supreme Court of Canada Protects Union’s Bargaining Rights!

Friday June 20, 2008 For Immediate Release Edmonton, AB – This week’s decision by the Supreme Court of Canada in the Finning decision confirms that trade union bargaining rights are protected when a company creates and finances a new company, transfers part of its operation to that new company, and lays off the unionized workers. “This is a great victory for all unionized Canadian workers,” said IAMAW District 14 Business

Government inaction on oil prices costs Machinists jobs at Air Canada

Tuesday June 17, 2008 For Immediate Release Toronto, ON – “The Harper government is doing nothing about rising oil prices and today it has cost 650 Machinist members their jobs at Air Canada,” said an irate IAMAW Canadian General Vice President Dave Ritchie. Ritchie was reacting to Air Canada’s announcement that it plans to eliminate 2,000 jobs and reduce its capacity due to higher fuel prices. “The prime minister and