Opinion

Supreme Court Ruling Reinforces Need for Fair Trade Policies

Toronto/ Washington Feb.20, 2026 – The IAM Union is responding to the Supreme Court’s recent decision striking down President Trump’s sweeping tariffs, emphasizing the impact on workers on both sides of the border. David Chartrand, Canadian General Vice-President of the IAM Union, stated: “Workers are not responsible for these arbitrary tariff decisions, yet they are the ones paying the price. The Supreme Court ruling underscores the importance of predictable and

IAM Union Statement on U.S. House Vote to Reject Tariffs on Canada

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2026 — Brian Bryant, International President of the IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers), and David Chartrand, IAM Canadian Territory General Vice-President, issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to reject President Trump’s tariffs on Canada: “Today’s bipartisan vote shows that a majority of Congress understands what’s at stake for working families. Indiscriminate tariffs against allies are bad for both U.S.

IAM Urges PM Carney to Act as U.S. Threatens Canadian Aircraft Certification

The IAM Union Canada has expressed serious concern over U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to decertify Canadian-made aircraft, including Bombardier’s Global Express, and impose a 50% tariff on exports to the U.S. In a letter to PM Mark Carney, the IAM warns these actions would harm aerospace workers, manufacturers, airlines, and passengers on both sides of the border. Canada and the U.S. share deeply integrated aerospace industries, with cross-border production,

La CAQ veut museler les syndicats avec son projet pour encadrer la gouvernance et la transparence des syndicats 

Le syndicat de l’IAM s’oppose fermement à tout projet de loi du gouvernement Legault qui affaiblirait le rapport de force des travailleuses et travailleurs et porterait atteinte à l’autonomie syndicale. Le document qui circule depuis hier ne propose aucune amélioration réelle de la gouvernance et de la transparence des syndicats au Québec. Au contraire, il risque d’accroître le pouvoir des employeurs et de faciliter les attaques contre les droits des

The CAQ wants to restrain unions through its proposed law on governance and transparency

The IAM union firmly opposes any legislation from the Legault government that would weaken the balance of power of workers and undermine union autonomy. The document that has been circulating since yesterday offers no real improvement in the governance and transparency of unions in Quebec. On the contrary, it risks increasing employers’ power and making it easier to attack workers’ rights. “A union is created by and for workers. Every

Les tarifs douaniers de Trump sur le Canada mettent en péril les secteurs de l'aérospatiale, de la défense et de la fabrication tout en menaçant la sécurité nationale

WASHINGTON, le 1er avril 2025 – Brian Bryant, président international du syndicat de l’IAM, qui représente 600 000 travailleurs et travailleuses, et David Chartrand, vice-président général canadien de l’IAM, ont émis aujourd’hui une réprimande à l’égard des tarifs douaniers du président Trump, mettant en garde contre de graves conséquences économiques et des pertes d’emplois dans l’ensemble des États-Unis et du Canada :  “Les tarifs dispersés du président Trump sont une

Trump Tariffs on Canada Jeopardize Aerospace, Defense, and Manufacturing Sectors While Threatening National Security

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2025 – Brian Bryant, International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), representing 600,000 workers, and David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, today issued a strong rebuke of President Trump’s tariffs, warning of severe economic consequences and job losses across the United States and Canada:  “President Trump’s scatter-shot tariffs are a direct assault on American and Canadian workers. They will destabilize critical sectors

“When right is wrong”

By IAM Canadian General Vice-President (@IAMAWDavid) Dissent and protest are as much a part of democracy as elections, participation and debate. The right to protest has been a vehicle for many movements that ultimately changed our society for the better; the labour movement is a testament to the collective power in fighting for a better society. In recent weeks, a movement has emerged in Ottawa and elsewhere as an outcry

Quebec could become a North American leader in aircraft recovery

By Guillaume Valois LL712 and DL11 Communicator Montreal – In response to Airbus’ statement to accelerate aircraft recycling by creating partnerships in different regions of the world, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), calls on our governments and stakeholders in Quebec’s aerospace ecosystem to mobilize to make Quebec a North American leader in this area. This is the kind of project that could have positive impacts at

Nobel Prize in economics explodes minimum wage and jobs myth

The award of this year’s Nobel Prize in economics has further exploded a decades-old myth that increasing minimum wages costs jobs. The prize was awarded to David Card, Joshua Angrist and Guido Imbens for real-world research in the 1990s that demonstrated, empirically, that the idea touted by conservative economists that higher minimum wages mean fewer jobs is not based on fact. ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow said: “These Nobel Prize