SIGN THE PETITION Canada’s unions are proud that we’ve won health insurance coverage for many of our members. But we believe anyone with a health card should have coverage for the medicines they need. That’s why we’re working to win a universal prescription drug plan that covers everyone in Canada, regardless of their income, age or where they work or live. The Unfinished Business of Medicare Today, the only place
Wednesday September 6, 2017 For Immediate Release Toronto, ON – The IAM is endorsing Jagmeet Singh for leader of the federal New Democratic Party. The decision came after lengthy and passionate debate among IAM Canadian office staff, national staff, District Lodge Directing Business Representatives, Business Representatives and General Chairpersons from across the country who are members of the NDP. “We had a healthy discussion today from all of our staff
The IAM welcomes the renegotiation of NAFTA. It is the opportunity to protect Canadian jobs and public services. For one, the current federal government is including union and Labour stakeholders in the renegotiation process. IAM Chief of Staff Gord Falconer and Research Director for Canada Aurélie Sarrabezolles took part in the first meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland and Labour on August 15 in Toronto. It was the
Fifty leading Canadian economists recently published an open letter supporting the decision to increase the minimum wage in Ontario to $15 an hour. This is an excerpt from their statement: Raising the wage floor makes good economic sense. Today, Ontario’s minimum wage is $11.40 per hour. Adjusted for inflation, this is barely one dollar higher than its value in 1977. Yet over the same four decades, the average productivity of
Toronto, ON – The Ontario government has wrapped up its public consultations on Bill 148 which will make major changes to labour standards in the province. Following public hearings in Thunder Bay, North Bay, Windsor, London and Kitchener-Waterloo, no fewer than 35 delegations made presentations to the Steering Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs at Queens Park. The IAM made its presentation in London earlier in the week. The Bill
The decision by Brazil’s corruption-riddled parliament to eliminate a swathe of protections in the country’s labour laws will impoverish millions of people and leave workers completely at the mercy of employers who will have unilateral power to set wages, holiday entitlements, working hours and bonuses. The hugely unpopular changes, forced through Brazil’s Senate on 12 July, will also make it harder for workers to join unions, and will reduce health
Victoria, B.C. – After the historic provincial election which took almost two months to resolve, the NDP has officially taken power in British Columbia. John Horgan was sworn in as British Columbia’s 36th Premier along with his cabinet at Government House on Tuesday and the IAM was honoured to be there. “We’re excited, this marks the first day of a new BC government that will work hard for all working
Following up with the release of The Changing Workplaces Review’s final report, the Liberal Government has recently introduced Bill 148 (Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act), to amend two fundamental Labour laws in Ontario, the Employment Standards Act for all workers, and the Labour Relations Act for unionized workers only. One of the major improvements is the introduction of $15 minimum wage to be phased in on January 1st, 2019. The
Victoria, BC – Seven weeks after the provincial election, there is a new government in British Columbia and for the first time in 16 years, it is not liberal. The NDP will form a minority government after the Liberals under Christie Clark were defeated June 29th in a non-confidence vote, 44-42 in the legislature. Clark met with Lt. Governor Judith Guichon for ninety minutes June 29th, asking for the dissolution
Toronto, ON – The evening was called Labour, Justice, Our Future. It was the first opportunity for union members and labour activists to put their issues before the five hopefuls vying for the leadership of the federal NDP. The five candidates were Manitoba MP Niki Ashton, Ontario MP Charlie Angus, Quebec MP Guy Caron, British Columbia MP Peter Julian and Ontario NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh. ‘This was our night,
