COV Position Statements

IAM Letter to Minister Alghabra regarding mandatory vaccinations

 October 21, 2021  By Email: omar.alghabra@parl.gc.ca Honourable Omar Alghabra, MP Minister of Transport House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Honourable Minister Alghabra,  I’m writing to you on behalf of 20,000 air transportation workers, and members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) with an urgent request for a meeting regarding Transport Canada’s guidance on federal vaccination mandates. It’s necessary to preface our concerns, and state that

IAM Canada response to mandatory vaccinations

Over the last few days, a debate over mandatory vaccinations erupted following the federal government’s announcement regarding mandatory vaccinations. The government’s lack of direction and clarity has caused uncertainty and confusion, particularly, when it comes to workplace implications. This is shameful, and the IAMAW sharply condemns the politicization of this issue. In days following the announcement, many employers followed suit, raising questions among IAMAW members about their rights should their

Jobs Worth Fighting For: The Post-Pandemic Recovery

IAMAW | Canada | May 2020 DOWNLOAD THE PDF Introduction The pandemic has ravaged the economy, and a recovery will be protracted, taking place in stages for the foreseeable future. This crisis has also exposed gaps in workplace policies, and legislation but also, the significance of certain sectors of the economy, which have either been chronically underfunded or have received very little support from the government. At the same time,

COVID19 Impact on the Aerospace Industry

During the Pandemic While the air transportation industry has usually been resilient in the wake of major disruptions and crises, it is questionable that air transportation will be able to recovery as quickly as it has in the past. Airlines are running out of liquidity making bankruptcies, consolidations and even nationalization a possibility.  All of this this will inevitably affect civil aircraft manufacturing, supply chains and aftermarket support businesses. The

Letter to Trudeau: Wage Subsidy Program: Canadian Workers’ Lifeline – Not to be Taken Away

July 7, 2020 By Email: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada 80 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Dear Mr. Trudeau:   Re:       Wage Subsidy Program: Canadian Workers’ Lifeline – Not to be Taken Away I am writing to you today on behalf of 50,000 active and retired Canadian members of the Machinists Union. At the outset, I wish to acknowledge your government for the

Lack of PSWs Related to Canada’s Death Rate in LTC Being Highest Amongst 16 OECD Countries

The Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI) recently released a comparative study of long-term care across 16 OECD countries, (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), with clear findings that Canada’s long-term care system fared worse than most. This study is yet another indicator of the magnitude of the crisis in long term care. Perhaps most concerning is that Canada’s death rate in long term care facilities was the highest amongst

Letter to Justin Trudeau: The survival of the aerospace sector compromised; you must act

Montreal June 15, 2020 To the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada I am writing to you today as a representative of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) to express my concern about the future of aerospace in Canada. As elsewhere in the world, our aerospace ecosystem is not immune to the economic impacts of COVID-19. Many workers in this industry have lost their jobs,

COVID19 Impact on the Aerospace Industry

During the Pandemic While the air transportation industry has usually been resilient in the wake of major disruptions and crises, it is questionable that air transportation will be able to recover as quickly as it has in the past. Airlines are running out of liquidity making bankruptcies, consolidations and even nationalization a possibility.  All of this will inevitably affect civil aircraft manufacturing, supply chains and aftermarket support businesses. The defense

Pandemic Pay for Ontario Workers

A temporary “pandemic payment” for front-line workers risking their lives amid the COVID-19 pandemic. These workers would receive an additional $4 an hour for the next sixteen weeks, as well as a possible $250 lump-sum a month if they worked 100 hours or more. the pay hike, which will take effect on April 24 and last until Aug. 13. Health care and long-term care Eligible workplaces include acute hospitals, long-term

Tell the CPhA: Waive extra dispensing fees at pharmacies

April 25, 2020 In the middle of this pandemic, the Canadian Pharmacists Association determined that pharmacies should limit refills to 30 days instead of 90. This is intended to reduce possible drug shortages. Problem is, that decision hurts Canadians because instead of paying one dispensing fee for a 90-day refill, people now have to pay the dispensing fee every month for each 30-day refill. Call on the CPhA to waive