Ottawa, ON – There is a growing awareness of the IAM in Ottawa political circles. In Mid –April, 70 Machinist members took part in a mass political lobby of MP’s conducted by the Canadian Labour Congress. Our members lobbied all three parties on the need to raise the Canada Pension Plan contributions, stop the Trans Pacific Partnership and stop the import of asbestos into Canada. We were back in Ottawa the first week of May with a 22 person delegation lobbying members of the federal Transport Committee regarding Bill C-10 – the amendments to the Air Canada Public Participation Act. Not only did we lobby the committee members, we also testified at the committee hearings offering our suggestions to amend the Act which would not only save the jobs of our members at Air Canada but ensure continued growth of the Canadian Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul industry. One of those who testified before the committee was IAM Quebec Coordinator David Chartrand, who believes the IAM lobbying effort had an impact…..
