IAM scholarship award presented at graduation ceremony

Edmonton, AB – Canadian IAM members and their children have been presented with the IAM scholarship award every year but rarely do we capture the presentation at a graduation ceremony. For 2017 IAM scholarship recipient Britney Trieu of Edmonton, her award was presented to her as part of her high school graduation ceremony Friday June 30th. The award is based on academic excellence, test scores, attitude toward study, personal references

Non-Confidence vote brings NDP to power in B.C.

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

Pickthall visits planes and automobiles

Vancouver, BC – Stan Pickthall didn’t take the train to Vancouver but he did go by plane and he did tour a number of automobiles in his most recent site visit of IAM work places. The Canadian GVP along with Chief of Staff Gord Falconer joined Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson Tania Canniff to tour G4S operations at Vancouver International Airport. “This was a unique experience for me to

United Way Centraide Canada thanks IAM

Toronto, ON – In 2016, United Way Centraide Canada raised more than $522 million to support United Way’s 6,200 programs across the country. Each year the United Way says ‘Thanks a Million’ to leading Canadian corporations, employers and labour organizations that – together with their employees and members – raised $1 million or more in support of United Way Centraide. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers – IAM

IAM campaign to organize WestJet takes off!

Thursday June 29, 2017 For Immediate Release Toronto, ON – The IAM campaign to organize WestJet Customer Service Agents and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers across Canada has entered its next phase. “The culture at WestJet has changed,” said IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 Organizer Sam Jabbar. “WestJet employees are telling us that the days of a family atmosphere in their workplace have gone, replaced by a corporate attitude that’s only interested

Machinists ratify new agreement with Purewood Inc.

Wednesday June 28, 2017   For Immediate Release   Brampton, ON – Members of IAM Local Lodge 1922 have ratified a new multi-year agreement with Purewood Inc. The deal provides wage increases totaling 11.5 per cent over the life of the agreement. The most significant component of the agreement is the inclusion of the IAM pension plan with increased employer contributions in each year. The agreement also features improved vacation

CAE-Machinists ink new contract!

Monday June 26, 2017 For Immediate Release   Moose Jaw, SASK – The members of IAM Local Lodge 32 have ratified a multi-year agreement with CAE in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and Cold Lake, Alberta. The multi-year deal, ratified by a margin of 68 per cent, provides wage increases totaling 13 per cent over the life of the agreement including pay retro-active to last year. Other agreement highlights include; Per diems

Labour sponsored leadership debate produces no champion!

  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,

IAM witness to history in Canada’s Senate

Ottawa, On – IAM Grand Lodge Representative in charge of Political Action – Lou Pagrach – was a witness to history being made in Canada’s Senate last week with the passing of Bill C-4. Bill C-4, which eliminated anti-union legislation brought in by the former Harper Conservative government, received Royal Assent in the Canadian Senate on Monday June 19, 2017. The old legislation, both created by the Harper Conservatives through

Fit To Fly

By Carlos DaCosta – IAM Air Transport Coordinator Recently, I attended a Fit to Fly workshop put on by Transport Canada in Quebec. This workshop was centred on supporting aviation personnel (pilots) with mental health challenges and substance abuse disorders in the interest of aviation safety. The IAM proudly represents pilots at Keewatin Air and Air Labrador, and information gathered at this workshop will be helpful for our pilots at