In addition to rejuvenating the American Labour Movement, the struggle to restore collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin is now the inspiration for a newly-released collection of labor songs by Milwaukee, WI Local 66 member Joe ‘Pepe’ Oulahan. “I’ve always admired the troubadours of the 40’s and 50’s such as Joe Hill, Woody Gutherie, and Pete Seeger,” said Oulahan. “These folk singers wrote and played songs of the struggles of working
Montréal, QC – Members of IAMAW Local Lodge 712 have a new three-year collective agreement with Groupe Compass. “These negotiations were very tough because of the significant decrease in earnings by the employer,” explained IAMAW District 11 Business Representative Claude Boisvert. “Our bargaining team did a very good job in convincing the company not to touch the workers benefits.” The agreement provides wage increases of 1.5 per cent in the
Ottawa, ON – The people at Canadian Bank Note responsible for technical maintenance and performance of the high end printing equipment critical to the production of Canadian paper currency and security papers have a new four-year collective agreement. “With the wage adjustment won upon ratification of this agreement, this is a great deal for our members and they’re very pleased with it,” said a gratified Bill Shipman, IAMAW Grand Lodge
Ottawa, ON – Employees at the Villa Orléans Retirement Home in the nation’s capital have become the newest members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. The 60 workers at the retirement home consist of personal support workers, kitchen and house keeping staff. They will become members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1295. The IAMAW also represents workers at retirement homes in North Bay, Stratford and Toronto. IAMAW, among
Most Canadians depend on public pensions – Old Age Security, the Canada/Quebec Pension Plan and Guaranteed Income Supplement – to provide for their basic needs in retirement. Unfortunately, public pensions currently barely bring most older Canadians up to the poverty level. A large proportion (over a third) of seniors have no significant additional retirement income, from workplace pensions or RRSPs and other savings. As employers cut back on workplace pension
Many Canadians invest their retirement and other savings in mutual funds, frequently on the advice of “financial advisors”/mutual fund salespersons. Remarkably, a lot of these Canadians don’t know how much they are paying in fees, and even more important, how big a bite even seemingly small annual fees can take out of their savings. Canadian mutual funds charge the highest fees of any advanced country. Over the 30 or more
By R. Thomas Buffenbarger Ever since he took office, President Barack Obama has repeatedly attacked corporate jets as a symbol of all that is wrong with American business, with the U.S. tax code and with government finances. In one White House news conference dedicated to extending the debt ceiling, he mentioned corporate jets no fewer than six times. Now, ending faster depreciation for corporate jets is one of the three
Vancouver, BC – New classifications and significant improvement to contract language highlight a new collective agreement between the members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1857 and Burrard Acura. “Any warning, reprimand or discipline the company wishes to place on an Employee’s file must now be provided to the employee in writing within seven days of the occurrence which it documented,” explained IAMAW District Lodge 250 Business Representative Andrew Tricker. “The other
Sparwood, BC – Members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1857 make significant financial gains in their new collective agreement with Kal Tire. “These members have a very unique skill set that demands above average compensation and this agreement reflects that,” explained IAMAW District Lodge 250 Business Representative Andrew Tricker. Vulcanizers and Journeymen, also referred to as Tire Repair Technicians, received a $1 per hour increase to their base pay rate in
Surrey, BC – Murray – Latta Machine Company has a new collective agreement with members of IAMAW Local Lodge 692. “After two rejected offers and a strike mandate we finally got it done,” explained IAMAW District Lodge 250 Business Representative Paul Pelletreau. The ratification margin was 96 per cent. The three-year agreement provides wage increases of 3 per cent in the first year, 2 per cent in the second year
