Duncan, BC – The times may be tough at Pro Mac Manufacturing but the bargaining committee of IAMAW Local Lodge 456 delivered a new collective agreement. “Given the uncertain state of the economy, our 38 members can be proud their solidarity led to a satisfactory contract,” said IAMAW District Lodge 250 Business Representative Alastair Haythornthwaite. The three-year agreement provides wage increases of 3 per dent in the first year, 3
Ottawa, ON – IAMAW Canadian General Vice President Dave Ritchie, has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Canadian Labour Congress. Ritchie was elected by members of the CLC Canadian Council, which consists of the top officers from all of the affiliated unions to the CLC. The Executive Committee, which meets at least four times a year, is responsible for the administration, affairs and activities of the CLC. The
The Conservative government has tabled legislation that will end the National long-gun registry. The registry was created as part of a response to public pressure, particularly through women, to strengthen gun control legislation following the tragic events at the École Polytechnique, December 6, 1989. There has been a substantial decline in the number of homicides, domestic violence incidents and suicides using rifles and shotguns since the registry was implemented. Law
Brampton, ON – Members of IAMAW Local Lodge 1922 employed by PureWood Incorporated have a new three-year collective agreement. “This agreement reflects the tough economic times currently being experienced by the company,” explained IAMAW District Lodge 78 Business Representative Derek Ferguson. “However, the company is optimistic it can improve its market share in the near future and our members will assist in making that happen.” Along with improved contract language,
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
