Canadian GVP Dave Ritchie addresses the IAM Transport Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla – In his opening remarks to the IAM 2015 Transportation Conference here, IAM Canadian GVP Dave Ritchie warned American members employed in the airline sector, that the Air Canada model is coming to America.
“There are discussions underway in the US to sell off baggage services, “ said Ritchie. “Air Canada sold off its heavy maintenance and its points rewards program and gave the proceeds to the CEO and the shareholders rather than invest it back into the company when it came out of bankruptcy protection.”
“Airlines on both sides of the border have the money to pay our members a decent wage with decent benefits and when we demand it at the bargaining table they run to the government to take away our right to strike.”
“But we can fight this tactic at the ballot box, “ Ritchie said. “Our members must ensure that we elect politicians who are accountable to us the people and we can only do that if we get politically active. We have a unique opportunity to accomplish this in Canada this fall, and in the US in November 2016. It’s our time.”
IAM Canadian delegates to the union’s Transport Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
