IAM Canada – Janet Andrews honoured with coronation medal

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Vancouver, BC-IAM Local 764 member Janet Andrews was awarded with the King Charles III Coronation medal in a ceremony on February 16th for exemplary service to her community and the labour movement.

The Coronation Medal commemorates the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III as King of Canada and is awarded to candidates who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada. There will be 30,000 medals awarded during the anniversary year.

Andrews, a 27-year member of the Machinists’ Union who started out at YVR with United Airlines in 1998 served as Senior Steward, Political Action and Women’s Committee Chairperson at her local before being acclaimed as Secretary Treasurer for the New Westminster & District Labour Council in 2017. She is currently serving her fifth consecutive term at the NWDLC which is the largest labour council in British Columbia, representing over 65,000 union members from almost 100 different union locals in fourteen cities in Metro Vancouver.

In presenting the medal, Member of Parliament for Vancouver-Kingsway Don Davies noted “Janet is a trailblazing labour leader, women’s rights advocate and social justice champion who has given decades of service to improve the lives of workers in our community.”

A tireless advocate for workers, developing future leaders and fostering solidarity, in addition to her work at the NWDLC Andrews serves on the Executive Council of the BC Federation of Labour, completed 6 years on the Board of the United Way of BC and in 2024 was elected Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Pacific Blue Cross, the number one health benefits provider in BC. She is also politically active supporting candidates for office who will stand up for workers at the local, provincial and federal levels of government.

Davies added her “commitment and efforts to support diversity and inclusion in leadership roles in the labour movement and in local government across the Metro Vancouver region are truly nation-building.”

IAM Canada – IAM Union Urges End to All U.S. Tariffs on Canada, Cooperation Amongst Both Countries to Grow Worker Prosperity

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Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union, and David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, issued the following statement calling for an end to all Canadian tariffs:

“The IAM Union strongly urges President Trump to end all tariff actions against Canada, one of our closest allies, without delay. Instead of escalating tensions, the President should embrace trade policies that strengthen the economic bond between the U.S. and Canada. This is a critical moment in history that can bring together workers and unions from both nations to craft solutions for the future. “The IAM Union represents 600,000 workers, including tens of thousands in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing—industries that depend on strong U.S.-Canada cooperation. These tariffs destabilize those sectors, putting livelihoods and our nations’ economies at risk.

“Now is the time for all stakeholders – government, business, and labor – to unite in developing a comprehensive strategy that strengthens and grows critical manufacturing in both the U.S. and Canada. Workers on both sides of the border deserve a seat at the table in shaping policies that affect their jobs, our shared economic prosperity, and national security.” 

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada. 

Transportation District 140 – Shop Steward Training for IAM Local 1751

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At the forefront of union action, they will ensure compliance with the collective agreement and their brothers’ and sisters’ quality of working life.

Congratulations to every one of them, for their commitment and their determination to ensure that your rights at work are respected. We would also like to thank Guillaume Lingat and Alfredo Accrobati for their outstanding work as trainers.

Training participants: Robert Ribuffo, Marigal Verdera, Khaud Raheem, Iconio Mobrici, Anthony Knowles, Alicia Janusz, Robert Halerba, et Benjamin Gostomski.

Knowledge transmission and learning about different labor relations practices are essential for effective worker representation. This is why the Quebec Machinists Council, in partnership with the affiliated Local Lodges, has made it its mission to ensure access to quality training for all IAM representatives.

IAM Canada – IAM Union opposes any privatization at Canada’s airports

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In the 2024 Federal Budget, there was a reference to privatization of parts of Canadian Airports. At the time, the IAM Union sought out clarification and held meetings with the Federal Labour Ministers office and the office of the Finance Minister to seek further clarification and advise the Federal Government that the IAM Union was against any privatization whatsoever at Canadian Airports. This past week, the Federal Government provided a policy statement on their intentions with regards to privatization at Canadian airports.

As the federal government continues to push for privatization efforts across Canada’s airports, the IAM Union is calling for a firm stand against this dangerous trend, warning of the detrimental effects it could have on Canadian workers, travelers, and the economy.

David Chartrand, General Vice-President at the IAM Union in Canada, expressed deep concerns over the federal government’s growing encouragement of privatization in Canada’s aviation sector. He emphasized that such actions would suppress wages for airport workers and only serve to line the pockets of private corporations at the expense of Canadian workers and the public.

“Privatization will undermine the quality of services that travelers rely on, from increased fees to reduced accessibility, this isn’t just about workers; this is about the entire Canadian aviation industry. We cannot allow private corporations to prioritize their profits over the needs of the public.” said David Chartrand.

Chartrand further explained that privatizing airports would, decrease job security, and lead to higher costs for travelers, all while enriching private companies.

Airport services should remain under public control to ensure that profits are reinvested into improving services for travelers and strengthening the economy. Public ownership of airports ensures that they are run efficiently, with the needs of Canadians at the forefront.

The IAM represents over 10,000 members across Canada in the aviation industry, we call on both the federal government and airport authorities to halt any moves toward privatization and to focus on investing in the workers and infrastructure that make Canada’s airports a vital part of the country’s transportation network.

The IAM Union is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across North America.

IAM Canada – IAM Union Condemns Trump’s 25% Tariffs on Canada

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Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union, and David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, issued the following statement regarding President Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canada:

“The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union strongly condemns the Trump administration’s reckless decision to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports. This harmful action threatens jobs, raises prices, and undermines the long-standing economic partnership between the United States and Canada.

“The IAM has always supported trade policies that protect and grow jobs in both nations. But these tariffs are an unjustified attack on a trusted ally.

“Canada is not the enemy. Canada is committed to fair trade practices that support workers and communities. This decision will disrupt industries that rely on integrated supply chains, hurting workers on both sides of the border.

“The IAM represents 600,000 workers, including tens of thousands in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing—industries that depend on strong U.S.-Canada cooperation. These tariffs will destabilize those sectors, putting livelihoods and our nations’ economies at risk.

“As our union has said previously, tariffs should be used strategically to counter bad actors, like China, that manipulate markets and undermine fair trade.

“Targeting Canada with punitive tariffs is not only misguided, but dangerous. It weakens North American industry and puts working families in jeopardy.

“We urge President Trump to immediately reconsider these tariffs and pursue trade policies that strengthen, rather than weaken, the economic relationship between the United States and Canada.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.