IAM Union Calls on Prime Minister Carney to Put Workers and the Public Interest First

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The IAM Union is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney and the federal government to reconsider plans to bring private investment into the operation of Canada’s largest airports.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, IAM Union Canada General Vice-President David Chartrand expressed the union’s strong opposition to long-term private concessions for Toronto Pearson, Montréal-Trudeau, Vancouver International and Calgary International airports.

The IAM represents thousands of workers across Canada’s aviation and air transportation sectors. Every day, IAM members help keep Canada’s aviation system safe, efficient and moving, from airport operations and maintenance to security and other essential services.

The union is concerned that transferring the operation of these critical airports to private investors would amount to privatization in substance, even if the federal government retains ownership of the underlying land and assets.

“Airports are not ordinary commercial assets. They are essential public infrastructure,” said Chartrand. “Decisions about their operation must be driven by the public interest, not by the expectations of private investors and shareholders.”

The IAM is also raising concerns about the potential impact on workers and travellers. Private operators will face pressure to generate financial returns, which could lead to increased user fees, cost-cutting, restructuring and contracting out of work.

The union believes there are other ways to improve airport financing, infrastructure investment, governance and affordability without placing the operation of critical national infrastructure under long-term private concessions.

Workers must also have a meaningful voice in any discussions about the future of Canada’s airports. The people who operate, maintain, secure and support this infrastructure understand its challenges and opportunities firsthand.

The IAM is calling for a meeting with Prime Minister Carney and the appropriate members of his government to discuss these concerns and ensure that workers’ voices are heard before any further decisions are made.

The IAM Union will continue to defend strong public infrastructure, good union jobs and an aviation system that serves Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Click here to read the full letter from IAM Union Canada General Vice-President David Chartrand to Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with previous IAM communications on airport privatization below.

1) IAM Union Speaks Out in Ottawa Against Airport Privatization
2) IAM Union Responds to Federal Airport Privatization Plans

IAM Canada – Building Our Union, One Workplace at a Time

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IAM organizers, Business Representatives and Directing Business Representatives from across Canada came together October 7 and 8 for an IAM Organizing Summit focused on strengthening our organizing efforts and building the future of our union.

The two-day summit brought together IAM leaders and staff from across the country to share experiences, exchange ideas and strengthen the tools and strategies needed to organize more workers.

Through a series of sessions, presentations and discussions, participants explored organizing approaches, campaign strategies and ways to better connect with workers and communicate the value of union membership.

The summit also provided an important opportunity to learn from one another. Organizing looks different in every workplace, but the challenges workers face often have a lot in common. By sharing what is working, discussing challenges and building on each other’s experiences, IAM representatives left with new ideas and renewed energy to bring back to their workplaces and communities.

Organizing is about more than signing cards. It’s about building relationships, listening to workers and helping them recognize their collective strength. It’s about giving workers a voice on the job and showing them what is possible when they stand together.

With strong organizing efforts, the IAM Union can continue to grow, reach more workers and build power in workplaces across Canada.

Together, we will continue building a stronger IAM Union, one conversation, one campaign and one workplace at a time

IAM Canada – The Right to Strike Must Be Protected

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The IAM Union is deeply concerned about the Canadian government’s proposed legislation and the impact it could have on collective bargaining tables across the country.

Under proposed Bill C-39, during a strike, the Minister of Labour could direct the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to order the resumption of operations, extend an existing collective agreement on an interim basis, or establish a binding dispute-resolution mechanism if the Minister determines that a strike or lockout has a significant adverse impact on the “national interest.”

For the IAM, however, the fundamental issue remains: workers who have followed every legal requirement to exercise their right to strike could still have that right taken away by government intervention.

The purpose of a strike is to create economic pressure at the bargaining table. If the potential economic impact of a legal strike becomes the justification for ending that strike, the effectiveness of the right itself is placed in question.

Throughout the past year, the IAM, the Canadian Labour Congress and other Canadian unions made submissions in favour of the complete removal of Section 107 and the ability of the government to end legal strikes. Through this Bill C-39, the government has done the opposite and has further entrenched their ability to interfere.

“Through Bill C-39, the Canadian government has solidified their ability to end strikes and this will have a detrimental impact to free collective bargaining in this country. The IAM is calling on Members of Parliament to carefully examine the labour provisions of Bill C-39 and to ensure that any changes to the Canada Labour Code strengthen, rather than weaken, free collective bargaining.” said David Chartrand, IAM General Vice-President Canada.

Building Canada strong must also mean strong collective bargaining agreements and strong protections for working people.
The IAM will continue to fight for those principles and will oppose any measure that undermines workers’ ability to stand together and fight for a fair collective agreement.