IAM Canada – Bill C-39 Must Put Canadian Workers at the Heart of Canada’s Future

Posted on

The IAM Union is deeply concerned about the labour provisions contained in Bill C-39 and what they could mean for workers across Canada.

The federal government says the legislation will strengthen collective bargaining and protect the right to strike. But provisions that expand government intervention in labour disputes could shift the balance of power away from workers and make it harder for them to use collective bargaining to secure better wages, safer workplaces and good, secure jobs.

“Canadian workers are the lifeblood of this country. We cannot win a trade war by weakening workers’ rights. A stronger Canada means standing up for the people who keep our country moving”, said David Chartrand, General Vice-President of the IAM Union in Canada.

Canada is facing significant economic uncertainty and pressure from global trade disputes. This is precisely when workers need strong collective bargaining rights and a meaningful voice in their workplaces, not measures that could give government greater authority to intervene in legal labour disputes.

“Building a stronger and more independent Canada means investing in Canadian workers and Canadian communities. It means creating good union jobs, strengthening domestic industries and ensuring that the people who build, maintain and operate Canada’s infrastructure can share in the prosperity they help create”, Chartrand added.

For the IAM Union, economic sovereignty must include the ability of Canadian workers to have a real say in their working conditions and their future. Canada’s economic strength cannot be measured only by investment, major projects or trade corridors. It must also be measured by the quality of the jobs created and whether workers have the rights and protections needed to benefit from that growth.

Nation-building must not come at the expense of workers’ rights or collective bargaining and Canadian workers are not separate from Canada’s economic success. They are the foundation of it.

A stronger and more independent Canada must be built with workers, with strong unions and with respect for the rights that generations of Canadians fought to establish.

NDP Responds to Airport Private Investment Plan

Posted on

NDP Leader Avi Lewis, the party’s transport critic Heather McPherson, and union representatives speak out against the government’s plan to attract private investment in four major airports. 

https://www.cpac.ca/headline-politics/episode/ndp-responds-to-airport-private-investment-plan?id=14a399ae-42ea-49bb-a996-bca8d3b9e896

Petition

https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-7453&fbclid=IwY2xjawUfskNwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMUlXMTZORTB3aEx6ODlGTkRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeRZUtPssWkeYmpwWsr6t8h5AIvZd_gnr8OIp_qv5-jHwlLvaGjwHV0qv6uUM_aem_E9TckpFPq0ZDOMezMq0nzA

IAM Canada – IAM Union Responds to Federal Airport Privatization Plans

Posted on

The privatization of Canada’s airports has been discussed for years, and the IAM Union has consistently opposed the idea. We have been raising concerns about the potential consequences for airport workers, passengers and the Canadian aviation industry, and we will continue to fight against a model that puts private profit ahead of the public interest.

At the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that the federal government will seek private investment through long-term concessions to operate Canada’s four largest airports: Toronto Pearson, Vancouver International, Montréal-Trudeau and Calgary International.

According to the Prime Minister, the government will retain ownership of the land and assets while bringing private capital and expertise into airport operations and growth. He said the government expects to raise tens of billions of dollars through these arrangements and reinvest the money into regional airports, transportation infrastructure and other nation-building projects.
While the government presents this to attract investment and improve Canada’s aviation infrastructure, the IAM Union remains deeply concerned about what this means for workers and passengers.

Private investors are not entering the airport system simply to provide capital. They are investing to generate a return. This creates serious concerns about increased fees, cost-cutting and pressure on wages, staffing and working conditions. Ultimately, those costs can be passed on to passengers.

IAM Canadian General Vice-President David Chartrand has repeatedly warned about these risks, emphasizing that airport privatization could lead to higher costs and reduced accessibility while putting pressure on the workers who keep Canada’s aviation system running.; saying “Airports are essential infrastructure, not profit-making enterprises. Privatization puts the interests of investors ahead of workers, passengers and the communities these airports serve.” Read more about the dangers of privatization here.

The government’s announcement also raises concerns about the role of workers in the process. While the government says it will work with airport authorities and other stakeholders, including airlines and local governments, there was no specific commitment to consultation with workers or unions and no details were provided regarding job security or labour protections.

This is particularly concerning for the IAM, which represents thousands of workers across Canada’s aviation sector.

The IAM has been actively raising these concerns with federal decision-makers. During the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Lobby Day back in November 2025, more than 70 IAM representatives met with Members of Parliament and discussed the dangers of airport privatization and its potential impact on workers and the travelling public.

The IAM has been clear: Canada needs investment in its airports, but that investment should strengthen public infrastructure, good jobs and affordable air travel, not create another opportunity for private investors to profit from essential services.
Our airports are critical to Canada’s economy and communities. They should be operated in the public interest, with workers and passengers at the centre of the conversation.

The IAM Union will continue to oppose airport privatization and advocate for a strong, safe and accessible Canadian aviation system.

1. Sign the petition: Join the IAM Union in calling on the Government of Canada to reject any proposal to privatize, sell or transfer ownership or control of Canadian airports to private, for-profit interests. Add your voice and help protect Canada’s airports, airport workers and the travelling public.

2.Learn more about the dangers of privatization: Read more about the IAM’s concerns and our work to stop airport privatization in our presentation.

3.Read the full Canada Investment Summit Announcement: The first Canada Investment Summit unleashes nearly $500 billion of new investment in Canada | Prime Minister of Canada

Media Contacts:
Michel Richer – Quebec Coordinator:mricher@iamaw.org
Guillaume Valois- Communicator: g.valois@aimta712.org

IAM Canada – SkyCharter Client Care Specialists Ratify Their First Collective Agreement

Posted on

A major milestone has been reached for the Client Care Specialists (CCS) at SkyCharter FBO in Toronto, who have ratified their first-ever Collective Agreement with the IAM Union.

On November 4, 2025, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) certified the IAM Union as the bargaining representative for the CCS. After exhausting the conciliation and mediation processes and securing a strong strike mandate from members, the IAM Union and SkyCharter reached a tentative agreement that was ratified unanimously by the membership.

The new three-year Collective Agreement is retroactive to the date of certification and delivers significant gains for members. Those employed at the time of certification will receive retroactive pay, while the agreement also establishes annual wage increases, an important improvement for workers who had not previously received guaranteed annual increases from the employer. Members will also receive a $350 signing bonus.

The agreement includes important improvements to wages, benefits, scheduling and working conditions, including:
• Improved bereavement leave, with five paid days following the death of a spouse or child, up from three.
• Compensation for interrupted lunch breaks at 1.5 times the regular rate.
• Overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate for all overtime hours.
• Guaranteed four hours of overtime when employees are called in to work, up from three.
• A new 40-hour overtime bank.
• Additional statutory holidays, including Family Day and employees’ birthdays.
• Jury duty pay with no maximum.
• Ten paid medical/sick days provided each year on April 1.
• The ability to use single vacation days.
• Protections against contracting out bargaining unit work.
• A $2-per-hour Lead Hand premium.

This first Collective Agreement is a significant achievement for the CCS at SkyCharter FBO. It demonstrates the power of workers coming together, standing united and negotiating collectively for better wages, benefits and working conditions.