IAM Canada – Flight Attendants at Wasaya Airways Ratify New Deal

IAM-represented Flight Attendants at Wasaya Airways in Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout have ratified a three-year collective agreement that includes significant wage increases, cost-of-living protection, and quality-of-life improvements.

The new contract introduces a new pay scale with Consumer Price Index (CPI) protection, ensuring wages adjust alongside inflation. Members will receive a 4% increase on ratification, followed by 1.5–3% increases in Years 2 and 3, tied to the Ontario CPI.

Other highlights include enhanced pension contributions based on years of service, 10 federal sick days with the option to cash out up to 5 unused days annually, increased per diems and shoe/boot allowances, and a new additional day off in a 28-day block after 5 years of service.

“This agreement recognizes the demanding work our flight attendants do and the challenges they face,” said Chris Greniuk, General Chairperson at IAM Union. “We’re proud to secure not only fair pay increases and inflation protection but also improvements that support their well-being and work-life balance.”

With this agreement, IAM members continue to make progress toward fair compensation and a safer, more supportive workplace.

IAM Canada – We are standing up for Canadian workers!

The IAM Union Canada is making sure your voice is heard in shaping trade agreements like CUSMA – the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement that governs trade between the three countries.

By submitting detailed recommendations to Global Affairs Canada, we are working to protect Canadian jobs, strengthen labour rights, and support unionized manufacturers in critical industries like aerospace, manufacturing, and transportation.

Read the full letter from our General Vice-President David Chartrand and access the complete report to see how we’re advocating for working Canadians: https://iamaw.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/EN-Nov-3-CUSMA-Consultation-Briefing.pdf

IAM Canada – CQF: A Worn-Out and Disconnected Government

The list of bad decisions and repeated scandals from this government is so long that we can already guarantee it a place in the Hall of Fame of the worst governments in Quebec’s history.

Its inability to manage the crises in health and education, its inaction in the face of the rising cost of living, the housing shortage, the growing number of job losses, and the increase in homelessness all demonstrate that this government is completely disconnected and overwhelmed by events.

To hide its poor record and avoid losing face in the next election, the CQF is trying to divert attention by proposing bad solutions to fake problems. Instead of acting responsibly, owning up to its mistakes, and addressing the concerns of Quebecers, the Legault government prefers to criticize unions and working people.

The dangers of Bill 3

Minister Jean Boulet’s Bill 3 is a direct attack on our autonomy. Under the pretext of wanting to modernize our practices, this reform will jeopardize our independence and freedom of action.

The goal of this bill is not truly to make our organizations more transparent and democratic, but rather to interfere in our affairs and impose costly accountability mechanisms that employers will be able to use against us.

This process will force your union representatives to spend time dealing with paperwork and filling out government forms, require them to give part of your union dues to accounting firms, and make public certain information that could benefit your employer during future negotiations.

This is an attack on union democracy and on your right to freely and collectively decide which issues you want to defend.

We will not allow ourselves to be silenced by an irresponsible government that prefers to take care of its business friends instead of helping the people of Quebec.

That’s why the Quebec Council of Machinists is inviting all its members and the Quebec population to make their voices heard by participating in the Major Inter-Union Rally.

When: November 29 at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Place du Canada (Montreal)

This will be a large march starting from Place du Canada and heading toward the Premier’s Office at the corner of McGill College and Sherbrooke.

For more details: https://ftq.qc.ca/bloquons-le-recul/

IAM Canada – IAM Union at the 2025 Canadian Aerospace Summit

The IAM Union, previously known as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), was present at the 2025 Canadian Aerospace Summit, hosted by the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC). Held under the theme “Challenges & Opportunities,” the event brought together hundreds of Canadian and international aerospace companies, government officials, industry executives, academics, and innovators to explore the future of aerospace and defence in Canada. Over 20 speakers took the stage during the two-day summit, offering valuable insights, strategies, and forward-looking perspectives on the evolving challenges and emerging opportunities shaping the aerospace sector.

The Canadian Aerospace Summit is recognized as one of the country’s most influential industry gatherings, providing a world-class platform for collaboration, strategic dialogue, and innovation.

The Summit opened with remarks from Mike Mueller, President and CEO of AIAC, who reaffirmed the importance of strengthening Canada’s defence industrial base and strategy. He highlighted the Prime Minister’s ongoing commitment to increasing defence spending as a share of GDP, setting a confident and forward-looking tone for the event.

Following the opening, Pierre Pyun took the stage to discuss the evolving landscape of the aerospace industry. He emphasized that while the sector faces many challenges, it also holds immense potential for growth, innovation, and technological leadership.

Further remarks from Philippe Jr Ngassam, Director of National Aircraft Certification, and Uwe Zachau, Chair of the AIAC Board, reinforced the importance of maintaining world-class safety, certification, and sustainability standards, all key to ensuring Canada’s continued leadership on the global stage.

One of the day’s most anticipated speakers was The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport for the Government of Canada. Minister MacKinnon described aerospace as one of the hallmark industries of the nation, noting that it contributed over $34 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2024 and supports more than 225,000 jobs across the country.

He highlighted the industry’s role not only as an economic driver but also as a hub for STEM-related careers and advanced technological innovation. MacKinnon described the ongoing transformation as the “third revolution of aerospace”,a period defined by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, automation, and drone technologies. These innovations are reshaping the industry, creating both new challenges and exciting opportunities for growth. He also emphasized the importance of strong supply chains and continued collaboration between government, industry, and labour to sustain Canada’s global competitiveness.

Later in the program, Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet, CD, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), addressed the audience with a thought-provoking discussion on modern defence and security. She highlighted the growing threats of cyberattacks, misinformation, and unconventional warfare, stressing that these emerging challenges require new strategies, technologies, and partnerships across the aerospace and defence sectors.

Other speakers and panelists also took part in the Summit, representing a diverse cross-section of the aerospace and defence ecosystem.

For the IAM, participation in the Canadian Aerospace Summit represents an important opportunity to engage with key decision-makers, advocate for the aerospace workforce, and ensure that the voices of skilled workers are heard in shaping the future of the industry.