This has been a difficult year for everyone, but even more so for many of our members who work in the aviation/transportation industry.
The Executive of Local Lodge 2797 would like to wish all of its members and their loved ones a peaceful and restorative holiday season. We hope that better things are ahead in 2021 for all of humanity. We are ready & waiting to do our part to support our members & communities.
Solidarity!
Good morning,
The heads of the two largest unions representing aviation workers in Canada (IAMAW & CUPE) sent a joint letter to Minister Chrystia Freeland and Minister Marc Garneau last week, imploring them to do more to support the industry, which has been among the hardest hit by COVID-19.
You can read their joint letter here:
Attached is the letter sent this morning by email to the Minister of Finance/Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport:
October 2, 2020 – “The Federal Government should absolutely support Canada’s airline and air transportation industry!”
This was the unequivocal statement of Stan Pickthall, Canadian General Vice President of the Machinists Union (IAM).
“This is a position we have taken throughout the pandemic, and one that we have published in two releases on our website.”
Pickthall applauds the recent addition of other Airline Unions who are now taking strong positions on this campaign.
“Most of the major Unions representing workers in air transportation are now backing the call for assistance to be provided to the airlines and air transportation companies, who have been devastated beyond belief by this pandemic. Together we are stronger!”
“Air Canada alone lost in excess of $1 Billion in the second quarter of 2020, and the news will soon come out for Q3 – which looks like it will be much the same. Without much-needed Federal assistance for this industry, we could soon be facing bankruptcies by even the major players.”
However, the IAM says that Government assistance must provide assurances to protect workers in Canada’s air transportation industry. Specifically, it must be conditional upon an employer plan and commitment to make the protection and creation of jobs a condition of the loan.
“Any Federal funds to airlines must not be used for executive compensation and bonuses,” stated Pickthall.
“We have played that movie before, and we do not support bailouts for executives.”
Air Canada alone has laid off in excess of 20,000 employees, many of whom are IAM Union members. The IAM has seen furloughs of almost half its membership at Air Canada over recent months after the Company discontinued the federal wage subsidy (CEWS) program among its unionized employees.
“Corporations must have a plan that protects the jobs and salaries of workers; this plan must have as its goal the return to work of their entire workforce,” Pickthall concluded.
The IAM is the largest Union representing almost 20,000 workers at Airlines and Air Transportation across the country. The IAM has posted numerous and regular communications to its membership over the past six months – many of which are in response to the COVID Pandemic and the economic impacts on workers.
For more information: http://www.iamaw.ca/covid-19-news/
Media Contact:
Frank Saptel; Stan Pickthall.
416-386-1789
Local Local 2797’s very own Susan Sutherland headed to Ottawa on February 25th to join the Canadian Labour Congress’ lobbying efforts on Parliament Hill.
Labour representatives and activists from all over Canada lobbied our politicians to create a National Pharmacare Program; establish a $15 federal minimum wage; secure workplaces against violence and harassment; and protect workers and pensioners when employers file for bankruptcy. In total, we had 378 participants meet with 184 MPs and Senators.
Way to go!
From the executive of IAMAW Local Lodge 2797, we wish all members and their loved ones a safe and happy holiday season!
Last week, on #GivingTuesday, members of our Women’s Committee and local lodge members packed up shoeboxes for The Halifax Shoebox Project‘s annual drive.
The lodge made a cash donation to help purchase supplies and items, and members also made donations of items and helped pack up the boxes today during our lunch break! All told, we filled 21 boxes this year!
Thanks to all who participated!
Members of our Women’s Committee volunteered at Feed Nova Scotia yesterday over their lunch hour on Tuesday, October 1st. They sorted onions that will be delivered around the province.
If anyone is interested in donating to Feed NS, some of the items that are in need of most are baby food, canned meat, canned vegetables and soup.
Thanks to all of the members who turned up to lend a hand! 🚺✊
Fundraising is an essential part of preparing for the 40th IAM Grand Lodge Convention September 7-11, 2020 in San Diego. You can help by entering our gold raffle, with all proceeds going to support the convention.
Click here to find out how to purchase tickets.
First prize is a collection of American Eagle gold coins currently valued at $20,000.
Second prize is a collection of American Eagle silver coins currently valued at $1,000.
Third prize is a $500 Visa gift card.
Support the IAM 2020 Grand Lodge Convention by going for the gold.
Food insecurity is a real issue in Nova Scotia. According to Feed Nova Scotia, more than 41,000 Nova Scotians were supported by food banks in 2017, and 1/3 of these recipients are children.
It’s a sad reality that 15.4 per cent of Nova Scotian households are considered “food insecure,” which means they lack reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food.
This is why IAMAW Local Lodge 2797’s Women’s Committee decided to support Feed Nova Scotia.
“It’s important that we look at all issues that have to do with family dynamics within the home,” explained Sarah Covey, Chair of our Women’s Committee.
“And we try and focus on local organizations that benefit all of our communities.”
1,970,623 kilograms of food was distributed through Feed Nova Scotia in the 2017/2018 year: this includes non-perishable goods, perishables, pet food, and even menstrual supplies, which are provided through a partnership with Dignity Period. All of the items that are donated or purchased by the organization need to be checked to ensure they are fresh/undamaged, then sorted and packaged to be distributed throughout the province.
It’s a task that requires a lot of helping hands.
Enter the volunteers: more than 30,000 volunteer hours were donated last year to the organization to help make sure food gets to people who need it. Our local lodge is just one of 123 volunteer groups that are trying to help with the task. So far, our Women’s Committee has visited Feed Nova Scotia on three separate occasions to sort and package donations.
On Tuesday, June 11th, they repackaged 250 ml milk containers, checking their expiry dates, making sure the cartons weren’t damaged, sorting them into 15 kilogram groups and moving them onto pallets to be distributed throughout the province. On past visits, our group has helped sort imperfect produce that has been donated by farmers (approximately 15 per cent of Feed Nova Scotia’s donations come directly from farmers).
Our Women’s Committee plans to meet again in September and will probably hold another volunteer date with Feed Nova Scotia after that meeting. Anyone interested in joining the committee or volunteering with any of their events should contact Sarah Covey at scovey@nsgeu.ca.
For more information on food banks in Canada, please visit https://www.foodbankscanada.ca/
