Author Archives: Robert Aultman

Need for respect brings passenger agents to IAM

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Need for respect brings passenger agents to IAM

Need for respect brings passenger agents to IAM

   

Tuesday May 29, 2018

 

For Immediate Release

 

Calgary, AB – “These people had very simple needs, respect in the workplace and someone to give them a voice and they chose the IAM and we’re happy they did,” explains IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson Keith Aiken.

Two weeks ago, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ordered a representational vote for the passenger service agents working for ATS at the Calgary Airport. The representational vote took place Monday May 28, 2018 and the IAM won the certification for 103 new IAM members.

“Organizing these types of servicing groups is difficult due to the high attrition rate,” explained IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 President and Directing General Chairperson Fred Hospes. “To organize in the province of Alberta makes these types of campaigns even more difficult. As such, this is really as big win for the IAM.”

“We had to dispel statements by the employer that workers would lose pay and their seniority if they joined the union,” said Aiken. “Our organizing team here jumped on that immediately assuring the workers this wasn’t true. They have been doing a wicked job for the IAM.”

This is the second group at ATS the IAM has organized within the last year. Fourteen Special Service Agents joined the IAM last November and have ratified their first collective agreement in April 2018.

The 103 passenger service agents provide check in and lost baggage services for United Airlines, Air Transat, Delta and KLM at Calgary International Airport.

The IAM is the largest union in Canada’s air transport sector.

 

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For further information:
Keith Aiken – IAM Transportation District Lodge 140 General Chairperson/Organizer
403-250-3708/403-921-8140
Bill Trbovich – IAM Director of Communications
416-386-1789 Ext #31/416-735-9765

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Canadian and Colombian labour ministers sign action plan

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Thursday, May 24, 2018

In May 2016, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), together with the CUT (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores) Colombia and Colombian unions , submitted a complaint to the Canadian National Administrative Office (NAO) stating the Government of Colombia failed to comply with its obligations under the Canada-Colombia Agreement on Labour Cooperation (CCOALC).
The complaint addressed issues of anti-union violence and the abuse of sub contracting, leading to violations of freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. In January 2017, the NAO released its investigative report, which found significant evidence of failure on the part of the Government of Colombia to comply with its obligations under the CCOALC. The report confirmed long-standing complaints of violence and intimidation used to restrict workers’ freedom of association and collective bargaining.
The report made a number of recommendations, including that Canada and Colombia engage in ministerial consultations to develop a multi-year action plan to address these recommendations.
Included in the action plan are measures to: remove union contracts, collective pacts, labour intermediation and subcontracting to protect workers’ fundamental rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining; improve compliance with and enforcement of labour laws through a strengthened labour inspectorate; and strengthen efforts to fight impunity and violence in the country by bringing those responsible to justice.
This week, the Honourable Patty A. Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workplace and Development and Labour, and the Minister of Labour of Colombia, Griselda Restrepo, signed the action plan, which must be implemented within three years.
The CLC and Colombian unions express satisfaction with the action plan as the outcome of the two-year process following the initial submission of the complaint.
Moving forward, we will continue to work collaboratively with government bodies. We expect a committed adherence to the action plan, and we will rigorously monitor its implementation.
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Around the World

DowDuPont: Don’t Spin Off Worker Rights!

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DowDuPont: Don’t Spin Off Worker Rights!

18.05.2018

IndustriALL Global Union and its affiliates throughout the world call for support in demanding chemicals giant DowDuPont to respect workers’ rights through its current spin-off process.

Members of IndustriALL-affiliated trade unions representing DowDuPont workers in North and South America, Europe and Asia, are facing great upheaval as the newly merged company splits into three separate segments. The demand is to have a seat at the decision-making table through this period of change.

The company was formed in August last year after a US$150 billion merger between Delaware-based DuPont and Michigan’s Dow Chemicals. The three new spin-off companies will be in these industries: Specialty Products, Material Sciences, and Agriculture. Each of the three is cutting costs by around US$1 billion.

Through this restructuring, management’s cost savings goal is $3.3 billion. The company calls this the “cost synergy number”. The network argues that this cannot come from employees.

DowDuPont is posting massive increases in earnings, with sales up by 13-percent.

United Steelworkers (USW) Local 12075 President Kent Holsing from DowDuPont’s facility in Midland, Michigan chairs the DowDuPont North American Labor Council. Kent said:

“We are speaking not only for the unionized employees of DowDuPont, but also for the non-union employees who don’t have that voice. Our goal is to use this petition as a platform to ensure the employees and their communities are represented and heard.”

IndustriALL Assistant General Secretary Kemal Özkan said:

“The DowDuPont merger creates the world’s biggest chemical company and has triggered other major restructuring in the industry. Now the company’s breakup into three separate segments will again affect working men and women all over the world. The demand from those workers’ national unions and international trade union, IndustriALL, is to have their voice heard through the restructuring.”

“Workers’ representatives must play a central role in the decision making that will affect them and their communities. Our international network of DowDuPont unions is ready to work together in this regard and demands a proper seat at the table.”

International trade union networking at DowDuPont has been conducted since the merger, and will continue. A large meeting of the network will take place on 9-12 October.

Click here to access the online petition calling on DowDuPont to respect their workers, and not just the shareholders at this important time.