Machinists Expand in Alberta, Canada
April 29, 2010
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Forty maintenance employees at the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Limited, are the newest members of the IAM in Canada.
“The company fought this certification but in the end, the Alberta Labour Board sided with the Machinists,” said District 14 Directing Business Representative Rick Arsenault. “Unlike most organizing campaigns, this one was not about money. We have part-time workers who have worked 40-hour weeks for 15 years and have received minimal benefits. Another sore point with these workers is the poor scheduling, they never get two consecutive days off and that will be an important demand in their first contract.”
The initial organizing approach was conducted by District 14 Business Representative Kevin Clark. “Kevin was instrumental in the success of this campaign and we look upon this as a stepping stone for additional members employed by the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede,” said Arsenault. “Jim Pruner from Finning Branch 64 in Calgary also assisted us in this drive. Certification was applied for on January 25, 2010, and granted April 10th following an Alberta Labour Board hearing.”
