Pickthall to Succeed Ritchie as Canadian GVP
February 2, 2016
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| Stan Pickthall |
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| Dave Ritchie |
IAM International President Bob Martinez announced that, effective May 1, 2016, Canadian Chief of Staff Stan Pickthall will succeed Dave Ritchie as Canadian General Vice President. Martinez made the announcement at a meeting of IAM District 250 in Vancouver, BC.
A 42-year member of the IAM, Ritchie has served in leadership roles with the union for over 38 years, the last 20 as Canadian General Vice President. He was instrumental in saving the jobs of thousands of IAM members when Canadian Airlines was restructured in the late 1990’s. He drew a line in the sand with Air Canada in 2004 when the company emerged from bankruptcy, saving the pensions of not only IAM members but those of other unions at the national air carrier.
“Dave Ritchie is what trade unionism is all about. You always knew where you stood with Dave,” said Martinez. “Dave leaves a legacy of determined, honest and compassionate representation for the membership. He’s come a long way from those early days as an electric meter repairman at Sangamo Electric and he should be proud of what he has accomplished. He has served this union with distinction.”
Pickthall, a journeyman steel fabricator, became a member of IAM Local 692 in 1984. He served in a variety of local lodge positions before being elected as Business Representative of IAM District 250 in 1994. He was elected as Directing Business Representative of the district in 2005 and was appointed Ritchie’s chief of staff in 2013.
“I am confident that Stan will serve the Canadian membership and indeed the entire IAM with honesty, compassion and dignity,” said Ritchie.
