Introduction — 4

Canadian governments have hacked away at the unemployment insurance system and other social supports, so that all workers are now more vulnerable to corporate threats. The governments’ “hands-off” attitude to industrial policy has given employers a green light to move jobs offshore, and to use the shutdown threat to coerce workers into concessions.

At Air Canada, the IAM has led the effort, in spite of government indifference, to keep the carrier flying, and protect jobs, wages and pensions from corporate incompetence and greed.

And when politicians of all persuasions sought to ignore the jobs crisis, the IAM relentlessly leveraged the issue onto the national agenda. Using a series of IAM Journal cover stories-Reality Check, Losing It All, JOBS! and Black and Bruised-and its political clout, the IAM forced presidential candidates and the reporters covering them to address the issue. In time, each candidate came forward with specific plans to address the jobs crisis and won-or lost-the IAM’s endorsement based on their plans to aggressively negotiate fair trade deals, preserve and grow manufacturing capacity and end the jobs crisis.

What is remarkable about the last four years is the patience, perseverance and sheer power of IAM members in prevailing against ever longer odds.

When other unions shied away from confrontation, when other organizations shriveled up and were blown away, when the man-made tornadoes swept across this continent, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers did more with less. And the IAM kept on winning:

►“Voluntary recognition for 700 airport workers at SecuriGuard Federal Screening Services Ltd. in British Columbia;

►“A contract with Serramonte Dodge in Colma, CA after a 97-day strike over health care and wages;

►“A contract with UTC Fuel Cells in South Windsor, CT that provides 8.5 percent increases over three years and a $500 bonus;