IAM air transport and rail industry leaders from across Canada and the United States were elected to top positions at the recent International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Global Congress.
The IAM, North America’s largest transportation union, is taking a leading role worldwide as transport workers find themselves at the forefront of multiple crises – from war, political instability and the rise of far-right governments to the climate crisis.
“The IAM has long known that our strength relies greatly on workers uniting worldwide to confront the multi-national corporations we deal with every day,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice-President Richie Johnsen. “Together with the ITF and its affiliates in the transportation sector, we are closer than ever to balancing the scales for industry workers across the globe.”
The Congress, held in Marrakech, Morocco, focused on building a comprehensive vision for the ITF for the next five years. Six critical demands – rights, equality, safety, accountability, sustainability and a future that works for workers – are forming the basis to build a safer, fairer and more sustainable transport industry.
“As the theme of this ITF Congress says, the IAM has always been proud to move the world forward,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser. “As we turn the page from a global pandemic, it is more important than ever that transportation workers across the world unite.”
The following IAM leaders were elected to ITF positions:
- Richie Johnsen, IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President: ITF Executive Board
- Edison Fraser, IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff: ITF North America and Caribbean Civil Aviation Chairperson
- Arthur Maratea, TCU/IAM National President: ITF Railway Workers Section Co-Chair
- Julie Frietchen, IAM Women’s and Young Workers Director: ITF North America Regional Representative USA – Women’s Committee
- Keith Aiken, IAM Canadian Airline Coordinator: ITF Vice Chairperson – Ground Handling Committee
- Zach Coker, IAM District 142 Organizing Director: ITF North America Regional Representative USA – Young Workers
“Rail workers are standing up and fighting back against corporate greed and the short-sighted profit goals of Wall Street,” said TCU/IAM National President Arthur Maratea. “It’s critical that these fights be waged on at a global scale and with the backing of every rail worker across the world.”
The ITF represents 18.5 million transport workers worldwide from more than 150 countries.
“Women and young people are helping to lead a worldwide resurgence of union activism,” said IAM Women’s and Young Workers Director Julie Frietchen. “In the IAM and the ITF, we are proud to be leading the way toward making our diversity our greatest strength.”
Click here for more coverage of ITF’s 46th Congress, the first of which to be held in the Arab world.
“The strength of the IAM has always been our ability to bring workers together and fight for a common cause,” said IAM Canadian Airline Co-ordinator Keith Aiken. “Transportation workers in Canada and across the globe are ready for a new era of worker power that transforms our industries for the betterment of working families and passengers.”
For more information:
Keith Aiken,
Canadian Airline Co-ordinator