FAA Invites Recipes for Recovery

March 11, 2010 - “Without a serious commitment to protecting jobs, without new limits on unrestrained outsourcing and without a second stimulus program that is equal to the crisis this nation is facing, the airline and aerospace industries will continue to struggle, even if the rest of the economy recovers,” said International President Tom Buffenbarger, who spoke as the sole labor representative at the FAA 35 th Annual Aviation Forecast Conference in Washington, D.C.

Machinists Leaders Vote to Oppose Health Benefits Tax

January 12, 2010 - The IAM Executive Council voted unanimously to oppose any health care reform legislation that is funded by taxing the value of workers’ existing health care benefits.

NMB Rule Change Draws Broad Congressional Support

December 8, 2009 - The National Mediation Board’s (NMB) proposed change to its current election process is gaining wide bi partisan support in Congress. On December 7, 2009, James Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, led 178 Democratic members of the House of Representatives in sending the NMB a letter in support of the agency’s proposed rule change that would end its practice of counting eligible voters who do not cast a ballot as voting against unionization.

Machinists Fight AFSS Reductions by FAA

December 8, 2009 - The IAM has lodged a protest with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over plans by contractor Lockheed Martin to reduce the number of Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS) in the United States. AFSS Specialists provide preflight weather briefings, in-flight radio services, issue notices to airmen, handle flight plans for general aviation and initiate search and rescue efforts when needed. AFSS Specialists voted for IAM representation last spring and achieved their first contract in August, 2009.

President Urged to ct on Pratt Factory Closure

December 8, 2009 - The IAM is welcoming the unanimous support of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation in the fight to prevent Pratt & Whitney from closing a pair of aircraft factories in Connecticut and eliminating more than 1,000 high-skilled jobs.

Federal Employees to Receive Retirement Credit for Unused Sick Leave

November 2, 2009 - Last week, President Obama signed the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act.  While a full repeal of the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) dominated headlines, one largely underreported aspect of the bill – and arguably one of the most important for federal employees throughout the civil service – was a provision extending credit for accrued sick leave to federal workers enrolled in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS).

NSPS Officially Repealed as President Obama Signs Defense Bill

October 28, 2009 - Washington, D.C. – Today, President Obama signed the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act.  Included in the bill was a provision to repeal the controversial National Security Personnel System (NSPS).  The bill also contained several provisions impacting retirement benefits for the federal workforce.  

Full NSPS Repeal and Other Key Federal Workforce Provisions Included in Defense Authorization Conference Report

October 7, 2009 - Today, in a news release issued by the Senate Armed Services Committee, Chairman Carl Levin and Ranking Member John McCain announced the contents of the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act conference report.  The report contained several key provisions impacting the federal workforce. The highlight of the report, and a great development for federal workers, is language that would repeal the controversial National Security Personnel System (NSPS).

Taxing Union Health Care Benefits?

On Sept. 16, Senator Baucus (D-MT), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, released a deeply flawed health care reform bill that fails to meet the most basic promise of health care reform, and threatens to shift more costs to employees represented by labor unions.

IAM Vows to Continue Fight for F-22 Funding

July 21, 2009 - The IAM today pledged to continue fighting for additional funding for F-22 Raptor aircraft, despite a vote in the U.S. Senate to end production at the 187 jets currently on order.

Obama Officials to Skip Event for Mayors, Citing Picket Line

BOSTON — Vice President Joe Biden and other top Obama administration officials have canceled plans to attend a United States Conference of Mayors meeting this weekend in Providence, R.I., because local firefighters will picket the event over a contract dispute.

House Approves TSA Bill with Overseas Repair Language

June 11, 2009 - A combined effort by the IAM Transportation and Legislative Departments and the AFL-CIO's Transportation Trades Department (TTD) helped ensure passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reauthorization bill that contains important security protections for Machinists union members.

High Speed Rail Projects Gather Momentum

June 11, 2009 - Funding to “jump start” high-speed rail networks across the country could come as early as late summer, according to Vice President Joe Biden.

FedEx Launches Campaign to Deny Organizing Rights

On the heels of an overwhelming vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to provide uniform organizing rights for workers in the package delivery industry, FedEx this week announced a multi-million dollar campaign to preserve current language that has allowed FedEx to stifle organizing drives for more than a decade.

Senate Confirms Obama's FAA and NMB Picks

May 28, 2009 - The Senate recently confirmed Linda Puchala as a member of the three-person National Mediation Board (NMB) and Randy Babbitt as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

House Passes FAA Reauthorization Bill

May 28, 2009 - The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the FAA Reauthorization Bill containing many of the major provisions the Machinists union has spearhead in recent years.

Recovery Act Extends UI Benefits for Rail Workers

May 19, 2009 - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), signed into law on February 17, 2009, contains a number of important provisions that affect railroad retirement annuitants and railroad workers.

Defense Department Orders NSPS Review

May 19, 2009 - The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense recently released new details concerning the highly controversial National Security Personnel System (NSPS).

Machinists Denounce F-22 Funding Cut

April 7, 2009 - IAM leaders promptly denounced this week’s decision by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to end funding for the F-22, the next-generation fighter aircraft that would have assured U.S. air superiority for years to come.

IAM Backs Second Stimulus for Manufacturing Sector

April 7, 2009 - On the heels of this week’s historic unemployment numbers, the IAM is calling for immediate aid to the nation’s gasping manufacturing sector.

Legislation Introduced for Workforce Training

April 7, 2009 - A trio of U.S. Senators recently announced legislation to support the development of specialized workforce training programs in order to grow America’s industries and workforce.

Corporate 'Compromise' Would Gut Free Choice Act

April 2, 2009 - A trio of well-known corporations are trying to derail the Employee Free Choice Act with their own watered down version of labor “reform.” The CEOs of Starbucks, Costco and Whole Foods are shopping the halls of Capitol Hill with a bill they claim is a “fair compromise” to the Employee Free Choice Act.

Labor Leader Named to Key Federal Agency

April 2, 2009 - President Obama has nominated former pilot union leader and current aviation consultant Randy Babbitt is expected to head the Federal Aviation Administration.

IAM Demands Proper Use of TARP Funds

March 24, 2009 - The IAM is urging Department of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to set rules regarding the use of bailout dollars and how they are to be used by the banking industry.

Amtrak to Issue Back Pay on May 1st

March 24, 2009 - Amtrak announced it will make the second installment of back pay to eligible employees on May 1, 2009.