IAM Mourns Nelson Mandela

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers issued the following response to the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela:

“President Mandela dedicated his life to fighting for democracy, equality and freedom. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all who strive for a better and more just world...

Time to Speak Out Against the Senseless Shutdown

It’s time to speak out against the senseless shutdown and get federal workers back on the job. The ripple effect from the shutdown hurts not only federal workers, but people and businesses all over the country.

Click here to send a message to your Senators and Representative or call them at 202-224-3121 and demand they pass a clean budget bill and get America back on the right track.

Click here to view the Machinists News Network video entitled “Federal Workers Bear Brunt of Shutdown.”

IAM Supports U.S. Action on Bangladesh

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is supporting the U.S. government’s decision to suspend Bangladesh’s trade benefits granted under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).  The IAM believes that countries who benefit from preferential trade programs must comply with internationally recognized labor rights, specifically the right to non-lethal workplaces and the right to form unions.

IAM Mourns International Labor Leader Marcello Malentacchi

Marcello Malentacchi, a 20-year General Secretary of the International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) and a close friend of the IAM, passed away on May 24th at the age of 66. Malentacchi died of natural causes while cycling near his birthplace in Tuscany, Italy.

A Day to Remember

A Memorial Day Message from International President Tom Buffenbarger:

Each year, our nation marks Memorial Day with a parades, picnics and political speeches. Synonymous with the end of school and the beginning of summer, the origins of the holiday are obscure, with more than two dozen U.S. cities claiming to have begun the tradition.

President’s Budget Proposal Invests in America, But Threatens Social Security

President Obama’s proposed budget contains important benefits to create jobs, invest in infrastructure and manufacturing and help America’s middle class, but could also change the way Social Security benefits are calculated and dramatically reduce payouts. It also has a provision to increase taxes on private planes which affects IAM members in a sector of the aerospace industry that is just beginning to show signs of recovery from the recession.

The Nation Lost an Ambassador; I Lost a Friend

On September 11th, Chris Stevens, our Ambassador in Libya, and three other official Americans were killed during a violent assault against the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.  Chris was a friend even before we became State Department colleagues where we both, till that moment, spent 20-year careers working in and on the Middle East. Public commentary on his role as a diplomat has been deservedly, laudatory but still somehow failing to convey the man behind the man in the news.

Congressional Democrats Escalate Criticism of Substance, Process of Obama’s First Trade Pact – the Trans-Pacific Partnership

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The combination of unprecedented secrecy during three years of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) “trade” agreement negotiations and recent leaks of TPP chapters revealing that U.S. negotiators have approved extreme, troubling terms has sparked a veritable tsunami of congressional criticism and action in recent days, Public Citizen said. The 13th round of TPP negotiations will be held next week in San Diego.

San Diego and the Nation Prepare to Greet the TPP

People from southern California and throughout the nation are preparing to greet trade negotiators and corporate lobbyists as they gather for the 13th major round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations from July 2 -10 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel.

DOWNLOAD NOW - The Official IAM App

Read the IAM Journal, the award-winning magazine of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), that is more timely, more useful, more video intensive, more quickly read and more action-oriented.

DOWNLOAD or click on the read "more" link.

Unemployed Veterens Factoid

Yesterday, the White House detailed its new Veterans Jobs Corps that will put 20,000 vets to work over the next five years. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki described it as a “bold new effort” to lower the unemployment rate for veterans. And Interior Secretary Ken Salazar suggested that the program – aimed at preserving and restoring national parks -- is based on the FDR-era Civilian Conservation Corps.

Tell Congress to Protect Workers' Rights, Pass a "Clean" FAA Bill

TAKE ACTION NOW

For years, Congress has tried to pass a long-term funding bill called “FAA Reauthorization” that would provide stable funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and allow it to focus on modernizing the nation’s air traffic control system, rebuild the nation’s airports and keep air travel the safest in the world. But each time the bill gets close to passage, special interests attach unrelated conditions that prevent passage of a “clean” long-term bill.

Transportation Unions Call on Congress to Pass Clean FAA Reauthorization

'Rewriting ecades of labor law without debate or discussion set a a dangerous precedent'

Washington, D.C. — Following is a statement by 19 unions calling for passage of a clean FAA Reauthorization, without drastic and unnecessary changes to the Railway Labor Act ...

ExpressJet Flight Attendants Vote ‘Yes’ for Machinists Union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C., December 21, 2011 – In an election prompted by the merger of ExpressJet Airlines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) emerged as the clear winner in a contest to determine union representation rights for more than 2,160 Flight Attendants.

Made In America

Made in America Segment - courtesy of ABC News.

Murray Statement on NLRB Case Withdrawal

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) approved the withdrawal of the complaint by the Machinists union against the Boeing Company.

Sito Pantoja to Lead IAM Transportation Department

Tapping into the wealth of experience that is among the IAM’s greatest resources, International President Tom Buffenbarger named Sito Pantoja to become the newest member of the IAM Executive Council. Pantoja will begin serving as General Vice President (GVP) of the Transportation Territory on January 1, 2012 and succeed current Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr., who will become the IAM’s General Secretary-Treasurer.

Cummings: New Documents Reveal Boeing’s Attempt to Use Political Influence to Prevent NLRB Complaint

Washington, DC (Nov. 9, 2011) – Today, Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings sent a letter to Chairman Issa raising serious concerns with new documents that suggest that Boeing inappropriately sought to use its political influence in Congress to prevent the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from filing its enforcement action against Boeing for discriminating against its workers in Washington State.

Enough With the Corporate Pity Party, It's Time to Create Jobs

The country is in crisis. Unemployment is still hovering at 9 percent, income inequality has soared to record levels, and 46 million -- one in six -- Americans are living in poverty. Meanwhile, corporate taxes are at their lowest level in 50 years. Some corporations like General Electric didn't pay a single dollar in taxes in 2010, despite the fact that profits are through the roof. In fact, The Wall Street Journal reports that corporations are sitting on $2 trillion in profits.

Take Action: Americans Need Jobs, Real Jobs - FAIR Jobs

American Jobs Act: Majority Leader Harry Reid will bring the American Jobs Act for vote on Tuesday evening October 11th.  Let your representatives in Washington know where you stand on this critical issue - contact them at 1-888-659-9401 or send them a message by clicking here and here.

Additionally, join the Machinists, unemployed workers and leaders of faith at the Capitol during the debate and vote on the American Jobs Act at 3:00PM.

Countdown to Calamity: Congress will also take up the issue on the Korea, Colombia and Panama Free Trade Agreements as early as Wednesday, October 12th.  Click here to learn more about the Trade Agreements and take action by contacting your congressional representatives here.

Important Reminders for 2012 Convention Attendees

IAM representatives and delegates attending the 2012 Grand Lodge Convention in Toronto, Ontario, are reminded that they need a valid U.S. passport to enter Canada. Passport applications are processed by the U.S. State Department and can take from several weeks to several months to process.

Breaking faith with jobless Americans over an applause line

The president seems to have forgotten all about these people, who are trying to get by in an economy that is shedding as many jobs as it creates. Since the 2008 financial crisis, the aviation industry has been among the hardest hit. America's aviation manufacturers shipped a total of more than 6,000 airplanes in 2007 and 2008. The total for 2010 was 1,334. Net factory billings fell to less than $8 billion last year from more than $13 billion in 2008, retrenchment to a level not seen since 2004. The biggest losers have been industry workers who have lost their jobs.

Senate panel rejects GOP bid to undercut NLRB

WASHINGTON -- Republicans on a Senate panel have failed in an effort to undercut the National Labor Relations Board's case against Boeing Co.  South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham tried to take away the NLRB's authority to tell a company where it can locate work.

Read the entire article at Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/09/21/general-industrials-us-congress-spending_8693731.html

Protect U.S. Jobs and the Judicial Process, Oppose H.R. 2587 "The Outsourcers' Bills of Rights"

On Thursday, the House will consider H.R. 2587, the “Job Outsourcers’ Bill of Rights.”  I urge you to oppose this legislation.

H.R. 2587 would make it easier for employers to outsource jobs by eliminating the ability of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to restore jobs if a company illegally moves operations or eliminates jobs because workers engage in activities protected by federal law.

TAKE ACTION: Click here to tell Congress to vote "NO" on the "Boeing Pardon Bill" and protect the National Labor Relations Act.

MORE NEWS: For the newest up to date information click here.

IAM Letter Opposes House Anti-Worker Bill

Today, the IAM sent an opposition letter to all house members on the anti-worker bill, H.R. 2587, also known as the "Boeing Pardon Bill".  This bill is scheduled for a vote this Thursday, Sept. 15th.  We are working very closely with House Democratic Leadership and the AFL-CIO to whip the vote count - we will continue to keep you posted on our legislative activities.

TAKE ACTION: Click here to tell Congress to vote "NO" on the "Boeing Pardon Bill" and protect the National Labor Relations Act.