Congress Overrides Bush Medicare Veto

July 18, 2008 - Congress on Tuesday scored a major victory for the nation’s seniors, voting overwhelmingly to override President Bush’s veto of legislation that benefits low-income seniors receiving Medicare coverage.

Machinists Union Wary on Tanker Rebid Rules

Washington, D.C., July 10, 2008 - The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is calling on Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates to ensure the new round of bidding for the Air Force refueling tanker contract does not include any residual bias from the initial competition, which contained significant errors and was heavily skewed toward the Airbus tanker.

Machinists Fight Back in Wichita

July 8, 2008 - In a well-timed and well-placed editorial, District 70 President Steve Rooney saluted generations of aerospace workers in Wichita, KS, who built everything from WW II bombers to the latest business jets.

Flood Victims Need Your Help

July 1, 2008 - As rain swollen rivers begin to recede in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, residents there are coming to grips with Katrina-like levels of loss and damage. Among the victims are IAM members who lost homes, cars, belongings – everything but the clothes on their backs.

National Labor College Honors IAM Graduates

July 1, 2008 - Eleven IAM members who earned Bachelor of Arts degrees from the AFL-CIO’s National Labor College (NLC) were honored this weekend at the school’s commencement ceremony in Silver Spring, MD. Overall, ninety graduates were honored at the ceremony, which marked the NLC’s 10th annual commencement.

Union Support Grows for Boeing Tanker

Twenty-two unions, labor federations and affiliated organizations have signed and delivered a letter to House and Senate lawmakers calling for Boeing to immediately be awarded the Air Force refueling tanker contract.

Machinists Vote 'Present' in AFL-CIO Endorsement

Washington, D.C., June 25, 2008 - The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and its affiliate, the Transportation Communications Union (TCU) today voted "present" in the highly unusual balloting among AFL-CIO union leaders to endorse a candidate for President of the United States.

Hawker Beechcraft Plans Mexican Assembly Plant

Wichita, KS, June 24, 2008 - In a move that will send economic shock waves across Kansas for generations, Hawker Beechcraft is planning to build a tip-to-tail aircraft assembly plant in Chihuahua, Mexico. The company plans to move from manufacturing small parts to full aircraft assembly after 2012.

GAO Sustains Boeing Tanker Protest

They said it couldn’t happen. The industry experts and defense analysts who track the aerospace industry said there was no way the Government Accounting Office (GAO) would ever recommend an overhaul of the $35 billion tanker contract that was awarded earlier this year to EADS/Airbus over Boeing.

Machinists Welcome GAO Tanker Report

Washington, D.C.

June 18, 2008 - The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today welcomed the report by the Government Accounting Office (GAO) that cited serious flaws in the refueling tanker competition that led to a French-built Airbus being chosen over a U.S-manufactured Boeing 767.

Machinist Survey Highlights Latino Voter Priorities

Washington, D.C., June 12, 2008 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today released results of a poll that found Latino voters would reward any presidential candidate who promoted vocational and technical education programs as part of their campaign

Unemployment in Biggest Monthly Spike Since `86

Shrugging off the promised effects of the Bush Administration’s so-called “economic stimulus” program, the U.S. economy stumbled badly in May, with unemployment jumping from 5.0 to 5.5 percent - the biggest monthly rise in more than 20 years.

IAM Salutes 2008 Scholarship Winners

June 10, 2008 - Two dozen IAM members and members’ children will be following their educational dreams thanks to the IAM Scholarships Program. A full list of the winners is posted on the IAM Safety & Health website. The Safety & Health Department administers the popular scholarship program, which was established by IAM Convention delegates in 1960.

Take Action to End U.S. Passport Outsourcing

June 10, 2008 - In the latest outsourcing outrage, the federal government has authorized the outsourcing of United States passport book covers and the RFID electronic security chip to a company in Europe.

Shareholders to Receive Health Care Proposals

June 6, 2008 - In a victory for shareholder rights advocates, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will allow voting on shareholder-generated proposals designed to force publicly held companies to take a position on universal health insurance coverage.

EPI Study Fuels Debate on Tanker Jobs

Shareholders Urged to Scuttle NWA-Delta Merger

June 3, 2008 - The IAM sent letters this week to the largest shareholders ofNorthwest Airlines and Delta Airlines to express serious concerns over the proposed Northwest-Delta merger.

Local 2003 Test Pilot Wins Reinstatement

June 3, 2008 - Brian Buchanan, a member of Local 2003 in Daleville, AL, is being reinstated as a helicopter test pilot for Army Fleet Support (AFS) at nearby Fort Rucker, AL, after an arbitrator ruled he was wrongfully terminated for misreporting safety violations.

New Law Would End Passport Outsourcing

June 3, 2008 - The IAM/National Federation of Federal Employees (IAM/NFFE) is endorsing H.R. 5752, legislation that would end the foreign manufacture of U.S. passports and require the travel and identity documents be manufactured in the United States. 

IAM President Buffenbarger 's Letters to Delta and Northwest Shareholders

May 29, 2008 - IAM President Tom Buffenbarger sent letter to Delta and Northwest Shareholders voicing concern about the proposed merger of the two airlines.

View letter to Northwest
View letter to Delta

IAM Photography Contest Deadline Extended

May 29, 2008 - The IAM Photography contest deadline has been extended from June 1, 2008 to June 6, 2008. It is open to IAM members in good standing and photo entries should be of IAM members at work.

CBTU Holds 37th Convention in St. Louis

May 29, 2008 - The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) held its 37th Convention in St. Louis, MO, with a rousing call for political action in November.

Negotiations Herald New Era at Hawker Beechcraft

May 29, 2008 - The IAM marked an historic occasion this week with the opening round of contract talks between Locals 733 and 2328 and Hawker Beechcraft, the newly-formed company that resulted from last year’s sale of Raytheon’s aircraft division to Onex Corporation.

China Unveils Commercial Aircraft Co.

May 28, 2008 - In a move that could have a devastating impact on the U.S. aerospace industry, China has announced that it has formed the China Commercial Aircraft Co with an initial investment of $2.7 billion.

Doubt, Resistance Grows Over Airline Mergers

May 27, 2008 - On Capitol Hill and in the court of public opinion, airline mergers have been getting a chilly reception.