Good afternoon and thank you all very much for being here.
I want to start by saying thank you for re-electing each of us to new four-year terms.
It has always been a privilege to serve this great union and it is a special honor to have your support in these extraordinary times.
I want to talk with you briefly about what’s been happening to the IAM over the past few months.
The Grand Lodge Convention was less than a year ago, but already it feels like distant history.
Since the Grand Lodge Convention in September of 08’, we are down nearly 16,000 dues paying members.
As of March 31, 2009, we have 388,684 dues paying members.
Our total membership is 639,241.
The numbers we’re seeing are staggering. Every month, the IAM is losing approximately 3,000 members.
In Wichita alone, thousands of layoffs notices have replaced thousands of job openings in just the last six months.
And like the manufacturing sector, there’s no sign that the general aviation sector will soon recover.
Like many individuals and unions, the IAM took losses in the wake of the financial meltdown.
But thanks to a sound and conservative investment strategy, the IAM National Pension Plan did not lose as much as many others -- however, we’re still down 29 percent on investment return.
That’s considerably less than the average plan, which lost around 45% on their investments.
The Grand Lodge Plan did slightly better, losing 20 percent on investments.
Combined with the costs and expenses of fighting the Bush administration and their corporate cronies for the past six years, our General Fund is down 46.5 million dollars since 2002.
While we will continue to watch every dollar going forward and make every effort to keep this union financially strong, the only answer to this crisis is to increase our membership numbers.
Which brings me to another matter, and that’s the Employee Free Choice Act.
The middle class in this country simply doesn’t stand a chance without unions, and unions today need serious labor law reform.
We all know what it’s like trying to organize today.
The penalties for breaking the current law are so weak that companies don’t think twice about firing workers who try to organize.
Their main talking point, which is being repeated everywhere – is that EFCA will eliminate secret ballot elections.
We may know better, but we need to recognize that this simplistic but potent argument can sway people who don’t know better.
And as long as our opponents can keep the debate focused on secret ballots, there’s less time to focus on the parts of the legislation they’re really afraid of.
And that’s binding arbitration for a first contract and big penalties for breaking the law.
The corporate boys talk all the time about secret ballot election, but they’re absolutely terrified of the arbitration requirement.
Even in those workplaces that manage to organize under the current law, companies know they can surface bargain while they launch what amounts to a terror campaign for a de-certification vote.
It’s not fair, it’s not legal, but it’s cost effective and that’s all that matters to these people.
The only answer is to change the law.
We may never have another opportunity like this.
There is one more thing I want you to know about today.
That’s the organizing campaign going on right now at Delta and Northwest Airlines.
The IAM currently represents about 12,500 members at Northwest.
There are approximately 16,000 employees at Delta who are unrepresented.
Because of last year’s merger of these two carriers, there will be elections to determine representation of the combined groups.
Under NMB rules, if less than 50 percent of the combined group takes part in the election, the existing contract is dissolved and there will be no union at the combined carrier.
Obviously, we’re working very hard to educate our members and the Delta employees about the enormous stakes involved.
And Delta will spend millions in a bare knuckle campaign to keep workers from voting.
I would ask everyone here to be aware of this campaign and to lend your support if asked.
It’s difficult to overstate how important this campaign is.
The IAM could gain more than 16,000 members and cement its position as the most powerful transportation union in North America.
or,
We could lose 12,500 members and see a 60-year old contract fall victim to anti-union zealots who would no doubt use their victory to launch attacks on other airline properties.
As I said before, the stakes could not be higher.
Before I close I want to thank you once again for all the work you’re doing to help our members through these historic times.
Thank you all very much.
