Legislative Issues Update

Columbia,Panama, South Korea Free Trade Agreements are currently in sleep mode which is great. 

EFCA(Employee Free Choice Act) will hopefully be taken up in 111th Congress.

Trade Act Bill will be resubmitted to the 111th Congress H.R.6180// S.3080.

LM30 Reporting- Congressman Obey says he has no problem defunding in 2009, we will wait and see.

Airline Merger Delta/ Northwestsigned off by Justice Department and approved by shareholders.  Now we will try and win the organizing drive between Northwest/Delta employees.

Saving the Auto Companies

December 2, 2008

The deepening recession and credit crisis have severely constricted demand for new cars and has led to a significant decline in sales for all automobile manufacturers.  The U.S. based auto companies have drained their cash reserves and face liquidation if Congress fails to act. 

2009 Amtrak and Rail Safety Funding

FY2009 AMTRAK APPROPRIATIONS CONTINUING RESOLUTION:  Continuing Resolution resolutions, as the name implies, normally mean that spending continues at current FY2008 levels.  The House and Senate adopted a continuing resolution to be resolved in March, 2009.

2009 Defense Authorization

October 1, 2008 - The 110^th Congress authorized a number of key defense programs that will impact IAM members

Columbia, Panama and South Korean Free Trade Agreements

October 1, 2008 - It appears that the Columbia, Panama and South Korean Free Trade Agreements will not be brought up for a vote in the 110^th Congress.

Take Action to Block Northwest/Delta Merger

October 1, 2008 - The IAM Transportation Merger Team is urging members nationwide to get involved in the fight to block the proposed Delta-Northwest merger.

Columbia Free Trade Resolution Defeated, Again

July 24, 2008 - Support for the deeply flawed U.S.-Columbia Free Trade Agreement continues to diminish, with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) yesterday squashing a resolution that called for the NCSL to support the so-called free trade pact.

Chamber of Commerce Aims to Block EFCA

July 24, 2008 - Seeking to preserve an environment that has allowed employers to ignore labor laws and block lawful organizing drives for years, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this week announced a multimillion dollar campaign to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800, S. 1041).

Congress Overrides Bush Medicare Veto

July 21, 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.

Congress Warned of Possible Pension Defaults

July 29, 2008 - The IAM warned Congress this week that a Delta Air Lines/Northwest Airlines merger would jeopardize workers’ pensions and the stability of the government’s pension insurance system.

Air Force Contract With European Company Sparks Backlash on Capitol Hill

March 4, 2008 - An Air Force announcement about a multibillion-dollar tanker contract that will benefit a European aerospace company has ignited a “Buy American” backlash on Capitol Hill.

Air Force Contract Draws More Fire

March 4, 2008 - Angry lawmakers promised Monday to delay or even overturn the Air Force’s award of a multibillion-dollar contract for new tanker aircraft to a U.S.-European consortium.

House Bill Doubles TAA Funding

November 8, 2007 - The House last week passed the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007 by a vote of 264-157, reauthorizing and overhauling the current U.S. Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program.

Machinists Support Bankruptcy Reform Legislation

September 25, 2007 - The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today joined key lawmakers, the AFL-CIO and other unions at the U.S. Capitol to support the Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2007.

House Committee Delivers for FedEx Workers

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently voted 51-18 to approve the “Express Carrier Employee Protection” amendment, a measure that would dramatically increase organizing opportunities for employees in the parcel delivery industry.

Help Support Log Truck Drivers in Oregon

The Oregon legislature has re-drafted log truckers bargaining bill. The new bill is HB 3561. We need all Oregon Machinists and their friends and family to click on the link below and send a letter to your  legislator immediately. We have until next week to get enough support in the House to send the bill to the Senate.

The Employee Free Choice Act

February 16, 2007 - Urge Your Representative to Help Working Families by supporting H.R. 800, The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). 

With a new Congress in place, working families finally have the opportunity to get ahead. House lawmakers have introduced H.R. 800 The Employee Free Choice Act – with 231 co-sponsors! The Employee Free Choice Act will profoundly impact working families by restoring workers’ rights to form unions so they can negotiate for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions.