Mechanics Local 701, based in Countryside, IL, racked up two more organizing wins recently at Martin Nissan and Antioch Chrysler Jeep bringing 19 new members into the IAM. All of our new members are auto technicians working at Martin Nissan in Skokie, IL and Antioch Chrysler Jeep in Antioch, IL.
"Our new members were solid in their commitment to achieving the guarantees a Mechanics Local 701 contract brings," said Mechanics Local 701 Directing Business Representative Robert Keppler.
According to the Mechanics Local 701 organizing staff the main issues at Martin Nissan dealt with benefits such as health care and wages. Fair treatment in the workplace and having a union contract were also very important. Our new members made that clear with a unanimous vote for Local 701 representation.
The issues in Antioch were very similar with regard to health care insurance and wages. However, our members at this dealership want a guarantee of forty hours pay each week. Currently, that is not the case and hours and pay very every week. Local 701 contracts for incentive mechanics contain guaranteed pay for forty hours worked. This is in case there is no work in the shop. If so, our members repair equipment, take online training, etc. Fairness in the workplace, professional representation and a union contract were very important in Antioch as well.
IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Philip J. Gruber said, "We would like to commend Mechanics Local 701 Directing Business Representative Robert Keppler, Assistant Directing Business Representative Sam Cicinelli and Business Representative Tom Gregg for their continued hard work and dedication to growing our great union. The new organizers, Rich Handler and Bill LePinske, will be tremendous assets to our organization and deserve credit for their hard work and perseverance."
