July 11 2005 - Local Lodge 1255 Amarillo, TX recently won two organizing campaigns at the PANTEX Nuclear Weapons Facility.
An election in late April, Local Lodge President Rick Flores and IAM member Henry Bagwell, President of the Metal Trades Council, helped organize the Occupational Health Nurses at PANTEX. The nurses stood together through a Company challenge of eligibility and the results were unanimous (one voided ballot) 4-0 for IAM representation.
During the same period President Flores and President Bagwell began the campaign to organize the Laboratory Technicians and the Radiology Health Technicians at the facility. The election Friday, July 8th was another victory for the workers with the vote 20-7 for IAM representation.
President Flores expressed his gratitude of appreciation to the members of Local 1255 who helped during these campaigns. “It’s clear that our members had a lot to do with these wins by talking to the Nurses and Technicians about wages & benefits of an IAM Contract!”
General Vice President Bob Martinez said, “Organizing is everyone’s job. We owe it to our fellow workers to bring the protections and better pay and benefits to all workers. Thanks to all our members at PANTEX for this win.”
