NMB Proposes Election Changes for Air, Rail Workers

The National Mediation Board (NMB) this week took the first step toward overhauling the union representation election rules for air and rail workers in the United States.

Arizona Members Ratify New Contract with Raytheon

Nearly three quarters of the membership of Local 933 in Tucson, AZ, turned out for a contract ratification vote on October 31 and approved a three-year accord with Raytheon Missile Systems by an overwhelming margin. The new agreement covers more than 1,700 workers and runs through 2012.

2009 IAM Photo Contest Winners Announced

The results of the 2009 IAM Photo Contest are in!

Daimler To Stay in Portland

More than 600 union jobs, including 425 IAM workers of Local 1005, are off the chopping block at Daimler Trucks NA in Portland, OR.

IAM Mourns Jimmy Darrah, 53

August 25, 2009 - Union flags in Seattle were lowered to half mast this week, in tribute to Jimmy Darrah, 53, who passed away while being treated for a recently diagnosed illness. Darrah served the District 751 membership as the grievance coordinator in addition to a variety of leadership positions for his local and the district.

IAM Loses a True labor Champion

The IAM has lost a true champion of working people.  Jimmy Darrah, who had served in many capacities such as Business Representative and Grievance Coordinator, passed away yesterday. 

Campaign Continues to Keep G.E. in Albuquerque

A full court press is underway by a growing coalition of IAM leaders, state and local representatives to convince G.E. Aviation to abandon its planned closure of an Albuquerque, NM, jet engine facility that has been an economic driver in the area for nearly four decades.

Machinists Ratify National UPS Contract

July 30, 2009 - IAM members at United Parcel Service (UPS) voted by an 82 percent margin to approve a new contract that covers approximately 3,200 maintenance workers at 33 locations across the United States.

Machinists Urge Review of GE Plan to Close Jet Facility

July 30, 2009 - The IAM is calling on General Electric to suspend plans to close its aircraft engine assembly plant in Albuquerque, NM, pending a full review of all options.

Bobby Martinez Named AA

Western Territory GVP Gary Allen has announced his selection of GLR Robert "Bobby" Martinez as the Administrative Assistant for the territory. 

Richard Brown, President of NFFE, Passes Away

Today the union movement mourns the loss of Richard N. Brown, who served as president of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) for the past 11 years. 

Western Territory Scores Service Contract Win in Utah

Thirty-three workers at Bionetics, Inc., who provide calibration and measurement services for the U.S. Air Force at Hill AFB in Layton, UT, voted overwhelmingly for IAM representation, citing the Machinists’ great track record in service contract agreements.

California Local 906 Preserves Seniority Rights

June, 2009 - One hundred-seventy members of Local 906 in Anaheim, CA, are back on the job at Cytec Industries this week after ratifying a new contract that ended a six-week strike against the manufacturer of aerospace components.

Jack Henning, a Lion of the Labor Movement

Longtime California labor leader Jack Henning died today.  He served as executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO for 26 years before his retirement in 1996.

Local 1998 Members Ratify New CBA at Hawaii Tracking Station

On May 18, 2009, 20 LL 1998 members in Hawaii unanimously ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with World Technical Services, Inc. 

Western Territory Asset Survey

The survey is no longer available, as the deadline of July 1 has passed.  If you have any questions, please contact Grand Lodge Education Representative Marie Box at 916-985-8101, 916-425-6878, or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Some Neighborhoods Not Suffering from the Economy

If your salary is in the neighborhood of several hundred thousand dollars per year, or several million, you may not have even noticed that the rest of the planet is in a recession. 

Learn About the Union Sportsmen's Alliance

The goal of the USA is to create an outdoor hunting and fishing club exclusively for union members and their families... it extends union membership beyond the shop, into the field and on the water.

Members at Ft Lewis Ratify 1st Contract

A dozen new members at Doss Aviation, employed at Fort Lewis and the Yakima Training facilities in Washington state, have accepted their first collective bargaining agreement

California Labor Fed Offering Help to Laid-Off Workers

While losing a job will inevitably be difficult, there are resources available to help...

New Contract at Crew Training International in Las Vegas

Local Lodge 845 members at Creech Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada, ratified a new agreement with Crew Training International, Inc., a service contract provider that acquired the contract last October. 

Arbitration Reinstates Workers at Interstate Brands

An arbiter has awarded full reinstatement to eleven IAM members previously employed at Interstate Brands Company (IBC)’s Melbrook Bakery in Glendale and Hostess plant in Pomona, California, ordering they be brought back to work and receive all back pay and benefits owed them.

Camp Pendleton Helo Technicians Ratify Contract

IAM Members at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton employed by Cubic Worldwide Technical Services, Inc. ratified a new three-year accord on March 15, 2009. 

Western Territory Puts MNPL Funds to Work

March of 2009 has brought the launch – once again – of the effort to improve workers’ rights with the Employee Free Choice Act.

No Free Lunch for Bimbo Bakery

It took two years of tough negotiations, but IAM members at Bimbo Bakery in Los Angeles, California, will now benefit from a grievance settled in February.