August 21, 2006
District 947 Wins Second Unit of Over 500
in less than a month!
District Lodge 947, headquartered in Long Beach, California, is on a roll. On Friday, they won an election where 516 workers at NASSCO Shipyard in San Diego voted by overwhelming 86% margin to join the IAM. The 516 people are employed as Electricians and Electronic Techs. They contacted the IAM several months ago to see about joining our family. There are several unions that represent workers in the shipyard, but the IAM is the only one that has been able to negotiate an agreement with NASSCO. As the strongest union available to them, the workers picked the IAM in a strong vote. The new Sisters and Brothers join 490 other IAM represented employees in the yard.
Directing Business Representative Richard Sanchez wanted to make sure to "thank everyone involved. We had tremendous support from the people in the yard. Our Stewards and members did a great job of carrying the message to all the areas where the people are working. Since they are assigned to work inside the large takers and freighters, it is difficult to get in touch with them, but our people did it. They did such a great job that members of other unions joined in to help us reach these workers".
"My team here at 947 did a great job, Felix Osuna, Frank Brito and Jose Lara were instrumental in bringing this to a successful conclusion; as well as Sister Elaine Kennedy, who has set up a card table by the main gate of NASSCO every Friday for several years, trying to build up the solidarity in the yard. The support from the Western Regional Office was tremendous. GVP Pearson allowed us to utilize the talent on his staff. Administrative Assistant Gary Allen, Territory Organizing Leader Steve Cooper, GLRs Joel Ochoa and Claudio Figueroa, Communications Representative Kevin Cummings and especially GLRs Jose Rodriguez and Ray Rivera. Jose and Ray have been involved from the very beginning of this campaign, and were invaluable". GLR Macario Camorlinga and Apprentice Organizer Larry Olinger were also assigned to help by the International's Organizing Department.
Friday's win at NASSCO, along with the win just a few weeks ago for Long Beach City Professional Employees that brought 529 workers into the IAM family, means that District 947 has won elections bringing 1,045 workers into the IAM.
GVP Pearson said, "This is a tremendous victory for the IAM, and especially for District 947. Richard is a new DBR, and has really brought a focus on organizing to the district. There are plenty of people to thank for this victory, but it is important to know that another union tried to intervene on the election at the last minute, and IP Buffenbarger got involved and convinced them to back off. The successes that Richard is seeing in 947 are just another example of the IAM having the right tonic for what is ailing America's Working Families. The IAM has the right message of hope, and Richard and his staff are proving that when we tell our story we can be effective".
Congratulations to our team in San Diego, CA. Jose, Joel, Steve, Claudio, Gary, Kevin & just about all of our W/T staff contributed in a nice win. IP Buffenbarger jumped right in when problems arose when another Union attempted to file intervener status, with his help and our teams effort a former IBEW unit of over 500 are now represented by the IAM. Great job by DL 947 and their new PDBR Richard Sanchez. DL 947 has really turned up their organizing efforts, this is their 2nd big organizing win since Richard took office.
