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District 751 member Roman Mayfield, left, with fellow delegate
Mark Little at the 35th Grand Lodge Convention |
IAM Bids Farewell to a True Hero
The IAM lost a true hero with the passing of District 751 member Roman
Mayfield. Mayfield devoted his life to his fellow members. One of just a
handful of District 751 members to participate in all five strikes at
Boeing, Mayfield did more than just walk the picket line. He distributed
strike checks, coordinated food delivery to the picket lines, counseled
others, and helped anywhere there was work to be done.
Mayfield first went to work for Boeing in 1946. Because
he was an African-American, he was not eligible for full IAM membership
at the time.
The first order of business at the 2000 IAM Convention
was to restore full seniority to Mayfield and any other IAM member who
did not accrue IAM membership between the time they were hired and when
membership restrictions were removed in 1948.
“Despite the early barriers, Roman Mayfield worked hard
for his fellow brothers and sisters every day,” said International
President Tom Buffenbarger. “His legacy is one of compassion and caring
that we can all admire and cherish.”
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Growing public pressure and grassroots campaigns by
union members forced Stanley Works to abandon plans to move its
headquarters to Bermuda. |
Stanley Surrenders on Offshore Move
Growing public pressure and grassroots
campaigns by union members forced Stanley Works to abandon plans to move
its headquarters to Bermuda.
Bowing to intense pressure from the IAM,
Connecticut-based Stanley Works abandoned its plan to move its
headquarters to Bermuda. The move, primarily to evade U.S. taxes, would
have netted Stanley about $30 million a year.
“It will be a cold day in hell before John Trani gets any
thanks for not moving Stanley out of this country,” said IP Tom
Buffenbarger. “The offshore tax loophole was closing before his eyes and
he wants credit for blinking? I don’t think so. We won’t be satisfied
until the thousands of jobs he sent overseas begin to return.”
Stanley found itself at the center of the national debate
over corporate inversions, the practice of setting up headquarters
offshore to evade taxes on profits made overseas.
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Local 1377 members at the Waukesha Engine Company
in Waukesha, WI stand with one of six generators that survived the
World Trade Center attack. The generators provided emergency power
on September 11, helping many survive. |
IAM-Built Engines Helped Save Lives
on 9/11
Among the wreckage pulled from the World Trade
Center are a half-dozen diesel-powered emergency generators built by IAM
members at the Waukesha Engine Co. in Waukesha, WI. During the September
11th attack, the engines came on-line and provided crucial lighting that
helped hundreds of survivors escape the burning towers.
Of the six engines built by Local 1377 members, three
were unsalvageable and two are being rebuilt for another productive
service life.
The final engine was returned to the Waukesha plant where
it will be given an honored position near its original production line.
Aviation High School student Kevin Deeble reaches
into the toolbox he was awarded as part of the IAM’s partnership
with this unique trade school. |
IAM Supports Innovative Aviation Trade School
With rollaway tool kits from the Machinists
Union and training from New York’s Aviation High School, five
graduating students will have a head start in the highly
specialized field of aircraft maintenance and engineering.
Aviation High School prepares students for careers
in aviation-related industries. The IAM began working with the
school last year, escorting students into area airports to spend
time in the workplace and meet experienced aircraft technicians.
“We believe these students are the future of the
aviation industry, and we wanted a way to support their careers
from the very beginning,” said IAM GVP Robert Roach, Jr.
Additional toolboxes went to two students who submitted winning
designs for an IAM banner that will hang in the school’s hangar
bay.
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