Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

Our Skills, Our Kids...Seattle
February 7, 2008 - As the America's Edge Tour wound its way across the USA, support for its message swelled and a stop in Seattle gave the tour even more of a push.

Our Skills, Our Kids...Wichita
February 6, 2008 - From St. Louis to Wichita, that's where the IAM's America's Edge Tour headed next. To see the faces and hear the voices of those people who have made Wichita the Air Capital City of the world.

Our Skills, Our Kids...St. Louis
February 4, 2008 - After the Space Coast and a visit to the South, it was time for the IAM's America's Edge Tour to visit the heartland.

Our Skills, Our Kids...
February 1, 2008 - The IAM lead a seven day, eight state tour across the country to talk to thousands about the importance of educating the next generation and making sure our kids have a future.

The Pivotal Powers
January 30, 2008 - Pick up a newspaper or tunrn on the television and you will probably quickly find a story about China, India or one of the other countries experiencing new growth. The changing faces of these countries touches us here in America, but many wonder if it's a good or bad thing for the U.S.

Stimulating The Economy
January 28, 2007 - Right now it's the question on everyone's mind. How do we fix the economy? Many believe a temporary solution is needed right away to stop the United States from slipping into a devastating recession.

Behind The Chinese Miracle
January 24, 2008 - For the past few decades China has seen unprecedented growth. Unfortunately, many of these workers in the country aren't reaping the benefits of this expansion.

There's No Place Like Home
January 18, 2008 - Hurricane Katrina may have hit the Gulf Coast more than two years ago but for many the nightmare continues.

Taking The Lead
January 15, 2007 - It's an election year and already things are in full swing. So far both of the candidates chosen by the IAM membership are taking the lead and making headlines around the world.

IAM's Political Fight For Families
January 2, 2008 - Iowa is a Midwest make up of farm land, faith and close knit neighbors. At IAM Local 831 in Cedar Rapids family is number one.

A Christmas Story
December 19, 2007 - Police officers, firefighters, EMS workers and the like are the people you only call when you need them the most. But you need to know that these men and women give of themselves both on and off the job.

A Global Solution
December 19, 2007 - Capitol Hill set the stage for a momentous event recently. Two hundred union leaders from sixty three countries met to come up with ways to stop the worldwide attacks on trade unionists.

Iowa Rallies For Clinton
December 18, 2007 - On January 3, 2008, Iowa is going to make headlines as the first state in the nation to hold its presidential primary, the earliest date in history for a primary to be held.

Fingers Crossed At The PEB
December 13, 2007 - This is a story that's been going on for nearly a decade. For the past eight years, 10,000 Amtrak workers have been without a contract or a raise.

United Airlines Forgets Its Roots

December 11, 2007 - United Airlines has come up with a plan. It's going to pay its stockholders a special, one-time per share dividend to keep them coming back for more. But labor leaders wonder why United isn't worried about its employees coming back.

Behind the Candidates
November 27, 2007 - As the presidential election gets closer, you are going to see a lot more of the candidates. But sometimes it's the faces you don't see, like those of the candidate's economic advisors.

The Dogs Take Vegas
November 20, 2007 -More than sixty years ago a Machinist named Joseph Jones founded an organization called the Guide Dogs of America. Through his work he and countless others have given thousands of people the gift of sight.

U.S. Senators Hold Nominees Accountable
November 20, 2007 - The U.S. Senate's Labor Committee recently held a hearing on President Bush's nominees for two powerful positions at the Department Labor.

CAFTA Strikes El Salvador
November 9, 2007 - CAFTA was supposed to change the world. The promise was that this would increase the economies of many countries but workers from both sides of the continent agree, CAFTA didn't deliver.

Rally the Troops
November 9, 2007 - This Fall, the National Labor Relations Board has not been kind to workers in its decisions. The men and women of organized labor want the NLRB to know, they aren't going away quietly.

Hot Days Are Over!!!
November 5, 2007 - The IAM strike at the Kennedy Space Center is finally over! After nearly five months of walking the line, hundreds of Machinists are heading back to work.

Bridging the Gap: Part Two
November 2, 2007 - Last week we aird a story about the millions of Americans who work full time but because of low wages and no benefits, still can't make ends meet. This week, we bring you a story on ways organized labor can help close these income gaps.

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Opposition Grows to ‘Worst Ever’ NLRB Chairman

Missouri Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill declared this week that she will oppose President Bush’s nomination of Robert Battista to serve again as chairman of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Battista, whose five-year term ended in December, recently told a joint Senate-House hearing that he doesn't believe the primary purpose of the National Labor Relations Act is to promote collective bargaining.

“It’s unbelievable that President Bush would re-nominate Mr. Battista to the Board, after he led the most anti-worker, anti-labor, anti-union Board in its history,” said Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. “America’s hard-working men and women deserve a Board that will uphold their rights, not undermine them.”

Bush has also nominated Gerald Morales, a management attorney who has never represented workers, for a vacant seat on the Board. Both nominations require Senate approval.

Southern Territory Notches SCA Win in Georgia

What do you do if you haven’t had a raise in five years? At Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, GA, 74 workers at Data Monitor Systems, Inc. handled it by voting 52-5 for IAM representation. The new members perform maintenance and grounds keeping at the Dobbins facility.

“They understood that the only way for them to get consistent raises under the Service Contract Act is to organize and negotiate their Average Wage Determination,” said Southern Territory GLR Tommy Mayfield, who credited new member Troy McKenzie and Local 611 Steward Billy Guess as key to the organizing victory. Mayfield also praised the support from Local 709 in Marietta, GA and District 131 in Macon, GA.

“This shows the need for us to continue to organize in the Service Contract industry,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “Workers recognize the strength that an IAM contract provides. With every contract, we increase our ability to raise the wages and benefits of the entire industry, which is exactly what is happening.”

GOP Senators Kill Economic Aid

Republican Senators yesterday blocked a $205 billion economic stimulus package designed by Senate Democrats to provide an additional $40 billion in financial support to low-income seniors, disabled veterans and the unemployed.

Senate Democrats came up just one vote short of the support needed to move forward with the bill, putting them in the position to either proceed with the less expensive House version or delay aid to an economy that many Americans fear is quickly falling into a recession.

“It is incredible that not even nine Republicans would join us to strengthen our weakening economy by helping those who need it most,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). “When given the opportunity to work in a bipartisan manner to help people hurt by our struggling economy, Republicans chose politics first. And while they may view this vote as a win, the American people lose.”

The Senate measure expanded on the House version by providing rebate checks to a much broader group, including 20 million seniors, 250,000 disabled veterans and a broader range of taxpayers. It also would have extended unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks for those whose benefits have expired and provided additional relief to many struggling homeowners.

U.S. Loses 17,000 Jobs in January

The U.S. lost roughly 17,000 jobs in January, marking the first month of job loss in more than four years. The job numbers, released last week by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, were bad news for workers and raises further concerns that the U.S. is slipping into a recession.

Manufacturing and construction continued to be hit hardest, losing 28,000 and 27,000 jobs respectively.

Employment figures for 2007 were also revised downward, with the economy creating 280,000 fewer jobs than had been previously estimated.

Who Really Benefits from Airline Mergers?

While airline executives and their financial advisors continue to hawk the inevitability of major consolidation in the industry, the IAM is warning that any of the combinations currently being proposed would adversely affect passengers, employees and service to cities where the carriers currently fly.

Additionally, if an IAM-represented airline is merged with an airline whose employees in comparable work groups are not unionized, such as Delta Airlines, AirTran or Continental Airlines ground employees, IAM members’ contracts and right to union representation could be jeopardized.

To protect Machinists Union members, the IAM Transportation Department has undertaken major organizing initiatives at Delta, Continental and AirTran.

Organizing these workers before a merger is completed can protect our current membership by ensuring they have a voice in the workforce integration process and will preserve their contract, no matter which carrier survives. Visit www.goiamnow.org for more information about these campaigns.

Ontario Hotel Workers Join IAM

More than two dozen front desk and reservation clerks, switchboard operators, maintenance and security personnel workers employed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel near Pearson International Airport in Toronto, ON, are the newest members of Local 1295 in Toronto. They join 110 fellow Crowne Plaza workers organized by the IAM in December 2007.

“This Group was hesitant to join when we organized most of the workforce back in December,” said District 78 Organizer Scott Jackson. “But through encouragement from Apprentice Organizer Roy Bhansingh and discussions with their fellow workers who took that first step, they decided to join our family.” These newest members will begin bargaining for their first collective agreement later this month.

The Machinists also represent workers employed at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in Brampton, ON, who were organized in April 2007.

No Recession for Big Oil

While record fuel prices squeezed consumers at the gas pump last year, the nation’s largest oil companies continued to rake in record profits.
ExxonMobil recently announced they recorded $40.6 billion in profits last year, the largest profit margin by a single company in history. Chevron, Conoco Phillips and Shell also recorded staggering profits in 2007, pulling in more than $70 billion combined.

Consumers, meanwhile, are paying nearly 80 cents more for a gallon of gasoline than they were at this time last year, according to the Energy Information Administration. It doesn’t appear 2008 will be any better for drivers, with many experts predicting record gas prices of $3.50 per gallon.

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The goal of the USA is to create an outdoor hunting and fishing club exclusively for union members and their families. TRCP Launches Union Sportsmen’s Alliance

IAM members can now purchase union gear online at the IAM Store.

IAM Journal
Winter 2008

Skills Pat Maloney examines parts before they are put on Boeing aircraft. Any primary processing defects, problems with the metal or even the smallest crack, Maloney is the one who needs to catch it.

The 2008 Convention website is online. The site features updates, travel tips, convention news reports, info for the media, and official convention gear. Check it out.

IAM Member Benefits mean money-saving discounts for IAM members and their families.

Your union source for Sharp® and Océ® copiers, high-speed duplicating and archiving equipment, fax machines and Hasler® postage equipment, along with over 35,000 items you can order online.

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Enter member ID PS16626766 when ordering online or call 1-877-289-9437. When ordering, you must reference code: PS16626766 to receive your union discount.

See who works for you, how the IAM is structured, and what services the IAM offers.
Go to: IAM2007

Read the International Metalworkers' Federation magazine 'Metal World'

FlatRateTech is an organization “created for and by Ford and Lincoln Mercury service technicians solely to speak as one loud voice rather than 50,000 smaller voices.” according to their website The fast-growing site offers forums for Ford customers, technicians and dealers to exchange information.

IAM
Executive Council

Tom Buffenbarger
International President

Warren L. Mart
Secretary-Treasurer

Lee Pearson
GVP Western Territory

Dave Ritchie
GVP Canada

Robert Roach,Jr.
GVP Transportation

Lynn Tucker
GVP Eastern Territory

Robert Martinez
GVP Southern Territory

Richard Michalski
GVP Headquarters

Philip J. Gruber
GVP Midwest Territory