Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

Fresh Faces on the Hill: Congressman Phil Hare
February 28, 2007 - Phil Hare used to hold a union job as a cutter in a factory. Today, he’s working to pass legislation to protect his brothers and sisters.

Fresh Faces on the Hill: Congresswoman Betty Sutton
February 26, 2007 -As our Fresh Faces on the Hill series continues, it’s now time to turn our attention to Congresswoman Betty Sutton of ohio’s 13th district.

Free On The Job
February 23, 2007 - The Employee Free Choice Act is a piece of legislation that allows employees to form unions by card check.

Bush Trade Policies Failing American Families
February 22, 2007 -The Bush administration ’s failed trade policies and their impact on American workers are once again on full display.

Chi-Town Tear Down Pit Crew Competition 2007 February 16, 2007 - The command “Begin your teardown now….” marked the start of the annual Chi-Town Tear Down Pit Crew Competition.

Americans Want Bush to Follow Lead of Democrats
February 5, 2007 - A majority of Americans are fed up with President Bush’s job performance and believe the country should head in the direction congressional Democrats want to take it.

Fresh Faces on the Hill February 5, 2007 - The elections in November brought many new faces to Capitol Hill.

Changing The Future January 22, 2007 - The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. It's a saying that's at least 100-years old and according to the Economic Policy Institute, one that still holds true today.

Will Your Vote Count? January 22, 2007 - In addition to changing the look of Congress, Election Day 2006 did something more. It brought to the forefront a variety of voting problems experienced across the country.

Senator Kennedy On Iraq And Healthcare
January 17, 2006 - In a speech meant to focus onn America's health care crisis, Senator Ted Kennedy instead took the time to criticize President Bush's plan to surge troop levels in Iraq by 20,000.

America’s Most Wealthy Bask in Bush Tax Cuts
January 11, 2007 - Reaffirming what middle class families know all too well – the Bush tax cuts primarily benefit America’s wealthiest families.

New Speaker Of The House, Nancy Pelosi
January 10, 2007 - In the first full week of the 110th Congress, House Speaker Nanacy Pelosi has taken her place as the unquestioned leader of the 435-member body. But the IAM was one of the few unions to recognize her potential long ago.

Surviving On Mimimum Wage
January 3, 2006 - As you stroll down city sidewalks, you're bound to see poverty, pain, strife and struggle.

The Employee Free Choice Act
December 19, 2006 - The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is a piece of legislation for the middle class that limits an employer's ability to prevent workers from forming unions. If passed it could ultimately improve the lives of working men and women across the nation.

Video: 2007 Day of Action
From air and rail to auto and trucking, transportation is essential to our lives. But the industry has fallen on tough times over the last few years, leaving its workers unsure about the future.

To view these videos you will need to download the free Windows Media Player 9

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Union Coalition Strikes Mississippi Shipyard

Nearly 2,000 union members on strike at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, MS carried an unmistakable message of solidarity into the community during an 8-mile long march along U.S. 90. (Photo courtesy R.B. Boulware)

Dissatisfaction over a proposed contract and deep-seated resentment over economic and psychological stresses brought on by Hurricane Katrina have triggered a strike by 6,300 union shipbuilders at Northrop Grumman’s Pascagoula, MS, shipyard.

The Gulf Coast facility, also known as the Ingalls Yard, was shut down on March 8 following an overwhelming vote by members of the Pascagoula Metal Trades Council (PMTC). The council includes members of Machinists, Plumbers, Sheet Metal Workers, Electrical Workers and seven other unions. Four independent bargaining units at the yard, including a separate group of Machinists, also rejected the contract offer from Northrop Grumman and are fully participating in the strike.

“What we are seeing here is something like post-traumatic stress in combat troops,” said Ron Ault, National President of the AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department. “They are fed up with what they see as abandonment and neglect of this region. Our members are the world’s best shipbuilders, living in one of the nation’s most devastated areas. Something has got to give.”

Workers cited neglect by federal agencies, the loss of storm damaged infrastructure and sharply increased housing, fuel and insurance costs among daily challenges faced by residents 18 months after Hurricane Katrina swept ashore.

“The workers at Ingalls got this shipyard up and running in record time after the hurricane hit,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “Since then, they’ve faced stress and hardship that are akin to living in a war zone. It’s high time their contribution and sacrifice was acknowledged and rewarded.”

Voting Concludes on AK Steel Contract

On March 14, officials with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) will oversee the counting of more than 1,700 ballots mailed in from members of AEIF-IAM Local 1943 in Middletown, OH. The count will begin at 10 a.m. and is expected to take several hours. If approved, the new contract would go into effect immediately and end the lockout at AK Steel that began more than a year ago on March 1, 2006. Results will be posted on www.goiam.org as soon as they become available.

Senate Approves Bargaining Rights for Airport Screeners

The U.S. Senate voted last week to give more than 40,000 airport screeners at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) collective bargaining rights.

In a mostly party-line 51-46 vote, Senate Democrats defeated an amendment by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) to remove a provision granting TSA screeners collective bargaining rights from a broad anti-terrorism bill to implement recommendations of the 9/11 commission. The House passed similar legislation in January.

However, Senate lawmakers then responded to a Bush veto threat by adopting an amendment that would scale back slightly the collective bargaining rights of airport screeners. The measure, which would allow the Department of Homeland Security to waive the right of the 43,000 passenger and baggage screeners to negotiate their working conditions in times of national emergency, passed 51-48.

Despite the provision, President Bush is still expected to turn his back on worker’s rights and veto the bill, thus denying airport screeners at the TSA bargaining rights, appeal rights and whistle-blower protections.

Federal District 1 Opens New D.C. Office

National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) / IAM Federal District 1 has moved to a new location at 805 Fifteenth Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005. The new main phone number is 202-216-4420.

“We are happy to have finally completed this move,” said FD1 President Rick Brown. “This was a major piece of our long-term plan and now it is done. I believe the NFFE membership is really going to benefit from this move.”
The new building is just a few blocks from their old location, retaining the advantages of good access to public transportation and close proximity to many government offices.

The new facilities include two conference rooms that will allow the District to conduct training classes and executive board meetings on the premises. The new office also has wireless internet access and workspace for staff in town on business.

Job Growth Slows, Manufacturing Nosedive Continues

February marked the second straight month of declining job growth as employers added only 97,000 jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced last week. The sluggish pace of job growth early in 2007, combined with much slower job growth in 2006 than in 2005, signals a job market could pose serious problems for working Americans in the coming year.

Last month’s lackluster job numbers were due in large part to continued declines in manufacturing and construction employment. The manufacturing sector dropped another 14,000 jobs, marking the eighth straight month of employment declines. Over the past 12 months, there has been a loss of 97,000 manufacturing jobs. Construction employment dropped a stunning 62,000 jobs.

The latest job numbers also show the employed share of the population dropped for the second straight month to only 63 percent. In fact, the number of people who were neither employed nor looking for a job jumped by 374,000 in February.

Local 837B Welcomes New Members

New members pictured right to left are: Tony Strehlau, Jeremy Busse, Holly Strube, Cindy Mills, Diane Bailey, Belinda Mays, Carl Robinson, Edward Usery and Heather McGlenn

Newly organized members employed at RTI Tradco in Washington, MO, traveled to Local 837B’s monthly meeting in Hazelwood, MO, to be formally initiated as new IAM members following the ratification of their first ever contract earlier this year. Local 837B President DeWitt Darity administered the oath and the membership stood as Tony Strehlau, Jeremy Busse, Holly Strube, Cindy Mills, Diane Bailey, Belinda Mays, Carl Robinson, Edward Usery, and Heather McGlenn raised their right hand and swore to uphold the IAM Constitution and to honor the goals and traditions of the 118-year old labor union.

“I am very proud to see these members here today,” said District 837 Organizer Homer Clawson, who helped coordinate the successful organizing drive at Tradco. “These are just a few of the people who dedicated their time and effort in helping us inside the plant. They remained strong and committed during the entire process.”

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Machinists News Network @ YouTube

Announcing the IAM Photo Contest
The IAM is repeating its members-only photography contest again this year and you are encouraged to enter. You can download a complete contest entry form by clicking here.

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. Members can buy a variety of IAM related products such as t-shirts, jackets, jewelry and caps — all emblazoned with the IAM logo.

IAM Journal
Spring 2007

FOCUS America’s union members do not need to be told what to do. They do what they believe is right, and let the chips fall where they may.

Get Ready for the Day of Action.
The Transportation Department is preparing for a major March and Rally on May 17, 2007, in Washington, DC. Thousands of working men and women from every state of the Union will join us on that day to say “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”
For more information, visit 17may07.org

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.

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

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