Oak Park, Illinois IAM members are letting the public know their tax dollars are being poured down the drain by city management that refuses to honor the IAM contract.

Hostile City Manager Leaves, but the IAM Won't

IAM members from LL 48 and District 8 have been picketing in front of the Oak Park, Illinois city hall to let the public know their tax dollars are being poured down the drain by city management that refuses to honor their IAM contract.

After pressure from a coalition of unions and recent elections putting Trustees on the board who believe in honoring union contracts, there is good news for city tax payers, voters and union members: the city manager has announced he is resigning and moving out of state. 

The Oak Park legal department continues to waste money fighting the union. For example,the village recently spent nearly $400,000 on an outside law firm to deal with workplace issues. With three full time attorneys and two employees in the Human Resources Department, the IAM believes this is a waste of taxpayers' dollars.

The harassment of IAM members hasn't stopped, either.  Just last week, Oak Park management called in police to escort one of our members out of the building who was being placed on paid suspension for job performance. This type of treatment of our members is totally uncalled for and so the picketing will continue with increasing support from the Oak Park Trustees, the community and other labor unions.

Local 701 wins at Crystal Lake Pontiac GMC

Local 701 in Countryside, Illinois recently brought eight new members into the IAM as the automotive technicians at Crystal Lake Pontiac GMC voted unanimously to join the IAM. Six are journeymen technicians, one is an apprentice technician and one is a semi-skilled technician.

"These technicians are solid in their determination to get the wages, benefits and working conditions they deserve. They are sick of takeaways,” said Local 701 Business Representative Tom Gregg. “The company tried to use harsh tactics, but our new members were insulted and voted 100% for the union.”

Midwest GVP James E. Brown praised IAM LL 701 DBR Dennis Jawor and BR Tom Gregg saying, "We appreciate their hard work and dedication. Here is another great example of how company anti-union tactics fail. We welcome our new members into the IAM."

Election Date Set at Reynolds Tobacco

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) set a date for a secret ballot representation election for the Reynolds American Tobacco Co. in Winston-Salem, NC covering more than 2,000 production and maintenance workers there.

The United Tobacco Alliance for a Voice and Freedom (UTA), a joint effort by the IAM and the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union (BCTGM), had sought recognition from Reynolds.

The election will be held Thursday, May 11, 2006 at the following locations and times:

Tobaccoville Plant
Administration Training Rooms A,B, & C
12 noon – 4:00 P.M.; 9:30 P.M. – 2:30 A.M.

Whitaker Park Plant
Main Conference Room
1:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.; 9:30 P.M. – 2:00 A.M.

Financial Officers' Seminar Reminder

In 2006 the General Secretary-Treasurer’s Department will conduct multiple in-depth training classes for IAM district and local lodge financial officers. The class scheduled for June has been cancelled, but there is space available for classes scheduled for September 10 - 15, 2006 (cutoff date August 7) and Oct. 15 - 20, 2006 (cutoff date September 11).

Canadian members should plan to attend in October. A Canadian Grand Lodge Auditor will be attending to assist with various Canadian forms.

The enrollment form can be found on Vlodge under the Resources Tab, Printable Forms or Officers’ Forms. Please contact GST Special Assistant Rob Minnich at 301-967-4543.

U.S. Budget On Pace for Record Deficit

As the U.S. budget deficit continues to spiral out of control, government spending was up 13.7 percent from a year ago to $250 billion in March, the Treasury Department reported yesterday. Spending through the first six months of the budget year, which began in October, was up 8.7 percent from a year ago to $1.34 trillion.

The tremendous spending led to an $85.5 billion budget deficit in March, an all-time high for the month. March’s total was on the heels of February’s record $119.2 billion deficit.

The budget deficit for the year to date is a whopping $303 billion and the Bush administration is forecasting the budget deficit will hit $423 billion before the year is done, surpassing the $413 billion record set in 2004.

Union Sportsmen Could Win Dream Trip

Wildest Dreams is a new TV show from the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and Outdoor Life Network taking lucky union members on fantasy hunting and fishing trips around the world, from North America to South America, to Africa and beyond.

Ten lucky union sportsmen will go on an all-expense-paid hunting or fishing trip to a dream destination, win free outdoor hunting and fishing gear, and appear on Wildest Dreams TV show which is broadcast to millions of outdoor viewers on OLN.

To win your Wildest Dream, send in your Sportsman's Profile with your name, address, phone and email. Include what kind of sportsman you are and where you hunt and fish. Describe your fantasy hunting and fishing trips and why you should be selected for a fabulous trip. Include a personal video or photo on your most memorable hunting or fishing experiences.

Mail To:
TRCP
Attn: Wildest Dreams
555 11th St NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20004
Email To: mdorsey@trcp.org

All Entries Must Be Received By May 15, 2006.

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Legislative Conference Reminder

The cutoff date for room reservations for the IAM's Legislative Conference is Friday, April 14, 2006.

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