Thursday, May 17, 2007

Thousands Join ‘Day of Action’ Rally in Washington, D.C.

The IAM today led transportation workers from more than a dozen unions in a massive rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to declare “Enough is Enough” over Bush administration policies that have plagued air and rail workers since 2001.

“This nation’s air and rail workers suffered one grievous assault after another under the present administration,” said IP President Tom Buffenbarger. “Hundreds of thousands of workers lost jobs, pensions and health care while CEO’s and senior executives gorged themselves with outrageous compensation packages. It’s time for a president who isn’t deaf and blind to this kind of rampant injustice.”

Presidential candidates Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) spoke to the workers who came from as far as Guam, Alaska and Hawaii to attend the rally.

Additional speakers included Rich Trumka, AFL–CIO Secretary-Treasurer, and lawmakers Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), Rep. George Miller (D-CA), (D-MN), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Former Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI).

“The sacrifices, contributions and needs of transportation workers are lost on the Bush Administration,” said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “Today we begin our search for a president who will work with transportation labor to provide the secure jobs, pensions and benefits our members deserve.”

District 837 Reaches Tentative Agreement with Boeing


IAM members of District 837 in St. Louis, MO, will vote May 20 on a tentative agreement reached this week with the Boeing Co. The three-year contract provides for 9.5 percent pay increase and includes a 17 percent increase in pension benefits while preserving defined benefit pensions for new employees. The tentative contract also limits increases to employee health care premiums and does not include a controversial “Retention Plan” that would significantly alter the existing seniority system.            

“I want to tell you with pride that due to your solidarity in the shop, the company withdrew all language pertaining to their “Retention Plan,” said District 837 DBR Rick Smith, who credited members for a favorable resolution to the seniority issue. “You drew the line in the sand that could not be crossed.”
District 837 represents approximately 2,600 members at Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems unit in St. Louis, MO, who build the F-18 Super Hornet and F-15 Eagle in addition to missiles and component parts.

Western Territory Honors Cobb, Duryea


Western Territory GVP Lee Pearson recently presented “Awards of Excellence” to two Business Representatives from the Western Territory for outstanding effort and success in contract negotiations and a major arbitration victory. Receiving the awards were Virginia Cobb, Area Director and Business Representative for Distict 725, serving the San Diego, CA area; and Marion “Bud” Duryea, Business Representative for Local 2515 in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

BR Cobb received the award in recognition for her achievement in securing a quality first contract for IAM members at L-3 Vertex.  Brother Duryea received his award in recognition of  a major arbitration win, where an independent arbitrator ordered an unjustly terminated member was ordered back to work in a ruling that could be worth up to $40,000.

“I think it is important to recognize how hard our representatives work for our membership,” said GVP Pearson. “Virginia Cobb and Bud Duryea put in the long hours and sacrifice to improve the lives of IAM members.  Getting a first contract and winning a good decision from an arbitrator are not easy tasks and the success they delivered is proof of their dedication and effort.  I am very proud of them, and of all our representatives.”

O’Malley Signs Living Wage Bill

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley signed legislation last week making Maryland the first state in the country to require government contractors to pay workers a “living wage.”


The measure will require service contractors doing business with the state to pay employees $11.30 an hour in urban areas and $8.50 an hour in rural areas. The law, which goes into effect Oct. 1, could affect as many as 50,000 workers.

Cities and counties across the country have voted to pay workers a living wage, but Maryland is the first state to adopt the measure.