Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

Jobs Now, Not Later!
May 19, 2009 - Many labor leaders agree, there's a shortage of skills in America these days. That's especially poignant as the country reels from rough economic times.

The Keys to the Future
May 14, 2009 - This country's success is going to fall to the next generations and the IAM wants to make sure those young adults are ready for it.

Fallen But Never Forgotten
May 5, 2009 - IAM brothers and sisters, family and friends gathered at the Lighthouse Memorial at the Winpisinger Center last week to remember those workers who lost their lives in the workplace.

Fixing Immigration
April 22, 2009 - For more than a century, American society has been described as a melting pot, welcoming people from all countries, races, and religions. But in recent years that phrase has become more criticism than flattery.

Union Busting
April 17, 2009 - According to recent statistics, someone is fired every 15 minutes for trying to form or join a union. If that wasn't bad enough, there's a whole industry working to see that continues.

Flight Attendant Coalition
April 9, 2009 - In the early 1980's, the Flight Attendant Coalition was created. Today, that group is still going strong, looking at ways to better the lives of flight attendants.

A Bill Protecting Organizing Rights
April 9, 2009 - In addition to honoring majority signup, and forcing binding arbitration, the Employee Free Choice Act would also raise penalties for employers who fire, or harass workers who desire to form unions. Hollywood activists, politicians, and economists recently spoke out in support!

Women and the Economy
April 3, 2009 - According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate has climbed to 8.5 percent, which means more than five million jobs have been lost during this recession.

Frances Perkins
March 27, 2009 - In 1933, President Delano Roosevelt made history as he appointed the first woman ever to hold a cabinet position. That lady was Frances Perkins and her amazing story as FDR's U.S. Secretary of Labor has once again been brought to light.

Degree Week at NLC
March 23, 2009 - Hundreds of students, including Machinists, are on campus attending the National Labor College’s “Degree Week,” an intense time of study and classes for students taking the majority of their coursework online.

New Recovery, New Jobs
March 13, 2009 - People across the country and around the world are asking themselves, what's going to happen to me in this economy?

Solis Heads DOL
February 27, 2009 - Finally after more than two months of waiting a game of political cat and mouse, Congresswoman Hilda Solis of California became the new Department of Labor Secretary.

A 'Green' Education for Unionists
February 27, 2009 - The National Labor College is partnering with the AFL-CIO to develop the Green Workplace Representative Certificate Program. Union members will be trained to identify areas where employers can save money by going “Green.” For more information please browse the college’s website at www.nlc.edu.

The Future Looks Green
February 20, 2009 - Once upon a time, the term "GREEN JOBS" was a concept for the future. Today, the idea is very much a reality and many say a way to help secure this country's economic standing.

Protecting the Skies
February 18, 2009 - Protecting IAM members and the flying public is priority number one for the Machinists Union's Transportation Department.

Middle Class Forced to Use Food Banks
February 13, 2009 - As the number of job losses mount and as the recession rages on, unemployed Americans are turning to food pantries for support.

Rallying for EFCA
February 11, 2009 - Statistics state that nearly 60 million workers would form or join a union tomorrow if they had the opportunity. Passing the Employee Free Choice Act would guarantee those 60 million get that chance.

Lily's Leading the Way
February 9, 2009 - No matter your race, religion or gender, everyone should be paid the same amount for the same job. With new legislation signed just weeks ago by President Obama, it's now easier to make sure an injustice like unfair pay doesen't happen.

Trade Policy Now or Never
February 3, 2009 - Right now Congress is at work putting together an economic stimulus package. Trade experts say as part of that package, now is the time to start reforming the U.S. trade policy.

Remembering MLK
January 21, 2009 - For many the "I Have A Dream" by MLK is more than just history. It's the idea that together we can do anything. That very thought is what ties the labor movement and the civil rights movement together and brought nearly 1,000 brothers and sisters to New Orleans to help those who need it most.

NWA/Delta Merger: January 09 Update
January 26, 2009 - The merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines leaves many workers wondering about their future. Especially because Northwest Airlines is unionized, but Delta is not. This has workers asking alot of questions.

President Barack Obama's Inauguration
January 22, 2009 - January 20, 2009 was a clear but bitter cold day in DC that will go down in history. Millions of people in Washington and worldwide watched as Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America, making him the first African American to hold the highest office in the land.

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What Does Labor Want?

“Whenever people ask me: ‘What does labor want?’ I give them a four letter answer… JOBS!” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger in recent address to the National Labor College in Silver Spring, MD.

“Unemployed Americans are desperate,” said Buffenbarger, who noted that 28.5 million Americans were unemployed or underemployed. “Their savings have vanished. Their 401(k)’s are now 101(k)’s. They’ve cut their living expenses to the bone. Their extended unemployment is running out.

“Meanwhile, their government spends trillions to boost the confidence of bankers, brokers and investors. And the greedy con artists who created this national nightmare are still living large, way too large.”

Buffenbarger called for a far reaching ‘JOBS NOW’ initiative with a Works Progress Administration-style jobs program to rebuild our manufacturing sector, provide investment tax credits for renovating existing factories and create bankable tax credits for when businesses return to profitability.

The ‘JOBS NOW’ program should also include a tuition free, two-year commitment to post high school skills training that will provide the next generation and unemployed workers with the skills needed to take their place in a global manufacturing market.

Click here to read full text of President Buffenbarger's remarks.

Defense Department Orders NSPS Review

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense recently released new details concerning the highly controversial National Security Personnel System (NSPS).

In a formal announcement, Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn called on the Defense Business Board to assemble a task force to review the troubled system.

The announcement drew an immediate response from IAM-NFFE Federal District 1 President Richard N. Brown, who praised Director Berry and Deputy Secretary Lynn for taking swift action to assess the NSPS. "Once it is exposed for the anti-union, anti-worker personnel system that it is, they will come to agree with us that nothing short of a complete repeal is the only way to move forward,” said Brown.

In his instruction to the Defense Business Board, Deputy Secretary Lynn called for recommendations aimed at helping the Department determine (1) if the underlying design principles and methodology for implementation are reflected in the program objectives; (2) whether the program objectives are being met; and (3) whether NSPS is operating in a fair, transparent, and effective manner.

The review board will be chaired by Rudy deLeon, the senior vice president of National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C. The other members of the group will be Michael Bayer, chairman of the Defense Business Board, and Robert Tobias, a professor at American University and director for the Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation.

Kentucky Governor Names Adair to Labor Board

It’s exciting to see more and more government officials formally recognizing the importance of a skilled workforce to an ailing economy – a cause the IAM has been firmly advocating for years.

In the wake of the president’s proposal for new education and retraining policies, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced the new Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (KWIB), a group dedicated to educating and retooling the state’s workforce in order to keep and attract more jobs to the state.

IAM Directing Business Representative Benny Adair, District 154, is one of two labor representatives appointed to the board by the governor.

“A thoroughly prepared, well-trained workforce is the most important incentive we can offer businesses interested in locating or expanding in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Beshear. “The new Kentucky Workforce Investment Board I have assembled will focus more intently on integrating its work with local workforce investment boards and economic development activities in order to better equip Kentucky’s workforce and serve Kentucky’s employers.”

The KWIB will advise the governor on workforce training issues and the infrastructure needed to ensure Kentucky workers have the skills to meet the challenges of the 21^st century.

“It’s truly an honor to represent the Machinists and all of labor,” said Adair. “I’m also honored that the governor asked me personally to serve. The goal is to try to bring more jobs to the state, and educate people currently out of work through apprenticeship programs, welding classes, and various kinds of technical training. I look forward to working on behalf of all of Kentucky’s working families.”

Kentucky Labor Secretary and former Machinist J.R. Gray is also part of the board. Secretary Gray will serve on the KWIB coordinating committee. Gray worked as an IAM Directing Business Representative for 20 years.

Recovery Act Extends UI Benefits for Rail Workers

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), signed into law on February 17, 2009, contains a number of important provisions that affect railroad retirement annuitants and railroad workers. Among other provisions, the Act provides up to 13 weeks of special extended unemployment benefits for certain rail workers who exhaust their right to benefits normally provided under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA).

Among those eligible to receive additional unemployment benefits are rail workers who did not have 10 years of railroad service (120 cumulative service months). Additionally, railroad workers who were previously eligible for extended benefits of up to 65 days may now be eligible for extended benefits of up to 130 days.

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will mail notices to eligible employees who previously exhausted their rights to normal or extended unemployment benefits. Rail workers who do not receive notification by mail can contact their local RRB office toll-free at 1-877-772-5772 or visit the RRB website at www.rrb.gov.

The special extended unemployment benefits are funded from the appropriation of $20 million provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Payment of special unemployment benefits will stop at the end of a person’s extended unemployment benefit period or when the $20 million has been spent – whichever comes first.

Toronto Machinists Sign Extension with SKF Bearings

Members of Local 901 in Toronto, Ontario, who provide warehousing services at the company’s facility in east-end Toronto, signed a one-year extension to their collective bargaining agreement with SKF Bearings Canada.

“In these economic times, a one-year extension was something the membership could live with,” said District 78 Business Representative Paul Mitchell, who noted the one-year extension provides members with a $750 signing bonus. The agreement was ratified by a 100 percent margin.

Also in Ontario, members of Local 235 in Toronto have ratified a new three-year agreement with ACME Lock and Access Control. The agreement provides for a wage increase of two per cent in each year for the locksmiths who maintain and install lock and entry systems throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

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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.

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Fall 2008

Millions of Americans braved the cold and the crowds to listen to President Barack Obama give his Inaugural Address. Billions - yes, billions - watched his historic speech on television in hamlets and cities across the globe. No one was disappointed.

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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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.

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Warren L. Mart
Secretary-Treasurer

Lee Pearson
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Dave Ritchie
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