Thursday, May 24, 2007

Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

Still Standing Still Proud May 24, 2007 - On May 17, 2007, thousands of workers rallied on the National Mall for the Transportation Day of Action.  A day to tell the federal government "Enough is Enough" to practices that put the needs of businesses in front of American workers.

Straight Talk From John Edwards May 9, 2007 - IAM District 751 in Seattle was the backdrop for Machinists and other union members to talk openly with presidential candidate John Edwards about the issues that matter to the middle class and his plan to help organized labor.

Earnings Aren't Stagnant, They're Plummeting!
May 3, 2007 -  With housing and living expenses steadily climbing, it’s no secret many middle class families are struggling with stagnant wages.

Remembering the Fallen May 2, 2007 - May 1st or May Day in an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers around the world.  For the Machinists it was also a day to remember those who have passed.  The IAM honored its own at a ceremony earlier this week.

Making Work Safe May 2, 2007 - On December 29, 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Act was signed into law.  Created to protect workers and the workplace, it cut on the job deaths in half.  But now it needs to be updated because it's not keeping up with the times.

A Level Playing Field April 26, 2007 - April 24th is Equal Pay Day.  A day on the calendar that indicates the point of the year when women's wages catch up to men's.  But for union workers, it's always been a level playing field.

Flying Rights
April 19, 2007 - Satisfied workers equals satisfied customers.  This is a notion plaguing the airline industry, especially with so many carriers trying to stay out of bankruptcy or away from mergers.  But now these actions are trickling down to the customers.

Health Care For All April 19, 2007 - From the politicians in Washington to the family next door, everyone seems to be concerned with health care costs.

American Manufacturing: Flourishing or Floundering
April 17, 2007 - Many analysts point to manufacturing as a cornerstone of the American middle class. 

Oldest U.S. Manufacturer Threatened By China Trade
April 10, 2007 - More than 200 years ago the legendary Paul Revere created what is now the oldest manufacturing company in the United States, Revere Copper.

Space: The Next Generation April 5, 2007 - The last generation only knows space travel by the shuttle.  That's going to change in 2010 when the shuttle fleet is retired and replaced with a new program.

Families On Shaky Ground
APRIL 5, 2006 - According to the folks at the Center for American Progress, the economy has been great for those at the top but stagnant for those in the middle or lower income classes.

Safety In The Skies April 4, 2007 - Safety in the skies is everyone's issue, especially after 9-11.  Robert Roach Jr. testified on Capitol Hill about what more needs to be done.

Fresh Faces on the Hill: Congressman Keith Ellison
March 26, 2007 - Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota’s 5^th District has had a lot of firsts.  He’s the first muslim ever elected to Congress.  And the first African American elected to the House from Minnesota. 

China's Taste for Trash
March 20, 2007 - According to recent statistics, in 2006 the U.S. exported nearly 60 billion dollars of goods and services to China. But what were those products?  It may surprise you to know that a good portion of it was garbage.

American Workers Want a Union Contract
March 16, 2007 - As the battle over the Employee Free Choice Act heats up – a new report from the Economic Policy Institute shows workers want to join a union NOW, more than any time in the recent past.

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CBTU Holds 36th Annual Convention

More than 1,000 IAM members and trade unionists are gathering in Chicago, IL, this week for the 36th International Convention of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU). “Lessons Learned, New Vision for the Future,” is the theme of the week-long convention.

“Since 1972, CBTU has been a voice for African-American workers within the labor movement,” said IAM Executive Assistant Diane Babineaux, who serves as CBTU Trustee. “Its mission has been to challenge organized labor to be more relevant to the needs and aspirations of black and poor workers, and that’s just as important today as it was 35 years ago,” said Babineaux.

CBTU is also keenly aware of the political world and its implications for working families.

“We must fight as diligently now as we did then to combat these very real and threatening attacks on our livelihoods for the sake of our families and future generations,” said William Lucy, CBTU co-founder and President, and International Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME. “Our jobs and community programs are at stake. We must raise our awareness and knowledge of the issues confronting us to better fight and stave off these attacks,” stated Lucy in the official convention call.

Senate Immigration Proposal No Fix for Broken System

The immigration proposal taking shape this week in the U.S. Senate is fast becoming one of the most controversial issues of the decade, with lawmakers certain to face concerned and even outraged constituents when they return home for the Memorial Day recess.

Under the Senate bill, 400,000 to 600,000 temporary foreign workers could enter the United States each year on two-year, guest worker visas. By renewing visas, that number could reach more than 1 million foreign workers in the third year of the program.

Opponents of the bill’s guest worker measure include Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who said it would create a pool of “desperate low-wage workers.” AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson echoed the concern, saying the Senate bill would allow employers to import “hundreds of thousands temporary workers every year to perform permanent jobs throughout the economy.”

The Senate bill also includes a controversial provision that would offer a means to achieve legal status for most of the 12 million illegal immigrants now in the U.S.

“The supposed ‘path to legalization’ in the Senate compromise will exclude millions of workers and thus ensure that America will have two classes of workers, only one of which can exercise workplace rights,” said Chavez-Thompson. “As long as this two-tiered system exists, all workers will suffer because employers will have available a ready pool of labor that they can exploit to drive down wages, benefits, health and safety protections and other workplace standards.” 

IAM Pickets Smurfit-Stone Shareholders Meeting

Midwest Territory GVP Phil Gruber (third from right) joined IAM representatives recently to picket Smurfit-Stone’s annual shareholders meeting in Chicago, IL.

Smurfit-Stone’s unwillingness to bargain reasonably at its plant in Sioux City, IA, led members of Local 1426 in Sioux City to strike the facility nearly three months ago. In a bid to bring the deplorable working conditions at the plant to the attention of Smurfit-Stone board members and shareholders, IAM Midwest Territory representatives recently picketed Smurfit-Stone’s annual shareholders meeting in Chicago, IL.

“Our members have been working mandatory overtime up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week, with only 12 days off last year,” said District Lodge 6 Business Representative John Herrig. “Our hope is that the company recognizes the sacrifices our members have made and will negotiate accordingly.”

“It’s absolutely ridiculous in this day and age that anyone would have to go on strike to spend time with their families,” said Midwest GVP Phil Gruber. “With all the hours of dedication our members are contributing to the success of Smurfit-Stone, they deserve time to be with their families, they deserve good health insurance at a reasonable cost and they deserve a secure pension plan.”

Spanish Leadership at WWW Center

Twelve IAM members from six states took part in the second Spanish Leadership I program this week at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center.

The IAM's second Leadership I program, conducted entirely in Spanish, is taking place this week at the William W. Winpisinger Center in Hollywood, Maryland. Twelve IAM members from six states, along with two trade unionists from Guatemala, are participating in Spanish Leadership I – Liderazgo I.

“This program demonstrates the IAM's commitment to provide all of its members with the skills and tools they need to more effectively represent their sisters and brothers in the workplace,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “I am very proud of each of these members and I have challenged them to go back to their locals and to their workplaces and put to use what they learned at the Winpisinger Center.”

The Winpisinger Center's 2007 calendar includes another Spanish Leadership I Program on July 8 -13. Local and District Lodges are encouraged to enroll members in this and other Winpisinger Center programs as soon as possible.

Photo caption: Twelve IAM members from six states took part in the second Spanish Leadership I program this week at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center.

Liderazgo 1 en Español en el Centro WWW

Doce miembros de la IAM de seis Estados de este país tomaron parte en la segunda Clase de Liderazgo 1 en español esta semana en el Centro de Educación y Tecnología William W. Winpisinger.

La Clase de Liderazgo 1 en español de la IAM, conducido enteramente en español, esta siendo presentada esta semana en el Centro de Educación y Tecnología William W. Winpisinger en Hollywood, Maryland. Doce miembros de la IAM de seis Estados del País junto con dos Unionistas (sindicalistas) de Guatemala están tomando parte en esta clase de Liderazgo 1 en español.

“Este programa demuestra el compromiso de la IAM para ayudar a todos sus miembros con el desarrollo de sus habilidades y les provee con herramientas que ellos necesitan representar efectivamente a sus hermanas y hermanos en su lugar de trabajo,” dijo el presidente del Internacional Tom Buffenbarger. “Estoy muy orgulloso de cada uno de estos miembros y yo los he desafiado para que vuelvan a sus Locales y a sus centros de trabajo y pongan en practica todo lo que aprendieron en el Centro Winpisinger.”

El calendario de clases del Centro educativo Winpisinger para el 2007 incluye otra Clase de Liderazgo 1 en español de Julio 8 a Julio 13 del 2007. Se les pide a las Logias Locales y Distritos a que matriculen miembros en esta y otras clases en el Centro Educativo Winpisinger tan pronto como sea posible.

District 66 Wins Big at VT Griffin

New members of District 66 in La Crosse, WI.

District 66 in La Crosse, WI brought 70 new members into the IAM with a tremendous organizing victory at VT Griffin Services, Inc. in Sparta, WI. The workers, who perform vital public works services for U.S. troops at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, voted overwhelmingly for IAM representation.

Perseverance was the key to success for workers at VT Griffin who stood up to anti-union tactics and materials provided by the notorious Labor Relations Institute.

“They stood strong throughout the campaign in order to get an IAM contract and the representation they deserve,” said Midwest Territory GVP Phil Gruber. “Our thanks go out to Grand Lodge Representative Bob Anderson, Apprentice Organizer Brian Jarvensivu, District 66 Directing Business Representative Rick Mickschl and the District 66 organizing council for a great effort and victory.”

Machinists News Network @ YouTube

YouTube For You We Can't Make It Here Anymore - by James McMurtry


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.

2006 IAM Newsletter & Website Contest Awards
Newsletter Award entries are judged on Layout & Design, Best Feature and General Excellence. Local lodges and Districts are judged separately.

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
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.


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.



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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