Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

Off-Setting the Economy
May 8, 2008 - Owen Herrnstadt, Director of the IAM'S Trade and Globilization Department talks about the topic of offsets.

You Are Not Forgotten
April 29, 2008 - For twenty years the IAM has been observing Worker Memorial Day, honoring those men and women who gave the ultimate sacrafice to the job.

Equal Pay for Equal Work
April 29, 2008 - In a union, workers share the same contract and therefore, the same pay and benefits.

More Broken Merger Promises
April 29, 2008 - Last week the IAM's International President Tom Buffenbarger headed to Capitol Hill to tell Congress that the proposed merger between Northwest and Delta Airlines is going to do much more harm than good.

Delta and Northwest Merger
April 21, 2008 - Last week Northwest and Delta Airlines announced a merger. GVP, Robert Roach Jr. comments on the situation.

A New, New Deal
April 18, 2008 - Just blocks away from the Capitol, a group from the Roosevelt Institution gathered to talk about a new, new deal for the future.

The Sky Is The Limit
April 15, 2008 - For the past six years the IAM has shared a very unique relationship with the students at Aviation High School. Last week these students visited the Winpisinger Center.

Tankers Today, Fighters Tomorrow?
April 4, 2008 - Americans around the country are angry as they watch their jobs and livelihoods go overseas. Most recently, it was the award of a US Military contract to a foreign country. GVP Rich Michalski traveled to Pennsylvania to speak about this issue.

A 'Not So Mock' Negotiations
April 3, 2008 - Many in the labor movement say there's nothing more difficult than negotiating contracts. That's why the Winpisinger Center is arming Machinists with the tools needed to succeed at the bargaining table.

Violence In Colombia
March 20, 2008 - The words "Colombia" and "Labor" have almost become synonymous with the word "Violence". In fact, some labor leaders argue there's not a moment in the history of unions in Colombia untarnished by violence.

Linking Catholics With Organized Labor
March 20, 2008 - An independent group of labor activists share their religious perspectives on worker rights.

Homeless Vets Need Housing and Healthcare
March 14, 2008 - Some of our U.S. Veterans who once served this great country are homeless and Congress is taking action.

Defending America
March 14, 2008 - About a week ago, the United States Air Force awarded a $35 billion dollar defense contract to a European aircraft manufacturer called Airbus. The Machinists and their allies didn't take this news lightly.

Going Green
March 12, 2008 - Many in the labor movement say if you want to keep the USA strong, you need to bring back American manufacturing. Some say the way to do that is to go green.

The Skills Needed
March 10, 2008 - The IAM's America's Edge Campaign doesn't start and stop with the Machinists. The word is out and people are listening.

A 'No Win' Situation
February 29, 2008 - For years the Machinists Union has fought against airline mergers and with good reason. A merger doesn't just hurt employees but also the American public.

Looking At Transportation's Future
February 29, 2008 - The Winpisinger Center was the meeting place this month for the IAM's Transportation Principal Officers Conference.

Lockheed Martin Negotiations Begin
February 20, 2008 - Negotiations between the IAM and Lockheed Martin kicked off this weekend in Palm Springs, California.

The Battle of Valley Ford
February 12, 2008 - In January, America's midwest turns cold and windy. That becomes more obvious if you're spending January on strike like the workers in Hazelwood, Missouri.

Our Skills, Our Kids...Seattle
February 7, 2008 - As the America's Edge Tour wound its way across the USA, support for its message swelled and a stop in Seattle gave the tour even more of a push.

Our Skills, Our Kids...Wichita
February 6, 2008 - From St. Louis to Wichita, that's where the IAM's America's Edge Tour headed next. To see the faces and hear the voices of those people who have made Wichita the Air Capital City of the world.

Our Skills, Our Kids...St. Louis
February 4, 2008 - After the Space Coast and a visit to the South, it was time for the IAM's America's Edge Tour to visit the heartland.

Our Skills, Our Kids...
February 1, 2008 - The IAM lead a seven day, eight state tour across the country to talk to thousands about the importance of educating the next generation and making sure our kids have a future.

Media Library
IAMpodcast

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

Doubt, Resistance Grows Over Airline Mergers

Northwest Airlines CEO Doug Steenland (left) and Delta Airlines CEO Richard Anderson received skeptical treatment at a series of Congressional hearings to weigh the impact of airline consolidation.

On Capitol Hill and in the court of public opinion, airline mergers have been getting a chilly reception.

At a House Transportation Subcommittee hearing held last week to examine the proposed Delta-Northwest merger, Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. declared: “A Delta-Northwest merger will eliminate jobs, reduce choices for passengers, further deteriorate customer service, trigger additional senseless mergers, make millionaires even richer, and most importantly, do nothing to address the problems of a failing industry.”

The judgment of lawmakers and industry analysts, who normally support airline management, has been equally grim. Below is a sampling of opinion drawn from recent testimony at four congressional hearings:

“The inescapable lesson of 29 years of deregulation is that mergers and a reduction in competition are likely to lead to higher fares, a deterioration of service, and financially weakened survivors.” Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN).

“Mergers have been good for airline executives, but not so good for consumers and employees.” Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL).

“Airline mergers have a checkered track record, rarely delivering on expected gains and usually creating labor unrest and service disruption.” Philip Baggaley, Managing Director, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services.

“If there is one thing that we have learned from the long history of antitrust, it is that efficiencies are easy to assert, difficult to achieve, and rarely of the magnitude that their parties – in their self-interest – claim.” Albert Foer, President, American Antitrust Institute.

“Delta/Northwest and other mega-mergers can not be justified by synergies and improved efficiencies.” Hubert Horan, Airline industry analyst and consultant.

“There are amalgamations that make economic and public policy sense but…this is not one of them.” Aaron Gellman, Professor, Northwestern University’s Transportation Center.

“There are powerful reasons why these mega-mergers would be harmful to consumers, and would solve none of the industry’s most serious problems.” Kevin Mitchell, Chairman, Business Travel Coalition.

Links to the complete testimony from all witnesses and archived video can be accessed at www.goiam.org/mergers.

Machinists, Connecticut Officials Urge Bush to Reconsider Tanker Contract

District 26 DBR Everett Corey speaks about the negative impact of the recent tanker decision. Looking on, from left to right, are: Mary Beth Reid, Director of the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce; Democratic State Representatives Claire Janowski, David McCluskey and Peter Tercyak; Democratic State Senator Gary LeBeau and Republican State Senator John McKinney.

Machinists, business leaders and state officials gathered at the Connecticut state Capitol last week to announce that the Connecticut General Assembly is sending a letter to President Bush urging him to reconsider the U.S. Air Force’s decision to award a $40 billion aerial refueling tanker contract to the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS).

“We call upon you to halt the contract process for the United States mid-air refueling tanker, and we strongly urge you to immediately and vigorously investigate the proposed outsourcing of taxpayer-funded jobs, its impact on the American economy and the procurement process that made possible this transfer of billions of dollars to foreign entities,” states the letter, which was signed by 177 of 187 members of the legislature.

“We are all tired of watching our jobs streaming overseas and devastating our future,” said District 26 Directing Business Representative Everett Corey. “Having our Government and our taxpayer dollars pay for it is even more appalling.”

The Air Force’s decision not to award the contract to Boeing could impact as many as 44,000 U.S. aircraft and aerospace workers at hundreds of primary and secondary contractors in more than 40 states. Connecticut stands to lose more than 4,000 jobs at Pratt & Whitney in addition to numerous jobs at smaller vendors and suppliers.

Canadian Machinists Ink New Deals at Multiple Locations

Roughly 50 members of IAM Local Lodge 2738 in Montreal voted overwhelmingly to ratify a four-year agreement with Weir Canada, securing a $500 signing bonus and wage increases of 3.5 per cent in the first year and three percent in each of the remaining three years.

The members, who manufacture mechanical equipment, will also see monetary improvements for external work, more equitable distribution of overtime and improvements on retiring bonus.

Members of IAM Local Lodge 412 in Cornwall, ON have ratified a four-year agreement with Bolger Steel Fabrication Ltd., securing wage increases of four percent in the first year, three percent in the second and third years and two percent in the fourth year. The contract also provides an increase in the employer pension contribution and improvements in vacation time.

In Montreal, twenty members of IAM Local Lodge 1660 ratified a three-year agreement with ABB Incorporated, providing wage increases of 3 percent each year. Other agreement highlights include increased vacation days and increased layoff compensation.

Finally, in Sherbrooke, QC, two years after their initial contact with the IAM, workers at A & R Belley Transport have joined the Machinists. The 17 newest members of IAM Local Lodge 922 consist of truck drivers and fork lift operators at two locations in Quebec City and Sherbrooke.

Florida Woodworkers Demand Safe Workplace, Fair Wages

By a unanimous vote, 40 members of Local W356, in Adel, GA, who build wooden crates at the Elberta Crate and Box Company facility in Avon Park, FL, rejected a contract offer from the company with annual wage rates that did not even meet the 2007 federal poverty level for a family of three.

“There are workers in Bainbridge, GA, who do the same work, for the same company, who earn about $1.30 per hour more,” said Leon Blocker, President of District W-2. “They have safer work conditions and hot water in their bathrooms. There’s no excuse for treating these Florida workers worse than the workers in Georgia.”

Besides livable wages, safety on the job is a key issue for the workers in Florida. Last year the company lost more than 298 worker days in productivity because of accidents on the job. “If the employer would stop violating the law and start to work with us, we could lower their accident rates, reduce some of their costs and improve productivity,” said Blocker.

In addition to the substandard contract offer, the National Labor Relations Board will hold a hearing on Aug. 4 to consider numerous charges levied by the IAM of discriminatory and hostile activities in the workplace.

China Unveils Commercial Aircraft Co.

In a move that could have a devastating impact on the U.S. aerospace industry, China has announced that it has formed the China Commercial Aircraft Co with an initial investment of $2.7 billion. China aims to build a 150-seat aircraft by 2020 to compete with Boeing and Airbus.

In numerous forums, the IAM warned U.S. policy makers for nearly a decade that China is developing a globally viable commercial aircraft industry. On each of these occasions, the IAM stressed the significant role that outsourcing, offsets and technology transfers would play in the development of China’s emerging aerospace industry.

News of China’s leap into the commercial aircraft industry comes as China has surpassed the United States in a highly-regarded measure of high tech competitiveness.

Manufacturing and Technology News reports the Georgia Institute of Technology's bi-annual "High-Tech Indicators" found that China improved its "technological standing" by 9 points over the period of 2005 to 2007, while the U.S. rating dropped 6.8 points.

Negotiations Successful for Amtrak Clerks, On Board Service Workers and Product Line Supervisors

Tentative agreements were reached Friday, May 23, for TCU-represented Amtrak clerks, on board service workers and ARASA product line supervisors. The terms now go to the involved members to review and vote on: Ratification packets are being mailed today and ballots must be returned by June 27 to be counted.

“I am very pleased that we are finally able to bring this difficult bargaining round on Amtrak to a successful close,” says TCU International President Bob Scardelletti. “These three contracts bring TCU members solid wage increases with no work rule changes, identical to those reached by all other crafts on Amtrak for the period covered. I strongly urge ratification.’

The contracts extend from January 1, 2005 through December 1, 2009. Wage increases and employee health insurance contributions are identical for this period to all the contracts previously ratified earlier this year by every other craft on Amtrak. There is full retroactivity back to the first wage increase on July 1, 2005; the retroactive pay will be paid in one 100 percent installment. There are no work rule changes.

Click here to see photos taken at the signing of the tentative agreements.

Past iMail | Your Email |www.goiam.org | Print Version

Machinists News Network @ YouTube

Launch Video Player

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

Order your 2008 IAM Calendar Today

Individual Order Form
Bulk Order Form

2007 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
Winter 2008

Skills Pat Maloney examines parts before they are put on Boeing aircraft. Any primary processing defects, problems with the metal or even the smallest crack, Maloney is the one who needs to catch it.

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.

Click above image for flyer
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

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.

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