Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

The Recession Question
May 28, 2008 - All around the country economists are trying to answer whether or not the United States is in a recession.

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.

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Shareholders Urged to Scuttle NWA-Delta Merger

IAM President Tom Buffenbarger warned of diminished returns for shareholders and turmoil for airline passengers if the proposed merger between Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines is approved.

The IAM sent letters this week to the largest shareholders of Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines to express serious concerns over the proposed Northwest-Delta merger.

“I urge shareholders of Delta and Northwest to protect their interests and speak out to oppose this proposed merger,” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger. “In addition to my concern with the treatment of employees in the proposed merger, I also believe that this transaction destroys shareholder value by combining two vastly different entities with few expected synergies.”

Among the financial hurdles that the combined airline would face is a crushing long-term debt burden of $15 billion. Additionally, the proposed merged company would have a serious lack of liquidity with a working capital deficiency of $1.03 billion. Moreover, pension deficits would amount to an unfunded pension liability of over $7 billion. Since the merger was announced, Northwest stock has lost 41 percent of its value and Delta stock has lost 44 percent of its value.

“To date, Delta and Northwest have failed to provide shareholders with a convincing argument that consolidation would increase shareholder value,” said Buffenbarger. “The checkered history of airline mergers since deregulation has shown us that they inevitably result in disgruntled customers, turmoil within the workforce, and diminished returns.”

Local 2003 Test Pilot Wins Reinstatement

Alabama Local 2003 member Brian Buchanan (left) is back on the job as a helicopter test pilot for Army Fleet Support in Ft. Rucker, AL, after an arbitrator ruled he was wrongfully discharged. District 75 Business Representative Tony Blevins (right) credited witness preparation and Buchanan’s long record of service for the win.

Brian Buchanan, a member of Local 2003 in Daleville, AL, is being reinstated as a helicopter test pilot for Army Fleet Support (AFS) at nearby Fort Rucker, AL, after an arbitrator ruled he was wrongfully terminated for misreporting safety violations.

Despite a spotless record since joining AFS in 1998, Buchanan, who also serves as a Local 2003 Shop Steward, was fired in November 2007 for allegedly misreporting safety violations. According to District 75 Business Representative Tony Blevins, the company targeted him because he was a union steward and wanted to make an example of him during a transition from Army regulations to FAA regulations.

“We were dealing with Army regulations, FAA regulations and contract language,” said Blevins, who handled the complicated grievance. “We had very good witnesses that did an excellent job of explaining our case. We had a great deal of expertise in the matter, and it paid off.”

The grievance went all the way to the final step where an impartial arbitrator ruled Buchanan was using his best judgment as an experienced test pilot and ordered the company to return him to work with full back pay, an amount with overtime that could be as high as $85,000.

New Law Would End Passport Outsourcing

The IAM/National Federation of Federal Employees (IAM/NFFE) is endorsing H.R. 5752, legislation that would end the foreign manufacture of U.S. passports and require the travel and identity documents be manufactured in the United States.

H.R. 5752 was introduced in the House of Representatives after it was revealed that the Government Printing Office (GPO) had outsourced the manufacturing and assembly of the U.S. passport book cover and security components to a company operating in Europe and Thailand.

The news that passport book covers had been outsourced to foreign companies was met with widespread outrage in editorial pages and blogs. A March 28, 2008, Washington Times Editorial stated that the “annals of incompetent federal empire-building have a new entry: the Government Printing Office's e-Passport program.” The Times called this a “disastrous, almost incomprehensible failure” in passport security, noting that “[t]he assembler and patent-holder, Netherlands-based Smartrac Technology Ltd., ‘divulged in ... October 2007 ... that China had stolen its patented chip technology for e-passport chips’.” The Times argued that “[b]lank passports are a free ticket to entry into the United States.”

“The off-shoring of this critical government function is absolutely shocking,” said Colin Walle, president of IAM/NFFE Local 1998, a nationwide passport local. “We go to great lengths to ensure the integrity of the U.S. Passport. It makes no sense to open a Pandora’s Box of safety concerns by manufacturing passport books and security features in foreign countries.”

Passage of H.R. 5752 would address these concerns by requiring that U.S. passports be manufactured domestically. For more information, visit http://nffe1998.org/HR5752.htm .

Arizona Local 933 Scores $72K Wage Settlement

Fifty members of Local 933 in Tucson, AZ, will divide a settlement of more than $70,000 after DBR Jim Watson resolved a contract dispute over pay rates at Raytheon Missile Systems.

Members of the local lodge challenged the company’s method of calculating General Wage Increase amounts and base rate minimums following the ratification of a new agreement in early 2007. The grievance settlement is retroactive to July, 2007.

“The union disagreed with the way Raytheon implemented the contract language, so we used the grievance procedure to make our case,” said DBR Watson. “I look forward to working with Raytheon to resolve our other outstanding issues, as well as pursuing common goals like our safety initiatives while continuing to build the best products in the defense industry.”

“I’m very appreciative of the efforts the IAM made on our behalf,” said Local 933 member Roger Kirby, a Production Test Technician who benefited from the grievance settlement. I didn’t realize the work they were doing behind-the-scenes and I’m really pleased about it.”

“This is a prime example of the value of a collective bargaining agreement with a strong grievance procedure,” said Western Territory GVP Lee Pearson. “Congratulations to DBR Watson for his first-rate efforts.”

Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, AZ, produces the Tomahawk missile and other weapons systems.

Mike Rose Joins Organizing Department

Woodworkers District Lodge 1 Organizer Mike Rose has joined the IAM Organizing Department staff as a Special Representative. The appointment is effective June 1, 2008. “We’re pleased to welcome Mike to the Organizing Department. He has been doing a great job at District 1 and he is a great addition to our organizing efforts,” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger.

Rose joined the International Woodworkers (IWA) of America in 1980 after being hired at International Paper Company in Reedsport, OR, where he served as shop steward and chief steward. After the IWA merged with the IAM in 1994, Rose became a Business Representative for Local Lodge W-261 in North Bend, OR, until 1998 when he became an Organizer for Woodworkers District Lodge W1 in Gladstone, OR.

Senate Votes to Extend Unemployment Benefits

Ignoring a veto threat from the Bush administration, the Senate last week voted overwhelmingly to extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless. More than 200,000 workers a month exhaust their unemployment benefits and roughly 3.5 million workers will lose their unemployment insurance this year.

With many workers struggling to find jobs, the extension offers much needed support. A report released by the National Employment Law Project found the Unemployment Insurance funds of several states are not solvent enough to weather a recession. The report, Unemployment Insurance Financing: Examining State Trust Funds Facing Recession, found current state UI reserves are only about half the levels recommended prior to a recession. In fact, the report says Michigan, Missouri, New York and Ohio, which have been hit hard by the decline in manufacturing jobs, could have trouble meeting the need for UI benefits as early as this year.

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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.

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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