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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EPI Study Fuels Debate on Tanker Jobs

A new study of the decision to award a $40 million taker contract to EADS/Airbus instead of Boeing reveals just how many jobs will not be created in the U.S. once production gets underway.

“Because roughly half of the parts and labor that go into making the NG/Airbus will come from overseas, at least 14,000 jobs that could have been generated in the United States if the contract had gone to Boeing will not be created,” said the report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). The number of jobs notcreated is in addition to the number of existing jobs jeopardized by foreign production of the tanker. As many as 44,000 U.S. jobs at dozens of companies in more than 30 states are directly or indirectly linked to tanker production and support.

The EPI study also notes that Air Force officials did not evaluate the impact on employment and job creation when awarding the contract. “There are few, if any other major countries that do not take into account the location of production and employment in military procurement decisions,” said the report. “The process of accounting for the promised and actual location of production under military contracts is governed in most countries under so-called ‘offset’ arrangements.”

Offsets are agreements to locate production in the purchasing country or to source products from or transfer technology to firms in that country. The loosely-governed practice has the potential to shift valuable technology, developed at U.S. taxpayer expense, to developing countries intent on competing with U.S.-built industries.

Shareholders to Receive Health Care Proposals

In a victory for shareholder rights advocates, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will allow voting on shareholder-generated proposals designed to force publicly held companies to take a position on universal health insurance coverage.

The IAM and AFL-CIO labor unions have campaigned for such proposals to be included in shareholder proxy materials as a way to draw the nation’s biggest companies into the debate over the future of health care. The United States is the only wealthy industrialized nation that does not have a universal health care system. Polls show that most Americans, many politicians and organizations favor it.

The shareholder proposals would not require corporations to provide or increase health care benefits for their employees, but would urge top corporate executives to adopt “principles for comprehensive health care reform.” Labor unions and religious groups control billions in pension fund and other investments and shareholder proposals are a means to influence and potentially increase the value of their holdings.

The decision by the SEC is a reversal of an earlier position that allowed large corporations to exclude such proposals from the proxy materials sent to shareholders in advance of annual meetings. The SEC recently declared it was appropriate for shareholders to be given the opportunity to express their views to management on “significant social policy issues” beyond day-to-day business matters.

57-year member Ruth Cain is Sister of the Month

Ruth G. Cain joined Local 475 in Grand Rapids, MI, in 1951 and remains a very active member today, more than 57 years later. Employed at RC Allen Business Machines in Grand Rapids as an assembler and Quality Control Inspector, Cain became more involved after winning a grievance filed by her shop steward in 1962.

In 1964, Cain was urged to run for president of her local. “I was shocked because women held the job of recording secretary or financial secretary in 1964, but the office of president was for the most part that of a man,” said Cain, who went on to win the election and to this day remains the only woman elected to serve as president of Local 475.

Cain has also held numerous elected positions in her local and district, including district delegate for 42 years; Conductor/Sentinel; Trustee; Vice President; Recording Secretary and delegate to the Michigan State Council of Machinists. She’s represented her lodge sisters and brothers at six IAM Grand Lodge Conventions and is very active in District 60’s Forever Young Retirees Club.

Being retired hasn’t slowed Cain down. In addition to her continued union activity, she is a volunteer counselor with her community’s Agency on Aging, where she educates and guides senior citizens on the various aspects of Medicare and Medicaid.

Cain’s advice to women seeking leadership positions is, “Work hard to gain the respect of your members, have a positive attitude, represent everyone equally, don’t boast and do your job with humility and to the best of your ability.”

Labor 2008 Mobilizing for Employee Free Choice Act

With the AFL-CIO’s Labor 2008 program in full swing, a call has been put out for each State Federation and Central Labor Council to devote at least one meeting this summer to discuss the economy and the Million Member Mobilization for the Employee Free Choice Act. In order to ensure working family issues remain at the forefront of the 2008 elections, local labor leaders are being asked to recruit volunteers for the Labor 2008 program as well as recruit volunteers for the Employee Free Choice Act mobilization.

“From fixing our broken health care system to passing the Employee Free Choice Act, getting worker-friendly candidates elected this fall is critical for working families,” said International President Tom Buffenbarger. “We need our members to get involved and fight for the issues that will keep the union movement and our country strong.”

This past April, more than 300 State and Central Labor Councils held meetings to discuss Labor 2008’s campaign for health care for all.

Southern Territory Holds Guide Dog Benefits

As the warm weather settles in, IAM members around the country are gearing up for events to benefit the IAM’s favorite charity, Guide Dogs of America. Last weekend, members of Local 2003 and District 75 in Daleville, AL, held their first ever Annual Hogs for Dogs run. The riders got underway with a police escort from the City of Daleville and then rode for more than two hours before arriving at the Harley-Davidson dealership in Dothan, AL, where a lunch was donated by a local BBQ restaurant. Other motorcycle clubs joined the IAM during the ride, including local riders from the Patriot Guard Riders, who provides motorcycle escorts for military funerals.

“It was an excellent turnout, and we expect next year to be even bigger,” said event chairman Adam Beasley. “We asked every rider to bring another rider next year.”

Meanwhile in Kansas, Local 733 sponsored the 2nd Annual Guide Dogs Golf Tournament at Hidden Lakes Golf Course. Fifteen four-person teams competed, with Guide Dogs President Jay Bormann presiding. The tournament got off to a late start after thunderstorms and hail drenched the area. “The course was in surprisingly good shape, but there were no shortage of water hazards,” said event organizer Shawn Junkins.

“I’d like to thank all the organizers and participants of these great events,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “With everyone so busy these days, our members in the Southern Territory are still finding time to raise money for Guide Dogs of America. It’s a worthy cause and I’m very proud of all the work going on in our territory.”

For more information visit Guide Dogs of America.

Take the 2008 ‘Ask a Working Woman’ Survey

Many challenges confront U.S. working women today, such as equal pay, balancing work and family, job security, health care coverage and paid maternity leave. If you’re a working woman, you can voice your concerns by participating in the online 2008 Ask a Working Woman survey provided by the AFL-CIO’S community affiliate, Working America.

Working America will use the results to advocate on behalf of working women everywhere for the next two years, giving results to candidates running at all levels of public office to help shape the policy agendas of incoming lawmakers.

Click here to take the survey and here to share it with other working women. The Ask a Working Woman survey runs through June 20.

More than 22,000 women took part in the 2006 Ask a Working Woman survey. Those results showed that the majority were worried about fundamental economic issues as paying for health care, not having retirement security and pay not keeping up with the cost of living.

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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