Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

Spirit Aerosystems: A Conversation With IP Tom Buffenbarger
July 2, 2008 - IP Tom Buffenbarger discusses unique wage negotiations at Spirit Aerosystems.

Hawker Beechcraft: A Conversation With IP Tom Buffenbarger
July 2, 2008 - IP Tom Buffenbarger discusses the latest developments at Hawker Beechcraft.

IAM College Graduating Class of '08
July 2, 2008 - Last weekend 11 Machinists graduated from the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The GAO Says No!!!
June 26, 2008 -
A few months ago, the United States Air Force awarded a U.S. Military Contract to a foreign owned company. Machinists jumped on the issue and the government heard us loud and clear.

Around The Globe June 25, 2008 -
A historic event took place recently at the Winpisinger Center when 37 women from 25 different countries gathered to change the future.

An Agenda For Education
June 18, 2008 - According to recent polls, Americans want to see more training for middle class jobs but the government doesn't seem to be getting the message. The IAM is hoping to help change that.

To All Who Would Listen
June 4, 2008 - It's one thing to talk something and a whole other to take action. That's exactly why Machinists at this year's Legislative Conference took their issues to Capitol Hill, talking to all who would listen.

Mergers, Tankers and Fairness
June 2, 2008 - IAM Members from around the country gathered in Washington D.C. to let the politicians know they aren't going to be silent on the issues that matter most.

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.

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Machinists at Boeing Say “It’s Our Time, This Time!”

Thousands of Seattle-area IAM members packed the KeyArena for a strike sanction rally. Speakers at the rally included IAM President Tom Buffenbarger, pictured below, Headquarters GVP Rich Michalski, Western Territory GVP Lee Pearson, IAM Aerospace Coordinator Mark Blondin and District 751 President Tom Wroblewski.

Boeing Machinists sent a powerful message of solidarity this week after IAM members employed at Boeing Aircraft Co. voted by an overwhelming 99 percent margin in favor of granting strike sanction authority to their Negotiating Committee.

“By casting their ballots in record numbers, they sent negotiators back to the bargaining table with the full support of the membership and a clear message, ‘it's payback time,’” said IAM Aerospace Coordinator Mark Blondin. The 99 percent margin includes IAM members voting in Seattle, WA; Wichita, KS; Portland, OR and Edwards Air Force Base, CA, representing nearly 27,000 employees at Boeing who have made “It’s Our Time, This Time!” the theme of negotiations.

Contract talks between the IAM and Boeing began on May 9, 2008. Round-the-clock bargaining will commence on Aug. 20. The current contract expires at 12:01 a.m. on September 4, 2008.

GAO Blasts Labor Department Practices

The U.S. Government Accountability Office released two reports Tuesday sharply criticizing the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division for not adequately enforcing the nation’s wage and hour laws.

Presented during a hearing before the House Education and Labor Committee, the GAO reports say the Wage and Hour division mishandled thousands of cases over the past decade and delayed numerous cases for a year or more. As a result, many workers received reduced or no back pay at all.

“Although the Department of Labor has the necessary tools to fight wage theft, the GAO investigation suggests that the problem of wage theft is only getting worse because of weaker enforcement,” said Committee Chair George Miller (D-CA). “In too many cases, the Wage and Hour Division has simply dropped the ball in pursuing employers that cheat its workers out of their hard earned wages.”

The GAO also criticized the Wage and Hour Division for the noticeable drop off in enforcement actions, calculating actions initiated by the Department on wage and hour violations has dropped from roughly 47,000 in 1997 to fewer than 30,000 in 2007. They also found fines punishing repeat or egregious offenders dropped by nearly 50 percent from 2001 to 2007.

Congress Overrides Bush Medicare Veto

Congress on Tuesday scored a major victory for the nation’s seniors, voting overwhelmingly to override President Bush’s veto of legislation that benefits low-income seniors receiving Medicare coverage.

The House voted by a 383-41 margin, and the Senate by a 70-26 margin, to override Bush’s veto of the ‘Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act’. The legislation, which halts a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare fees to physicians, was opposed by the Bush administration and many Republican lawmakers because it scales back subsidies to private Medicare Advantage providers.

“Today, Congress rightly overrode President Bush’s misguided veto and renewed the promise of Medicare,” said Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), whose presence helped the Senate secure a veto-proof majority. “It’s a great vote and a great day for America’s seniors.”

Working America Launches Bad Boss Contest

Working America has launched their third annual “My Bad Boss Contest,” giving workers the chance to share personal stories about bosses who treat their workers unjustly. Workers have through August 19th to share their stories. If your story is rated the worst bad boss experience, you could win one of two grand prizes.

Roughly 15 million workers report having a bad boss, according to a survey conducted for Working America. The survey also found 36 percent of working Americans report feeling pressure to stay with a bad boss because of the harsh economic conditions.

The Working America survey found numerous workers who have bosses that take credit for their work, do not provide them with recognition for success or hard work, and do not provide them with the guidance or opportunities necessary for advancement.

Click here to tell your story.

Working America is a community affiliate of the AFL-CIO with over two million members.

Secure Pension Means Secure Retirement

A defined benefit pension plan continues to be the best defense for current and future retirees who are being confronted with harsh economic realities. A recent study finds nearly three in five new middle-class retirees will outlive their current retirement savings if they maintain their pre-retirement standard of living.

The Ernst & Young study draws attention to the importance of a secure pension plan, finding “retirees are much better prepared to have a financially secure retirement if they have a guaranteed source of retirement income beyond Social Security, such as an annuity or defined benefit plan.”

The study found retirees would have to reduce their standard of living by roughly 24 percent to have enough for a secure retirement. For those retiring in seven years, that number jumps to 37 percent.

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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
Summer 2008

What kind of union do we want to be? That's the question delegates at the upcoming Grand Lodge Convention in Orlando, FL, will have to answer when the discussion turns to the IAM's 32-year-old dues structure.

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