Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

The Next President...
August 22, 2007 - For the first time in its history, the IAM is making a dual endorsement for candidates in the 2008 presidential primaries. International President Tom Buffenbarger comments.

Will Bush Deny Millions of Children Health Insurance?
August 21, 2007 - You can now add America’s children to the list of potential victims of the Bush administration.

China Threatening to Sell Off U.S. Reserves
August 20, 2007 - For years, the Bush administration and Congress have stood by idly while China’s currency manipulation and unfair trade practices have led to massive jobs loss and a record $230 billion trade deficit.

Blogosphere
August 10, 2007 - The world wide web has changed our lives. First it was email, then came search engines like Google and Wikipedia. Today it's the blogs that are taking the net by storm.

Stealing Our Steel
August 09, 2007 - All of nearly two-thousand IAM members who work for AK Steel in Middletown, Ohio want to see their jobs stay put. That's why Local Lodge President Dan Lawwill traveled to Washington to make sure the U.S. continues to be a leader in the world of steel.

Transportation Makes It Happen
July 31, 2007 - The upcoming elections were at the top of the list at this year's Transportation Conference.

The Next Big Idea July 19, 2007 - Hundreds of young adults gathered in Washington, DC for Roosevelt Institute's 2nd Annual Policy Expo.

Protecting Our Protectors July 18, 2007 - It's been an uphill battle for twelve years, but this week it's over. Now, public safety employees in all 50 states have finally been extended collective bargaining rights.

Trading Our Future July 13, 2007 - If you're in manufacturing, there's no doubt you've seen American jobs go overseas and probably wondered if your position is next to go.

Bringing Back the Jobs July 3, 2007 - For most, having a good job is the way to achieve the American dream. It's how families gain not just wages, but also security. Unfortunately, today's climate of depressed wages and outsourcing is leading many to give up on what was once in their grasp.

National Press Club Welcomes Lou Dobbs July 3, 2007 - For decades Lou Dobbs has been a force in the news business. In a recent speech at the D.C. Press Club, he focused on immigration and why for the first time in history, most middle class parents don't believe their children will have it better than they did.

Wal-Mart's Dealings With China Driving Job Loss June 29, 2007 - Just how devastating has Wal-Mart’s exploitation of cheap labor in China been? Since China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001, the corporate giant’s trade deficit with China has cost the U.S. nearly 200,000 jobs.

Outsourcing Security In the Air June 28, 2007 - According to the Department of Transportation, a decade ago, airlines outsourced about 10% of their maintenance work. Today, more than 60% of aircraft repairs is sent overseas. Some say this is a huge security risk, with no accountability.

With Honors
June 27, 2007 - Last week a group of Machinists from all walks of life fulfilled a life long dream of graduating from college

Fluctuating Gas Prices
June 28, 2007 - For the second straight summer Americans have been faced with steep gas prices at the pump.

Thousands Rally for Employee Free Choice Act
June 21, 2007 - Every twenty three minutes a worker is fired or punished for supporting a union. That is why thousands rallied in Washington this week to demand the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Saving Energy
June 14, 2007 - How much is your electric bill each month? What do you pay to fill up your car? Will your kids have to stop global warming? Americans are asking both big and small questions about energy and its future.

Senate Takes Up Manufacturing June 8, 2007 - Union leaders, small business owners, corporate CEO's...this is just a partical list of those who gathered to talk about America's Manufacturing Sector and try to to come up with ways to bring back this industry that once ruled the world.

IAM Voices on the Hill June 8, 2007 - No one knows the issues of workers better than the workers themselves. That's why it's so important for members of organized labor to take their voices to the hill.

On the Machinists Tour
June 6, 2007 - In the last few weeks, the IAM has seen and heard a lot from quite a few of those vying for the democratic presidential nomination. Take a look at some of the highlights from these Machinists events.

Ralph Fasanella: A Painter of Working Class People
June 4, 2007 - Whether it’s a strike or factory floor, former union organizer Ralph Fasanella devoted his life to painting working men and women.

To Tell The Truth
June 1, 2007 - IAM delegates gathered in Baltimore for this year's Communications Conference.

Obama Talks Politics at CBTU
May 31, 2007 - More than 1,000 people, including Machinists, gathered in Chicago for the 36th Annual Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Convention.

Tom Buffenbarger: 2007 Day of Action Speech
May 31, 2007 - International President, Tom Buffenbarger addresses thousands at this years Day of Action rally in Washington, D.C.

IAM's Suit Against OPEC
May 29, 2007 - In 1978, the IAM, led by International President William Winpisinger, filed a lawsuit charging OPEC with price fixing.

'07 On the Hill
May 25, 2007 - Before the 2006 Elections, the Machinists took their message to the people. Passing out leaflets, phonebanking, knocking on doors, whatever it took to bring some new faces to Congress. The end result, a tally in the win column for workers.

DL 751 'Flight for Sight' Fundraising Event May 24, 2007 - IAM District Lodge 751 Women's Committee hosted a fundraising event last weekend to benefit the Guide Dogs of America.

Media Library
IAMpodcast

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

2007
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August

2006
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

2005
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

2004
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2003
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2002
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2001
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February

Worldwide Coverage for IAM Endorsement

The news last week that the IAM made a dual endorsement for New York Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Arkansas Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee was quickly reported and relayed around the nation and the globe. Television reports, political blogs and radio broadcasts added to coverage that included news stories published in Japan, Australia, Europe, China and even Croatia.

“The Internet means news travels faster and further than ever before,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “The coverage is also a reflection of the influence unions and union members are expected to have in the upcoming presidential elections. It was our issues and our involvement that made the difference in the 2006 elections and we’re prepared to do the same in 2008.” To view IAM video coverage of the historic dual endorsement, go to www.goiam.org.

Trucks from Mexico Get Green Light to Roll Into U.S.

The Bush Administration is giving the final OK to allow trucks from Mexico to haul cargo directly from Mexico to any point in the United States. As part of the original North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), trucking firms from Mexico were supposed to get access years ago, but the Clinton Administration limited their access to a small zone at large border crossings where shipments were transferred to U.S. trucks. The restrictions were in place largely because of concerns over an adequate safety inspection program to certify all trucks coming across the border meet U.S. safety standards.

The Teamsters and other groups filed suit to block the new program contending that the pilot program does not provide adequate safety and other oversight mandated by Congress last May, but their request for an emergency injunction was rejected by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. However, the lawsuit to challenge the pilot program will proceed.

As early as this week, trucks from Mexico will have free access to the entire U.S. to haul shipments to and from Mexico, but not point-to-point in the U.S. The Bush Administration hopes to expand the program to accommodate 100 Mexican trucking companies, or roughly 540 large trucks, and that number could grow.

IAM Mourns District 75 BR Danny Givens

Friends, family and co-workers of District 75 Business Representative Danny Givens are mourning his sudden passing from an apparent heart attack at his home on September 3, Labor Day.

Givens, 53, joined the IAM in 1985 as an A/C Inspector after helping organize his workplace, Burnside/Ott in Milton, FL. He was a member of the negotiating committee that produced the first contract there and held most of the local lodge offices through the years in addition to writing and publishing the local’s newsletter.

Danny also served as an Apprentice Organizer for the IAM from July 2000 until July 2002. In 2004, he was elected Business Representative at District 75 in Daleville, AL. He is survived by a son, Daniel, stationed at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL, and his wife, Sandy.

“Danny was dedicated and committed to this union,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “It was a way of life for him. We’ll miss him terribly, and from everyone in the Machinists Union, I want to send our deepest condolences to his family.”

Ground Zero Workers Face Asthma Spike

A new study by the New York City Health Department reveals that rescue and recovery workers who rushed to the World Trade Center in the wake of the September 11 attacks are developing asthma at 12 times the normal rate for adults. The study also found that workers who arrived at the site on the day of the attack and stayed more than 90 days reported the highest rate of new asthma. Firefighters, who lost more co-workers in the Trade Center collapse than any other uniformed service, accounted for roughly 14 percent of the reported cases.

The latest findings follows a report by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City that found 70 percent of the Ground Zero workers suffering from lung ailments and other problems from exposure to toxic chemicals that range from from asbestos to jet fuel to PCBs.

Despite concerns for workers’ health in the wake of the attacks, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assured the public the site was safe. A year later, it was revealed that in the days following the building’s collapse, the Bush White House pressured the EPA to downplay reports about health hazards at the Trade Center site.

In August 2002, President Bush vetoed a bill that included $90 million to monitor the health of rescue and clean-up workers who were at ground zero following the terrorist destruction of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.

The latest study was based on the responses collected by the World Trade Center Health Registry. Nearly 25,000 of the estimated 40,000 rescue workers have registered with the group.

Reservation Deadline Nears for Women’s Conference

This Friday, September 7, is the cutoff date for hotel reservations for the IAM Women’s Conference scheduled for October 10, 2007, at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The one-day conference will be held in conjunction with the Coalition of Labor Union Women’s (CLUW) Biennial Convention being held October 11-13 at the same hotel.

Hotel reservations can be made by calling the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel at 1-800-732-2111. A block of rooms has been reserved at $135 for a single or double for both conferences. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis, and must be made by September 7, 2007 for the special room rate.

If you plan to attend, please complete the registration form included with your official call letter, and return it to the IAM Women’s Department, 9000 Machinists Place, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772.

“We are excited about this year’s conferences,” said Women’s Department Director Cheryl Eastburn, “and we hope our IAM sisters come out in force. We’ll explore ways to increase women’s participation in IAM organizing drives and then we’ll discuss the issues surrounding working women and families at the CLUW Convention. These back-to-back meetings offer IAM sisters a wonderful opportunity to learn and share information that will grow our Union.”

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

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
Summer 2007

ENOUGH! More than 5,000 union members packed the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to stop the attacks on working families in the largest labor rally since 1991.

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.

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

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