Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

Fresh Faces on the Hill: Congresswoman Laura Richardson
September 21, 2007 - IAM member Laura Richardson is the newest additon to Capitol Hill, representing California's 37th District.

Something About A Harley
September 17, 2007 - Machinists never say no to the Guide Dogs and most members won't turn down a Harley ride either. For the IAM, Hogs and Dogs just works.

Protecting Programs That Work
September 14, 2007 - The Alliance for Retired Americans is a substantial voice for senior issues and one that may impact the next presidential race.

Congress's Machinist
September 11, 2007 - The IAM has always had some friends on Capitol Hill. But until now, they never had one of their own. On September 4th, Laura Richardson became the first Machinist in Congress.

IAM's Seal of Approval
September 10, 2007 - At the 2007 National Staff Conference held just weeks ago, the IAM endorsed two presidential candidates...Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Mike Huckabee.

Hot Days At NASA September 7, 2007 - Since June 14, 2007 nearly 500 members from IAM's Local Lodge 2061 have been on strike at the Kennedy Space Center. The place that once helped to launch a man on the moon, can't seem to put a fair contract on the table.

Conversations with the Candidates
Hear what the candidates have to say about jobs, globalization, healthcare and the other domestic issues that matter most to you.

Labor Day 2007
August 27, 2007 - For the IAM, Labor Day is a very important date. Not only does it celebrate American workers, but it's a holiday founded by a Machinist.

A Solution to Health Care
August 23, 2007 - It's almost impossible to talk about good jobs and wages without mentioning health care. That's why everywhere you look, someone is trying to come up with a solution.

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.

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Bush Vetoes Children’s Health Insurance

With total disregard to what the majority of Americans want, including members of his own party, President Bush vetoed legislation yesterday that would have provided new funding to cover an additional 4 million of the nation’s neediest children under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The program, set to expire September 30, has been continued through a stop-gap bill that will be in effect through mid-November.

Bush’s veto emphasizes how distant his priorities are from those of the American public. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expressed their disbelief. "Unfortunately, I believe that some have given the president bad advice on this matter, because I believe that supporting this bipartisan compromise to provide health coverage to low-income children is the morally right thing to do. I hope that we can muster enough votes to overturn this veto,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

Many Republicans joined nearly every Democrat in the House and Senate and voted to renew the program for children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford health insurance. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md, announced October 18 as the date the House will attempt to override the veto. Lawmakers will be working hard until then to find enough votes. The Senate already has enough votes to override.

Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Oregon, summed up Bush’s veto this way: "I believe this is an irresponsible use of the veto pen. I hope the House can garner enough votes to override the President."

Union Membership Key to Higher Wages

Union membership substantially improves both the pay and benefits of low-wage workers, according to a recent report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).

The study, Unions and Upward Mobility for Low-Wage Workers examined 15 low-wage occupations and found those workers who were unionized earned roughly 16 percent - about $1.75 an hour - more than non-unionized workers. The CEPR report also found low-wage union workers were 25 percentage points more likely to have employer-provided health insurance and 25 percentage points more likely to have an employer-provided pension.

These findings, combined with previous studies highlighting the benefits of unionization, further reinforce the need to make the Employee Free Choice Act a key issue heading into the 2008 elections.
“These positive effects of collective bargaining – due in an important part to the role that unionization plays in giving employees a voice in their workplaces – argue that unionization is a key element of an effective strategy to build a strong and more inclusive economy,” the report concludes.

NSPS Reform Clears Major Hurdle

By a 92-3 vote, the Senate passed the fiscal year 2008 Defense Authorization bill (HR 1585) earlier this week. The legislation includes language to fundamentally reform the Pentagon’s contentious personnel plan, the National Security Personnel System (NSPS). “We were very concerned that the Senate would not pass the Defense Authorization bill this year, and that our NSPS reform language would die with it,” said NFFE-IAM Federal District 1 President Rick Brown. “We are pleased to see this bill is passed and headed to conference.”

In the coming months, the House and Senate conferees will hammer out the differences between the two versions of the bill. The Senate language does not go as far as the House version to restore basic employee rights like collective bargaining and fair employee appeals. The Senate version also fails to address the pay-for-performance system.

“This Senate vote is another win for federal employees,” said IAM Government Employees Director Frank Carelli. “Our members worked hard putting pressure on the Senate to get this bill passed and won’t stop until the anti-worker NSPS is reformed.”

Judy Pierce Named Sister of the Month

The IAM Women’s Department has named Judy Pierce of Local Lodge 733, District 70 in Wichita, KS the U.S. Sister of the Month for October.

Judy has been an IAM member for 42 years. She started work as a teenager at Beech Aircraft Company in 1965, and has been a loyal and highly involved member ever since. One of the first women to work in the Chemical Milling department at Beech, she went on to become the first woman in Local 733 history to win a seat on the local’s negotiating committee.

Pierce has taken on multiple leadership roles in her local and district over the years, including successive terms as District 70 Secretary-Treasurer, a position she holds today. She has also served as a Shop Steward, Local Trustee, District 70 Delegate, Legislative Committee member, Women's Committee member and Grand Lodge Delegate. In addition to her current duties as Secretary-Treasurer for the nearly 15,000 members of District 70, Pierce is Secretary-Treasurer for the 2008 Grand Lodge Host Committee, serves as President of the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation, editor of the only labor newspaper in Kansas and Vice President of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA).

The Canadian sister is selected once every two months and Karene Strachan of Local Lodge 2603 in Winnipeg, Manitoba remains the pick for Canada.

The IAM “Sister of the Month” is an effort to motivate women to become more involved in their union by recognizing their hard work and dedication. If you’d like to nominate someone, download the nomination form and submit it to the IAM Women’s Department.

Detroit Local 698 Holds Guide Dogs Golf Outing

District 60/Local 698 Golf Outing benefited Guide Dogs of America.

Foursome pictured are: (Left to Right) LL 698 member Brian Wellington, Eastern AA Dale Hartford, GDA Pres. Jay Bormann, DL 60 ADBR Pete Jazdzyk.

Motor City Lodge 698 and District Lodge 60 held their 2nd Annual Golf Outing to benefit Guide Dogs of America (GDA) on September 8, 2007 at the Timber Trace Golf Club in Pinckney, MI.

Dozens of members, families and friends participated in the event that raised nearly $24,000 for the GDA.

“It is with great appreciation that I thank the sponsors, participants and volunteers for their generous contribution and time,” said Local 698 President Stuart Proctor. “Due to their kindness this was a very successful outing.” A brochure of the event can be downloaded here.

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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

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