Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

Freedom From Want
September 10, 2008
Freedom from want is another one of the four freedoms Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke about more than 60 years ago. "Freedom From Want" was the theme on the fourth day of the 37th Grand Lodge Convention.

New Dues Structure
September 10, 2008
More than 32 years ago, union delegates gathered in a room like this, changed the financial structure of the IAM. Today, that decision was again in front of this year's delegaes who voted o amend the current financial structure.

HRC Becomes Honorary IAM Member
September 8, 2008 - Nothing seems to bring the Machinists to their feet like Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. She spoke at the the 37th Grand Lodge Convention where she became an honorary lifetime member of the IAM.

Freedom From Fear
September 8, 2008 - In some of the most famous words ever spoken, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." "Freedom From Fear" was the theme on the second day of the 37th Grand Lodge Convention.

Opening Day for the 37th Convention
September 7, 2008 - Today the IAM opened its 37th Grand Lodge Convention. This week promises a nod to the past as we look for solutions to the problems of the future.

Legally Protecting Our Green Jobs
August 28, 2008 - US manufacturing has lost millions of jobs due to outsourcing. But can you keep that from happening? Some labor advocates are ready for a radical pro manufacturing political agenda, and they want it applied to America’s next economic craze, “Green” energy.

A Plan For Greatness
August 13, 2008 - For years the Machinists have told anyone who would listen that this country's in trouble. Unfortunately, many times these warnings fell on deaf ears.

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.

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IAM-Boeing Contract Talks Set To Resume

Negotiators for 27,000 Machinists on strike at Boeing locations in four states announced this week they would sit down with company representatives for the first time since the strike began on September 6, 2008.

The decision to return to the bargaining table followed discussions with federal mediators and a meeting between union leaders and Scott Carson, Boeing’s lead negotiator. In a message to IAM members, negotiators credited the decision to resume talks to the unbroken resolve of members and a sustained presence on the picket lines.

“We hope this meeting marks a major step forward,” said Aerospace Coordinator Mark Blondin. “The Union will continue to do everything possible to bargain a contract that addresses the concerns our members have identified.”

The IAM is seeking written contract language to ensure that jobs historically performed by Machinist union members in Boeing factories will continue to be performed by IAM members.

FAA Cites Failures of Aircraft Maintenance Oversight

A new report by the FAA’s Office of Inspector General showed serious flaws in the FAA’s oversight of aircraft repair stations that perform heavy maintenance on U.S. aircraft. The study examined nine major airlines, which outsourced 71 percent of their heavy air frame maintenance in 2007, compared with 34 percent in 2003.

Among the key findings were: The FAA needs to improve its system for determining how much and where outsourced maintenance is performed. The current system provides only limited data for FAA to use in targeting inspections. The report also concluded the FAA did not have a specific policy governing when inspectors should visit repair stations, nor did they require inspectors to validate if repair stations have corrected deficiencies identified in air carrier audits. The airlines examined in the report were AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, America West Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.

“This report follows similar Inspector General reports issued in 2003 and 2005,” said IAM Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. “The Inspector General repeatedly documents the FAA’s failures, but the FAA has not taken sufficient action to ensure the safety of our nation’s air transportation system. All repair stations, foreign and domestic, should be held to a single standard of safety and oversight. If overseas governments are unwilling to do the same background and drug screening required of U.S. airline mechanics, or prevent FAA inspectors from making the same surprise inspections they do at U.S. facilities, then the FAA should prohibit airlines from scheduling maintenance in those countries.”

Town Hall Meetings Spotlight Labor Issues

To educate members about the important issues in the upcoming elections, the Labor Coalition for Community Action (LCAA) is sponsoring Town Hall meetings across the country. The LCAA is a coalition of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and Pride at Work.

After a successful event in Harrisburg, PA, the next Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for the important 11th Congressional District in Northern Virginia on Monday, October 13, 2008 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. For directions and information, go to www.cluw.org.

District 5 Wins at Grand Forks Air Force Base

Midwest Territory District 5 continued their winning ways with an organizing victory at Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. The new members work in the Precision Measuring Equipment Laboratory calibrating electronic equipment for the U.S. Air Force.

District 5 Organizer Kevin Murch praised Jim Hogoboom from Local 2525 in Fargo, ND, for his role in the win. “Jim has been a real asset for the IAM picking up leads at several locations for us recently. He helped in arranging the initial meeting with DBR Dennis Walworth.”

According to Murch, our new members at Grand Forks AFB had gone seven years without a wage increase and were excited about the IAM’s track record and experience with organizing under the Service Contract Act.

“DBR Dennis Walworth, Organizer Kevin Murch and Jim Hogoboom have worked very hard and traveled long distances to have a very successful year organizing in the Dakotas,” said Midwest Territory GVP Philip J. Gruber, who praised the organizing efforts by District 5. “We deeply appreciate their dedication to growing our union.”

TRCP’s Life in the Open Begins New Season

The popular outdoor series “Life in the Open” returns for a fourth season this month. The show airs every Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern and every Thursday at 2 p.m. Eastern on VERSUS Country. Click here for schedule information. Inspired by the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, TRCP’s Life in the Open explores today’s pressing fish and wildlife issues, while venturing to some of the best hunting and fishing destinations that are also accessible and affordable to hardworking American hunters and anglers.

Each week, the show will transport viewers from their living room into the wild to pursue fast-flying birds, stealthy big game and aggressive fish in inspiring destinations across the United States and beyond. Viewers will discover how they could hunt wild, free-ranging bison on public lands in Montana or match muscle with world-class Alaskan fish on the cheap.

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) is a union-supported program to preserve access to hunting and fishing areas and carry on Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy of wildlife conservation. Click here for more information about TRCP and the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance.

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2008 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