Labor issues you care about in streaming video.

NASA On Notice
October 19, 2007 - Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio took the floor in the US House of Representatives this week in support of the IAM workers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Labor's Red Carpet
October 19, 2007 - For the past seven years, the DC Labor Film Fest has been celebrating workers around the world. Premiering at the American Fil Institute Theatre in Silver Spring, this event turns the Hollywood spotlight on what really matters.

Pushing State Politics
October 11, 2007 - The Northern Virginia CLC canvassed the community last weekend in support of Chap Peterson for State Senate.

A New World Order
October 5, 2007 - Globalization is something organized labor has been talking about for years. But nowadays, the issue seems to seep into conversations around the world, no matter your economic status and many are starting to notice its' dramatic effects.

Financing the Future
October 2, 2007 - House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer, doesn't paint a promising picture of the country's long term fiscal growth if nothing changes.

A Call To Duty
September 28, 2007 - National Service or working for a non-profit organization may not be something you think of as a job option. But some people are starting to look at it as a key for developing future leaders.

Sharing Bankruptcy Backlash
September 27, 2007 - Unfortunately, most workers know the hardships of corporate bankruptcy. That's why Congress is trying to pass a new bankruptcy bill to protect the men and women who helped build the organization.

Uninsured America
September 26, 2007 - Families USA, a national non-profit voice for health care, just came out with startling statistics about uninsured Americans. According to their data, the health insurance issue in the U.S. is worse than it looks.

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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Let the Amtrak Countdown Begin

Ready to roll? Nine unions representing 7,000 Amtrak workers rejected proffers of arbitration from the National Mediation Board.

After nearly eight years of frustrating and fruitless negotiations, the National Mediation Board (NMB) last week proffered arbitration to nine rail unions, including the IAM, in a move to resolve contracts between Amtrak and nearly 7,000 union rail workers.

Key issues in the long running dispute include retroactive wage increases, work rule changes and employee contributions to health care premiums. “Amtrak has refused to bargain for nearly eight years,” said Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. “This move is long overdue.”

The IAM immediately notified the NMB it was not willing to arbitrate and relinquish its collective bargaining options, setting in motion the prospect of a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB). A PEB would have 30 days to investigate the dispute and issue its non-binding recommendations for settlement. After the emergency board reports to the President, the parties have a second 30-day cooling-off period to consider the PEB's recommendations. If no agreement is reached, the parties will be free to engage in self-help at the end of the second cooling-off period.

“We expect and are fully prepared for a Presidential Emergency Board,” said Roach. “Our attorneys and economists are primed to defend the positions our negotiators have taken at the bargaining table.”

In addition to the IAM, TCU/IAM Carmen, ARASA Maintenance of Equipment and ARASA Maintenance of Way also received the proffer of arbitration from the NMB and likewise rejected the offer. Additional unions rejecting the proffer include the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, the American Train Dispatchers Association, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, and the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers.

Minnesota Members Share $200K Powerball Pot

The “Lakeville 15,” which includes members of Local 459 employed at Stampings of Minnesota in Lakeville, MN, struck it rich recently by winning $200,000 in the Powerball lottery.

Twenty-one year Local 459 member and Shop Steward Leroy Swarts said he didn’t believe he really won at first. “We weren’t able to verify we were winners until we all got to work on Monday,” said Swarts, who works as a die setter at Stampings of Minnesota in Lakeville, MN. “We got pretty excited then and started thinking about what to do with the money.”

Hanging onto the money will be a priority for Swarts, who plans to do some remodeling and save for his children’s college education. “We’ve been buying lottery tickets for seven years now and you wonder if you are ever going to win,” said Swarts. “This just proves that winning is possible.”

His co-worker Robert Lee was just as enthusiastic. “You know, you can get excited and wonder if things are really real, but when they put that check in your hand, reality comes screaming in on you!” Another Local 459 member, Ross Fischer who broke his foot recently and will be off work for some time, said, “This comes at a good time for me.”

Members of the “Lakeville 15” are: Terry Lumppio, Richard Thomson, Sandra Helleson, Bruce Bonneson, Robert Clairmont, James Koland, Gail Christianson, Ross Fischer, John Nelson, Leroy Swarts III, Robert Lee, Ervin Deyo, Duc Nguyen, William Anderson and Susan Jacobson.

IAM Radio Ad Targets Space Center Proposals

The showdown between Local 2061 and Kennedy Space Center vendor United Space Alliance (USA) hits the airwaves this week with a radio ad that gives an individual IAM member the opportunity to tell what’s at stake for her and why she walks a picket line.

“I personally have worked for NASA for 27 years, and I have put my heart and soul into my job,” says IAM member Chris Raub. “Now I have to worry from here on out as to how I’m going to live when I thought I would be able to retire.”

In addition to proposals at the bargaining table to dramatically raise employees’ health care costs, Robb and others at the Space Center are deeply concerned by recent USA moves, including last year’s cancellation of the pension plans for all salaried employees.

Click here to hear the radio ad.

Last Stop for Flawed NSPS

The battle to stop the flawed National Security Personnel System (NSPS) is in its final stages. The Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization Bill is now in a Conference Committee to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions. Both the House and Senate passed language that reforms NSPS, but the final authorization bill must be hammered out in the Conference Committee.

Representatives Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Tom Allen (D-ME) are circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter to get support “to include language repealing the most damaging aspects of the National Security Personnel System” in the final version of the Defense Authorization Bill. Call your member of Congress today (202-224-3121) and tell them to support the Van Hollen/Inslee/Allen “Dear Colleague” letter to the House/Senate Conference Committee for the FY2008 Defense Authorization Bill.

“Federal employees have worked very hard and overcome many obstacles to reform NSPS. Now we’re on the home stretch,” said IAM Government Employees Director Frank Carelli. “We’ve got to keep the pressure on to make sure strong language for NSPS reform gets adopted in the final Defense Appropriations Bill.”

Congress Vows to Move Forward with SCHIP Bill

After falling just 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override President Bush’s veto of increased funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), House lawmakers are pledging to move forward with a new version of the bill.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said the new bill will contain only minor changes and will ensure that it provides at least 10 million children with health insurance.

“There is no industrialized country in the world that any one respects that does not provide health insurance for its children,” Pelosi said in a statement. “We are the exception.”

The bill Bush vetoed would have increased funding for SCHIP by $35 billion over five years. The program currently provides 6.6 million children with health insurance. The additional funding passed by the House and Senate would have provided an additional four million children with health care.

With 9 million children in this country currently without health care, polls have found between 75 to 80 percent of the country support the vetoed bill.

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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