Thursday, October 25, 2007

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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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Kennedy Space Center Negotiations to Resume

IAM negotiators announced today that mediated negotiations with United Space Alliance (USA) will resume next week in a bid to resolve the 134-day strike by nearly 500 members of Local 2061 over pensions and health care costs.

Negotiations will take place Oct. 29 in Cape Canaveral, FL, and are scheduled to continue on Oct. 30, according to Aerospace Coordinator John Crowdis, who was notified today by Federal Mediation Regional Director John W. Pinto Jr.

“The Local 2061 Negotiating Committee is looking forward to the resumption of talks with USA and we will be ready with a proposal for a fair and equitable end to this strike,” said District 166 DBR Johnny Walker. “The issues that put our members and their families on the picket line are familiar to workers across this country: health care, pensions and justice for the next generation of workers.”

 

2007 Photo Contest Winners Announced

Thomas Costea of Local 1639 won First Place in the 2007 IAM Photo Contest for his photo of fellow member Bill Africa at Norfolk Southern’s Juniato Locomotive Shops in Altoona, PA.

The results of the 2007 IAM Photo Contest are in and the winners are: Thomas Costea, Local Lodge 1639, won First Place for his entry entitled, “Makin’ It Right,” which depicts fellow member Bill Africa removing cracked welds with a carbon arc at Norfolk Southern Juniato Locomotive Shops in Altoona, PA. Taking Second Place this year was two-time winner Ben Castic of Local 41 for his “Watchful Eye,” a picture of Drago Dudaric line boring a straightening roll positioner at Southside Machine Works in St. Louis, MO. Rounding out the top three was Local 2296 member James Miller for his entry called, “METS Maintenance,” in which he captured Norman Gallman checking the cable adjustment on a Modular Egress Training Simulator.
Honorable Mention winners are: Randy Hatfield, Local 2339-C; Milford Hopp, Local 1516; Deborah Tisovec, Local 2319; Liz Melara, Local 48; Mike Bell, Local 2191; Roger Buchop, Local 956; Jeremy Finch, Local 519; Michael Carosone, Local 837-B; William Remular, Local 1245; Charles Fleegle, Jr., Local 1400; and Dan Cox, Local W-130.

Winning photographs will be included in the 2008 IAM calendar. As always, a portion from the sales of the calendar will be donated to Guide Dogs of America. The IAM raised more than $24,000.00 for the GDA from last year’s calendar sales. Look for calendar order forms in the Fall 2007 IAM Journal or click here to download an individual order form.

“Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all who participated,” said Rick Sloan, Director of Communications. “We hope more and more members will take advantage of this great opportunity to showcase their talents and their fellow members at work.”

Click here to view the winning photos.


GVP Michalski Defends U.S. Aerospace Jobs

The $40 billion battle over who will build the new fleet of aerial refueling tankers for the U.S. military took a new turn after the European Union provided more than $100 billion in subsidies for Airbus.

“The Bush administration has rightly responded by filing the largest lawsuit in the history of the World Trade Organization against the European Union,” said IAM GVP Rich Michalski in an op-ed printed this week in the Wichita Eagle. “But The U.S. Defense Department is poised to countermand the administration's own trade negotiators by insisting that Airbus be one of the two competitors in the award for the U.S. Air Force's crown jewel of airframe contracts.

“The Boeing tanker is American-made and would never be held up or left unsupported by a country whose government suddenly went from ally to enemy. An award to the American manufacturer could support some 44,000 jobs and hundreds of communities here at home. In Kansas alone, this contract could mean 3,800 jobs and more than $145 million in annual revenue.

“But if Airbus wins the contract, the Defense Department will create tens of thousands of jobs in France and reward the very company that our trade representatives have sued as rogue violators of trade laws,” concluded Michalski.

You can read the complete text of GVP Michalski’s editorial by clicking here.

 

ILCA Honors Labor Journalists

More than 70 ILCA delegates traveled to a drowned housing project in St Bernards Parish to view first hand the slow pace of rebuilding.

Labor journalists who traveled to New Orleans, LA, for this year’s International Labor Communications Association (ILCA) convention got much more than the customary workshops and panel discussions.

Designed as an ambitious experiment in concentrated reportage, ILCA conference organizers fielded more than a dozen teams of labor journalists, videographers and photographers to create a multi-media archive of workers and their families who continue to struggle in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The three-day conference began with local labor leaders describing to delegates how Gulf Coast residents still face massive challenges, including schools that remain closed, hospitals damaged beyond repair and a still-crippled transportation system.

The government-sanctioned assault on public education, housing and transportation services is taking a heavy toll on those who are trying to rebuild, according to Brenda Mitchell, president of United Teachers of New Orleans. “We residents of New Orleans are the canaries in the coal mine. And the canaries are dropping off,” said Mitchell. “Don’t think closing schools and cutting transportation is something that can’t happen somewhere else. The same people who built our jacked-up levies are the same ones who built your bridges and roads.”

In addition to posting and publishing interviews with workers and union members impacted by the storm, ILCA delegates gathered to honor the best in labor journalism with the 2007 Labor Media Contest winners. Local, district and IAM headquarters publications and websites took home nine awards, including a first place for Local 2319’s newsletter, The Ledger. Additional IAM winners included District 751, the IAM Journal, the 2007 IAM Calendar, the IAM website www.goiam.org and several IAM video productions.

 

Scholarship Applications Now Available

The 2008 Union Plus Scholarship application, which provide cash awards from $500 to $4000 for students attending or planning to attend a college or university, community college, or a technical college or trade school, are now available for download.

Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $2.4 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their secondary education.

Application deadline is January 31, 2008.

 

 


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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.


Union Plus
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