Tuesday, November 6, 2007

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IAMpodcast

Hot Days Are Over!!!
November 5, 2007 - The IAM strike at the Kennedy Space Center is finally over!  After nearly five months of walking the line, hundreds of Machinists are heading back to work.

Bridging the Gap: Part Two

November 2, 2007 - Last week we aird a story about the millions of Americans who work full time but because of low wages and no benefits, still can't make ends meet.  This week, we bring you a story on ways organized labor can help close these income gaps.

2007 Automotive Conference: Thinking Outside the Box
October 30, 2007 - The last few decades have dramatically changed America's industrial landscape.  The automotive field is no stranger to this new world.  The challenge for the IAM is to harness this power by thinking outside of the box.

Bridging the Gap: Part One
October 26, 2007 - The middle class is caught in a trap.  Although most work full time becasue of low wages and no benefits, millions of Americans still can't make ends meet.

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.

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Florida Machinists Ratify Space Center Contract


IAM members of Local 2061 in Cocoa, FL, will return to work at the Kennedy Space Center after ratifying a contract that ended a five month-long strike.


On Nov. 4, members of Local 2061 in Cocoa, FL ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with United Space Alliance (USA), ending a five-month long strike by nearly 500 workers at the Kennedy Space Center.

IAM members there include electrical technicians, crane operators and drivers for the giant crawler that moves the space shuttle to the launch pad.

Since the strike began on June 14, Machinists have walked picket lines every day during one of Florida’s hottest summers on record. In addition to oppressive humidity and tropical downpours, temperatures regularly exceeded 100 degrees.

“These workers can stand tall and tell their children how they weathered much more than economic hardships to protect their jobs,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “They made extraordinary and sustained sacrifices to preserve their pensions, their dignity and to make sure the next generation of workers had the same chances they did. Their story will inspire Machinists for years to come.”

Community and labor support for the striking workers remained high throughout the dispute. On August 30, hundreds of IAM members traveled from the union’s National Staff Conference in Orlando to join the picket line.

“Support for Local 2061 came from every corner of the IAM,” said IP Buffenbarger. “In addition to individual donations to the local strike fund, hundreds of members contacted their elected representatives and urged NASA to allow the collective bargaining process to work as it was designed. The importance of strong political allies was invaluable.”

The new contract increased pensions for current members and secured retirement benefits for future hires. The General Wage Package calls for flat rate increases rather than percentage raises, a move that provides for a more equitable distribution of raises among all members.

The addition of the IAM 401(k) Plan into the contract is an important benefit for future hires. Twelve contracts at the Space Center contain the IAM National Pension Plan (NPP) and the 401(k) Plan can be rolled into the NPP at any of those locations.

Strike Clock Ticking for Amtrak Machinists

Five hundred IAM members at Amtrak, who have been without a new contract since 1999, will be free to strike the rail carrier on December 1, 2007, unless the President of the United States intervenes and appoints a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB).

A 30-day countdown began when the National Mediation Board formally released the IAM and Amtrak from mediated negotiations on October 31, 2007.

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

Once empanelled, a PEB has 30 days to investigate the dispute and issue its non-binding recommendations for settlement. After the PEB reports to the President, the parties to the dispute have a second 30-day cooling-off period to consider its 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. The company can then lockout workers or impose employment terms and the union is free to strike.

“Our members have worked for eight years without a general wage increase because of Amtrak’s refusal to bargain,” said IAM District 19 President Joe Duncan. “A fair agreement is long overdue.”

The IAM opened bargaining with Amtrak in December 1999 and is negotiating as part of a 15,000 member-strong labor coalition that includes the Transportation Communications Union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Transport Workers Union.

All coalition partners have been released from mediation after numerous requests and will make a unified presentation to the PEB. Retroactive wage increases, work rule changes and employee contributions to healthcare premiums are among the contentious issues.

Machinists Oppose Peru Trade Pact

President Bush is lobbying hard on Capitol Hill for a vote this week on the Peru Free Trade Act, legislation that would expand NAFTA into South America and create a new wave of low-wage competition for U.S. workers.

The IAM is standing firm in opposition to any expansion of NAFTA-like trade deals, calling for a “strategic pause” before any new trade accords are brokered. “IAM members have suffered the loss of thousands of jobs due to bad trade agreements, reflected by out-dated, failed models,” said IP Buffenbarger in a letter to representatives. “Now is the time to put together a real and meaningful trade agenda that puts workers first and will lead to the creation of jobs here at home.”

Chief among the IAM concerns is absence of clear, enforceable labor standards as detailed by the International Labor Organization (ILO). These include prohibitions of child labor and guaranteeing the right of workers in Peru to form independent labor unions. “We also continue to have serious concerns with respect to the procurement and services provisions of the agreement,” said Buffenbarger. “Among other things, questions remain regarding the impact on Buy American practices.”

Clinton Challenges ‘Old Energy Economy’

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton unveiled a comprehensive plan addressing America’s growing energy and environmental challenges at a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa yesterday. The New York Senator said her plan would create up to five million new jobs through renewable energy advancements, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cut foreign oil imports by two-thirds from projected levels by 2030.

To achieve these goals, Clinton’s plan would raise fuel standards to 55 miles per gallon by 2030, establish a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund to invest in alternative energy and create a “cap and trade” system for carbon emissions by big businesses.

“I believe America is ready to take action, ready to break the bonds of the old energy economy, and ready to prove that the climate crisis is also one of the greatest economic opportunities in the history of our country,” said Clinton. “Seizing it will unleash a wave of innovation, create millions of new jobs, enhance our security and lead the world to a revolution in how we produce and use energy. It will be a new beginning for the 21st century.”

Wisconsin Local 873 Women’s Committee in the News



Local 873 Women's Committee. Front, left to right: Janice Tobak, Cindy Haselow, Yolanda Pillsbury and Marilyn Rieman. Back: Barb Redmer, Marla Ryan and Sharon Vree.

The Women’s Committee of Local 873 in Horicon, WI, was among scores of Women’s Committees around the IAM that participated in October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month by sponsoring a fundraiser to get the message out that “Early Detection is the Best Protection.”

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today (after lung cancer). The Local 873 committee was alerted to the critical need for awareness and early detection by fellow member Janice Tobak, who lost five of her immediate family members to breast cancer. The Women’s Committee felt it important to bring this issue to the union body and the community as a whole. All proceeds were donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

And speaking of Janice Tobak - the Democratic Party of Wisconsin recently recognized her for service to her union and community by presenting her with the 2007 Eleanor Roosevelt Award. One of the highest honors a Democratic woman can get in the state of Wisconsin, Tobak was chosen “in recognition of her work as a Grassroots Activist who, in the spirit of Eleanor Roosevelt, continues to work tirelessly to make a difference, support democratic ideals, and promote social activism.”

“We’re proud of the accomplishments being made by Local 873’s Women’s Committee and all of the Women’s Committees in the IAM,” said Women’s Department Director Cheryl Eastburn. “These women, individually and as a group, are non-stop in their pursuit to raise awareness and push forward the goals of working families across North America.”


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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
Fall 2007


Choices!Americans can choose to register to vote or not, select a political party or remain independent; follow the campaigns closely or tune in later; switch off the debates or debate with friends over the merits of various candidates; and, finally, choose to cast a ballot or stay home.


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