Hawker Beechcraft Sends U.S. Jobs to Mexico

Hawker Beechcraft announced this week that more than 250 high-skill, high-paying jobs will be eliminated when it closes a factory in Salina, KS. A company spokesperson confirmed that half the jobs would go to a facility in Mexico and half to outside vendors.

NASA Budget Cuts Could Cost 7,000 Florida Jobs

Rather then return to the moon, NASA could be forced to send 7,000 workers at the Kennedy Space Center to the unemployment line.

Nellis AFB Workers Win

Over two hundred fifty Service Contract workers vote for the IAM, and get a great contract!

IAM Prepares for Historic Negotiations at Spirit

The bargaining committee for members of Local 839 at Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, KS, recently completed an intense week of negotiations preparation at the Winpisinger Center, where they are readying for a bargaining session that could change the face of the aerospace industry.

IAM Prepares for Historic Negotiations at Spirit

The bargaining committee for members of Local 839 at Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, KS, recently completed an intense week of negotiations preparation at the Winpisinger Center, where they are readying for a bargaining session that could change the face of the aerospace industry.

Saskatchewan Machinists Ratify Contract with Bombardier

Members of Local 32 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, have ratified a new three-year agreement with Bombardier Military Aviation that provides wage increases of 2 percent in the first year, 2.5 percent in the second year and 3 percent in the third year.

Machinists Fight AFSS Reductions by FAA

December 8, 2009 - The IAM has lodged a protest with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over plans by contractor Lockheed Martin to reduce the number of Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS) in the United States. AFSS Specialists provide preflight weather briefings, in-flight radio services, issue notices to airmen, handle flight plans for general aviation and initiate search and rescue efforts when needed. AFSS Specialists voted for IAM representation last spring and achieved their first contract in August, 2009.

President Urged to ct on Pratt Factory Closure

December 8, 2009 - The IAM is welcoming the unanimous support of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation in the fight to prevent Pratt & Whitney from closing a pair of aircraft factories in Connecticut and eliminating more than 1,000 high-skilled jobs.

Obama Urged to Protect U.S. Jobs at Pratt

The IAM is calling on President Obama to dissuade Pratt & Whitney from moving more than 1,000 aerospace jobs from Connecticut to low-cost locations in Japan, Indonesia and Georgia.

Court Rules for Connecticut AG in Pratt Jobs Fight

The battle to save more than 1,000 jobs at two Pratt & Whitney plants in Connecticut took a favorable turn this week when a federal judge ruled state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal can join an IAM effort to block the company from moving about 1,000 Connecticut jobs out of state and overseas.

IAM's Journey To Space

November 24, 2009 - The Machinists have been part of the space program since the beginning of manned space flight.  The IAM couldn't be more proud of that as the Space Shuttle Atlantis heads to the sky.

IAM's Journey To Space

November 24, 2009 - The Machinists have been part of the space program since the beginning of manned space flight.  The IAM couldn't be more proud of that as the Space Shuttle Atlantis heads to the sky.

NMB Rule Change is Historic Opportunity for Unions

With the looming prospect of additional consolidation in the airline industry, workers at United, Continental and all carriers need to understand how a rule change proposed by National Mediation Board (NMB) would dramatically increase their chances of retaining their contracts, retirement benefits and seniority rights.

Bye Bye Boeing

November 3, 2009 - It's not good news for the people of Puget Sound.  Instead of opening a new 787 production line in Washington state, Boeing has opted to build a new facility in South Carolina.

Boeing Gambles on Failed Strategy

After sucking hundreds of millions of dollars in tax incentives from the state of South Carolina, the Boeing Company this week concluded a months-long charade of indecision by announcing it will build a second 787 Dreamliner assembly line in North Charleston, South Carolina. The decision by Boeing executives is the latest move in an outsourcing strategy, which is credited for delaying the launch of the problem-plagued 787 by more than two years.

Machinists Dispute Boeing Strike Concerns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C., October 28, 2009 - The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today rejected suggestions by the Boeing Company that the decision to build a new assembly line in South Carolina was based on concerns over future strikes by their unionized workforce.

Machinists Dispute Boeing Strike Concerns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C., October 28, 2009 - The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today rejected suggestions by the Boeing Company that the decision to build a new assembly line in South Carolina was based on concerns over future strikes by their unionized workforce.

Seattle Newspaper Distorts IAM Talks with Boeing

With articles and editorials worthy of a supermarket tabloid, the Seattle Times appears to be taking a lead role in the campaign to blame Boeing workers for any decision by the company to establish a new production line in South Carolina.

Lockheed Agrees to $1.4 Million Settlement over Firings

It’s no secret that companies frequently discharge workers engaged in organizing drives, confident that the time it takes to resolve an Unfair Labor Charge (ULP) will far exceed a worker’s resolve and financial ability to keep fighting.

Battle for Wichita

IAM President Tom Buffenbarger highlighted the importance of the nation’s business aviation industry in an address to the 62^nd Annual Convention of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

Remarks of R. Thomas Buffenbarger National Business Aviation Association on October 20, 2009

Remarks of  R. Thomas Buffenbarger National Business Aviation Association on October 20, 2009

Click here to hear the audio or the Read More>> to read the full text of R. Thomas Buffenbargers remarks.

United Space Alliance

NASA Workers Fight for Justice At Kennedy Space Center

Last June IAM members at the Kennedy Space Center who work for the United Space Alliance (USA), a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin that provides launch services to NASA at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL, were forced to go on strike in order to protect long held benefits and pensions.

Info on United Space Alliance

Links and Other information:

International President Tom Buffenbarger’s Letter to Lawmakers

House Lawmakers’ Letter toUSA

IAM 2061 Blogspot

Congress Turns Up Heat on United Space Alliance

October 19, 2007 - Members of the United States Congress are turning up the heat on NASA and the United Space Alliance (USA) to stop their push to gut the economic security of America’s space program workforce. Last June, USA forced IAM members of Local 2061 at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center out on strike by demanding cuts in pension and other key benefits. NASA and USA are now making similar demands in other negotiations at the Houston Space Center.

Congressman Bart Gordon Meets with CEO Covey

October 18, 2007 - Congressman Bart Gordon, the Chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, NASA's oversight committee, met Wednesday with USA CEO Richard Covey in the Congressman’s office. Congressman Gordon expressed his deep concerns for the welfare of the striking Machinists at KSC. Included in the discussions were matters of economic security for our IAM working families at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral.