TCU Affiliates with Machinists Union
May 2, 2006
Quick links+
|
Greater Power, Stronger Voice: TCU history was made on Wednesday, July 6, when International President Robert A. Scardelletti and International Secretary-Treasurer Howard W. Randolph, Jr., signed an agreement to affiliate the union with one of the strongest labor unions in the U.S., the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Signing for the Machinists were International President R. Thomas Buffenbarger and General Secretary-Treasurer Warren L. Mart. Meeting two days later, on Friday, July 8, the members of TCU’s Executive Council reviewed the affiliation agreement and voted unanimously to endorse it. “This agreement will enable us to continue as a financially viable and effective union,” says President Scardelletti. The agreement preserves TCU’s internal government structures, continuing with existing System Boards, System Divisions and Joint Protective Boards and governed by the terms of the 2004 TCU Constitution and Bylaws. The union will retain its unique identity, and will be known as TCU/IAM. A separate Rail Division will be established within the Machinists Union, with TCU and IAM District 19 as charter members. The process of integrating resources of the two unions will follow recommendations to be made by a special team whose members will be announced in the near future. “I have long taken pride in how TCU, a union of unions, has woven together the hopes and needs of a diverse membership for the best interests of all. This affiliation is the next logical step. Joining ranks with the IAM is a decision that I am confident will make all of us stronger,” says Scardelletti. “We share a unity of purpose and vision to protect the interests of all members and to empower all working Americans.” TCU General Chairmen will meet August 17 in Washington, DC to review the terms of the affiliation which leads to final merger no later than January 1, 2012. The combined membership of the two unions will be nearly 700,000 active and retired members. Watch the IAM video (Windows Media Player required) |
|
