Four former IBT bargaining units at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, AZ voted “YES” for IAM representation with the IAM garnering 80 percent of the vote. The former Teamster members decertified with the IBT in 2009 after enduring poor representation, especially the lack of expertise in the Service Contract Act (SCA) area. The 82 employees work for four separate companies at the base, L-3 Vertex, the primary contractor, and three sub-contractors; AVPOL, NFFM (Northwest Florida Facilities Management) and ORASA. The new members are primarily aircraft mechanics and workers on F-16 Fighter Jets.
“It took many years of hard work, persistence, and determination to educate the former Teamster members that the IAM sets the standard for Union representation of workers employed by Service Contract Act companies,” said Grand Lodge Representative Don Gresham. “With the support of the members of Local Lodge 519 and, especially, Lodge President Gary Bunten, who is himself employed as a SCA worker, we were able to demonstrate that the IAM was the Union for them.”
“Congratulations to our newest members in the Western Territory and welcome to the IAM!” said Western Territory General Vice President Gary Allen. “This is a great start for organizing in the New Year. Let this serve as a starting point to a productive year in organizing throughout the Western Territory.”
