IAM Charts Course for Survival and Growth
April 29, 2010
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Standing before more than 600 local and district representatives from the United States and Canada, IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger vowed to do “whatever it takes” to protect and preserve the Machinists union. With more than 36,000 IAM members out of work in the current recession, representatives and staff members were reminded in the strongest terms of their obligation to organize and help grow the union.
“I will do whatever it takes to put it on a growth trajectory for the next one hundred and twenty-five years,” said Buffenbarger. “Whatever it takes is my promise to our members.”
In addition to identifying specific organizing goals, representatives were tasked with developing organizing action plans that included time frames for completion. A new system of accountability, developed by Western Territory GVP Gary Allen, will be employed union-wide to ensure organizing resources and personnel are deployed for maximum effectiveness.
