In an eloquent message posted on the Local 639 website, the Executive Director of Interfaith Worker Justice Kansas, Rev. David Hansen, urged the Wichita faith community to support IAM members at Bombardier Learjet in their the struggle to preserve affordable health care. “Now is the time to speak out and speak up for a health
Read moreAn article published for In These Times unveils illegal, anti-union activity which reportedly took place during an IAM organizing campaign at the Fort Lewis-McChord joint Army and Air Force base in Washington state. According to the article, workers assigned to help families suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were forced to attend
Read moreThe Union of Unemployed (UCubed) welcomes the drop in unemployment numbers as reported by the U.S. Labor Department, but warns there’s still much more work to be done. “The ‘official’ unemployment numbers underestimate the depth of this crisis,” said UCubed Executive Director Rick Sloan. “Real unemployment is not 7.8 percent but 16.8 percent. And the
Read moreA bankruptcy judge has given Hostess Brands, Inc. permission to reject IAM contracts and to implement unfair changes on nearly 200 IAM members employed by Hostess. Hostess filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2012 and is seeking changes to its current labor contracts. The vehicle and building maintenance workers represented by the IAM
Read moreHealth care costs topped the list yet again as the Machinists of Local Lodge 639 at Bombardier Learjet in Wichita, KS hit the picket lines after voting down the company’s unfair contract offer and voting by a 79 percent margin to strike. Workers in Wichita build the Learjet line of business jets, including the new
Read more