January 4, 2010 is the deadline to submit comments to the National Mediation Board (NMB) in support of a proposed rule change that would be the most significant advance in decades for air and rail workers’ voting rights. While thousands of comments have already been sent, the IAM is urging all members to submit comments in advance of a public hearing set for December 7, 2009.
Instructions on how to submit comments are available at www.goiam.org/nmb.
“There are many who are opposed to the NMB allowing air and rail workers to have a fair election process,” said Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. “But there are even more people in this country who support an individual’s right to make their own choices. We need those people to contact the NMB to support that right for air and rail workers.”
The proposed rule change would grant air and rail employees the same voting rights enjoyed by workers in other industries and would end a discriminatory practice which treats non-voters as if they had voted “no.” Elections in the United States are decided by a majority of voters who participate in an election. Nowhere but in the transportation industry do non-voters routinely determine the outcome of an election.
All IAM members are strongly urged to submit comments supporting the voting rights of air and rail workers. Family and friends are also encouraged to submit comments – all members of the public are welcome to submit comments.