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| Bob “Woody” Wood |
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| James “Stretch” Litle |
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| Robert Barnwell |
Southern Territory representatives Bob “Woody” Wood and James “Stretch” Little have been promoted and District 131 Directing Business Representative Robert Barnwell is joining the Southern Territory staff. All three will be classified as Special Representatives.
Wood, the Southern Territory Communications Representative since September 1999, has been promoted to Special Representative. Wood initiated into the IAM in 1979 as a tool-and-die maker since Cessna Aircraft, a member of Wichita, KS Local 744. Wood has been in the territory longer than anyone currently on the territory staff.
Little joined the IAM in 2002 while working on the F-16, F-22 and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programs at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, TX. He held positions of Shop Steward, President of Shop Stewards and Negotiating Committeeman. Little also served as a delegate to the Texas State Council of Machinists and was active on fundraising committees. Little is a second generation unionist, following in the steps of his father, a Local Chairman for the United Transportation Union in the railroad industry. Little was appointed Educator for the Southern Territory in October 2014.
Barnwell joined South Florida Millwrights Local 1026 in 1986 as an apprentice and became a journeyman millwright in 1990. He joined IAM Local 1034 in 1995 when he hired on at Graphic Packaging International as a Millwright/Maintenance Mechanic. He was elected Steward in 1996, Vice President in 1997 and President in 2000. Barnwell served as Trustee to District 131 from 1997 to 2006, elected as Vice President and Organizer for District 131 in 2006, and was elected as President and Directing Business Representative in 2014. Barnwell served as President of the Central Georgia Federation of Trades and Labor Council from 2010 to 2014 and served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Machinists Southern Pulp and Paper Conference from 2008 to 2015.
“Woody is one of the most experienced field reps in Communications in the IAM,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Mark Blondin. “He’s been involved on the ground in some of the biggest battles of our territory for years, and is capable of handling any situation. Since Stretch joined our staff as Educator, he quickly became an integral part of our team, handling any challenge we’ve thrown at him with leadership and skill. DBR Robert Barnwell in a short time has proven his ability to wake up and shake up a District Lodge with growth through organizing, expert negotiating and servicing his contracts, and his work with the pulp and paper industry. He will fill an important area of the territory, and I want to welcome Robert to our staff.
“I want to congratulate all three reps for their well-earned promotions,” continued Blondin. “With the changes in the territory, I believe we are positioned to move forward with our continuing efforts in organizing new members, negotiating good contracts and servicing our members’ needs throughout the Southern Territory.”
