The second IAM Transportation Conference of the new century recently took place in New York City where more than 400 airline and railroad representatives shaped the agenda of the largest and most powerful transportation union in North America.
TCU International President Bob Scardelletti spoke to the assembly and pointed out the state of rail in this country. “New York City is our town–a railroad town. Brothers and sisters in the deepest recession of our lifetime I stand before you to tell you that there is no one furloughed on Amtrak and there is no one furloughed on our commuter railroads in this town.” He continued positively, “…I am so proud to say that this July 1st TCU and IAM members on the freight railroads and Amtrak received one of the highest, if not the highest wage increase in this country –4-1/2%.”
Railroad Transportation and the Obama Administration were some highlights by President Scardelletti, “…a friend has been appointed to every agency we work with by President Obama.” He went on to say, “…we now have people in the government who truly care about America’s workforce. We elected one of the most pro-union and pro-rail Presidents in history.”
President Scardelletti also spoke about health care and introduced another convention floor to his slogan “You Want Health Care…Join A Union.”
Attendees from TCU included:
Robert Scardelletti, IP Paul Constantinople, Jr., LC (LL 227)
Robert Davis, IVP Christy House, LC (LL 2508)
Richard Johnson, IVP Charles Jackson, LC (LL 718)
John Lydon, IVP Bill Mills, GC (LL 5041)
David Steele, IVP Sukharam Narine, GC (LL 5098)
Ron Kloos IR David Nienke, FST (LL 6176)
Artie Maratea, IR Lynda Persley, FST (LL 2508
Tony Padilla (TCU HQ) Mark Taylor, LC (LL 570)
TCU representatives took part in the conference, joining IAM representatives from all over the United States and Canada, as well as other union representatives from all over the world. The 4-day event is held every 18 months to organize and direct the power of 150,000 IAM transportation members.
Many important speakers from the labor movement spoke at the conference including: Tom Buffenbarger, International President; Warren Mart, International Secretary-Treasurer; Robert Roach, General Vice President; and Rich Michalski, General Vice President; from the IAM. Chris Wagoner from the IAM Winpisinger Technology Center; George Kourpias, former International President of IAMAW and many IAM Local Lodge Presidents also spoke to the Convention.
From the AFL-CIO Rich Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer; and Arlene Holt Baker, Executive Vice President; also presented the Convention with the new scope of changes coming with the new leadership of the AFL-CIO.
Speakers also included many prominent political figures from Capitol Hill: Senator Robert Menendez (D-NY); Representatives James Oberstar (D-MN), Laura Richardson (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Yvette Clark (D-NY) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) all spoke about transportation needs across the country.
Joe Szabo, FRA Administrator; Ed Wytkind, TTD President; and National Mediation Board Members Linda Puchala and Harry Hoglander all gave positive ideas from the transportation sector.
A powerful rally was held to bring focus on the recent airline mergers and the government investment into high speed rail. Attending the rally were Bob Scardelletti, Tom Buffenbarger, Warren Mart and Robert Roach. The rally brought out the focus on the Delta Northwest merger and the election that IAM has filed for; the representation of delta members by the IAM is critical to the American labor movement.
Click here to read about the election at delta.
Click here to see pictures from the rally and conference.
Click here to read the IAM Transportation Conference page.
Posted August 28, 2009
