Collective Bargaining — 9

Relationships with International Federations and Unions

The Collective Bargaining Department continues to strengthen its ties with International Unions and International Global Federations through our own International Trade and Globalization Department. We work in a coordinated fashion to develop ways to deal with corporations and companies who establish plants and bases in other countries. We have established ties with labor unions in South America, Europe and the Pacific Rim and will address any other countries as necessary. These ties have involved meetings to establish relationships with workers at Dow Chemical, Rio Tinto Mining, Alcoa, General Electric, Harley-Davidson and Snap-On, to name a few. Discussions include extending company/union partnerships and participating in collective bargaining negotiations. In conjunction with the General Electric Coordinated Bargaining Committee (CBC) and International Metalworkers Federation, a worldwide General Electric Conference was convened to establish union solidarity against the General Electric Company.

Strengthening Efforts to Establish Master, National and International Agreements

The Collective Bargaining Department will continue to press for master and national agreements. We will continue to encourage strength in numbers with employers, particular core industries, industries of unique skills, competing markets, and political jurisdictions. In addition to continuing these processes, the Department is exploring the possibility of establishing international agreements. Though many barriers are involved, the IAM sees the necessity to formulate a strategy to negotiate these international agreements should the opportunity present itself in order to ensure parity between countries where the global corporations employ workers both here and abroad.

Efforts since our last report have resulted in successful negotiations being concluded with the Can Industry (both Crown Cork & Seal and Rexam), General Electric, Square D, National Media, and GlobeGround North America LLC.

Upcoming national negotiations for the next year will include the Trane Company, Cytec Industries, Inc., Armstrong World Industries, Crown Cork & Seal, Rexam, and Square D.