Tony Chapman, Director.

Employment Services

The Employment Services Department, established in June 2003, provides employment related information to our districts, locals and to the members through electronic media, printed material and training. Our goal is to educate our members, locals and districts when seeking these services.

Since the last Grand Lodge Convention the Executive Council of this union, recognizing the plight of many of our members, decided to create a department dealing with the issues IAM members, their families, district and local lodges face during times of job loss, downsizing and hard economic times.

In April 2003 the members of the Executive Council asked if I would accept the position as director of this new department to put together a program that our lodge officers and members could access. After meeting with the Executive Council in April 2003, I was honored to accept their offer.

They charged me with getting this program up and operational by June 1st of 2003. The Council identified four functions they felt would be essential in creating this department and I was to report my progress to them on or before that date. The four essential functions consisted of the following:

1. Administer and coordinate an insurance plan to assist as many of our members as possible and to give them an option to COBRA.

2. Develop a website that would be useful to our brothers, sisters and the lodges dealing with employment issues.

3. Create a pamphlet, or manual that could be distributed by the responsible parties to our members that were being affected.

4. Work with the locals, districts and the membership who might have employment related issues.