A Time to Remember a True Hero

Working families will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy on Monday, January 17. While Dr. King is primarily known for his work as a civil rights leader, he recognized that labor’s needs were identical to those in the fight for civil rights.

Through Dr. King’s work a common bond was formed between workers, regardless of race, gender, or other differences. Our fights as trade unionists are forged in the same belief that Dr. King had: all of us deserve an equal voice.

Dr. King spoke to the 1961 AFL-CIO Convention; his words are as true today as they were then.

“ I look forward confidently to the day when all who work for a living will be one with no thought to their separateness as Negroes, Jews, Italians or any other distinctions. This will be the day when we bring into full realization the American dream—a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream of equality of opportunity, of privilege and property widely distributed; a dream of a land where men will not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few; a dream of a land where men will not argue that the color of a man's skin determines the content of his character; a dream of a nation where all our gifts and resources are held not for ourselves alone, but as instruments of service for the rest of humanity; the dream of a country where every man will respect the dignity and worth of the human personality. That is the dream.”

In every home and every job site, the fulfillment of that dream is what keeps America moving forward.

U.S. Warned on China’s Aerospace Ambitions

The failure of U.S. policy makers to respond to the emergence of China’s aerospace industry will have far-reaching consequences for this nation’s economic and national security, said IAM leaders in testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

“In order to fully understand the threat that China’s aerospace industry poses, it is essential to begin with a summary of the current state of U.S. aerospace employment,” said Owen Herrnstadt, Director of IAM Trade & Globalization Department. “Over 600,000 jobs have been lost in the total U.S. aerospace industry since 1990. Several hundred thousand more workers have lost their jobs in related industries.”

Herrnstadt cited “offsets” among the methods China is using to extract aerospace technology and manufacturing jobs from the U.S. and other countries. “China is one of the most aggressive countries in pursuing offset agreements,” said Herrnstadt, who appeared at the hearing in Seattle with District 751 President Mark Blondin and IAM Aerospace Coordinator Dick Schneider.

According to a report prepared for the hearing by Robert Scott, senior international economist at the Economic Policy Institute, the soaring U.S. trade deficit with China is also responsible for jobs lost in every state, with the highest numbers from California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.

“What is really shocking is the rate that China has moved into the production of high-skill, high-technology products,” said Scott. “China is now entirely responsible for our $32 billion deficit in advanced technology products like computers and electronics.”

The IAM urged U.S. policy makers to counter China’s growing influence by quickly addressing the trade deficit, adopting measures to mitigate the negative impact of offsets and to enforce internationally recognized labor standards.

Read the Executive Summary of Herrnstadt's testimony.

Local 1720 Members Win Strike, Return To Work

More than 340 IAM members of Local Lodge 1720 at International Specialty Products in Calvert City, KY went back to work January 8th after a month on strike. District 154 Directing Business Representative Bob Delaney said the workers walked off the job on Dec. 7th after rejecting the contract offer with a 95% "no" vote.

"There was too much the company brought to the table they couldn't accept," said Delaney. "Everyone stuck together through Christmas with their spirits up. This group stood strong together through the whole strike, and they've proven to themselves they can rely on each other."

"All in all, it's a pretty decent contract, considering what we turned down in December," said Delaney. Delaney reports the company withdrew contract language changes, capped the employee health care costs, added 45 cents per hour to the IAM Pension Fund, and added a $2.45 across-the-board raise through the life of the 3- year agreement. The contract was accepted by a 4-1 margin.

"I want to thank the Southern Territory office for all their help through the strike. We couldn't have done it without them," said Delaney.

"I'm proud of our members in Calvert City," said Southern Territory General Vice President Bob Martinez. "They stood together and accomplished what they set out to do. Congratulations to the Local Lodge for a job well done!"

Rail Workers Rally for Rights in Washington

IAM members rallied this week alongside rail workers in Washington, D.C. to protest new “filing fees” proposed by the National Mediation Board (NMB) that would force rail workers to pay up to several hundred dollars to file complaints over working conditions, safety and compensation.

The rally is part of a nationwide mobilization effort over the Bush Administration’s effort to use filing fees to cut down on the number of rail workers who file grievances over workplace safety, security or unfair corporate behavior. Charging employees for processing such disputes would end a 70-year practice where the government paid the cost of arbitrating labor management disputes in the rail industry.

Indiana Gov Cancels Contracts Covering 23,000

On his first day in office, Republican Governor Mitch Daniels cancelled Indiana's collective bargaining agreements with the state's unions, stripping 23,000 state workers of their ability to negotiate pay, benefits and work rules. Daniels claimed the contracts stood in the way of his efforts to “overhaul” Indiana government.

While several states have laws granting collective bargaining rights to state workers, Indiana differs from most because the negotiating authority depends on each incoming governor signing a new executive order. Daniels chose not to renew that order and rescinded contracts set to run through mid-2007. The move means state workers in Indiana will lose seniority rights, transfer rights, vacation time and the right to the grievance procedure.  

In a similar move, Republican Governor Matt Blunt of Missouri also rescinded the collective bargaining rights of thousands of state workers on his first day in office. He reversed the 2001 executive order signed by former Democratic Gov. Bob Holden that granted collecting bargaining rights to thousands of state employees.

Shop Committeemen Donnie Carter (l) and
Ron Singleton (r) proudly display the first
IAM contract for Express Latino bus drivers
at O’Hare International Airport.

Express Latino Drivers Win First IAM Contract

More than two dozen bus drivers who carry passengers between terminals at the world’s biggest airport are celebrating their first IAM contract thanks to their hard work and the District 8 organizing team.

The drivers, employed by Express Latino at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, contacted the IAM in the spring of 2004 after witnessing the professional relationship the union had achieved at GlobeGround, a maintenance facility at O’Hare.

“We sought out the IAM because they had contracts with GlobeGround, who owns the buses we operate,” said IAM Shop Committeeman Donnie Carter, who helped get the IAM organizing drive under way last year. “We needed union representation due to the inconsistencies at our workplace.”

The negotiations for a first contract at Express Latino were helped by the existing IAM contract at GlobeGround, explained District 8 BR Karl Sarpolis. “Using a modified GlobeGround contract as a base, we were able to negotiate a first agreement the members accepted by a two to one margin,” said Sarpolis.

Midwest Territory GVP James E. Brown thanked Sarpolis, Local 48 President Pat Camardo and Express Latino Shop Committeemen Donnie Carter and Ron Singleton for their hard work. “We congratulate our new members at Express Latino on their new contract and wish the District 8 organizing team continued success in the future.”

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