Howard Dean Elected DNC Chairman

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean wasted little time making his mark as the newly elected chairman of the Democratic Party, ripping into President Bush and GOP leaders for bringing “Enron-style accounting to our nation’s capitol.” Dean was elected to the post with early support from the IAM following an unusually public battle to succeed outgoing DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe.

“We believe Governor Dean can provide a strong voice for working Americans and union members,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger, a longtime DNC member, who praised Dean’s experience and fundraising abilities.

Among Dean’s first jobs will be to prepare for upcoming state gubernatorial elections scheduled for 2005 and 2006. Up for grabs will be the governor’s office in more than a dozen key states.

Americans should get used to hearing Dean’s distinct voice on core issues. In his first speech as chairman, Dean defended Social Security as a proud achievement of the Democratic Party. “We don’t intend to let it fall victim to a dishonest scheme that only serves to heap greater debt on America’s young people,” said Dean.

Rat on a Roll

Attorneys for the City of Fairfield, Ohio were no match for the IAM’s 12-foot high inflatable rat, whose win last week in the 6 th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was the latest in a string of legal victories for the giant rodent.

The appeals court upheld a lower court decision, ruling 2-1 in Tucker v City of Fairfield that the southwest Ohio city could not prohibit the IAM from using the rat during protest rallies held in a public right of way. Eastern Territory GVP Lynn Tucker filed the closely watched free speech lawsuit in 2003.

The rat, a widely recognized symbol of corporate greed, was prominently featured during IAM informational pickets at Fairfield Ford. The dealership’s auto technicians voted to join the IAM on November 26, 2002, and despite being cited for numerous violations by the National Labor Relations Board, the company refused to negotiate a reasonable contract.

Brushing aside attempts by city attorneys to designate the rat balloon as a structure and subject it to building ordinances, a majority ruled that use of the balloon is protected expression under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. “In our view, there is no question that the use of a rat balloon to publicize a labor protest is constitutionally protected expression within the parameters of the First Amendment,” said Judge Boyce F. Martin.

Comment Period Opens on New DoD Rules

The Bush Administration’s effort to gut union representation and civil service rights for more than 700,000 federal workers at the Department of Defense (DoD) moved into the final phase when DoD released the draft rules of the new National Security Personnel System (NSPS).

The draft rules will be open for public comment for thirty days and could be final within three months. The proposed NSPS will radically alter every aspect of a federal worker’s career. Traditional union representation rights and civil service rules, from pay raises, work rules, layoffs by seniority, most rights to appeal unfair discipline and more will now be in management’s control.

“Every federal worker has a stake in these new rules,” said IAM Government Employees Director Frank Carelli. “A similar NSPS system is even farther along at the Department of Homeland Security and the Bush Administration said it will expand the system to all federal agencies.”

To view the DoD draft regulations and submit a comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov and choose “Defense Department” in the Search by Agency tab. The draft NSPS will be under the title “National Security Personnel System.” For more information on the NSPS, go the United DoD Workers Coalition, www.uniteddodworkerscoalition.org, a coalition of 36 unions united to protect the interests of federal workers.

Contract Talks Continue At Lockheed

Negotiations for a new contract covering more than 6,000 IAM members at defense contractor Lockheed-Martin continued this week in Palm Springs, CA, where IAM leaders are supporting members’ key demands to protect health care and pensions.

The Coordinated Bargaining Committee represents IAM members at Lockheed-Martin facilities in Marietta, GA; Clarksburg, WV; Meridian, MS; Palmdale, CA; Sunnyvale, CA; Vandenberg AFB; CA and Cape Canaveral, FL.

IAM negotiators continue to resolve local issues and expect to move into economic issues next. A special IAM website will provide information about the negotiations, which are scheduled to continue until late February with membership votes on the Company offers on February 27th at each local site.

MNPL Planning Committee Meeting Concludes

Several hundred IAM delegates departed last week’s MNPL Planning Committee Meeting armed with information and energized for the legislative battles that lie ahead. The four-day annual strategy summit, held this year in Monterrey, CA, focused on preserving Social Security, protecting defined benefit pensions and opposing the perennial attempts to roll back workplace health & safety laws.

“I intend to get even more members involved in MNPL,” said Local 1833 Vice President Lisa Stager, a first-time delegate who emphasized the connection between politics and pension benefits, a white-hot issue for airline workers. “The survival of our pensions could be determined by the level of our political involvement,” said Stager, a 27-year Reservations agent at Northwest Airlines.

Larry Washam to Lead Organizing Dept.

IP Tom Buffenbarger named Grand Lodge Representative Larry Washam to take over as Administrative Assistant (AA) in the IAM Organizing Department. Washam will replace the current AA, Ken Walsh, who will retire on May 1, 2005 after a 38-year IAM career.

Washam hired in as a machinist in 1969 at the Y-12 Plant Nuclear Weapons Facility in Oak Ridge, TN and joined IAM Local Lodge Atomic 480 where he held numerous positions including: Shop Steward, Recording Secretary and President. Larry also served as Business Representative to District Lodge 169 and served on the Executive Board of the Tennessee State Council of Machinists.  In 1991 Larry was appointed as an IAM Special Representative and became a Grand Lodge Representative in 1994.

Local 743 Member Wins New Wheels

It was a like dream come true here for Michael and Doris Gonzales, who took ownership of a brand new Chevy truck after Mike, secretary-treasurer of Local 743 in Windsor Locks, CT, won the grand-prize in the Union Plus Dream Ride Giveaway, sponsored by the Union Plus Auto Buying Service and the Union Plus Credit Card program.

“I entered the contest online, but really didn’t think I would win,” said Gonzales, who will now trade in his old vehicle, with its 110,000 hard-driven miles “When I heard I won the grand prize, I thought it was a gag.”

“Knowing that the purchase of a new vehicle is most likely the second most expensive purchase that we’ll face in our lives, second only to the purchase of a home,” says Gonzales, “I am left without words on how I feel.”

Participating union members can enjoy the day-to-day advantages of a Union Plus credit card, provided by HSBC, by calling 1-800-622-2580 or visiting www.unionpluscard.com. Union members can also get help from the free Union Plus Auto Buying Service when they wish to purchase a new or used car, van, or truck. The Auto Buying Service will even negotiate the best price for members. Union members just need to call 1-877-800-2924 to speak to an auto advisor, or they can visit www.unionplus.org/autobuying