IAM Mourns Union Legend Frank Souza

Last September, he waited patiently in line to address the 36th Grand Lodge Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fifteen hundred delegates heard him say, "I'm Frank Souza. I'm from District Lodge 190. And I rise to oppose the resolution that retirees who serve as officers in this union will not have to pay dues."

Frank Souza, who passed away February 19, served for twelve years as the District Business Representative for District 190 in the San Francisco area, told the delegates he felt it was his duty to pay dues. He reminded his fellow Machinists that "you can retire from the company but you can never retire from the union."

And Frank Souza carried the day. The resolution was defeated soundly. As he had since his initiation into the IAM in 1953, Frank Souza stood his ground, stood on principle and stood tall as a union leader.

Frank Souza lived his entire adult life as a Machinist. He had worked his way up through the ranks — apprentice then journeyman machinist — but early on in his career he became a trusted and valued union leader. Souza served as shop steward, moved through a succession of local union positions and then took on ever more demanding leadership roles in his district lodge.

After a while, the name Frank Souza and District Lodge 190 became synonymous. From 1977 until his retirement in 1989, it was his district. It will always be his district.

His leadership was recognized throughout the labor movement. Souza served as a delegate to AFL-CIO conventions, chaired the Western States Trucking Committee for the National Auto Transporters, was the chairman for the Sea Land west coast negotiations committee and, from his position as vice president, led the California Labor Federation for the AFL-CIO.

Souza was directly responsible for bringing the Machinists convention to San Francisco in 2000. Unfortunately, a severe heart ailment hospitalized him until the final day. When he entered the hall, he received a tumultuous ten-minute standing ovation from his brothers and sisters in the Machinists Union.

Respect cannot be given, only earned. Frank Souza's long service earned him the respect, admiration and love of the 650,000 Americans and Canadians who belong to his union, his Machinists Union. They knew he fought for them. He fought for a better life for us all. And they stood in awe of Frank Souza.

Social Security Plan Will Devastate Working Families

President Bush’s efforts to privatize Social Security will replace guaranteed benefits with risky private accounts even as it fatally undermines Social Security. His privatization plan will cut benefits drastically, raise workers’ retirement age, and saddle our children with $2 trillion in debt.

With private pensions and public employee retirement plans under attack, working families need more retirement security. They cannot afford a privatization plan that makes retirement less secure.

Do your part for retirement security today by contacting your Representatives and Senators. Urge them to oppose any privatization plan that makes retirement less secure.

Reynolds Workers Ready to Vote

A grassroots organizing campaign at two Reynolds Tobacco facilities in Winston-Salem, NC is poised to bring IAM representation to employees who are fuming over changes to their health care and retirement benefits.

All full-time and regular part-time production and maintenance employees at Reynolds’ Tobaccoville and Whitaker Park plants are eligible to vote in the March 3-4 election being held by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The board scheduled the vote after the company refused to grant union recognition despite signed authorization cards from a majority of Reynolds employees.

“This is a classic case of the company driving employees into the arms of the union,” said IAM Tobacco Coordinator Steve Spain. “Besides the pension issue, health care costs and changes to overtime rules, employees are just fed up with being told the company knows what’s best for them and their families.”

The organizing drive gained traction following revelations about pay, perks and stock for top Reynolds executives. The company then hired Costangy, Brooks & Smith, a union avoidance law firm to oppose the organizing effort.

“The workers at Reynolds who started this drive are determined to see it through,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “They know a written contract is the best way to protect their jobs today and their retirement tomorrow.” Upon certification, the Reynolds employees would join fellow tobacco workers with IAM contracts in Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky.

Labor Deptartment Shows True Colors in Wal-Mart Deal

A Labor Department deal allowing advance notice of federal safety inspections for giant retailer Wal-Mart is the latest outrage in a growing list that underscores the cozy relationship between the Bush Administration and big business.

The Labor Department announced a settlement this week with Wal-Mart over multiple violations of child labor laws in Connecticut, Arkansas and New Hampshire. The world’s largest retailer was fined $135,540 for allowing minors to operate chainsaws, cardboard bailers and forklifts in 24 of its retail stores.

Details of the unusual agreement allowed Wal-Mart to collaborate with the Labor Department over the announcement of the fine and incredibly, calls for Wal-Mart to receive 15 days advance notice before the Department’s Wage and Hour Division conducts any follow-up investigations during the next 12 months. State officials in Connecticut and Democrats in Congress are calling for an investigation of the sweetheart deal.

“There was no press release, no public announcement. They concealed the whole settlement until the department was compelled to reveal it,” said Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who is contacting attorney generals in other states about the Wal-Mart settlement. “We have no idea how the investigation started, why it took four years to conclude,” Blumenthal told ABC News. “All key details have been concealed by the federal government. It’s plainly a sweetheart deal.”

Wal-Mart donated $2.1 million to candidates and campaigns in the 2004 election cycle, with 80 percent going to Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

“Once again, it looks like the Bush Administration is doing a favor for a powerful friend and contributor at the expense of workers who do their jobs and still cannot get fair treatment in the workplace,” says California Rep. George Miller (D-CA).

February is Black History Month

Every February, Americans celebrate Black History Month. First recognized in 1926 as Negro History Week to honor of the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, the event later evolved into the month-long event known as Black History Month.

Harvard scholar, Carter G. Woodson, is credited with originating the tribute. Woodson was the son of former slaves who dedicated his life to ensuring black history was accurately documented and recognized. Woodson was determined that African Americans should be seen as important participants in the American experience rather than as “a lay figure in history.”

Additional information on Black History month can be found on the District 26 website.

Interview with NDP Leader Jack Layton

The leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, Jack Layton, shared his thoughts with the IAM in an interview about the upcoming budget proposal that will be presented in Canada’s House of Commons on February 23, 2005. Click here to find out what Layton would like to see in this budget and what may happen if it falls short of expectations.