NTSB Reopens Airline Fatality Case

Responding to pressure from IAM officials, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is reopening its investigation into the death of IAM member Denise “Denny” Bogucki, a Northwest Airlines employee who died when a pushback tractor pinned her against the nose of a DC-9 at Norfolk International Airport.

The NTSB ruled last month that a “decision to use improper equipment” led to the fatal accident. Calling it the “worst decision the NTSB ever put out,” District 143 Safety & Health Director Bob Bennek pointed to an earlier investigation by the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) where Northwest was fined for failing to provide a work area that was “free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”

That report also said employees at Norfolk “were exposed to crushing hazards while conducting aircraft pushback operations.”

Prior to the fatal accident in September 2003, workers at Northwest were assigned to perform aircraft pushbacks without assistance. Local 2294 member Denny Bogucki was working alone when the accident occurred. Shortly after the accident Northwest modified equipment and revised pushback procedures to require two people for the job.

IAM Members at Lockheed Vote On Agreement

IAM members working under three separate contracts voted to ratify new three-year agreements between the IAM and defense contractor Lockheed-Martin. The IAM Coordinated Bargaining Committee unanimously recommended the contract offer.

Local negotiators representing fellow IAM members at Lockheed-Martin facilities in Marietta, Georgia; Clarksburg, West Virginia; Meridian, Mississippi; Palmdale, California; Sunnyvale, California; Vandenberg AFB, California and Cape Canaveral, Florida presented the agreements to the membership in meetings held at all locations on February 27, 2005.

IAM members approved the labor agreements in voting on Sunday, however, the IAM membership at Local 709 in Marietta, Ga., turned down the tentative agreement and voted to authorize a strike. No further negotiations are scheduled at this time.

TAP Activists Complete Training

The first group of Transportation Activist Program (TAP) participants from air transport and railroad Local Lodges last week completed the initial all-volunteer training session at the IAM's William W. Winpisinger Education & Technology Center in Maryland.

Participants received specialized training in face-to-face communications, IAM history, the Railway Labor Act, desktop publishing and an introduction to many of the services the IAM offers. The feedback provided by the participants will be incorporated into future TAP training sessions.

“An informed, energized membership is the foundation of everything the IAM accomplishes,” said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “These volunteers and those who follow will play an essential role in the continued success of the Machinists Union.”

The next TAP class is scheduled for the week of May 31, 2005. Additional field training sessions for locations with more than ten TAP volunteers are being scheduled.

Settlement Ends Strike at Ensign Emblem

IAM members at Ensign Emblem in Decatur, IL are back on the job after a three-week strike that produced improved wages, benefits and working conditions for 38 employees there.

A refusal by the company to sign a new agreement on Feb. 9 led to the walkout by members of Local 124, who picketed City Council meetings, filed unfair labor practice charges and drew widespread community support for their action. “As small as we are, we are standing strong and fighting for what we believe in,” wrote Local 124 Shop Steward Lisa Ring, in a letter to the editor on behalf of IAM members at Ensign Emblem.

“We’re very proud of these members,” said Midwest Territory GVP Jim Brown. “They demonstrated real solidarity and gained the support of the community – an unbeatable combination.”

U.S. Snowshoe Maker Moves to China

A legendary U.S. snowshoe maker is the latest victim on the growing list of U.S. companies that claim they can no longer compete with rock-bottom labor costs in China.

Founded in 1909, the Tubbs snowshoe company once produced classic bent wood snowshoes for U.S. Armed Forces in World War II and provided the snowshoes for Admiral Richard Byrd’s South Pole expedition. More recently, Tubbs revived the recreational snowshoe industry with snowshoes made from lightweight aluminum.

The machinery once used to make the graceful old wooden snowshoes and the newer metal variants are now awaiting shipment to Guangzhou, China, where they will be reassembled and operated by workers who are paid as little as 30 cents an hour.

Meanwhile, the U.S. trade deficit continued its steady march skyward, climbing nearly 24 percent last year to a record high, with the largest gap occurring with China.

Hard Bargaining Pays Off at Hispano-Suiza

The threat of strike action produced a new agreement between the members of IAM Local 905 and Hispano-Suiza, Snecma Group in Petersborough, Ontario.

“Our members deserve all of the credit,” said IAM Grand Lodge Representative Bill Shipman. “They convinced the employer they would strike if their demands weren’t met. There’s only 36 of them, but they’re rock solid.”

The three-year agreement provides for wage increases of three percent in each year, however, for the bulk of the membership, the wage increase is five percent in each of the first two years. Other agreement highlights include: restrictions on forced overtime; shortened pay progression and an i mproved shift assignment mechanism. The agreement also provides for improved vision care benefits and safety boot allowances.

“This is second agreement for this group since coming over to the IAM,” said Shipman. “The Machinists have made a significant difference in the gains they’ve won.”

Hispano-Suiza specializes in aerospace design and the manufacture of electronic flight critical control systems to support the aerospace industry on a global scale.