Tuesday, March 15, 2005
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Labor issues you care about in streaming video
.

Social Security: Is there a problem?
(streaming | download)
Former Congresswoman, Barbara Kennelly, now the President of the National Committe to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, talks about the current social security system and how privatization could affect you.

Social Security: The Push For Privatization
(streaming | download)
Former Congresswoman, Barbara Kennelly, now the President of the National Committe to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, talks about why privatization of the current social security system is being pushed by the Bush Administration.

Textile Imports From China Jump
(streaming | download)
Textile imports to the United States from China increased drastically in January.

House At Work On Social Security
(streaming | download)
The House of Representatives began their work restructuring Social Security by holding a hearing on Wednesday, March 9th.

Federal Employees Face Unfair NSPS System
(streaming | download)
Frank Carelli, Director of the IAM Government Employees Department, talks about the implementation of the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) by the Department of Defense (DoD) that will affect more than 700,000 DoD workers.




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Machinists at Lockheed Ratify New Accord

The IAM announced today that members employed by Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Georgia; Meridian, Mississippi and Clarksburg, West Virginia voted by a 3 to 1 margin to accept a modified contract proposal from the company.

Approval of the 3-year agreement brings an end to the week-long strike that began on March 8, 2005, following the member’s rejection of an earlier Lockheed proposal. Workers are expected to quickly return to work at all affected Lockheed locations.

“Lockheed Martin modified their original proposal and the membership voted to accept the revised contract,” said IAM Aerospace Coordinator John Crowdis.

“The settlement represents a compromise by both sides and we’re looking forward to getting back to doing what we do best: building the best aircraft in the world today.

The vote on the new agreement took place following an informational meeting held earlier today where full details of the new accord were presented to IAM members.

“I want to commend the IAM Negotiating Committee for their work to bring this dispute to a conclusion,” said Crowdis.

For more information about IAM Local 709, visit their website at http://www.local709.org.

Maytag to Send More U.S. Jobs Overseas

In a presentation to an investors' conference in Orlando, Florida, Maytag CEO Ralph Hake announced that Maytag would outsource even more of its production to foreign companies.

According to Hake, about 12 percent of Maytag's products are currently made overseas. "We have sourced very little historically as a company and we will continue to source more," said Hake. "The percentage will go up."

Maytag closed the Galesburg, IL refrigerator plant in 2004, moving the work to a low-wage factory in Reynosa, Mexico putting 1,600 IAM members out of work.

Tomato Pickers Reach Accord With Taco Bell

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) in Immokalee, Florida announced an end to its boycott against Taco Bell on March 8. The accord is a major victory not only for immigrant farm workers in the tomato-rich Immokalee region, but also for the growing movement to make companies take responsibility for the welfare of workers at the bottom of the supply chain.

The CIW launched a nationwide boycott in 2001 after Taco Bell, the major buyer of tomatoes grown in Immokalee. The boycott was supported by the AFL-CIO, United Farm Workers (UFW), Oxfam America and other labor organizations.

In the agreement, Taco Bell agreed to work with the CIW to increase the wages and improve the working conditions of thousands of workers in Florida's huge tomato industry.


Republican C. David Nuessen (left) and Democrat
John Spring (right) flank LL 822's President (and
debate moderator) Ross Miller.

Local 822 Hosts Mayoral Debate

Local 822’s union hall was the location for a debate between Democrat John Spring and Republican C. David Nuessen — both candidates for the mayor of Quincy, Illinois.

Local 822 President Ross Miller, moderator of the 90-minute debate, said the good news was that both candidates called job creation in Quincy their number one issue.

“It’s difficult to remain relatively calm when candidates bring up privatization of city services,” said Miller. Local 822 represents 120 city employees in the west central Illinois community.

Rep. Hoyer Rips Civil Service Overhaul

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer told a National Treasury Employees Union rally in Washington, D.C. that the Bush Administration’s plan for overhauling the civil service system is fundamentally unfair.

“We are not afraid of pay for performance, but what we want is a fair system in which to operate,” said Hoyer to a cheering crowd. He said current civil service laws allow for performance pay in limited circumstances.

Hoyer characterized the issue as another attack by the Bush Administration against organized labor. “They do not philosophically believe in your right to organize. They want to do away with collective bargaining.”

The federal registry is accepting public comment on the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) on their website. For more information on NSPS view the IAM video, Federal Employees Face Unfair NSPS.


Past iMail | Your Email |www.goiam.org | Print Version


China Dolls
Behind China's economic miracle is a stark reality of oppressive working conditions for millions of Chinese women and men.


IAM Election Report IAM members in the United States and Canada have reelected national leaders to four-year terms commencing July 1, 2005.


Break out the camera and take it to work. It's time for the IAM Photography Contest.

We want to take www.goiam.org to the next level as a tool for the membership. You can help by completing this short survey. We'll use your feedback to guide our planning for the new site.


See who works for you, how the IAM is structured, and what services the IAM offers. Go to: IAM2005


With proposals based on labor’s strengths rather than weaknesses, the IAM has unveiled a seven-point strategy to help guide the debate over reform at the AFL-CIO. Take a look.


The 2005 IAM Calendar is now available. Send $7 to: IAM Calendar, 9000 Machinists Place,
Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772


Who cares about us? Check out the online edition of the 2004 IAM Journal.



The winners of the 2004 Newsletter & Website Contest.



Check out NewsBriefs, a regular online news service for IAM editors, webstewards & communicators. En Francais.


FlatRateTech is an organization “created for and by Ford and Lincoln Mercury service technicians solely to speak as one loud voice rather than 50,000 smaller voices.” according to their website The fast-growing site offers forums for Ford customers, technicians and dealers to exchange information.

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