A First, Great Contract at Tate and Lyle

IAM members at Tate and Lyle in McIntosh, Alabama ratified their first contract after organizing with the Machinists last year. The company, previously owned by Johnson and Johnson, manufactures sucralose, part of the “Splenda” sweetener.

“It’s a great contract,” said District Lodge 73 Directing Business

Representative Joe Harrington. “They have vastly improved health insurance, good raises, improved pension, signing bonuses which range from $1000-$5000, and seniority, grievance and arbitration rights.” The company also committed to explore bringing in the IAM’s High Performance Work Organization to the facility.

Southern Territory General Vice President Bob Martinez said, “I want to congratulate the negotiating team, assisted by Brother Harrington and GLR Lou Brogna, for their fine job. I’d also like to extend a big Machinists welcome to the IAM’s newest Local Lodge.”

Truth Truck Tour Touts Social Security Message

In an effort to counter the Bush administration’s push to privatize Social Security, the Alliance for Retired Americans is set to kick off the Social Security Truth Truck Tour on March 21 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

The tour will feature a flatbed truck carrying more than a million messages collected from seniors urging members of Congress to reject any Social Security plan aimed at privatization and cuts in retiree benefits.

“Seniors simply can’t trust anyone who says their benefits are safe under privatization,” Alliance President George J. Kourpias said in a press release. “It’s our job to counter what the president says, and if it means taking the message on the road, we’ll do just that.”

Local Alliance leaders and seniors against President Bush’s plan for privatization will hand deliver the names of local petitioners to their Representatives’ district offices as well as speak about what Social Security means to them.

The tour is scheduled to make 16 stops in 6 states before winding up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on April 1.

LL 1862 Member is Church Shooting Victim

Long-time IAM member Richard Reeves, (right) was among those shot at a church service last week in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The 58-year-old Reeves is survived by his wife, Lena, and has three sons. He worked as a tool crib attendant at the Ladish Co. for over 38 years.

A statement from the Reeves family said, "Richard Reeves was an honorable man with rock solid faith in God. He was faithful, loving and loyal to his wife, his family and his friends. He will be greatly missed. The one thing he wanted more than anything else in this world was for his three sons — David, Joel and James — to know that he loved and missed them deeply with all of his heart."

U.S. Busts Counterfeit Aircraft Mechanics

On March 8, U.S. Immigration officials arrested 27 illegal aliens working at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina and charged them with using counterfeit documents to obtain employment.The illegal workers were performing aircraft maintenance and other aviation-related jobs for maintenance contractor TIMCO.

TIMCO performs third party aircraft contract maintenance on passenger and cargo aircraft. At least two of the alleged illegal immigrants had obtained counterfeit Airframe & Powerplant licenses, issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, allowing them to work on some of the most technical parts of an airplane.

Initially, TIMCO asserted that none of the detainees were "direct" company employees, but worked instead for one of a contractor that supplies temporary workers. However, after reviewing the list names, TIMCO said that six were permanent, full-time TIMCO employees who had been on the payroll for up to six years.

The 27 individuals arrested were charged with administrative violations of immigration law and will be placed in deportation proceedings. Their home countries include Sudan, Chile, Peru, Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Venezuela, Mexico and Laos. 

U.S. officials said they have no reason to believe that any of the individuals arrested were involved in or planning any terrorist activity. Read the press release.

IAM Local Lodge President Honored at NYC Gala  

The New York City Central Labor Council honored IAM Local Lodge 1322 President Richard Chu for his decades of distinguished service to the community and advocacy for working men and women in the greater New York area.

IAM Representatives traveled from all over the country to attend the award banquet held for Chu and three other honorees in New York City. 

Richard Chu has been a United Airlines Ramp Serviceman and IAM member for 28 years. Always active in his Local, Chu has served as Auditor, Trustee, Recording Secretary, and now President and Educator of his Local Lodge.  

"Richard exemplifies the best the Machinists Union has to offer," said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. "We are privileged to have such a dedicated trade unionist as one of our leaders."

Deadline Nears For Basic Editors Class

The deadline for sending in applications for the Communications Department’s final Basic Editors Class for 2005 is March 27, 2005. The class will be held at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center May 22 through May 27, 2005.

The course is designed for local or districts who want to start a newsletter or have current newsletter editors who need training. Participants will learn the basics of newsletter production, including writing, layout and design and desktop publishing. For enrollment information, contact Pam Kinney at 301-373-3300.