www.goiam.org
Friday, April 12, 2002
Mediation Fails to
Break Impasse at Lockheed
Negotiations broke down two days after federal mediators called Lockheed
Martin management and IAM representatives to a meeting in Atlanta. Union
negotiators say the company continues to insist on the same job killing
contract language that forced 2,700 members in three states to strike
the aerospace giant on March 11.
“The union made every effort to resolve this dispute,” said John Crowdis,
IAM Aerospace Coordinator. “We gave them an inch, now they want a mile.
Lockheed Martin is proving that corporate greed knows no bounds. In a
time when profits will be going through the roof, they have forgotten
the workers who make that profit possible.
“Until Lockheed
Martin addresses our members’ issues, we shall continue to hold strong
in our demand to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Crowdis.
Medicaid Drug
Prices Skyrocket
As more and more
states impose stringent cost controls on Medicaid drug costs, more than
25 percent of the nation’s most needy recipients say they can no longer
buy their vital medicines. Surveys show that Medicaid clients tend to be
in worse health than other Americans, according to the Center for
Studying Health System Change, a nonpartisan research group.
This growing crisis
could have been avoided. Last year, the Congressional Budget Office
projected non-Social Security surpluses as far as the eye could see.
President George Bush and his congressional allies spent those surpluses
on huge tax cuts for the wealthiest taxpayers, with little regard for
the suffering of more needy Americans. Social Security is next on that
White House hit list.
Auto Tech
Campaign Kicks Into High Gear
More than four dozen
IAM staff and rank-and-file members mounted a whirlwind campaign to
spread the union message to auto technicians in the Baltimore-Washington
metropolitan area.
“Auto techs in this
area lag far behind their counterparts in nearby areas who enjoy IAM
representation,” explained Boysen Anderson, the IAM’s automotive
coordinator. Auto technicians in neighboring Pennsylvania, who have IAM
contracts, earn more than $19 an hour in wages and benefits, he added.
In just two days,
the IAM organizing blitz carried the union message to the technicians
employed at more than 300 dealerships in the area. The IAM represents
more than 40,000 auto technicians across the U.S. and Canada.
Amtrak Debate
Rolls On
Citing signs of help
from Congress, Amtrak backed away from its threat to announce cuts in
its long-distance train network. Amtrak is required by law to give 180
days' notice before it discontinues train service. Additionally, on
April 10 the Bush administration postponed a presentation to Congress
about the future of Amtrak, saying it needs more time to finish drafting
a plan.
Bush administration
officials are split over at least one key issue - whether to allow
franchising of Amtrak services. Amtrak, which failed to meet an order
by Congress to begin operating without federal subsidies, sent letters
last week to the governors of 46 states regarding its need for $1.2
billion in federal funds. President Bush has proposed $521 million.
The IAM is working
with the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department and is lobbying for
full funding of Amtrak.
Election Set For Vanguard Flight Attendants
The National Mediation Board (NMB) approved the IAM’s petition for a
representation election for Flight Attendants at Vanguard Airlines and
set May 6, as the date to count ballots at NMB Headquarters in
Washington, DC.
Kansas City-based Vanguard Airlines recently announced it is increasing
its schedule by 27 percent in the coming months and hiring additional
Flight Attendants. IAM District 142, which has an office in Kansas City,
received numerous inquiries from Vanguard Flight Attendants seeking
information about the benefits of an IAM contract.
IAM Website Lists
May 8 Activities
“Reports of local lodge activities for the IAM’s May 8, Transportation
Day of Action are coming in and the response is extremely positive,”
said GVP Robert Roach, Jr. “The Local and District Coordinators are
working hard to make this day a historic success.” Cities confirming
activities include Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO;
Los Angeles, CA; Newark, NJ; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; San
Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA and Washington, DC. Political figures and
labor leaders have already confirmed their attendance at several
locations. Additional information is available on the IAM’s Day of
Action web site at
www.goiam.org/publications/day.
Organizing Wins in Western Territory
Brian
Miller of District Lodge 725 continues to rack up the organizing wins
for the IAM. Working out of San Diego, Brian recently organized 17
workers at CAE USA, INC. located at North Island NAS, CA. The workers
voted 100% for IAM representation. District Lodge 160 also celebrated
organizing wins at B.S. Quality Machine & Fabricating, Inc. and a
service contract unit at Raytheon Aerospace Company, LLC.
GVP Lee Pearson
extended his congratulations to all those who helped with these
victories. “Under the direction of DBR Gary Holt, DL 725 and DBR Don
Hursey, DL160 these organizers are bringing fairness and dignity to
workers at these facilities.”
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