IAM Sues NMB Over Rail Negotiations

The IAM filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the National Mediation Board (NMB), charging the federal agency with violating the Railway Labor Act in the IAM’s five-year old negotiations with the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC). The NCCC represents management for the nation’s freight rail carriers. A copy of the complaint is available at www.goiam.org.

“If any railroad worker in the United States performed their job as poorly as the members of the National Mediation Board, they would have been fired long ago,” declared Robert Reynolds, President of IAM Railroad District 19, representing 8,000 IAM members employed at Class 1 freight rail carriers across the country.

“The NMB has held us hostage without a general wage increase for more than five years,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “Our members have the right to a fair agreement or to strike if an agreement can’t be reached. We have been shackled by an agency that has forgotten its purpose is to promote agreements, not prevent them. This charade has gone on far too long.”

The complaint also alleges the NMB violated the Freedom of Information Act by not complying with repeated IAM requests for information related to the dispute. The IAM is asking the court to order the NMB to proffer arbitration to the IAM and the carriers in this case and order the NMB to disclose the information that has been unlawfully withheld from the IAM.

“The National Mediation Board has become our biggest obstacle to reaching an agreement,” said Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. “This once effective agency is now dysfunctional and no longer serves the interests of workers, the carriers or the public.”

Pentagon Blocks DD(X) Shipyard Duel

In welcome news for thousands of union shipbuilders in Maine and Mississippi, the Pentagon scuttled for the time being the Navy’s controversial plan to choose a single shipyard to build the next generation of stealth warships.

Calling the Navy’s winner-take-all proposal to build all DD(X) destroyers in one shipyard “premature” the Pentagon concurred with union members who vigorously lobbied lawmakers that a competition between two major shipyards could be lethal for the losing shipyard and cost thousands of high-skill jobs.

The high stakes competition would have pitted Bath Iron Works in Maine against Northrop Grumman Ingalls shipyard in Mississippi. Both shipyards currently share responsibility for building U.S. Navy destroyers.

“The Pentagon’s decision acknowledges the critical importance of maintaining this nation’s shipbuilding capability,” said Eastern Territory GVP Lynn D. Tucker, Jr. “This is a jobs issue, a national security issue and a common sense issue. I want to congratulate all the IAM members who contacted their representatives and urged them to oppose the gladiator-like competition between two of this nation’s remaining shipyards.”

Strike Vote Called at United Airlines

IAM leaders at United Airlines are calling for a strike authorization vote to be held in response to repeated threats by United CEO Glenn Tilton to terminate pensions and abrogate labor agreements covering nearly 20,000 IAM members.

“It is time for all of us to take a stand in support of a fair contract,” said the District 141 Negotiating Committee in a letter to members. “We unanimously recommend that you vote yes to authorize strike action. It is vital to send an unequivocal message of solidarity to management that we are prepared to take decisive action. The alternative is a slow death of endless pay cuts, lost pensions and outsourced jobs.”

With no exit in sight, United Airlines remains mired in the longest and most costly bankruptcy proceeding in airline history. Despite a willingness by union negotiators to restructure labor agreements to provide the struggling airline with the resources needed to exit bankruptcy, senior executives are insisting that IAM members absorb an unfair and unreasonable share of the overall labor cost sacrifice.

“In addition to the loss of your hard-earned pensions, Tilton’s terms include working harder for less compensation, more costly healthcare and the loss of thousands of additional jobs through subcontracting and increased use of part-time,” said the District 141 letter.

Machinists Fight Back at New Piper

"We're looking for our wages and benefits back that have been taken from us, we're looking for affordable health care, seniority rights and we want some respect in the workplace," declared Treasure Coast Local Lodge President Jim Long, who was joined by nearly 200 IAM members for a street rally in front of New Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach, FL.

Long and 729 employees at New Piper voted for IAM representation in December 2003, and are still fighting for a first contract. "They took away six percent of our pay two years ago and we want it back now," said Hoa Vu, a six-year employee. "I am a single mom and I pay $400 a month in dental and health care. I need help big time."

"These workers are tired of the games," said IAM Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge. "It's time for the management of New Piper to come to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair and equitable contract for their employees."

Union negotiators accuse New Piper management of deliberately stalling at the negotiating table and using the delay to promote discord in the workplace.

"It's good to see the workers at New Piper exercising their Constitutional rights and making their voices heard," said IAM Headquarters GVP Bob Thayer. "We intend to keep using every means possible to ensure these members get the contract they deserve."

"The time for a contract is now," said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. "There is no reason the workers at New Piper should be denied any longer."

Organizing Rights Bill Introduced in Congress

Working families may have been unfairly held back from gaining a voice on the job, but legislation was reintroduced this week to remedy that. On Tuesday, April 19, 2005, Representatives George Miller (D-CA) and Peter King (R-NY) as well as Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 1696, S. 842).

The Employee Free Choice Act would reform the nation’s basic labor laws by requiring employers to recognize the union after a majority of workers sign cards authorizing union representation. It also would provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes and establish stronger penalties for violation of the rights of workers seeking to form unions or negotiate first contracts.

“American workers deserve the right to join a union without the unfair, underhanded and illegal tactics employers are using to deny them that basic right,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “The Employee Free Choice Act levels the playing field and gives workers a fair chance to choose a voice at work.”

According to research by Peter Hart Research Associates, more than 57 million Americans would join a union if they could. But when workers try to gain that voice on the job they are regularly met with intimidation, coercion, retaliation and harassment. At least one in four organizing efforts are faced with the firing of union supporters.

Send a letter to your Representative and Senators; urge them to sign on as a co-sponsor to this important legislation.

2005 Transportation Conference Returns to N.Y.C.

Air Transport and Rail delegates from the United States and Canada will convene in New York City on June 14-17 for the 2005 IAM North American Transportation Conference. This year’s Conference is being held in conjunction with the Transportation Department’s annual Day of Action on Wednesday, June 15, 2005. The fourth annual Day of Action event will feature a ceremony at Ground Zero followed by a rally at New York City’s Battery Park. The theme of this year’s Day of Action is “Power, Respect and Dignity” for all Transportation workers.

“The assault on air and rail workers began immediately following the September 11 attacks,” said Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. “It is fitting that we should return to New York City to demonstrate our resolve and solidarity in the face of all the challenges that are still facing transportation workers today.” The 2001 Transportation Conference was held in New York City, less than a month before the attack on the World Trade Center. 

The Conference will be held at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers. IAM delegates can make room reservations by calling the hotel directly at 800-223-6550 or on the hotel’s website. Be sure to inform the hotel you are attending the IAM North American Transportation Conference to receive the special room rate. The deadline for receiving the special rate is 5:00 PM on May 20, 2005.