Five year-old Peyton Miller (left) and her nine year-old brother Colton, place their hands on the brick bearing the name of their grandfather, Richard Aiken of Local 1842, whose name was added this year to the IAM Workers’ Memorial.

New Names Added to IAM Worker Memorial

The annual Workers Memorial Day service to honor IAM members whose lives were lost to workplace accidents, injuries or illness was held on the grounds of the William W. Winpisinger Center, where new names were added to the hundreds surrounding the Memorial.

Hundreds of similar services were held across the country for the nearly 6,000 men and women who die in workplace accidents each year. In addition, 50,000 workers die annually from occupational injuries and diseases.

IP Tom Buffenbarger offered tribute to the fallen IAM members. “We are gathered here to renew our vow to always remember these members,” said Buffenbarger who urged those attending the service to demand safer workplaces. “Companies may not long remember the names of all the people who worked for them, but this union will never forget.”

IAM members whose names were added to the memorial this year include: Richard “Dick” Eugene Aiken, Local Lodge 1842; Raymond E. Davis, Local Lodge 956; Philip George Ghysels, Local Lodge 1338; David Liechty, Local Lodge 956; Gerald Malone, Local Lodge 2305; James H. McDonald, Jr., Local Lodge 2665; Dwayne “Boss” Shepro, Local Lodge 1947; Donald Wagner, Local Lodge 2665; Milton R. White, Local Lodge 2244 and Lester Sylvester Wilson, Local Lodge 1297.

More Organizing Wins at Andrews AFB, Budget Rent-a-Car

District 4 and District 15 of the Eastern Territory scored two important organizing wins at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, DC and Budget Rent-A-Car in Fort Lee, NJ. Aircraft technicians, support personnel and avionics specialists employed by Dyncorp International at Andrews Air Force Base brushed aside an intense anti-union campaign and voted for IAM representation and a voice at work. Key issues for this group included wages and respect on the job.

The victory brings collective bargaining rights to 311 highly-skilled employees and raises the number of IAM bargaining units at Andrews AFB to six.

“The organizing drive among this group began picking up steam right after the Jan. 19 election victory for the 86 aircraft fuelers and support personnel who maintain the Air Force One fleet at Andrews,” said District 4 Business Representative Rick Compher, who credited support from District 4, IAM Headquarters and the In-Plant Committee at Dyncorp. “Everyone pulled together to make this win possible.”

The company’s effort to address workers’ concerns may have added to the organizing momentum after their so-called “Tiger Team” failed to rectify any employee complaints. Negotiations for a first contract under Service Contract Act guidelines are expected to begin shortly.

In District 15, 11 Customer Service, Transport and Vehicle Service members employed at Budget Rent-A-Car in Ft. Lee, NJ are now proud IAM members.

“Congratulations to District Lodge 4 Directing Business Representative Tony Provost, Business Representative Rick Compher, District Lodge 15 Directing Business Representative James Conigliaro and Business Representative Juan Negron for these two great wins,” said Eastern Territory GVP Lynn Tucker, Jr. “A special thanks goes out to all of the teams for a job well done.”

Senate Starts Hearings On Social Security

The Senate Finance Committee opened hearings this week on President Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security and reduce future benefits. The Senate hearing coincided with the end of the President’s “60 stops in 60 days” barnstorming tour to tout his Social Security plan. Public support for private accounts actually eroded after the President’s efforts, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

GOP support for the President’s plan is eroding, too. Two of ten Republican Senators on the Finance Committee expressed serious reservations about the President’s plan. Even Republican witness Peter Ferrara of the Free Enterprise Fund criticized the White House’s handling of Social Security debate, saying they inflated the need for benefit cuts. If just one Republican and all the Democrats on the Committee oppose a final Social Security bill, it won’t even make it out of the Finance Committee.

Democrats, meanwhile, showed unanimity by attending a rally outside the Capitol (click here to view a video of the rally). Led by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, 120 House and Senate Democrats signed a “Declaration of Unity” pledge to protect Social Security.

Click here to send a message to Congress to protect Social Security.

Machinists Ratify Comair Pact

Mechanic & Related members of District 142 employed at Comair voted to approve new terms for an amended contract. The vote results were announced on April 28.

“Our negotiating committee worked hard to forge an agreement that focused on the membership’s concerns regarding wages and job security,” said Air Transport District 142 President William O’Driscoll.

“This agreement addresses our members’ issues and positions Comair to remain competitive in an uncertain industry.”

Highlights of the agreement include a base wage increase of 2% effective June 1, 2005, increased premiums, a signing bonus, improved job protection, increased sick leave accrual and an additional paid holiday. The new agreement becomes amendable June 1, 2009.

 

Love Mom, Not Wal-Mart

This Mother’s Day, you can honor working women by filling out a pledge to “Love Mom, Not Wal-Mart.” With nearly 700,000 women employees, Wal-Mart is the largest private sector employer of working women in the United States.

Women working at Wal-Mart earn from five to fifteen percent less than men working in the same classification. Seventy-two percent of the hourly workforce is female but only thirty-three percent of the managers are women and only fifteen percent of store managers are women. More than 1.5 million current and former female employees are suing Wal-Mart for gender discrimination in promotion and pay.

Gaylon Allen Named Southern Territory AA

International President Tom Buffenbarger has announced the appointment of GLR Gaylon Allen (left) as Administrative Assistant to Southern Territory General Vice President Bob Martinez, effective July 1, 2005. He will replace retiring A.A. Les Schroeder.

Brother Allen joined IAM Local Lodge 1632 in 1967 as a Tank Sealer for Hays Aircraft, Napier Field, AL. He became a Business Representative for District 75 in 1988, Directing Business Representative in 1995, a Special Representative in the Southern Territory in August 1997, and promoted to Grand Lodge Representative in 1999.

“Brother Allen will be a great Administrative Assistant. We’re very lucky to have him on our staff,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “He brings a great deal of experience and knowledge to the Dallas office, and I hope everyone will welcome him to his new position.”

IAM Calendar Benefits Guide Dogs

Each year, sales of the IAM calendar provide a big financial boost for Guide Dogs of America, the non-profit organization founded by an IAM member in 1948 and dedicated to providing trained guide dogs without charge for blind and sight impaired individuals.

Sales of the 2005 IAM calendar generated a remarkable $29,894 for Guide Dogs of America, money that will be used to support breeding programs, puppy training as well as instruction and support for sight impaired individuals seeking to partner with one of these remarkable animals.

Guide Dogs of America does not receive any funding from federal, state, or local governments. The Sylmar, California-based organization relies solely upon donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, chapters and clubs.

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