www.goiam.org
Tuesday, May 7, 2002
Jobs Top Agenda at
IAM Aerospace Conference
Delegates to the 2002 IAM Aerospace Conference arrived in Seattle with
dozens of issues and a single goal in mind: to stop the export of
aerospace jobs and technology before this vital industry is reduced to a
shell by global traders and corporate mercenaries.
“This could be the
most crucial conference held in the IAM this year,” said GVP Lee Pearson
on the opening day of the five-day, workshop filled event. “We face a
multiplicity of problems, from difficult negotiations to mergers and
acquisitions.”
Speaker
after speaker focused on Boeing, where negotiations begin June 25th
for a new contract covering tens of thousands of IAM members in Wichita,
Portland and Washington State. “The industry’s goal is to eliminate jobs,”
warned GVP Bob Thayer. “Less for you means more for them – that’s the corporate
strategy of greed we’re facing.”
But
great challenges hold the potential for great success, IP Tom Buffenbarger
reminded the delegates. Recently ratified contracts at Lockheed and Bombardier
followed tough hard negotiations and strikes at both companies. “They took a
stand and fought for the right reasons: job security, pensions and health care,”
said Buffenbarger, “We have a large and healthy strike fund and it’s there to be
used if we have to.”
Highlighting the importance of job security, Dick Schneider, the IAM’s Boeing
Aerospace Coordinator said, “If we’re not vigilant, we could soon see signs at
our borders that say, ‘Will the last aerospace worker leaving North America,
please turn out the lights?’”
“It’s that serious,” said
Schneider.
IAM Slates ‘Day of
Action’
On May 8, 2002, IAM airline and railroad members in more than
three-dozen cities will be demonstrating in a show of solidarity at the
Transportation Department's national Day of Action. Planned activities
include press conferences, marches, rallies and hand billing the
traveling public.
"Our members are an essential
piece of the nation's transportation infrastructure," said GVP Robert Roach, Jr.
"The purpose of the Day of Action is to show the public that our members labor
every day to provide safe, dependable transportation."
International President Tom
Buffenbarger will be the keynote speaker at a rally in Seattle, while Roach will
lead activities in the Washington, DC area. Several state governors, mayors of
major cities and other elected officials will be taking part in activities.
Representatives from the
Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board
will also participate in the Day of Action. You can find more information about
the Day of Action at
http://www.iamaw.org/publications/day/index3.htm
Members OK New Pact at DynCorp
Members of IAM District 75 overwhelmingly
ratified a new contract that brings significant wage hikes and
improvements in pension benefits and other major advances in working
conditions. The agreement covers more that 2,750 members who maintain
and service the U.S. Army’s helicopter fleet at Ft. Rucker, Daleville,
AL.
“It’s
the best contract we’ve ever negotiated here,” said DBR B.R. Brownell. “We’ve
been here nearly 50 years and gone through a bunch of contractors.” He credited
the solidarity of the membership for helping bring negotiations to a successful
conclusion and singled out John Crowdis, Aerospace coordinator, for valuable
assistance during the talks. “He played a key role,” Brownell said.
The three-year agreement
includes wage increases of more than 12.5 percent for the members, who range
from custodians to helicopter pilots. Brownell said the agreement means workers
at the lower end of the pay scale will receive hourly pay hikes of about $3 an
hour. At the same time, the contract includes bonuses for skilled workers, in
addition to the percentage increases.
Also, the contract
eliminates a two-tier vacation system that had been a problem for years.
“Abolishing the two-tier system was a victory for simple justice,” Crowdis said.
“We’re glad DynCorp understood how serious our members were about this issue.”
For more information about
the settlement, go to the Local 2003 website at
www.iam2003.org .
NMB Issues Single
Carrier Ruling
In response to applications filed by
unions representing employees at American Airlines, the National
Mediation Board (NMB) issued a ruling on April 29 that ended 56 years of
IAM representation for employees at Trans World Airlines (TWA). The NMB
determined that American Airlines and TWA, LLC constitute a single
carrier and therefore transferred the representation rights to the
unions representing American Airlines' employees.
The loss of the former TWA
membership will force the closing of six local IAM lodges: Locals 1056 and 2000
in New York, Local 1650 in Kansas City, Local 1997 in St. Louis, Local 1058 in
San Francisco and Local 1111 in Los Angeles.
A separate ruling by
arbitrators this week established a process for integrating TWA's Mechanic and
Related employees into the American Airlines workforce. The ruling allows former
TWA employees at its two major locations, St. Louis and Kansas City, to retain
their full TWA classification seniority. Seniority for employees in other cities
will be based on a comparison of the size of the TWA and American Airlines
operations at those locations at the time of TWA's acquisition in April, 2001.
Details can be found on the District 142 web site at
www.iamdl142.org
Southwest Stewards Assemble in St. Louis
Nearly 150 Southwest Airlines shop
stewards and grievance committee members met in St. Louis on May 1 to
discuss activities at the carrier. More than half the representatives
were attending the annual Stewards Conference for the first time.
General Vice President Robert
Roach, Jr. prepared the representatives for their upcoming negotiations with the
carrier by reminding them of President Bush's promise to prevent airline
strikes.
"The President declared war on
us," said Roach. "We stared him down at United Airlines, and we will do the same
at Southwest. The upcoming negotiations will be the most difficult ever at
Southwest Airlines. It is important for you to prepare the membership. Our
success at the negotiating table begins with the solidarity of our members."
District 142 President
and Directing General Chairman William O'Driscoll reported on major grievances
at the airlines and noted that Southwest in the only airline that did not
furlough workers in the wake of September 11. The IAM represents 8,400 customer
service and reservation agents at the carrier.
GOP Reneges On
Civility in Politics Vow
Brushing aside presidential bromides
about “changing the tone of politics,” top Republican strategists are
calling for “aggressive” tactics during this year’s federal election.
“Don’t kid yourself,” said presidential pollster, Bill McInturff. “There
is no new tone in politics.”
In a
memo to incumbent Republicans, McInturff said “taxes and terrorism will carry
the day with the Republican base.” He also suggested GOP incumbents ignore
federal law by using postage-free, franked mail to aid politicking among
constituents. Franked mail is intended to be used by lawmakers to inform
constituents about Congressional development; not as campaign material.
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