Strike Preparations Continue at United Airlines

IAM Local 1487 members in Chicago, IL prepare for a possible strike against United Airlines.

The historic courtroom battle to defend IAM contracts at United Airlines was temporarily suspended on Tuesday to allow District 141 negotiators to continue meeting with UAL executives in hopes of reaching a new agreement that protects IAM families and provides United with the means to exit bankruptcy.

Preparations to strike United Airlines are also underway at all IAM Lodges with members at the bankrupt airline.

“We want to reach a settlement with United Airlines, but we must be fully prepared for immediate action if the judge rules to terminate our collective bargaining agreements,” said District 141 President Randy Canale.

Closing arguments in the 1113c trial are currently set to begin on Friday, May 20 at 11:00 a.m. In the absence of a negotiated settlement, a decision on United’s request to abrogate IAM contracts could come as soon as Friday.

IAM Walks Out of NSPS Talks in Protest

Union representatives at a press conference in Washington DC explain their walkout from talks with the Defense Department over the unfair National Security Personnel System being imposed on 700,000 civilian Defense Department workers. From left, IAFF Vice President James Johnson; AFL-CIO Metal Trades President Ron Ault; IAM/NFFE Federal District 1 President Richard Brown; IAM Collective Bargaining Coordinator James Price, Jr. and Greg Woodhead, AFL-CIO Public Policy Dept.

In protest of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) lack of credibility and stonewalling during the ‘meet and confer’ process of discussions for the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), the IAM joined other federal employee unions in a walkout from the process.

“They don’t want a better Defense Department, they only want to impose total control on workers and emasculate the unions that represent them,” charged Frank Carelli, Director of Government Employees. “They are using the Pentagon as a virtual ‘Petri dish’ to test ideas that they hope to export to other federal agencies, state governments and ultimately to corporate America. This is a war on workers and it needs to be stopped.”

In 2003 Congress granted the DoD authority to revamp civil service rules, but the DoD has gone beyond what Congress approved and has ignored both the intent and letter of the law. During the 30-day ‘meet and confer’ process both parties are supposed to negotiate and discuss the parameters of NSPS. The United Defense Workers Coalition (UDWC) submitted proposals in good faith, but the DoD refused to answer any of their proposals.

“We have been told for the last 14 months that the employees at DoD would have an opportunity to provide their input. Well that was a bald-faced lie,” said IAM/NFFE Federal District 1 President Richard Brown. “This process has been nothing but an attack on the rights of federal workers. Our union will no longer participate.”

As union leaders left in protest, AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department President Ron Ault told DoD/OPM officials to “call us when you are serious about a lawful ‘meet and confer’ process.”

Click here to view the letter sent to the DoD to explain the reasons for the walkout.

Defense Department Releases Closure List

Under Secretary of Defense Michael Wynne announcing the DoD's Base Realignment and Closure recommendations during a press briefing at the Pentagon. Photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby

The Department of Defense (DoD) unveiled its list of realignments and base closings to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). The DoD proposes closing nearly 180 installations and offices, including 33 major bases. The DoD recommendations follow Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s plan to “transform” the military with an emphasis on cutting back resources and combining functions into joint missions. Where bases are not closed outright, the DoD list calls for numerous shifts in personnel and facilities.

“We will fight for our members’ interests wherever these changes affect them,” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger. “These proposals tear apart families and communities from coast to coast. At a time when our troops are stretched to the breaking point, we should keep America’s military infrastructure intact and ready to defend our nation.”

The DoD closure list cuts a wide swath through America’s military bases, from the country’s oldest shipyard, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine to Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, that state’s second largest employer. Connecticut and Maine are hardest hit, with job losses of 8,586 and 6,938 respectively.

The BRAC Commission will review the DoD proposal and has until September 8, 2005 to submit its final recommendations to President Bush. The Commission can remove bases from the list, but the GOP-controlled Congress implemented a new rule for the 2005 Commission that requires seven of the nine commission members to approve a change. In prior BRAC rounds, a simple majority of commissioners could remove a base from the list.

Bombardier to Build “C-Series” Aircraft in Montreal

Bombardier Aerospace announced that they have chosen the Montreal area to build their new “C-Series” aircraft, creating 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in the area.

The company said the ratification of a new six-year collective bargaining agreement in March by members of Machinists Local Lodge 712 was a critical component in their decision.

"The membership of Local Lodge 712 is to be congratulated on winning this work," said Canadian GVP Dave Ritchie. "Through intense lobbying of federal and provincial governments, this membership left nothing to chance and when their bargaining team negotiated an agreement to provide Bombardier with flexibility to reduce costs, they approved it with a 91% majority. Their hard work has produced secure employment for decades to come."

“This is a tremendous day for aerospace in Canada and Quebec,” said LL 712 president Dave Chartrand. “From the very beginning, the Machinists have urged federal and provincial governments to invest in our industry and now they have responded, everyone is pulling in the same direction with their commitments to this new series of aircraft.”

Production of the “C-Series,” which will seat 110 to 130 passengers will mean Machinists at LL 712 will have guaranteed work for at least 20 years.

The first delivery of a “C-Series” aircraft is expected in 2010.

Southern Territory Wins Two

Ten Lockheed-Martin workers who maintain and operate Submarine Trainers for the Navy at the Norfolk Naval Operations Base in Norfolk, VA voted to join the IAM. “They hadn’t had a pay raise in six years and had big reductions in benefits,” said District 74 Business Representative Homer Tipton. “They were tired of it, and their working conditions.” Brother Tipton thanked employees Chuck Spareuderg and Dwight Bonneua for their hard work in the organizing effort.

And in Del Rio, TX, janitors for Treco Inc., at Laughlin AFB were fed up with substandard insurance and wages and voted 13-0 for IAM representation, reported District 776 Business Representative David Faith. “Thanks to Keith McCrory, District Delegate from LL 2341 and member of our District 776 Organizing Committee, for his hard work on a very solid campaign,” said Faith.

“Thanks to the Organizing Committees for a job well done, and I want to welcome our newest IAM members to the Southern Territory fold,” said Southern Territory Vice President Bob Martinez.

Call for 2005 IAM Aerospace Conference

The 2005 IAM Aerospace Conference will be held September 10-15 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, 7000 N. Resort Drive, Tucson, Arizona. The conference will focus its agenda on exploring new approaches for servicing our members, expanding our membership, and securing aerospace industry jobs in North America. The theme of the Conference is “At the Crossroads of Opportunity - Where Do We Take Our Future?”

Conference registration will take place Saturday, September 10, from 12 Noon to 6:00 p.m., and will resume Sunday, September 11, from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. The Conference, chaired by GVP Robert Thayer, will commence at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 11, and will end at approximately 12 Noon on Thursday, September 15.

A block of rooms has been reserved at a special room rate of $120.00 per night, at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. (800) 234-5117. Reservations must be made no later than August 5, 2005.

 

 

 

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