IAM to Grow by 46,000 with TCU Affiliation

The IAM announced an historic agreement this week that will bring nearly 46,000 members of the Maryland-based Transportation Communications International Union (TCU) into the Machinists Union. The agreement concludes months of discussions between leaders of the two AFL-CIO unions and will boost the IAM’s membership to nearly 700,000 active and retired members.

“This affiliation makes sense on so many levels,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “We’re joined by our common heritage as rail unions founded more than a century ago and by our growth over the years to include workers throughout the transportation industry. This ‘union of unions’ will also give us greater strength to face the economic challenges that confront our members and workers everywhere.”

TCU was founded in 1899 as the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks and today represents workers at virtually every major rail company in North America, including Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, BNSF, Union Pacific, Canadian National and most commuter rail lines. Among the unions that joined the TCU since its founding were the Order of Railway Telegraphers, the American Railway Supervisors Association, the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen and the legendary Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.

“The men and women of the TCU come from many backgrounds, but we share the dreams of working people everywhere,” said TCU International President Bob Scardelletti. “This affiliation with the IAM gives each one of us a better shot at turning those dreams into reality.”

The IAM-TCU action comes as AFL-CIO member unions debate voluntary affiliations versus forced mergers. “This voluntary affiliation between two AFL-CIO unions serves as a good example of the kind of consolidation that honors our democratic traditions and avoids the complications of forced mergers,” said Buffenbarger.

CAFTA Vote Could Come by July 28

Under Fast Track rules, the U.S. House of Representatives could vote as soon as July 28 on the controversial Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).

The Bush administration submitted legislation for the trade deal to Congress on June 23, and the House Ways and Means committee passed it on June 30. Barring any change in the rules, the House now has no more than 15 legislative days to consider the agreement, which would ensure a vote before July 28.

President Bush and many global corporations have made CAFTA their top trade priority. If approved, CAFTA would cut tariffs among the United States, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua .

But the agreement, which is modeled after the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), does not contain adequate environmental protections or enforceable protections for such core workers’ rights as the freedom to form a union.

The Senate, on a 54–45 vote, passed CAFTA late in the evening on June 30, 2005 —the closest margin ever on a trade vote in the Senate.

Contact your representative and urge him/her to vote against the anti-worker CAFTA.

China Demands Congress ‘Stop Interfering’

Four days after the U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution calling on the Bush administration to block China’s bid to take over American oil company Unocal, the Chinese government demanded that Congress “stop interfering” in what the Chinese government considers to be normal commercial activity.

The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), which remains under the majority control of the Chinese government, recently bid $18.5 billion to buy Unocal – setting up a showdown with U.S. based Chevron Corp., which has bid $16.5 billion.

Lawmakers contend that the bid by CNOOC is an attempt to divert oil that would otherwise come to the U.S. They also claim the transaction would be a threat to national security.

“We cannot, in my opinion, afford to have a major U.S. energy supplier controlled by the Communist Chinese,” Rep. William J. Jefferson said in a Washington Post article.

ExpressJet Flight Attendants to Vote on Contract

The IAM announced a tentative agreement this week for new contract terms between ExpressJet Airlines and its 1,200 IAM–represented Flight Attendants. ExpressJet is a regional partner of Continental Airlines.

“Despite the dire condition of the entire airline industry and a coordinated attack on union-won wages and benefits, the IAM was able to achieve a total compensation package that is the best in the regional industry,” said William O’Driscoll, President of IAM District 142.

“The Flight Attendant Negotiating Committee unanimously recommends approval of this tentative agreement.”

The tentative pact includes base wage increases of up to 35 percent over the life of the four-year agreement as well as other compensation improvements including an enhanced 401-K plan, additional job security and scheduling improvements. Complete details are available on the District 142 website.

Membership ratification will take place over seven days, from July 18 through July 24, 2005. A separate strike vote will also be conducted with the ratification vote.

Rally for a Secure America

On Tuesday, July 12, members of the Department of Defense (DoD) unions will rally in Washington, D.C. to oppose the ongoing assault against America’s federal workforce.

Congress approved the introduction of a new personnel system, National Security Personnel System (NSPS) but in a different form than what is being imposed on the 36 unions in the United DoD Workers Coalition (UDWC). The rally will show Congress and the public that the attacks on workers’ rights, collective bargaining rights and workers’ salaries are what is harmful to the nation’s security.

Meet the federal workers who protect our national security on July 12 at noon in Upper Senate Park adjacent to the U.S. Capitol. For more information, contact Frank Carelli at 202-776-0102.

Supreme Court Fight Critical for Worker Rights

The July 1 announcement that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor would leave the court signaled the start of fight that could determine the shape of labor rights and workers’ rights for decades to come.

Within hours of the announcement, right wing extremist groups launched high decibel attacks on potential nominees they considered to be insufficiently aligned with their causes, while Democratic leaders called for due process in the nomination and confirmation process.

The announcement by O’Connor “brings the nation to a critical point in the future of our judicial system and the rights and liberties of America’s working families,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. Because the high court decides cases involving workplace rights and protections, “it is more important than ever for President Bush to nominate a mainstream candidate rather than an extremist, right-wing candidate in an attempt to foist certain ideological views on working Americans,” Sweeney said.

Southern Territory Organizing Win

Thirty seven supply and support workers employed by DynPar LLC at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, OK, voted last week to join the IAM. They will join over 200 current members of IAM Local 850 at Tinker and be covered by the current Service Contract agreement there.

“We couldn’t have won this campaign without the help of DynPar employee Kristen Edwards, whose leadership was invaluable,” said District Lodge 171 Business Representative Tony Bennett. “I also want to recognize Local 850 Shop Steward Dewayne Skaggs, who spent a lot of time on the campaign.”

“Congratulations to Business Representative Bennett for the win,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “District 171 and Local 850 continue to grow in Oklahoma because of the hard work by everyone in the District.”

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