www.goiam.org
IAM Suspends Local
Union Officials
In a letter to Local 709 members, Machinists Union International President Tom Buffenbarger outlined the issues that led to the officials’ suspension and the steps taken to restore full compliance with legal guidelines and IAM Constitutional requirements.
“We take any misuse of members’ dues to be the most serious breach of an officer’s financial responsibility,” said Buffenbarger. “Every effort was made to correct the practices of this particular local lodge, and when those steps were not fully successful, we took additional steps to ensure full compliance.”
According to IAM’s financial review, the amount of questionable reimbursements and unreported tax liabilities could exceed $150,000 for the indebted officials.
As required by law, the IAM
presented its findings to the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as its reasons
for not continuing a formal suspension of Local Lodge 709, a move that would
postpone upcoming local lodge elections. “We want those elections to go forward
and for you – the members of Local Lodge 709 – to determine who can best correct
the Lodge’s financial mismanagement,” wrote Buffenbarger.
House Votes to Take
Amtrak to Brink of Shutdown
The Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department
(TTD) unanimously adopted a policy resolution calling for $1.8 billion in
Amtrak funding for Fiscal Year 2004, and a reversal of the House vote that
allocated only half that amount.
TTD leaders said that the House vote means, “Amtrak could face financial collapse, thereby stranding millions of passengers and eliminating more than 20,000 jobs.”
If the recent vote in the
U.S. House of Representatives is allowed to stand, Amtrak would once again be
brought to be the brink of a national shutdown, according to the leaders of 35
AFL-CIO transportation unions.
Read the TTD
Resolution:
http://www.iamaw.org/publications/pdfs/4_amtrak.pdf
Unions Vow to Oppose
WTO Agenda
“The WTO is little more than a puppet organization controlled by the world’s wealthiest nations,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “Until they acknowledge the human suffering and exploitation caused by their current agenda, we will oppose them wherever and whenever they meet.”
Meanwhile, in testimony before the House Small Business Committee on WTO challenges to U.S. tax rules governing small businesses, IAM Trade & Globalization Director Owen Herrnstadt urged the committee to reject a proposal offered by Rep. Bill Thomas, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. “Among other things, it is filled with a series of corporate tax cuts,” said Herrnstadt, who warned, “The Thomas approach could present (even) more incentives for corporations to shift manufacturing jobs out of the country.”
Herrnstadt’s testimony
before the House Small Business Committee:
Determined Anago
Workers Choose Machinists
Following the vote, the employer placed legal obstacles in their way, obliging them to be present at the Labor Board on two separate occasions. Fortunately, this only made them more determined. “Despite the hurdles they had to go through, our members kept at it - and that just made them stronger,” said IAM Organizer, Scott Jackson.
The new members are employed at two facilities which provide
youth detention and custody services within the City of London. The members
sought out the Machinists after learning that we would represent them and help
to ensure that they would be treated with respect. They will join members in
London-area Local Lodge 756.
Texas Jobs Program Wins
$1.2 Million Grant
The two-year grant will provide current workers with specialized training in composite technologies, the hard, plastic-like material used by aerospace companies to build modern aircraft. Laid off workers will be provided with training in basic structural assembly as well as assistance in resume writing, job interview skill and help with job placement. Lockheed agreed to offer “preferential interviews” for applicants who complete the program.
The innovative program was
on the brink of shutting down when Pat Lane, president and directing business
representative of Local Lodge 776 and a Lockheed representative approached Rep.
Kay Granger (R-Ft. Worth) about additional federal money for the program. The
Texas representative told a local newspaper she was surprised the request was
approved so quickly. “It was the funding we asked for, and we got it in record
time,” said Granger.
North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia are still digging out from damage and debris left behind by Hurricane Isabel, now officially among the ten most costly storms to hit the U.S. since 1900.
The storm that hit the East Coast was less severe than the Category 5 storm that threatened to sweep in from the Atlantic, but high winds and a 7-ft coastal storm surge left millions without power and caused 38 deaths. Property damage from the storm is expected to reach into the billions.
IAM headquarters in Upper Marlboro, MD was shuttered due to a loss of electrical power from Thursday, Sept. 18 through Monday, Sept. 22.