Uniformed EMT Israel Miranda remembers how "as far back as 34th street you had lines of people waitng for help." My 18th, 19th Hours

Order your 2002 IAM Calendar Now. The 2002 calendar features winners of this year's IAM Photography Contest. Send a check for $5.00 to: IAM Calendar c/o IAM Communications 9000  Machinists Place Upper Marlboro, MD 20772-2687 Local Lodges and Districts can download a bulk order form for large calendar requests.

A close look at how
big business wants
to expand NAFTA.
Free Trade Area
of the Americas

A video interview with
Dr.Christian E. Weller,
from the Economic Policy Institute.

The IAM 
Executive Council

International President 
R. Thomas Buffenbarger 
 

Secretary Treasurer
Donald E. Wharton 
 

GVP Western 
Territory
Lee Pearson 

GVP Canada 
GVP Canada
Dave Ritchie 
 

GVP Midwest 
Territory
Alex M. Bay 
 

GVP Headquarters
Robert V. Thayer

GVP Southern 
GVP Southern
Territory
George Hooper 


GVP Eastern
Territory
Warren L. Mart 


GVP Transportation
Robert Roach, Jr.

Friday, November 30, 2001

Stop ‘Em Dead in Their Fast Tracks

The Fast Track measure is scheduled for a House vote next week.Your help is needed to Stop ’Em Dead in Their FastTracks. Call your House members, toll-free, at 800-393-1082 and urge them to vote jobs-exporting trade package. The NO on this job you save may be your own.

‘Fast Track’ Backers Grow Desperate

In a desperate ploy, House Republican leader Dick Armey argued that the trade bill must be enacted to allow President Bush a free hand to wage the war against terrorism. “The President cannot be limited in this area in any dimension,” Armey said.

“Osama bin Laden is not a suitable trading partner for us,” scoffed IP Tom Buffenbarger, “and Dick Armey’s reasoning is more than flawed. It is despicable!”

The IAM and the AFL-CIO oppose Fast Track legislation because it does not require the President to include enforceable environmental standards and protections for worker rights in trade agreements.

The White House can negotiate trade agreements without Fast Track authority, but that lets Congress debate trade agreements and opens the door to possible amendments. GOP leaders are adamantly opposed to any such democratic procedures.

Rail Retirement Clears First Hurdle

Working families won the first skirmish in the fight to bring much-need reform to the railroad retirement system. By a 96-to-4 vote, supporters won on a motion to limit debate on a House-passed pension bill that will serve as the vehicle for the railroad pension measure.

Four GOP senators—Phil Gramm, Texas; Judd Gregg, New Hampshire; Don Nickles, Oklahoma; and Jon Kyl, Arizona—voted against the motion. They plan more delaying tactics that could bog down the Senate through next week.       
You can help push this retirement measure to a floor vote before the entire Senate. Contact your senators immediately at www.goiam.org/politics.asp and urge them to vote for the Railroad Retirement Survivors & Improvement Act. Ask them to vote against any attempt to filibuster this crucial measure and to bring it to a floor vote as soon as possible.

IAM Works To Place Laid Off Workers In Aviation Security Jobs

As required by the recent airline security legislation, the Department of Transportation (DOT) will be hiring 28,000 new employees to create the nations new federal airport security workforce. IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. has been in discussion with the DOT’s Chief of Staff to ensure laid off airline workers have a chance to fill those positions.

“The IAM and AFL-CIO Transportation Labor are prepared to work with the Department of Transportation to ensure that qualified laid-off airline employees are given an opportunity to fill these 28,000 positions,” said GVP Roach in a letter to DOT Chief of Staff John Flaherty. “We will provide DOT with the names and addresses of these individuals and assign members of our staff to work with the Department to facilitate this matter,” added Roach.

Pratt & Whitney Workers to Hear Offer

More than 5,100 IAM members at four Pratt & Whitney plants in Connecticut will meet this weekend to vote whether to accept the company’s final offer. Union and company negotiators continue talks, but major issues—including job and retirement security—remain on the table. During the past three years, the jobs issue has been a bone of contention. The company has tried to relocate hundreds of jobs, but lost a court case and the IAM jobs stayed in the state.

Airline Lay-Offs Force Closing Of Three Local Lodges

Through the countless boom and bust cycles of the airline industry, Local Lodge 1056 in Jamaica, NY and Local Lodge 1058 in San Francisco, CA served IAM members for more than 55 years. But the two long lasting locals, along with the one year old Flight Attendant Local 2000 in Jamaica, NY couldn’t survive the dual wounds inflicted by the American Airlines purchase of TWA and the effects of the September 11^th attacks. Stricken with substantial layoffs, all three lodges are being disbanded effective November 30, 2001.

 “Locals 1056 and 1058 have a long history of serving not only their members but also their communities,” said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “Local 2000 fought for TWA’s Flight Attendants. We can transfer our active and retired members to other locals, but the void left behind by their loss cannot be filled.”

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