General Secretary-Treasurer 
Donald E. Wharton

GVP Western Territory
Lee Pearson

GVP Canada 
Dave Ritchie

GVP Midwest Territory
Alex M. Bay

GVP IAM Headquarters 
Robert V. Thayer

GVP Southern Territory 
George Hooper

GVP Eastern Territory 
Warren L. Mart 

GVP Transportation
Robert Roach, Jr.

Ergonomics Rule Draws Corporate Fire
Those anti-worker forces that control Congress wasted little time in going after a stiff OSHA standard that could prevent 1.6 million workplace injuries annually. Their target is OSHA's recently initiated ergonomics rule to stop repetitive strain injuries. Hundreds of lobbyists from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and other corporate lapdogs prowled Capitol Hill as Congress returned to business this week.

Their weapon of choice is the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which would prevent OSHA from setting any ergonomic standard without congressional review. Working families can fight back by flooding Congress with e-mails, phone calls, letters and personal visits urging Congress to support the ergonomics standard.

Opponents are focusing on the Senate, where a resolution erasing the OSHA rule can be forced to a floor vote immediately. Under the CRA rules, debate is limited to 10 hours, no filibusters are allowed and passage only requires a simple majority of 51 votes.

IAM members can send a message to their legislators via the "OSHA Ergonomics Standard in Jeopardy" link in the Political and Legislative Activity section of the IAM's website www.iamaw.org.

Related Links:
OSHA

SFO Airport Rally Demands 'Contract Now!' at UAL
Union members, labor leaders and elected officials from around the Bay area joined Machinists at United for a noisy demonstration against management's refusal to come to terms at the bargaining table.

For 14 months, the IAM and United have been locked in a high profile fight to replace the terms of a six-year agreement that became amendable on July 12, 2000. "We've had enough," declared hundreds of angry demonstrators who were joined by state and county AFL-CIO leaders at the airport rally.

United increased tensions further last week by returning to court in Chicago in an effort to levy a preliminary injunction against the mechanics, claiming violations of the 'status quo' provisions of the Railway Labor Act.

"This company needs to wake up," said GVP Robert Roach, Jr. who addressed the rally. "It's not good business to delay a contract for the employees who made United the most successful airline in the world." No ruling is expected in the court case for several weeks.

"The time for United Airlines to settle this contract is long overdue," said Art Pulaski, Secretary Treasurer of the California Labor Federation (AFL-CIO.) "Thousands of members of this great union have experienced fourteen months of pain," echoed Mike Nevin, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

The stalled contract talks between the IAM and UAL are now under the auspices of the National Mediation Board. "We are willing at any time to reconvene negotiations," said Ray Perry, President of IAM Local Lodge 1781. "We remain solid on our issues of industry setting wages, pensions, job protections and benefits."

Related Links:
IAM Transportation
District 141
District 141-M
Local Lodge 1781

Machinists Union Works For Government Employees
The IAM is taking aim at U.S. Navy plans to outsource more than 400 public works jobs at the Pensacola Naval Air Station.  With help from the IAM's Legal Dept., Local Lodge 192 president George Moore is leading the battle in Pensacola to stop the Navy's packaged sell off of jobs to non-union, private sector firms.

Similar challenges confront federal employees at the Public Works Center in Norfolk, Virginia where the Navy is proposing additional outsourcing. In both cases, the IAM is challenging the Navy policy known as Budget Circular A-76, which requires studies that can actually promote the layoff of critical employees.

"We need stronger collective bargaining laws to protect our jobs," said Jim Seidl, Director of the IAM Government Employees Department. "The process is not on a level playing field because of constraints built into A-76."

"These efforts reinforce our strong commitment to government employees," said IP Tom Buffenbarger. "We want fair competition and recognition of the valuable work our federal employees perform and we will continue to fight a government that contracts out jobs for third world wages. Our members deserve better than that from their employer, the federal government."

Related Links:
Federal District 1

Official Call for 2001 Women's Conference
Watch your mail for the official call from IP Tom Buffenbarger for the 2001 IAM Women's Conference. It's set for October 23-28 at Bally's Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration will be on October 23, followed by full day sessions Oct. 24-27. Delegates should plan to depart on Sunday, Oct. 28.

A special discounted room rate of $99 per night is available at Bally's if you identify yourself as attending the IAM Women's Conference. Cheryl Eastburn, director of the IAM Women's Department, says that room space is limited and delegates should make reservations as early as possible. The Bally's reservation number is (702) 739-4111.

Related Links:
IAM Women's Department

White House Responds to IAM Proffer
"Thank you so much for your kind words as I begin my Presidency. I am honored and excited to hold this office and am glad to have begun work," noted President George Bush in a brief response to the IAM's offer of cooperation sent by IP Tom Buffenbarger. "It is gratifying to know I can count of your offer of support."  

Read the entire White House missive here.