Take Action Now to Save U.S. Rail Jobs
The White House is stepping up its attack on Amtrak by calling for an end to Federal subsidies and even suggesting bankruptcy for the nation’s passenger rail carrier. Under the administration’s proposal, any state wanting to preserve Amtrak service would have to fund it themselves. An effort by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.VA) to increase federal subsidies to Amtrak by $1.04 billion failed last week by a 52-46 vote.

All IAM members are being asked to review how their Senators voted on the Amtrak funding issue, and either thank them for their support of America’s passenger rail system and the 20,000 people it employs, or express their disappointment if their Senator voted against the Byrd amendment.

“It is important for IAM members to hold Senators accountable for their actions,” said Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. “If the Bush administration is allowed to dismantle our only national passenger rail carrier, Amtrak’s 68,000 daily riders will be stranded and 20,000 jobs will be destroyed.”

Voting records and sample letters that can automatically emailed to Senators are available on the IAM website at http://transportation.goiam.org

IAM-CREST Completes OSHA Training
at Local 2061
Members of the IAM-CREST staff nearly qualified for residency status in Florida following the completion of three weeks of intensive OSHA training for members of IAM Local 2061 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The initial week of classroom and hands-on training included an in-depth examination of OSHA policies and practices as well as safety and health principles that apply at construction sites. The students also learned to perform an inspection and hazard analysis of construction sites at the Kennedy Space Center.

During the second week of training, the students completed Train-the-Trainer courses that provided skills and teaching techniques needed to deliver a 10 to 30 hour OSHA Outreach Construction Course. In the final week, the participants, which included members of IAM and TWU locals as well as Space Center management, completed a 40-hour site specific course designed to protect themselves while working on a site affected by a natural disaster or terrorist activity. The importance of worker safety was emphasized along with the need to reestablish critical infrastructure following disaster events. Experts from Eastern Michigan University also took part in the training, conducted by IAM –CREST instructors Joe Abshire, Mike Hinthorn, Vicki Stephens and Teri McClendon.

History Project Honors Women
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued a Presidential Proclamation asking Americans to remember the contributions of women. Seven years later, Congress and President Ronald Reagan declared March as national Women’s History Month.

This year, the National Women’s History Project (www.nwhp.org) celebrates the vital role of American women during Womens’ History Month with “Women Change America”

The history is rich with accomplishments and tragedy: In 1909, women changed America when Clara Lemlich (www.njjewishnews.com) championed the cause of union solidarity when she convinced union leaders that an all-male strike would do little good against the garment factory owners.

In 1911, women changed America again when the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory (www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/) caught fire and 146 workers, most of them young women, were killed in the tragedy. (View the IAM video) Public outrage over the tragedy led to new laws to protect workers from dangerous working conditions.

And women changed America 85 years ago when suffragists (www.archives.gov) won the right to vote and paved the way for the women of today to hold political office from the school board to the oval office. In 1996, the men and women serving as delegates at the IAM Convention voted to change the Machinists Union with the formation of the Women’s Department.

Gas Prices Gain Altitude
Gas prices have jumped 12.74 cents to a record $2.13 per gallon over the past two weeks, according to the semimonthly Lundberg Survey, which predicts gas prices will increase even more due to continued demand and supply problems.

The increase in gas prices parallels the record increases in crude oil prices, which are up 32 percent since the end of 2004.

With the spring and summer traveling seasons rapidly approaching, there doesn’t seem to be any reprieve for commuters and travelers. Over the past year, gas prices have risen 33 cents. "There are not any gas price factors that indicate anywhere but up," Trilby Lundberg told the Associated Press. There is additional concern that a massive blast at BP’s 1,200-acre oil refinery plant near Houston on Wednesday could push gas prices even higher than expected.

Rat Stalks Auto Dealer in Elkhart, IN
Machinists Union members of Local 1315 were joined by huge rat balloon for a day of informational picketing at Heart City Toyota/Chrysler/Plymouth in Elkhart, IN. Approximately 50 IAM members marched to show support for technicians at the dealership who are being asked for an 18 percent wage cut on top of a 17 to 18 percent increase in the employee contribution toward monthly health insurance premiums. Management at the dealership is charging top rates for customers while refusing to negotiate contract terms that reflect prevailing pay rates for the highly skilled automotive technicians.

Kourpias Slams Bush Record
Alliance for Retired Americans President George Kourpias addressed the Illinois chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans at a recent joint meeting of IAM District 8 and the Local 1487 retirees club. Approximately 300 retired IAM members attended the meeting and luncheon, which was held at the IAM Local 1487 hall in Des Plaines, IL.

Kourpias hammered the Bush administration for their failure to protect and strengthen Social Security and said we should strengthen Social Security and preserve it for future generations by paying back the 1.7 trillion dollars that has been "borrowed" from the Social Security Trust Fund and by eliminating the "tax cap" on those who make $90,000 or more. Kourpias also called for repealing the huge tax cuts that have been given to the richest one percent of Americans.

According the their mission statement, "The mission of the Alliance for Retired Americans is to ensure social and economic justice and full civil rights for all citizens so that they may enjoy lives of dignity, personal and family fulfillment and security. The Alliance believes that all older and retired persons have a responsibility to strive to create a society that incorporates these goals and rights and that retirement provides them with opportunities to pursue new and expanded activities with their unions, civic organizations and their communities."

IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President James E. Brown and IAM Community Services Director Maria Cordone also addressed those in attendance.

Laidlaw IAM Members Ratify First Contract
IAM members employed by Laidlaw Transit at the Phoenix Airport ratified a new collective bargaining agreement containing pay hikes, pension improvements, a grievance procedure with independent arbitration, tool insurance and seniority based layoff and recall among other protections.

Western Territory GVP Lee Pearson sent his congratulations to the unit for standing tall and demanding a fair share of the value they add to the company. "This contract definitely delivers a level of protection and security that was not there before,” said Pearson. “Special Representative Matt McKinnon and the entire group worked hard on this, and the results show it. Great job by everyone."