UAL Members Prepared for Strike

Ninety-four percent of voting IAM members have overwhelmingly authorized a strike if their collective bargaining agreement with United Airlines is terminated in bankruptcy proceedings.

“If a contract acceptable to our members is not negotiated, then we will be guided by the direction our members have given, which is to strike United Airlines,” said Robert Roach, Jr., IAM General Vice President of Transportation. “While our members greatly appreciate United’s loyal passengers, they value food and clothing for their families more.”

A Section 1113(c) trial to reject labor contracts is underway in a Chicago, IL bankruptcy court. The same court this week approved an agreement between United and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) that allows for termination of current defined benefit pension plans. IAM attorneys are appealing the ruling.

“We are not willing to make the unfair and disproportionate sacrifices United is demanding,” said IAM District 141 President Randy Canale. “Our members know the risk of a strike, but if United fails to respond to our member’s needs, it is a step they are prepared to take. United used the bankruptcy court to point a gun at their employees – they can only blame themselves if it backfires.”

The IAM continues negotiating with United to resolve the many outstanding contract issues, including a replacement pension plan for IAM members.

Transportation AA Celona to Retire, Sito Pantoja to be New AA

After more than 48 years of active IAM membership and 38 years as a full-time representative, Transportation Department Administrative Assistant Frank Celona (above left) has announced his retirement, effective July 1, 2005.

Celona initiated into IAM Local Lodge 1056 in 1957 when he began his career as an aircraft mechanic for Trans World Airlines.

He transferred to Local Lodge 1726 in 1960, serving as Shop Steward, Grievance Committee Chair and Vice President. Local 1726’s East Boston hall was renamed the Frank V. Celona Local Lodge in his honor in 2003.

Celona was elected a District 142 Trustee in 1966, and a General Chairman the following year.

General Vice President John Peterpaul appointed Celona to the Grand Lodge staff in 1978, where he served as a Special Representative, Grand Lodge Representative (GLR), Assistant Railroad Coordinator and Assistant Airline Coordinator. General Vice President Bill Scheri selected Frank as his Administrative Assistant in 1984.

“We will miss Frank’s experience and knowledge,” said General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “We wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement. I will personally miss my good friend, confidante, and partner.”

Transportation Department Grand Lodge Representative Sito Pantoja will assume the role of Administrative Assistant to GVP Roach. “I have worked closely with Sito for many years,” said GVP Roach, “and the experience and abilities he brings to his new position will greatly benefit the Transportation Department’s staff and members.”

Pantoja initiated into IAM Local Lodge 1056 in Jamaica, NY in 1977 as an Aircraft & Powerplant Mechanic for TWA. He served as a shop steward at Local 1056 until he transferred to Local Lodge 949 in St. Louis in 1988. He served Local 949 as Trustee and Recording Secretary and has been a full-time IAM Representative since his 1991 election as member and later Chairman of the local’s TWA Grievance Committee.

A graduate of New York City’s Aviation High School, Pantoja was assigned by District 142 to participate in the TWA Flight 800 accident investigation following the 747’s 1996 crash off Long Island.

Pantoja was appointed Grand Lodge Special Representative in 1999, and GLR shortly thereafter.

Legislative Delegates Welcome Senator Clinton

The 2005 Legislative Conference gave New York Senator Hillary Clinton a resounding Machinists Union welcome. “Thank-you for being part of this Union and more importantly for being a part of the American labor movement,” Senator Clinton told the attendees.

Senator Clinton reviewed the challenges ahead and the fights we must win. The current Administration is dismantling the American dream. “We are going back not just to pre-Franklin Roosevelt - we’re going back to Teddy Roosevelt,” Senator Clinton continued. “When my husband was president he wanted to build a bridge to the 21 st Century. This Administration is building a bridge back to the 19 th Century.”

“The labor movement made it possible to work and make a middle-class living. The labor movement created the biggest middle class in America,” said Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. “They talk about it being a capitalistic society, in order to have that, you need a strong labor movement base.”

Ohio Representative, Sherrod Brown urged everyone to watch their Representatives’ actions, they speak much louder than words. “Don’t tell me what you believe, show me what you do and I’ll tell you what you believe,” is what everyone in the American labor movement should be telling their Representatives.

Secure the future of the American labor movement, get involved and send a letter to your Representative today.

Theodore Roosevelt Partnership Deserves Support

In keeping with the IAM’s goal to provide its members with a high standard of living both on and off the job, the IAM Executive Council recently endorsed the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) www.trcp.org, a coalition of conservation groups and individuals seeking to protect wildlife habitat and to guarantee affordable access for sportsmen and women.

Members of the TRCP are also part of a grassroots legislative coalition who use their collective strength to educate the nation’s political leaders, land, fish and wildlife managers about the importance of preserving America’s fishing, hunting and outdoor heritage. More than 100,000 individuals and 1,400 clubs and organizations, including labor unions, give the TRCP the voice to win on these issues.

A top TRCP priority is federal “Open Fields” legislation, which would open over 20 million acres of private land to public access through voluntary programs modeled after similar and successful programs in South Dakota, Kansas and Montana.

Additional legislative priorities in 2005 include support for the Farm Bill, providing hunters and anglers with an opportunity to partner with the farming and ranching community and ensuring that oil and gas development on federal lands does not adversely affect fish and wildlife resources.

“The TRCP is notable for its common-sense approach to conservation and its deep respect for this country’s outdoor and sporting traditions,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “Many of our members, both men and women, are avid hunters, campers, hikers and anglers. Membership in the TRCP is free and I urge any member who enjoys hunting, fishing or outdoor activities to become a member today.”

20,000 Additional H-1B Visas

The H-1B visa program that allows American companies and universities to import foreign scientists, engineers and programmers to replace American workers could receive a waiver of 20,000 additional H-1B certifications as early as May 12, adding to the current cap of 65,000.

The program has no serious safeguards to protect American workers from being replaced and is abused to provide cheap foreign labor. H-1B workers generally make about half the salaries of the Americans they replace.

The H-1B visa program is replacing U.S. technology workers and undermines the wages, job security, and labor protections of all U.S.-based employees. Companies such as Microsoft and IBM are some of the biggest promoters of expanding the program.
  

IAM Members Picket AutoNation Shareholder’s Meeting

IAM members and other labor activists turned up the heat on outlaw AutoNation, the country’s largest auto dealership chain, by picketing the annual shareholder meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Protesters charged local managers with threatening, abusing and firing employees to suppress lawful union organizing drives.

“AutoNation executives are turning a blind eye to state and federal laws that require a hands off policy when employees express an interest in forming a union,” said Boysen Anderson, IAM National Automotive Coordinator. “Instead, they condone aggressive campaigns that includes firing union supporters and ignoring multiple court orders to respect its employees’ lawful organizing rights. AutoNation is using company funds to conduct an illegal union avoidance campaign and it’s time the company’s shareholders and the nation’s car buyers know about it.”

Despite fierce opposition, the IAM organized AutoNation dealerships in Nevada and California. Local managers responded by firing and harassing union supporters, including Tom D’Asaro, a former auto mechanic at Power Ford in Torrance, CA, who addressed shareholders at the annual meeting. “I’m here today to tell AutoNation’s directors and shareholders that managers at some dealerships have declared war on their employees,” said D’Asaro. “And that’s not an exaggeration.”

Attorneys for the IAM have filed numerous Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against AutoNation dealerships in Nevada and Southern California, including charges on D’Asaro’s behalf. In Nevada, the NLRB found Desert Toyota of Las Vegas guilty of 27 separate violations of federal labor law and ordered the company to reinstate fired union supporters.