Thursday, June 9, 2005
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Labor issues you care about in streaming video
.

Act Now: UAL Pension Virtual Hearing
(streaming | download)
Representative George Miller is holding the first ever online Congressional Hearing for the UAL pension fight.

Bush Continues Privatization Crusade
(streaming | download)
President Bush is back on the road again, attempting to sell his private account scheme. Send a message to your congressional leader.

IAM Woodworkers District 2 Convention
(streaming | download)
Woodworkers District 2 held their convention in Tunica, Mississippi from May 19-20th.

Bush Fails to Get Tough On China
(streaming | download)
The Bush Administration has declined to accuse China of currency manipulation, but then added it was likely to do so if China does not change its policy.

Video: Act Now and Join the Pension Fight
(streaming | download)
Join the pension fight, contact Congress and urge their support of H.R. 2327.


Video: Maryland Governor Vetoes Healthcare
(streaming | download)
On Thursday, May 19th Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. vetoed the Fair Share Healthcare bill.

Mind Games
(streaming | download)
Playing with the American Labor Movement like it was a chess game, dissident union leaders are playing a dangerous game.

Bombs Bursting In Air
(streaming | download)
Last week, Senator Hillary Clinton forced the Pentagon to admit that North Korea could place a nuclear warhead on a missile. On May 1, 2005, North Korea test fired a short missile into the Sea of Japan. This Bombs Bursting In Air video was created in May 2001 to educate IAM members about the proposed National Missile Defense System.

In Remembrance of Our Fallen Brothers and Sisters
(streaming | download)
Family and friends gathered on April 28th at the William W. Winpisinger Center to remember those who lost their lives in the workplace.






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Pensions, Health Care to Drive Raytheon Negotiations

Members of IAM Local 733 and 2328 employed by Raytheon in Wichita and Salina, Kansas voted by a 99 percent margin to authorize a strike if the company fails to deliver a satisfactory contract offer. The IAM contract with Raytheon expires on July 31, 2005 and covers 4,300 IAM-represented employees.

The contract battle promises to be hard-fought, with Raytheon indicating it plans to seek takeaways across the board. Raytheon claims that the employee pension fund is under funded and is “demanding the ability to control costs” in the pension plan. Raytheon indicated it also wants to shift yet more health care costs onto the workers.

“This vote drew a line in the sand for Wichita workers,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “For years, the Machinists at Raytheon exchanged wage increases for pension benefits and they’re not about to let the company default on those commitments.”

Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge added, “Raytheon needs to remember that workers and their families depend upon their pension. These workers will fight to keep it.”

On the heels of high-profile pension defaults at several U.S. airlines and steel companies, other companies are hoping to shed their long-term pension obligations. “It’s time to demand that U.S. corporations honor their pension promises,” said IP Buffenbarger.

“Combined with the President’s plan to privatize Social Security, corporate America is attempting a one-two punch that would completely eliminate retirement security for millions of Americans.”

“Is there no limit to corporate greed?” asked Headquarters GVP Bob Thayer. “Jobs are being sent overseas by the millions, billions in health care costs are being shifted to employees and now their hard earned pensions are under attack. This is a fight we will not lose.”

(left) Alaska Airlines Ramp Worker Ron Swaab and 3 year old son Jason joined hundreds at a rally at Seattle's Sea-tac International Airport .

Alaska Airlines is Off Course

The IAM is prepared to resume negotiations with Alaska Airlines on all outstanding contract issues, in the wake of last week’s ruling denying the IAM’s request for an Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction against Alaska Airlines for locking out 472 Seattle Ramp and Stores Agents.

If Alaska is unwilling to bargain a settlement to the satisfaction of our members, then the IAM will notify the National Mediation Board that negotiations are at an impasse and ask to be released from mediation. This initiates a 30-day count down which would result in a strike at Alaska Airlines.

Meanwhile, hundreds of IAM members and union activists rallied at Seattle’s Sea-Tac International Airport and then marched to the airline’s headquarters.

Alaska Airlines has been beset with operational problems since the lockout. The airline’s CEO, Bill Ayer, said in a conference call with the IAM and other unions that some of the cost-cutting decisions the company made have been “backfiring.”

Ayer reported that the beginning of summer operations has been a “disaster.” He said that on-time performance is about 40 percent with 35 cancelled flights.

GM To Cut 25,000 Jobs

On Tuesday, General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner announced cutting 25,000 jobs by 2008. Since the initial cuts at GM in the 1980’s, GM has eliminated 489,00 jobs. By the end of 2008 GM will have fewer workers nationwide than it had in Flint, MI in the 1970’s.

Wagoner cited the runaway cost of healthcare as being partly to blame for the planned cutbacks. As the nation’s largest private purchaser of healthcare GM will pay $5.6 billion this year on benefits for workers and retirees, or $1,500 for every car or truck produced.

GM is up against steep competition from foreign-based carmakers that don’t have the cost of healthcare added into their labor costs. Foreign-based manufacturers have the stability of a national healthcare plan to offset their costs, while the lack of national healthcare in the U.S. leaves U.S. manufacturers at a serious competitive disadvantage.


The IAM Executive Council leads hundreds of members on a march in Washington, D.C. during the Transportation Department's 2004 Day of Action

Countdown to Transportation Conference, Day of Action

The IAM's North American Transportation Conference will return to New York City when delegates from Air Transport and Railroad Lodges from the United States and Canada participate in the Transportation Department's only industry-wide conference from June 14-17, 2005.

The conference will be held at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, 811 7th Avenue on 53rd Street, New York, New York 10019.

In conjunction with the conference, the Transportation Department's annual Day of Action will take place on June 15. Beginning with a prayer service at the former World Trade Center site at Ground Zero, IAM members and guests will then march through downtown Manhattan to a rally at New York City's Battery Park.

For more information about the Day of Action activities in New York, contact Monica Lee Silbas at 202-776-0386.

California Machinists Endorse Angelides for Governor

IAM delegates at the California Conference of Machinists meeting in Sacramento unanimously endorsed California State Treasurer Phil Angelides for Governor of California in 2006.

Angelides’ bid to unseat current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is winning broad and early support from labor, Latino and other constituency groups across the Golden State.

“Phil Angelides has been a strong voice against the attacks on working families that the current administration has championed and the Machinists Union is proud to support his candidacy,” said Western Territory GVP Lee Pearson. “It is time that working families had a friend in the Governor’s mansion and this is the right man for the job.”

In addition to the IAM endorsement, the outspoken Angelides has won the support of more than 160 elected officials in California and organizations including the California Federation of Teachers, the Amalgamated Transit Union, California State Pipe Trades Council, International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 3 and the Western States Council of Sheet Metal Workers.

Revamped IAM Site Helps Members “Pick a Fight”

When IAM members click on www.goiam.org once it is re-launched on July 1, they are going to encounter a completely different website both in appearance and in attitude.

“We planned the new version of Goiam to focus more on members taking action than just providing them with information,” said Communications Director Rick Sloan. “This new site will add features that adopt a far more militant and aggressive tone.”

Pick a Fight is one of these new features. This section of the site allows members to choose from a number of current issues and receive regular updates about those issues. These might be as diverse as Social Security, China Trade, or Jobs. Members will also be able to access legislative alerts and political information pertaining to each issue from this page.

The new site will be using Real Simple Syndication (RSS) and will distribute audio programming via Podcasting. RSS will provide regular updates which will be delivered directly to subscribers’ computers and Podcasting will automatically download audio in such a way that it loads onto an iPod or other mp3 player the next time the player is synced to the computer. The audio can also be saved for later listening on a PC.

UTC Donates $38,000 to Guide Dogs of America

United Technologies Corp. has donated $38,000 to Guide Dogs of America, a nonprofit organization that helps blind individuals become more independent. The donation will cover the cost of a guide dog and a 28-day training program for one visually impaired individual. Guide Dogs of America was founded more than 50 years ago by an IAM member who had lost his sight.

“On behalf of the Eastern Territory Office and its members, I extend our congratulations and appreciation to District Lodge 26 , Local 743 and United Technologies working together for the Guide Dogs of America so those who have lost their sight can lead a more normal life,” said Eastern Territory GVP Lynn D. Tucker, Jr.

Hamilton Sundstrand and IAM Local 743 in Windsor Locks, CT have sponsored an annual golf tournament for the past six years that benefits the Guide Dogs of America. The event has raised $123,000 so far, and is heralded as one of the most lucrative fund-raisers in the nation for the Guide Dogs of America.

UTC donates about $16 million annually to support organizations and programs focused on human services, math and science education, arts and culture, and the environment.


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With proposals based on labor’s strengths rather than weaknesses, the IAM has unveiled a seven-point strategy to help guide the debate over reform at the AFL-CIO. Take a look.

FlatRateTech is an organization “created for and by Ford and Lincoln Mercury service technicians solely to speak as one loud voice rather than 50,000 smaller voices.” according to their website The fast-growing site offers forums for Ford customers, technicians and dealers to exchange information.

IAM
Executive Council


Tom Buffenbarger
International President


Warren L. Mart
Secretary-Treasurer


Lee Pearson
GVP Western Territory


Dave Ritchie
GVP Canada


Robert Thayer
GVP Headquarters


Robert Roach,Jr.
GVP Transportation


Lynn Tucker
GVP Eastern Territory


Robert Martinez
GVP Southern Territory


James Brown
GVP Midwest Territory