Tuesday, September 27, 2005 |
Solidarity Wins New Deal for Boeing MachinistsMore than 18,400 Machinists at Boeing will vote Sept. 29 on a revised contract offer that resoundingly proves the value of membership solidarity and resolve in a collective bargaining showdown. The new offer contains dramatic improvements over the company’s so-called “final offer,” which triggered a walkout that shut down Boeing’s commercial operations in Kansas, Oregon and Washington state. On every major issue, Boeing was forced to withdraw their takeaway proposals and concede to IAM members’ demands. The strike at Boeing was seen as a crucial test for the labor movement. Despite three years of consistent profits, the plane maker sought deep cuts in health care and offered a pension benefit that was the lowest percentage pension benefit increase in decades. “The final word on this tentative agreement will be in the hands of our members, where it belongs,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger, who participated in the negotiations that led to the revised offer. Registration Forms Needed for Organizing Summit IAM representatives attending the Organizing Summit in Chicago, Illinois on Oct. 5-7 are urged to complete and return the downloadable pre-registration form as soon as possible if they have not already done so. To facilitate the on-site registration for delegates, please return a completed pre-registration form via fax to the IAM Communications Dept. at 301-967-4586. Newsletter & Website Contest Winners AnnouncedThe results of this year’s IAM Newsletter & Website Contest are in and District 190, Local 712 and Local Lodge 1781 have a whole year to sit on their laurels. Ft. Irwin Employees Win IAM RepresentationService Contract Employees employed by L-3 Vertex at the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, California voted 72 to 25 for IAM representation. The employees maintain and repair training vehicles for the U.S. military. Starting from a submission to the IAM website, the campaign utilized the IAM Blitz program and took just four months from initial lead to election. “It was a good campaign because the people had issues that kept them strong and solid. They did not fall for the employer’s repeated empty promises,” said Grand Lodge Apprentice Organizer Jonathan Holden who assisted GLR Dennis London, GLR Tom Mason and Grand Lodge Apprentice Organizer Cheryl Stockebrand on the campaign. The new IAM members got right down to business, electing fellow members Jerry Hill, Jesse Hodges and Robert Gallegos to their negotiating committee. They will be assisted by GLR Frank Santos and BR Virginia Cobb. US Airways Merger Aim: Fair Workforce IntegrationUpon US Airways’ emergence from bankruptcy, the IAM plans to file a petition with the National Mediation Board for a ruling that the two carriers are operating as a single transportation system. GVP Martinez Surveys Gulf Coast Damage Southern Territory GVP Martinez recently visited Gulf Coast towns hit hard by Hurricane Katrina to witness first hand the devastation affecting IAM members and others living in these areas. After traveling through Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, Biloxi and Waveland, Mississippi and seeing the piles of rubble, homes that are no more and the people working hard to get their lives back together, GVP Martinez then headed to meet with members of Local 2249 at the Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi. All IAM members affected by the disasters have been asked to report to their Local Lodge Community Service Committees as soon as possible so that an assessment can be made of just how many need help. Donated goods and supplies are being dispersed to our members as quickly as possible.
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