.

iMail archives

feedback

visit goiam.org

print version

iMail signup



Get Your Convention Gear Check out gear for the 2004 IAM Convention



The IAM

Executive Council

International President 
R. Thomas Buffenbarger 
 

Secretary Treasurer
Donald E. Wharton 
 

GVP Western 
Territory
Lee Pearson 


GVP Canada
Dave Ritchie 
 

GVP Midwest 
Territory
Alex M. Bay 
 

GVP Headquarters
Robert V. Thayer


GVP Southern
Territory
George Hooper 
 

GVP Eastern
Territory
Warren L. Mart 
 

GVP Transportation
Robert Roach, Jr.

 

Thursday,  November 21, 2002

 

IAM-UAL Agree on Recovery Terms
Following lengthy negotiations, IAM District 141 and 141-M announced tentative agreements for member participation in United Airlines’ recovery program.

The proposed accords, valued at $1.5 billion over 5 ½ years, would cover 37,500 IAM members under five separate contracts. The terms are part of a multi-union effort to prevent a bankruptcy filing at the airline and win a critical loan guarantee from the federal government.

“Too many airlines have been forced into bankruptcy, never to return,” said District 141 President Randy Canale. “We tried to balance United’s urgent need to avoid bankruptcy with our members’ needs for job security and proper compensation for the vital services they provide,” added Scotty Ford, District 141-M president.

The tentative agreements will be presented to members for a ratification vote scheduled for November 27, 2002. Additional information regarding the proposals and ratification details will be posted on the District websites at www.iam141.org and www.iam141m.org.

Separately, United employees delivered more than 42,000 letters from their co-workers to representatives of the Air Transportation Stabilization Board.  The letters, from nearly half of United's total workforce, urge the board to act quickly and favorably on United’s pending application for a loan guarantee.


Nevada Auto Dealer Ordered to Bargain
In a victory for the IAM and Las Vegas auto technicians, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found a Las Vegas auto dealership guilty of multiple violations of employees’ organizing rights and ordered the company to commence negotiations with the IAM on behalf of 30 auto service technicians.

An NLRB Administrative Law Judge issued the unusual bargaining order in addition to ordering immediate reinstatement with full back pay for an automotive technician fired for taking part in the union’s organizing drive. “The right to organize a union at work is protected by federal law,” said GLR Dennis London.  “This dealership refused to recognize that right and we were forced to go to court to protect these employees.”

London and employees at Desert Toyota were involved in an organizing drive that came to a halt when the dealership fired Jorge Galindo, an auto service tech, allegedly for poor performance. In ruling for the IAM, the Judge determined Galindo was fired for his role in the organizing drive and ordered him reinstated with full back pay and benefits.

“The employees at this dealership deserve credit,” said London. “Despite being threatened, intimidated and mistreated, they stood up for their rights and their fellow workers. They showed real courage and won something important for themselves and automotive technicians everywhere.”


Congress Must Act on Jobless Benefits
More than 830,000 jobless workers face the loss of all benefits by year’s end, unless the House follows the Senate’s lead and passes legislation extending the benefits past the December 28 expiration date.” Another 95,000 workers will lose their benefits every week after that,” said Maurice Emsellem, public policy director at the National Employment Law Project.

The Senate passed a 13-week extension that will affect about 2.1 million workers and extend the benefit period through March.

“There is no excuse for Congress’ inaction,” noted Wendell Primus, a spokesman for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “The unemployment trust fund has about $24 billion that cannot be spent for any other purpose. These are economic times that demand such using such funds.” 

Primus indirectly criticized President Bush for failing to act: “The fact that the White House stood by while Congress failed to help 830,000 workers raises questions about their claim to compassionate conservatism.”


Job Insecurity Dogs Federal Workers
More than a million federal workers’ jobs and workplace rights hang in the balance as the Bush administration pushes a couple of pet projects. President George Bush outlined a plan to loosen federal regulations and make it easier to contract out government services. At the same time, more than 170,000 federal employees face continued uncertainty in the wake of congressional passage of the homeland security legislation. Federal workers assigned to the new Homeland Security Department could lose many of their workplace rights and civil service protections.


Midwest Territory Scores Wins
Organizers racked up three wins in the Midwest Territory as workers look for workplace security through union representation, reports GVP Alex Bay. In L’Anse, MI, District W3 won a victory for 15 workers at Baraga County Home Helpers, a division of the county’s extensive care program. Also, District 7 brought 10 new members on board with a win at Raytheon Aerospace in Bellevue, NE. The new members work at Offut AFB.

IAM Local 701 brought six new members into the union with a win at North Shore Ford in Wilmette, IL.

“We congratulate these hard-working organizing teams for their dedication and commitment,” Bay said, “and we extend the warmest Machinists welcome to each of our new members. who so richly deserve a voice in the workplace.”


Machinist Thwarts Anti-Union Flak To Win Education Post
Dodging the slings and arrows of an anti-union competitor, LL 139 President Peter Zschiesche cruised to a 3,000 vote victory as Trustee, District E, San Diego Community College Board. “This win is especially significant because my opponent ran a campaign solely based on her attack of my status as a union activist and IAM Local President,” said Peter Zschiesche. I was endorsed by AFT Local 1931, who represents the faculty and staff at the community colleges."

Local community colleges have established training programs for apprentice machinists at Solar Turbines and aircraft maintenance machinists from the North Island Naval Station. They also offer the sons and daughters of machinist union members their first college experience with transfer opportunities to four-year colleges. “All in all, the community college board is good place for a labor leader to be,” said Zschiesche.


MNPL Session Scheduled
The National Planning Committee of the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) holds its 2003 meeting Feb. 2-5, reports Rich Michalski, Legislative and Political Affairs director. The sessions will be held at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort and Conference Center in Monterey, CA.


Communications Announces 2003 Classes
The IAM Communications Department will hold the following classes for 2003:

February 23-28
April 13-18
June 1-6
July 13-18
September 7-12
November 9-14,
2003 Advanced Editors
2003 Basic Web Development
2003 Basic Editors
2003 Basic Editors
2002 Basic Web Development
2003 Advanced Web Development

Enrollment information for the Basic Editors classes (June 1-6 and July 13-18) is included with the general schedule of classes sent out by the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center. The call and enrollment information about the Web Development and Advanced Editors classes is sent directly from the IAM Communications Dept. several months before the scheduled classes. Enrollments for all classes should be returned as soon as possible.


IAM Mails Call for Advanced Editors Class
The call for the 2003 Advanced Editors Class scheduled for February 23 through 28, 2003 was mailed to all locals and districts in late October 2002. To optimize resources at the Winpisinger Center, the 2002 Advanced Editors course scheduled for November 30 through December 6 was cancelled and accepted participants will be automatically enrolled in the 2003 class. New applicants for the 2003 class should have their applications in to the IAM Communications Dept. by December 30, 2002.



This is the day IAM editors and web stewards have been waiting for; The Winners of the 2002 Newsletter & Website Contest and a report for the judges, too.



Financial markets will not generate adequate
retirement income for average household; a briefing paper from the Economic Policy Institute.



The Fall edition of the IAM Journal focuses on the
November 5 election. Read the online edition of the IAM Journal at:
www.iamaw.org/
publications/fall2002/


Winners of the 2002 IAM Photography Contest.
 

First Place
Edward W. Griffith,
Local Lodge 2061
Rockledge, Florida, United Space Alliance
Ready for Blast Off
Click here to see the winning entries.