Talks Resume Over Pratt
& Whitney Strike
Negotiations will resume
this weekend between Pratt &Whitney Aircraft and IAM District 91, whose
5,200 members struck Monday over job security, pensions and illegal bargaining
by management.
While the two sides prepare to resume bargaining, picket lines outside
the four Connecticut jet engine plants remain solid and lively. Meanwhile,
all commercial and military work inside the shops is at a standstill.
"If management makes a good faith effort to address the issues, I am confidant
we can bring this dispute to a fair resolution. Our members expect management
to make an honest effort, and Pratt & Whitney's customers do, as well,"
said IAM Aerospace Coordinator Gary Allen.
Right to Strike at UAL
Gets AFL-CIO Support
The U.S. labor movement
is lining up behind Machinists at United Airlines in their fight to protect
collective bargaining from presidential interference and to prevent congressionally
imposed contract settlements. A resolution, passed overwhelmingly by delegates
at the AFL-CIO Convention in Las Vegas, called on its affiliated unions
to recognize the threat to all unions posed by the airline's attempt to
block a lawful strike by 15,000 mechanic and related members at United.
"The right to strike is hard won and highly prized by union workers across
America," said Scotty Ford, IAM District 141-M president and lead negotiator.
"The countdown and threat of a strike is meant to require both sides to
bargain in earnest. United, however, has opted to withdraw all proposals
and is lobbying for a Presidential Emergency Board."
Negotiations in the airline industry are governed by the Railway Labor
Act, which has provided an orderly process to reach voluntary agreements
for more than a half-century. "The attempt by United is part of an industry-wide
strategy to reverse years of union-won progress for airline workers," said
IP Tom Buffenbarger. "UAL is taking advantage of their current financial
crisis to push for a revolutionary rewrite of the collective bargaining
process - they must be stopped and they will be stopped."
Union members should immediately
contact their elected representatives to demand support for the legal rights
of United Airlines employees. An action message is available at www.goiam/politics.
Fast Track Squeaks Through
House
Intense White House arm-twisting
and pork barrel politics overcame fierce opposition from working families
as the GOP-controlled House passed a jobs-stealing trade measure by a single
vote. The measure gives the President enormous latitude in negotiating
trade agreements without hindrance from Congress. The congressional role
is limited to up-or-down votes, it cannot amend any such trade agreement
in any fashion.
GOP House leaders bent the rules and delayed the vote until a GOP representative
caved in and switched his vote. Working Americans and their unions insisted
that trade pacts should include enforceable worker rights measures, as
well as strong environmental protections. Without such provisions, more
corrosive trade agreements similar to NAFTA will be coming down the pike,
warned IP Tom Buffenbarger.
Despite White House lobbying efforts, 23 Republicans jumped ship and voted
against Fast Track. Only 21 Democrats supported the bill, which passed
215-to-214. The measure now goes to the Senate, where it faces less opposition.
"We fought a good fight here," Buffenbarger said. "We made our voices heard
and we will be heard from again. I promise you that."
Senate Approves Railroad
Retirement Improvements
The IAM and other transportation
unions won a three-year battle to get Congress to pass well-deserved improvements
for members covered by the Railroad Retirement system. The Senate finally
passed The Railroad Retirement Survivors Improvement Act by a 90 to 9 vote.
"We had many obstacles to overcome to make this legislation a reality,"
said IP Tom Buffenbarger. "With the help of our friends in Congress, the
Railroad Retirement Coalition and the rail carriers, railroad employees
will now enjoy the better retirement benefits they deserve."
The bill contains substantial increases in benefits under the railroad
retirement system, including unreduced benefits at age sixty with thirty
years of service; retiree health insurance at age 60 with lifetime minimum
benefit increases based on the medical inflation rate; expansion of Surviving
Spouse benefits; repeal of caps on benefits for long-term employees and
a reduction from ten to five year's service for vesting. In addition, the
railroad companies will insure the fund's future solvency by absorbing
any necessary future tax increases.
"The way our railroad members mobilized behind this issue was remarkable,"
said Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. "Their constant contact with
their Senators and Representatives is directly responsible for the passage
of this legislation."
Even though the House already
passed its version by a 384-33 vote, the Senate bill contains some small
technical differences which requires another vote by the House. Once the
House votes again, the bill will go to the President to sign into law.
It Pays to Belong to the
IAM
Seven members of an IAM
organizing team got a first-hand lesson on the importance of solidarity
during a heated organizing campaign at the Residence Inn in Troy, MI, reports
BR Joe Flanders, District 4, who headed the campaign effort.
"The company fired 16 of the
22 workers who signed cards," he said. "We took the case to arbitration
and won for those workers who wanted to keep working there." An impartial
arbitrator ordered them returned to work with full back pay, a total of
$33,129 Flanders noted. The campaign is in full swing and the election
could be set soon. Flanders credited GLR David Porter and District 4 DBR
Brian Bryant with playing key roles in the campaign.
IAM Demands 'Clear' Canadian
Airline Policy
IAM leaders in Canada representing
15,000 airline employees joined with Canadian pilots and flight attendants'
unions and demanded an emergency task force to develop a clear, coherent
airline policy. "We need a made-in-Canada airline policy that supports
employment and gives the traveling public confidence that when they book
a ticket, they'll get good, safe service at a fair price," said IAM District
140 General Chairman Don MacLean.
In a meeting with Canadian Transport Minister David Collenette, the union
representatives called the government's handling of airline policy "disastrous"
and demanded solutions from a government task force within 90 days. The
unions presented recommendations to restore stability to the industry whose
boom and bust cycles have left thousands of airline workers unemployed.
"At this point, we don't have a policy - and the practice has been a disaster,"
said Canadian GVP Dave Ritchie.
Transportation Department
Adds Members, Staff
Mechanic and Related employees
at Iberia Airlines recently won IAM representation in an election conducted
by the National Mediation Board. The Iberia members are assigned to District
Lodge 142 and Local Lodge 368 in Miami, FL. District 142 is holding meetings
with the new Iberia members to discuss proposals for their initial contract
negotiations.
Rich Johnson, Jr., a United
Airlines A&P mechanic and member of San Francisco Local Lodge 1781,
is the IAM's newest field staff addition, joining the Transportation Department
as a Special Representative, effective December 1, 2001. Rich initiated
into the IAM in 1988 and served as District 141-M Trustee and VP-West before
being elected to Assistant General Chairman in July 2000. Since December
1999, Rich has been a member of the District 141-M committee negotiating
with United Airlines.
MNPL Flag Pins Show the Colors
A new MNPL flag pin
proudly waves the Stars and Stripes and the IAM banner showing unity in
the face of threats both foreign and domestic. The emblems are available
for $5 each and can be ordered from the Legislative and Political Affairs
Department. For more information, contact MNPL at 301-967-4575.
Comments, suggestions, or story items?
Contact IAMAW
dgeorgallas@iamaw.org
301-967-4520
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