The IAM today sent a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging a “no” vote on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). USMCA does not fulfill the promise that was made to U.S. workers to negotiate an agreement that dramatically replaces the current trade template that continues to cost U.S. workers hundreds of thousands of jobs.
The IAM has continued to call for fundamental changes to NAFTA in order to curtail the massive outsourcing of work in aerospace and other manufacturing sectors to Mexico. These changes include robust labor standards, effective enforcement, and stronger rules of origin that do not leave out major sectors of manufacturing.
“Instead of the dramatically improved agreement that was promised to workers, USMCA represents only a modest improvement to the current trade template,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “As we have repeatedly said, to win the support of the IAM, the USMCA must make fundamental changes to NAFTA in order to curtail the massive outsourcing of work in aerospace and other manufacturing sectors to Mexico. These changes include robust labor standards, effective enforcement, and stronger rules of origin that do not leave out major sectors of manufacturing.”
Outsourcing of jobs to Mexico will continue at an alarming rate under #USMCA. This is not the renegotiated agreement that was promised to U.S. workers and their communities. https://t.co/Lp7TriUU4g
The IAM Western Territory and District Lodge 190 have each set up Go Fund Me pages to support our members on strike at ASARCO (Local Lodge 519-AZ) and Toyota Vallejo (Local Lodge 1173-CA).
Many of you have experience walking a strike line, some more than others. We all know the impact strikes have on our economic means and how harsh it can be on our families. During the holidays, our striking workers face additional challenges trying to make ends meet and handling the stress of the holiday season and everyday life. Please find it in your hearts to donate today by giving a little during their time of need.
Below are two separate links to each account.
Western Territory Striking Members Holiday Fundraiser (joint strike):
Members at ASARCO went out on strike on October 13, 2019. In Kearny Arizona, located approximately 90 miles from Phoenix, 36 IAM Members of Local Lodge 519, as well as many members from the Steelworkers, Boilermakers, Electricians, Teamsters and other unions, are in a battle for their existence against the unscrupulous multi-national employer, Grupo México.
Grupo México, the largest mining corporation in Mexico, has been in continual conflict with American Unions since they purchased ASARCO Mining operation in 2004. They have had a history of conflict with Unions in Mexico, most notably Local 65, the Cananea branch of the Mexican Mine Workers’ Union (SNTMMSSRM). According to the Engineering and Mining Journal, during the miners’ strikes in January 2003 and October 2004, Grupo México responded with threats to close the Cananea mines.
According to Forbes in August 2014, Buenavista del Cobre, a subsidiary of Grupo México, in a shocking act, spilled 10 million gallons (40,000 cubic meters) of copper sulfate and heavy metals into the Sonora and Bacanuchi rivers. This environmental disaster affected approximately 24,000 people directly and 250,000 people indirectly, in seven municipalities on the banks of the Sonora River, 25 miles south of the Arizona border.
On December 10, 2019, GVP Gary R. Allen walked the picket line with the unions in Kearny, AZ. “The mood of our members is one of resolve; they are tired of being marginalized after years of sacrificing their lives in harsh conditions. Our Union will stand by our members and support other Unions against this type of corporate greed,” said GVP Allen. “After entering into years of bad trade deals, our Government is now allowing foreign-owned Companies to plunder and pillage our natural resources for profit while oppressing American workers. We as Americans, can no longer stand idly by while our workers fight; we must galvanize our hearts around the cause of justice. I’m asking that you support our workers by contributing to their Go Fund Me page.”
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IAM Members at Toyota Vallejo have been on strike since September 20, 2019. Toyota Vallejo dealership is a family-owned business with employees who have been dedicated workers for 30+ years. After nearly three years of negotiations, the techs at Toyota Vallejo are extremely frustrated that in a thriving economy with a successful business the employer refuses to come to a fair agreement. There has been no hourly wage increase since December 2013 and the employer is proposing that any newly hired technician pay ALL of the medical premiums for their families. Their union security is being threatened making it clear that the employer’s intent is to get rid of the Union to gain financially, which only befits themselves.
GVP Gary R. Allen stated, “It is clear that this family-owned dealership, Toyota Vallejo, is more dedicated with lining their own pockets than to share those profits to the workers who help their company thrive and who are dedicated to ensure the business is run successfully. We expect this type of behavior from companies like Walmart, not in our own neighborhood; it is unconscionable.”
As the strike has rolled on, it was reported to the Solano County District Attorney that the dealership advertised for open positions without disclaiming there is a labor stoppage, which is against Labor Code. Additionally, Toyota Vallejo has several ULP strike charges against them.
Wednesday’s edition of the IAM’s live webcast included authors Mark Torres and IAM Education Representative Edmundo Osorio.
Torres, a union attorney, recently published “Good Guy Jake,” a children’s book that introduces young children to unions and what they do.
Through the characters who first meet locked in the back of a border patrol van, Osorio’s novel, “Dearly Deported: The Return of the People of the Sun,” immerses readers into the lives of a group of deportees.
Activate L!VE streams every Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.
If you can’t join us live, watch it or previous shows anytime on:
For the 12th year, IAM Local 206I paired up with the Brevard Family Partnership and brought joy to hundreds of kids in their community. Through donations and fundraising, the local was able gift each child two items from their Christmas wish list, making this year the best yet.
“Every year I am blown away by how quickly our members reach into their wallets to make sure these kids have a great Christmas,” said District 166 Directing Business Representative Robert Miller. “This is what is means to be union. We take care of each other and whether you hold a union card or not, we are a family here in Florida.”
“The IAM members at 2061 have a good Machinists Union contract, and with that comes the responsibility of taking care of the community. No child should be left behind, especially during the Christmas season,” said Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “For more than a decade, our Space Coast brothers and sisters have been making sure that doesn’t happen. I am so proud that our IAM elves were able to do that again this year.”
Local 2061 was able to adopt 400 children this Christmas season. The donations came from members and friends across District 166, raising more than $15,000 throughout the year. Special thanks go out to Local Lodge President Ed Grabowski, James Kersey, Mike Polchlopek and Tom Newton who really ramped up fundraising efforts this year.
About 40 IAM members, with their own kids and grandkids in tow, shopped for nearly four hours at Target making sure Santa’s workshop would be stocked. Even Target got into the spirit, donating $500 to the shopping spree along with substantial discounts for the toys.
Once again, the Brevard Family Partnership was thrilled at the work done by the IAM saying, ”The children of Brevard are lucky to have Santa’s merriest elves looking out for them!”
But it’s the IAM who is lucky enough to call the members of Local 2061 part of its union family.
More than 41 percent of companies use illegal anti-union tactics to thwart organizing campaigns, according to a recent study by Economic Policy Institute.
The EPI report concluded that employers were charged with violating federal law in 41.5% of all NLRB-supervised union elections in 2016 and 2017, with at least one ULP charge filed in each case.
That included actions such as coercion, threats, and retaliation. The report concluded that in 29.2% of all elections, employers were charged with illegally coercing, threatening, or retaliating against workers for supporting a union.
Illegal anti-union tactics have impacted the IAM.
The union, for example, has been battling stiff resistance with an ongoing campaign to organize workers at the Boeing Co. campus in North Charleston, S.C.
That has resulted in the IAM filing unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against the airplane manufacturer. That includes ULP’s stemming from six workers who were illegally fired in 2018 in retaliation for publicly supporting the union.
