Ramon Murrain Benjamin and Benson Morton, two employees working at what now is Heavy Materials, LLC in the Virgin Islands, a subsidiary of U.S. Concrete, can tell you that being part of the IAM changed their lives. That’s because with the Machinists in their corner, they were able to take their fight to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after being unlawfully laid off and win back wages and benefits totaling more than $250,000.
“This is what comes from being part of the IAM. A company can’t get away with illegally letting go of an employee because they don’t agree with what that person stands for, especially when it comes to wanting to exercise their right to organize and be covered under a union contract,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “Knowing their jobs were at risk, these two men stood up for what they believed in and took a stand. The Machinists Union is proud that we were able to get them a fair fight at the legal level and restore their ability to take care of their families through back wages and reinstatement.”
In 2016, a group of mostly cement truck drivers and heavy equipment operators voted for IAM representation at what was then a company called Spartan Products, LLC. They knew they needed a union contract to protect their rights and give them a voice on the job. But as soon as that happened, the company refused to bargain. Ultimately, Benjamin and Morton were laid off. Southern Territory Grand Lodge Representative Javier Almazan took the lead and brought this to the NLRB to fight for their jobs and to force the company to bargain a contract for all the employees under their care. According to Almazan, it was a long but worthy fight.
“It’s been an arduous struggle with many difficult hurdles to overcome, but due to the resolve and solidarity of these employees, they have been able to overcome all of the company’s attacks,” said Almazan. “The workers remain strong and will continue to fight until their employer comes to the table to negotiate a fair and equitable first contract.”
Unfortunately, this fight is not over as Benjamin was fired, yet again, from the company earlier this month. Once more, the IAM is working with its legal department once more to address this issue and other violations taking place. But the workers now know that when they take a stand, they have the Machinists Union in their corner, ensuring the rights of all workers.
“This company must understand that under the law, employees have the right to organize. And the IAM will always stand ready to make sure that right is fully protected,” said Almazan.
The IAM Organizing Department succeeded in expanding the IAM’s footprint in the health care industry when an overwhelming majority of doctors, dentists, nurses, dieticians and other health care-related professionals at the Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Texarkana, AR voted to join the IAM.
The clinic serves veterans in southern Arkansas and east Texas and takes care of an average of 22,000 veterans each year.
This VA Medical Center in Texarkana is the first of three sites that work in conjunction with each other that total more than 120 health care professionals. The other two sites are located in Monroe, LA and Longview, TX.
“I am extremely grateful to see these hardworking health care professionals get what they deserve,” said Grand Lodge Organizer Juan Eldridge. “This has been a long time coming for them. They spend so much of their time taking care of our veterans and now they can have a little more piece of mind being represented by us and having one of our contracts.”
“These professional employees deserve the same rights under a collective bargaining agreement as all working Americans do, and today they took that first step forward towards achieving that goal,” said IAM Organizing Director Vinny Addeo. “Special thanks to GLR Juan Eldridge and Apprentice Organizer Chris Casteel for a job well done in educating these professional employees on the importance of belonging to a union like the IAM.”
“Healthcare professionals throughout the United States and Canada are realizing they need a collective voice in their workplace,” said Headquarters General Vice President Brian Bryant. “Those who take care of our nation’s veterans deserve to have the best working conditions possible, and these VA employees took that first step by joining the IAM. I welcome them to the IAM family and thank all those involved in bringing a voice to our newest members.”
Theron Sylvester Black, a former Grand IAM Lodge Auditor, died Tuesday, February 4. He was 100.
Black was a longtime IAM member who was lauded for his contributions to the organization, in addition to his service to the country. In 2013, Black was honored with the IAM’s 70-year Veteran Award and honorary pin for his many years of service.
“Theron Black was a great man and a dedicated unionist who was always there when called upon,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr. “Myself and the entire Machinists Union will forever remember his contributions to the labor movement. We stand with his family and offer our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Black first initiated into the IAM as a member of Local 733 in Wichita, KS, in 1941. He worked as a Flight Line and Assembly Mechanic for the Beech Aircraft Corp., which is known today as the Beechcraft Corp.
He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1943 where he served and supported the war efforts as a Flight Engineer and Crew Chief of a B-29 strategic bomber, doing aerial reconnaissance photography in the South Pacific and Japan during World War II.
He was reinstated to Local 733 when he returned from his deployment in 1946. Black held various union positions, including Recording Secretary and Trustee.
In 1961, he was elected IAM Local 733 President. In 1963, he became District 70 Secretary-Treasurer. Black was appointed Grand Lodge Auditor in 1969, a post he held for 15 years before retiring in 1984.
Black is also recognized for being a founding member of the Kansas School for Effective Learning (KANSEL), a program started by local machinists to help provide our community with a skilled and educated workforce, which was organized in the basement of the District 70 building on South Meridian in 1989.
IAM members will have the opportunity to vote for the union’s 2020 U.S. presidential endorsement through an independent online ballot.
The endorsement election will take place from Wednesday, March 4 at 8 a.m. ET until Friday, March 6 at 8 a.m. ET.
At that time, each registered member in good standing will be emailed an online ballot and can choose a candidate on either the Republican or Democratic ticket.
Please add invitations@mail.electionbuddy.com to your contact/safe sender list to ensure you receive your online ballot. The subject of the email will be “Vote Now: IAM 2020 U.S. Presidential Endorsement Election.”
If you haven’t yet registered for the IAM’s endorsement election, please do so as soon as possible at iam2020.org.
The registration period for the membership vote will close on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Don’t miss this opportunity to help choose who the IAM should endorse for president of the United States.
Register today and learn more about the IAM’s U.S. presidential endorsement process at iam2020.org.
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) has invited Chris Wiers, president of IAM Local S6 in Bath, ME to join him as his guest at Tuesday’s State of the Union Address.
Wiers, elected the local’s president in 2019, said he will be listening for the president to address concerns among IAM members.
Congressman @RepGolden has invited Chris Wiers, president of IAM Local S6 in Bath, Maine to join him as his guest at tonight’s #SOTU address. pic.twitter.com/l5zFowv0Tx
“I’ll be listening for some of the topics our members have told me they care about, such as what he’s doing to help working people like us, whether he’ll commit to protecting the rights of unions, and any plans to lower the costs of health care and insurance,” said Wiers. “Congressman Golden represents the voice that labor has been lacking in the great state of Maine and we will continue to work together to continue the proud legacy of Bath Iron Works, that ‘Bath built is best built.’”
Golden has been an ally of labor, which includes co-sponsoring the PRO Act (H.R. 2474), IAM-supported legislation that would bolster worker rights.
“I’m honored to have Local S6’s president and my constituent, Chris Wiers, as my guest at this year’s State of the Union,” said Golden. “Bath Iron Works shipbuilders are the best in the world and Local S6 makes sure BIW workers are treated with respect and earn wages that match the skills they’ve developed and the hard work they do. Local S6 is a great example of what unions do for Maine workers. Chris and I believe that strengthening unions is one of the most effective ways to help working Mainers get ahead and ensure they have dependable, good-paying jobs with solid benefits and a safe workplace.”
Last year, Golden invited Cynthia Phinney, president of the Maine AFL-CIO, as his guest for the State of the Union address.
(@MachinistsUnion)