In a matter of just a few minutes, but what felt like hours to some, thousands of people in Nashville area lost everything in the early morning of March 2, 2020 when a powerful tornado ripped across middle Tennessee, hitting speeds of nearly 165 mph and devastating everything in its path. At least 25 people lost their lives at the hands of this meteorological monster, with hundreds found to be injured in the days to come.
The minute the winds died down, the Machinists jumped into action. They did what they always do and that was step up to help those in need.
“It never ceases to me amaze me what the brothers and sisters of this union do for each other. As soon as the tornado passed, the Machinists jumped into action and my phone started ringing off the hook with IAM members checking on the safety of each other and working on the best way to get help to those who needed it most,” said Jerry Benson, Directing Business Representative of 711 in Murfreesboro, TN.
Machinist members in Fayetteville, TN started preparing right away, especially once they found out one of their IAM brothers from Local 735 lost his home in the storm. It was decided that on Saturday, March 7, the machinist family of Local 2385 would head up to IAM 735 Union Hall and help in any way they were needed.
With assistance from the district and surrounding locals, more than 300 hamburgers and hot dogs were grilled and distributed to anyone who needed a hot meal, union or not. Machinist members and their families spent the day doing what they do best – stepping up in times of need.
“Tennessee is my home so you don’t have to tell me about the caliber of the IAM members who live and work there. The union families in the areas around Nashville take care of each other and the community no matter the situation. Local 2385 is a prime example of that. That’s how it will always be; the machinists will always step up for others,” said Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace.
The IAM, utilizing an unprecedented democratic process that included a general membership vote open to all U.S. members in good standing, has endorsed Joe Biden for president of the United States.
The IAM’s endorsement is the majority will of the IAM’s membership and its state councils, who voted online through an independent third party in early March. More about the IAM’s endorsement process is available at iam2020.org.
Cumulative General Membership Vote (March 4-6, 2020)
Democrats (66%)
Republicans (34%)
1. Joe Biden – 36%
1. Donald Trump – 34%
2. Bernie Sanders – 26%
2. William Weld – Less than 1%
3. Elizabeth Warren – 2%
4. Michael Bloomberg – 1%
5. Tulsi Gabbard – 1%
Out of the IAM’s State Council Presidents that voted in a March 8 vote between the top vote-getting candidates as chosen by the membership from each party, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, 100 percent cast their ballots for Biden.
A statement from IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr.:
“Our union made it a priority in the 2020 election cycle to give IAM members a real say in who we endorse for president of the United States. Since we announced this process in May 2019, we have encouraged members from coast to coast to register and make their voices heard in this important decision. We also urged presidential candidates to listen to our membership and speak about the issues that IAM members believe are most critical.
“Today the IAM is proud to announce our endorsement for Joe Biden, a proven leader who we believe can take back the White House and restore power back to working people and unions. Joe understands that unions built the middle class and that working people deserve their fair share of the prosperity we create. At this time more than ever, we need a leader who can deliver for workers and communities across this nation on retirement security, affordable health care and stronger protections for workers and unions. Our members have indicated that strong support for these issues is critical for our endorsement. Joe Biden has been fighting for these issues throughout his career.
“Make no mistake, workers’ rights, including safety and health and the right to unionize and bargain collectively, is on the ballot this November. We have endured four years of attacks on working people in the form of anti-union judges and NLRB decisions, attacks on our retirement and health care, and more. The GOP tax plan gave enormous tax breaks to multinational corporations while resulting in more than 50 plant closures for IAM members since the president took office. We cannot afford another four years of anti-worker policies being dictated to us by corporate-bought politicians in Washington.
“Joe Biden strongly supports the PRO Act, which would hold corporations accountable for violating labor laws and repeal anti-union right-to-work laws. Joe has also pledged to protect the pensions of workers and strengthen our ability to bargain for better wages, benefits and working conditions. Joe would end the senseless attacks on federal workers and fight for multi-employer pensions by passing the Butch Lewis Act.
“I encourage our members whose preferred candidate did not receive our endorsement to remain committed to our core principles. In a union as diverse as the IAM, it is OK to have different views with one common cause. We are strongest when we are united.
“Our membership has spoken and chosen a bold, progressive vision for our country that places the interests of working people first. From this point on, we will mobilize our membership to win the Democratic nomination for Joe Biden. No matter what happens in the months ahead, it is clear that working people demand a different direction and their fair share of power in Washington and across the country.”
IAM members have made it clear that they want a candidate who shares our priorities. In two independent surveys conducted over the past six months, IAM members listed these priorities:
Affordable healthcare: Members believe that everyone should have quality healthcare at an affordable cost.
Retirement security: Members believe that everyone should have retirement security. They strongly believe that pension benefit promises made in collective bargaining negotiations must be kept.
Outsourcing: Members strongly believe that corporate incentives to outsource work to Mexico and countries outside North America must be eliminated.
Strengthening our industrial base: Members believe that our country should support good quality jobs in the commercial and defense sectors. They voice serious concerns over continuing plant closings and layoffs.
Stronger laws protecting workers and union rights: Members are seriously concerned over the continued weakening of workers’ rights and believe that strong unions remain the key to our future.
Trade policy that puts working people first: Members believe that trade policy should make workers a priority, not corporations that use trade policy to ship jobs overseas.
Other important issues to our members included higher taxes and cost of living, poverty and income inequality, cost of education, and racial and gender inequality.
Our two surveys also found:
IAM members are politically diverse. A significant number of our members are Democrats, Republicans, Independents and affiliated with other political identifications.
IAM members have a positive perception of labor unions overall, especially the IAM.
A large majority of Republicans in the surveys believe that the country is better off under President Trump and a large majority of Democrats believe the country is worse off under President Trump.
Comments about the Democratic candidates and President Trump referenced “promises,” “the “economy,” “jobs” and “trade.”
The Machinists Union lost a member of our union family last week in the horrific shooting at Molson Coors Beverage Company in Milwaukee. Dana Walk, 57, was a nearly 16-year member of IAM Local 66 in Milwaukee. An avid fisherman, he was a devout Journeyman and a devoted father and husband.
If you would like to help the Walk family and the other families of those lost in the tragedy, please consider donating to the Miller Valley Survivors Fund.
The Miller Valley Survivors Fund was established to provide direct financial assistance to the family members of the deceased and others directly affected. The priority is to give the victim’s families the long-term help and support they’ll need in the years ahead.
This week’s Activate L!VE featured Liz Walker Buehler discussing how yoga teachers formed the first union of its kind in the United States with the IAM. Plus, Michael Oathout of the IAM Safety and Health Department gives us tips on how to prevent Coronavirus at work and at home.
Activate L!VE streams every Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST.
If you can’t join us live, watch it or previous shows anytime on:
If you are interested in getting the latest roundup of legislative news for IAM members, sign up for Machinists On The Hill.
Machinists On The Hill is the IAM’s new twice-monthly newsletter featuring a roundup of legislative advocacy on behalf of IAM members. The newsletter is produced by the IAM’s Legislative and Communications Departments.
“This new email newsletter is an effort to better communicate with our membership on how the IAM is fully engaged on important legislative matters that affect our day-to-day lives,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Our goal is to get this information out to our membership on the shop floors.”
