The IAM Midwest Territory announces the retirement of lifelong union and human rights activist Luther Williams as Chief of Staff to the Midwest Territory.
After more than 34 years fighting on behalf of America’s working families, Williams will be retiring effective June 30, 2020.
“I want to congratulate Chief of Staff Williams on what has been an extraordinary career in Union and Human Rights activism,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “It has been an honor to witness your dedication and service. Your more than 34 years of trade unionist experience, knowledge, know-how, and mentoring skills have proven immeasurable to our staff as well as to the entire IAM membership. Congratulations Brother on your well-deserved retirement.”
Williams initiated into the IAM in 1986 as a Nuclear Marine Machinist at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth, VA. He became a member of then-Local Lodge 441, District 74 where he served in many positions, including District 74 full-time Organizer. He was appointed to the position of Education Representative for the IAM Midwest Territory in September 1999. He became a Special Representative in 2001 and by February 2005, he was appointed to the position of Grand Lodge Representative, where he continued to serve in that capacity for the 13 years until his appointment to Midwest Territory Chief of Staff.
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. announces the appointment of Communications Representative LaToya Egwuekwe-Smith to the position of Chief of Staff of the IAM Midwest Territory, effective July 1, 2020.
“Sister Egwuekwe-Smith brings over 20 years of exceptional leadership, strong crisis management experience, and strategic and creative thinking skills,” said Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “She has an impressive resume of integrity and respect throughout our organization and has forged strong, positive relationships with Machinists members and colleagues. Sister Egwuekwe-Smith has developed and implemented cutting edge programs for contract negotiations, organizing, and political communications for the Midwest Territory. I look forward to working with her in continuing to set the strategic direction of the staff and Territory towards innovative organizing and effective servicing.”
“Brother Williams has been a tremendous advocate for our union, our membership and all working people. He will be dearly missed, but I know that Luther will continue the fight for justice that he has championed his entire career,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “We are also honored to welcome Sister Egwuekwe-Smith into a new role, where she will bring a great depth of experience and knowledge toward advocating for our members in the Midwest Territory.”
Egwuekwe-Smith, born and raised in the Chicago area to two proud union parents, initiated into the IAM in 2008 as a Communications Representative at IAM Headquarters in Upper Marlboro, MD. She was appointed Territorial Communications Representative to the IAM Midwest Territory in January 2016.
Egwuekwe-Smith previously worked as a political television news reporter/anchor for The Florida Channel in Tallahassee, FL, and as a television news producer for WEWS-TV ABC in Cleveland, OH.
She is the creator of “The Decline: The Geography of a Recession” – an animated map that shows the progression of U.S. unemployment from January 2007 to February 2011. Her work has been featured on CNN, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, The Huffington Post, BoingBoing and hundreds of blogs, local newspapers and television outlets around the world.
Egwuekwe-Smith is a former Vice President of the International Labor Communications Association (ILCA) Executive Council. She is also a 2014 Fellow of the New Leaders Council, a growing group of next generation progressive leaders.
Egwuekwe-Smith has a Master of Arts in Interactive Journalism from American University in Washington, DC, and a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications in Hampton, VA.
June 5, 2020 marked one hundred years since the enactment of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act, which ensures the United States is able to maintain a domestic maritime fleet to protect our maritime industry and national defense.
To this day, by requiring that all vessels carrying goods between two U.S. ports be American built, crewed and flagged, the Act helps to provide industry stability and sustain American jobs.
As part of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, the IAM is key to the merchant marine and marine defense industries. Throughout the last century, IAM members from coast to coast have helped build and sustain a healthy domestic fleet.
Rarely has any piece of legislation stood for so long and remained so important to the domestic sectors and workers it supports. Today, our nation’s waterways are navigated by 40,000 Jones Act compliant vessels built in this country. The construction, maintenance and upgrading of these vessels is responsible for keeping the lights on at dozens of shipyards and factories, supporting well over 100,000 jobs.
However, the shipbuilding industry is constantly threatened by unfair foreign competition. Many of these shipbuilders seeking access to the U.S market are highly subsidized by foreign states, and none are subject to the domestic content, environmental and labor requirements placed on U.S. companies. By mandating that U.S. made ships sail between U.S. ports and harbors, the Jones Act continues to guarantee we will have the ability and workforce needed to build vessels in this country.
On BIW’s website, the question was asked, “Is BIW attacking seniority?” BIW’s answer was, absolutely not. In fact, the seniority article of the contract (Article 16) was agreed to by the Company and the Union earlier this week. First of all, whoever is answering these questions for the company is as out of touch as BIWs negotiating committee.
Article 16 speaks to your length of service from date of hire, occupational and nonoccupational leave of absence, the term of healthcare coverage if you’re laid off, leave of absences, and yard Injury.
BIW straight up lied to you. The fact of the matter is, under BIW’s proposal for Article 44- Manning/Demanning, where they are trying to steal your seniority.
No short-term loans, they want to pick anyone they want, loan you into any trade they chose, and assign you to any shift or facility for as long as they want. That’s attacking our seniority!
Nice try BIW, this is precisely how they try to manipulate the membership, with sly/underhanded tactics.
This is just one example of why your negotiating committee is fighting for you and the Company doesn’t like it one bit.
BIW is trying to create a false narrative that makes them look good through lies and broken promises. All we want is a fair contract and the Company just wants to create stall tactics and play games with our members.
The Union believes they don’t want to negotiate a fair contract and wish to take the coward way out by offering us a last, best, and final.BIW hates that we are so united and will not cower to their predictable antics. We must fight on brothers and sisters, our future counts on it.
These updates will continue to be posted on the Local S6 Facebook page as well.
In Solidarity, Local Lodge S6 Negotiating Committee.
Brothers and Sisters, I want you to know these very important negotiations for you, are front and center for our entire union.
Please know that you have the solidarity of myself, the entire IAM Executive Council and 600,000 Fighting Machinists from across North America.
I want to especially thank your IAM Local S6 Negotiating Committee, District 4 and Eastern Territory staff for all of the hard work you have done and will continue to do during these negotiations.
You have my commitment that the full resources at every level of our union will be available to you in order to get the best possible contract for our membership.
In these extraordinary times, it is imperative that we stay united.
Now more than ever, our solidarity is our greatest strength.
This union has persevered and emerged stronger through wars, depressions and pandemics because we have spoken with one voice.
You are the best in the world as your craft—building of state-of-the-art ships for our men and women in the US Navy.
Each and every day, you are living proof of your motto—“Bath built – best built.”
Together, we will emerge from these negotiations stronger and more resilient in our fight for your seniority rights, and economic and job security for all our members
