The Sunday, July 26 anniversary of the signing of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a good time to reflect on how to empower and support workers with differing abilities that we see and interact with every day, whether we realize it or not.
The ADA is a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment, government services, transportation and public accommodations. It was signed into law July 26, 1990, but didn’t take effect for two years to give companies, businesses and other facilities time to implement the regulations.
“Every working person deserves access to a job that pays a livable wage with good benefits,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “The IAM fights for inclusion in the workplace and in the community, so everyone has improved quality of life with independence and mobility.”
Both photos by HolLynn D’Lil
The IAM has a long history of helping people with differing abilities. The union helped to found International Guiding Eyes in 1948, now doing business as Guide Dogs of America. Joseph Jones Sr. turned to the IAM for help after being turned away from existing schools at the age of 57. It was one of the first guide dog schools founded by a blind person.
This year, the Machinists Union’s community service was featured in the Netflix film “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution,” which focused on a unique summer camp called Camp Jened that motivated a group of teens with disabilities to help build a movement for equality. The documentary highlighted an event in the nation’s capital commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 504 sit-in. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was the first federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities and paved the way for ADA.
The IAM logo appeared in the movie on Hertz trucks the union rented for travel once the protestors arrived in Washington, DC. Signs on the truck include one that says “Justice on the Job, Security for the Family, Service to the Community” and another that says “Support California handicapped.”
“My daughter works as Assistant Director for Special Education at the Tift County School system here in Georgia,” said James Clements, Georgia State Council of Machinists’ sergeant-at-arms. “She told us about the movie Crip Camp and recommended we watch it. Pretty surprised to see the IAM logo on the Hertz trucks. This was part of the Machinists’ history I had never heard before and it is something I am pretty proud of us having done.”
IAM Local 1781 and District 141 helped to raise money for transportation, according to the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. The trucks had cargo lifts that could accommodate wheelchairs. A reception was held at IAM Headquarters, where protestors spoke about their experiences. The use of headquarters enabled them to use union phone lines and copy machines for organizing and setting up meetings with Congress members.
Some organizations still struggle to make their buildings accessible to workers with disabilities, 30 years after the ADA was first enacted. The law has been amended to facilitate enforcement, but challenges remain.
Owen Herrnstadt, IAM Chief of Staff to International President Robert Martinez, Jr., appeared on the Rick Smith Show Monday to discuss Joe Biden’s manufacturing plan. Herrnstadt also serves as the IAM’s Director of Trade and Globalization.
“It’s not only going to put people back to work, but it’s going to create a manufacturing industry for the future that is robust and sustainable,” said Herrnstadt. “It will rebuild this middle class that’s been left out in the cold as manufacturing work continues to be offshored.”
Biden’s plan aims to ensure the future is “made in all of America” by all of America’s workers, making a $400 billion investment in American products, materials and services, when goods are purchased by U.S. taxpayers through government procurement. The plan also supports small manufacturers and invests $300 billion in research and development, while making sure those investments reach every state and region of the country, including urban and rural areas.
Herrnstadt said one of the most important parts of the plan is to close loopholes that allow companies to bypass Buy American rules. Biden wants to tighten domestic content rules, crack down on waivers , update trade rules and eliminate tax incentives that encourage corporations to offshore work.
Smith asked if the plan was the equivalent of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal plan that brought the country out of the Great Depression of the early 1930s and Herrnstadt said this could be Biden’s FDR moment.
IAM members voted to endorse Biden for U.S. president in March after an unprecedented membership vote for the union’s endorsement.
The Daleville, AL Local 2003 Retiree Committee honored their retirees for reaching years of service milestones ranging from 30 years to 65 years and awarded pins and certificates signifying their years of service.
A few of these members, Brothers Dennis Lee, Bobby Bowden and Jerry Obie Goodson were a part of helping to win the very first IAM contract at Fort Rucker. Several of these members were previous Grand Lodge Representatives, Business Representatives or Local Lodge Presidents, along with other various positions while they were actively employed.
It’s very important that we always remember those that have fought for us and are still supporting our fight today. Below is a list of all honored for their years of service:
65 years of service: Dennis Lee
60 years of service: Bobby Bowden, Jerry Obie Goodson, David Wilkinison, Bennie Segars, Charlie Box, James Preachers, Charles Weed, Fred Duff, Troy Owens, Charles Stokes, James L. Shirah
55 years of service: Billy Bowman, Edward Mac Westbrook, Marcus Huggins, Ronald Murphy, Johnny L. Smith, Sterling Poole, Charles Cooper, Willie McCray, Horace Peters, Eugene Bowden, Kenneth Walker, David Martin, William Head, Ned Maddox
50 years of service: Barbara Bowden
45 years of service: Fred Flowers, Roy Meriweather, Edward Cowan
40 years of service: BJ Cardwell, Robert Lester, Jeffery M. Smith, John Pridgen
35 years of service: Shirley Knight, Tony Barnes, Patricia Smith
The IAM’s strong advocacy on Capitol Hill has advanced funding for critical defense work on a variety of programs for Machinists Union members from coast to coast.
A long-time priority of the IAM, enhancing Buy American standards for major defense programs, also won approval in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The IAM, along with U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), championed an NDAA amendment that expands Buy American requirements for defense procurement to 100 percent by 2026. Currently, only 50 percent of defense production is required to be produced domestically, not counting frequent exceptions to the law.
“Our men and women in uniform deserve the best, and that’s what Machinists Union members deliver,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “I am incredibly proud of our members in the defense industry for the extraordinary work they do. This is just another validation of their talent and dedication, as well as the experience of the IAM’s Legislative Department on Capitol Hill.”
The IAM will continue to advocate for these programs and strong Buy American requirements in the Senate and final versions of the NDAA.
The House-passed version of the NDAA authorizes the following programs built by IAM members:
79 F-35 joint strike fighters
Eight C-130J transport aircraft
24 F/A-18 E/F fighter jets
12 F-15EX fighter jets
12 KC-46A tankers
Two DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers
Two Virginia-class submarines
One Columbia-class submarine and authorization for incremental funding to ramp up to two Columbia-class submarines per year
Local S6 is truly humbled by the recent support we have been receiving from the community and Maine at large. We would like to extend a special thank you to Salty Boyz Food Truck. These fine people came and fed over 100 of our members on the picket line at no expense to the Local or our members. The co-owners of Highbrow Medical Marijuana financed the entire operation. As former Telecommunications of American Union workers themselves, they understand the need for solidarity and simply wanted to give us some support. The food was incredible and very much appreciated.
