The Export-Import Bank, the U.S. export credit agency that is supposed to support U.S. jobs by financing exports of U.S.-made goods, is instead considering extreme proposals to destroy requirements that tie financing to domestic content rules.
Under the guise of competition from China, the Bank posted a public notice just before Thanksgiving soliciting comments on weakening its current domestic content requirements. Proposals to weaken the current content rules would allow U.S. exporters to offshore more American jobs to other countries and receive Ex-Im financing to do so.
“The Machinists Union and our allies will continue to advocate for stronger domestic content rules, an end to offshoring and a return of our vital supply chains,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “At a time when we should be pushing hard for greater domestic content and reshoring, the Bank is considering going in the opposite direction. To make matters even worse, if domestic content rules are weakened, China could benefit by supplying the materials, parts and components that could then be financed by the Bank itself. This is outrageous.
The IAM urges District and Local Lodges as well as individual members to weigh in by December 14 with the Bank and submit comments using this link.
Here are three (3) incentive MOA’s. All Local S6 mechanics are eligible for participation. Participation is purely voluntary. Bath Iron Works has provided data showing times of the year when they have the most outs and where Bath Iron Works needs people at work to aid in schedule recuperation. The Union suggested offering incentives to come to work by putting more money in mechanics pockets or having an additional paid day off. Please find the three (3) agreements below.
IAM Local 2725 members who sell auto parts and supplies in Puerto Rico have been awarded $205,039.26 in back pay and reinstated to their jobs in a recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) settlement between the employer, Empresas Velázquez, and the Machinists Union.
The NLRB had issued a complaint alleging that the employer, Empresas Velázquez, illegally fired 12 employees who joined the IAM in early 2018, and engaged in numerous other violations of the National Labor Relations Act. The settlement orders the company to cease and desist all such unlawful actions.
Management was also ordered to immediately recognize the IAM and engage in good faith bargaining, stop unilaterally changing work rules and assignments, and immediately provide answers to numerous questions posed by the IAM that have been needed to negotiate a first contract.
“This settlement has taken a long time, but it is an important step toward justice on the job for our members at Empresas Velázquez. I hope the employer will immediately sit down with us and get to work on a first contract,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “My thanks go to these brave members for standing strong, as well as Grand Lodge Representative Javier Almazan, Associate General Counsel Laura Ewan and Business Representative José ‘Lole’ Rodríguez-Báez for all they have done and continue to do as we fight for our members.”
The NLRB also determined that Empresas Velázquez and Euro-Japon Auto Supply is a single employer of IAM Local 2725 members, denying the company’s request to be treated as separate entities.
Los miembros del Local 2725 de la IAM que trabajan como vendedores de piezas y suministros de automóviles en Puerto Rico han recibido $205,039.26 en pago retroactivo, y han sido reintegrados a sus trabajos en un acuerdo reciente de la Junta Nacional de Relaciones Laborales (NLRB) entre el empleador, Empresas Velázquez, y la Unión de Maquinistas.
La NLRB había promulgado una demanda alegando que el empleador, Empresas Velázquez, despidió ilegalmente a 12 empleados, estos se habian unido a la IAM a principios de 2018, y cometieron numerosas otras violaciones de la Ley Nacional de Relaciones Laborales. El acuerdo ordena a la empresa que cese y desista de todas esas acciones ilegales.
La gerencia también recibió la orden de reconocer inmediatamente a la IAM y participar en negociaciones de buena fe, dejar de cambiar unilateralmente las reglas y asignaciones de trabajo, y proporcionar de inmediato respuestas a numerosas preguntas planteadas por la IAM que han sido necesarias para negociar un primer contrato.
“Este acuerdo es un paso que ha costado mucho tiempo pero importante hacia la justicia en el trabajo para nuestros miembros de Empresas Velázquez. Espero que el empleador se siente inmediatamente con nosotros y se ponga a trabajar en un primer contrato,” dijo Rickey Wallace, Vicepresidente General del Territorio Sur de la IAM. “Mi agradecimiento a estos valientes miembros por mantenerse firmes, así como al Representante de la Gran Logia Javier Almazan, la Asesora General Adjunta Laura Ewan y el Representante de Servicio José ‘Lole’ Rodríguez-Báez por todo lo que han hecho y continúan haciendo mientras luchamos por nuestros miembros.”
La NLRB también determinó que Empresas Velázquez y Euro-Japon Auto Supply son un solo empleador de los miembros de IAM Local 2725, negando la solicitud de la empresa de ser tratadas como entidades separadas.
On Tuesday, December 1st, 2020, Local Lodge S6 was formally notified in writing of Bath Iron Works’ intent to enter into the Joint Agreement Process. The notice focused on Bath Iron Works’ need to continue using targeted subcontracting beyond December 31st, 2020. While the Union is disappointed and frustrated with receiving this notification, we are obligated to follow the negotiated language of the CBA as per article 39; Joint Agreement Process, which we fought for and successfully maintained. When Local Lodge S6 received this notification we immediately reached out to the President of BIW; Dirk Lesko. After a lengthy dialogue, it became apparent that Bath Iron Works wants to continue targeted subcontracting.
Mr. Lesko went on to cite several contributing factors that led to the unfortunate decision to extend subcontracting. He spoke at length on the many challenges the Joint Schedule Recovery Committee has been addressing. To date, we have been getting through many issues to regain schedule and are heading in the right direction, but the US Navy has reiterated their need for Navy ships to be delivered on time and on schedule. Mr. Lesko praised the work the parties have been able to achieve collectively. He emphasized his commitment to continue hiring as fast as possible while reducing subcontractors as fast as possible so that no subcontractors remain. Mr. Lesko continued to stress that he would prefer to hire in lieu of subcontracting. He provided a significant amount of data to justify his need for subcontracting while expressing his disappointment with having to make that decision. One example Mr. Lesko provided was that over the past year Bath Iron Works hired 850 employees but lost 858 employees due to attrition. That’s a net loss of (8) eight mechanics. Local Lodge S6 is committed to fully representing its members and ensuring subcontractors are not in our shipyard.
Bath Iron Works’ statement to the Union is they are trying to grow the business to have over 5,000 mechanics to support a (2) two-ship a year shipyard. This would give Bath Iron Works the ability to seek new additional work. If Bath Iron Works simply moves mechanics to different departments internally, they do not grow the business. If this is not done, Bath Iron Works will inevitably lay off mechanics where it doesn’t need the manning for a (1) one-ship a year shipyard, which doesn’t help anyone. Additionally, hiring is the most important thing we need to collectively focus on. Many senior mechanics will be retiring next year, along with a worldwide pandemic placing restrictions on just about everything, the focus is clear.
We will continue to scrutinize Bath Iron Works’ need for subcontracting while helping to recover schedule. The Union is currently in a position in which communication and collaboration with Bath Iron Works are hard to imagine considering our history. However, we are moving forward as we need to continue regaining the schedule to achieve a build rate of (2) two ships a year. We have a window of opportunity to positions ourselves for the future. We share a desired outcome but have different ideologies on how to get there. The Joint Schedule Recovery Committee process is currently working in the right direction. We are committed to this but will always keep our guard up as it pertains to the use of subcontracting. Article 39 of the CBA provides us that avenue.
The Unions focus will be to get subcontractors out of our shipyard as quickly as possible. We will be taking all the provided information and seeking advice from two separate attorneys the Local Lodge retains to assist in arbitrations. We will update our membership as we get feedback from our legal counsel, and will pursue all remedies through our collective bargaining agreement. If any member would like additional information the Local Lodge will provide it as requested.
