Eighty-seven Tool and Die Maintenance Technicians at Nissan North America in Smyrna, TN are joining together with the IAM. An overwhelming majority of Tool and Die Maintenance Technicians signed authorization cards for IAM representation.
Workers cited numerous workplace concerns, including forced overtime, increased healthcare costs, and a lack of respect from management as some of the reasons for joining the IAM.
Case law provides an overwhelming precedent for Tool and Die Maintenance Technicians being an appropriate bargaining unit. The IAM will fight to make sure corporate lawyers and anti-union interests don’t try to silence the workers’ voices in Smyrna.
The IAM has proudly represented employees in the automotive sector since 1916. The IAM created the first Local Lodge devoted exclusively to automotive and truck employees in 1919. Today, the IAM represents about 47,000 Tool and Die Makers and 3,000 automotive manufacturing workers at Ford, Penske Truck, Hyundai, and Chevrolet.
“Tool and Die Makers are highly skilled Machinists. It takes years to develop those skills. This group of Tool and DieMaintenance Technicians are some of the most determined individuals I’ve worked with,” said IAM Grand Lodge Representative Tim Wright, lead organizer on the campaign. “They are proud of their skills and the work they do for Nissan and want a voice on the job and a better life for their families and their community. The IAM will fight to ensure this campaign is free of political interference so that workers can cast a vote for representation free of intimidation while maintaining a level of respect that is currently lacking in the workplace. A union contract will ensure fair wages, benefits, working conditions, and the ability to retire with dignity. The IAM was established in Atlanta, GA, in 1888; we have a well-respected track record of getting the best contracts for our members.”
87 Tool and Die Maintenance Technicians at Nissan North America are fighting to join the IAM for a voice on the job respect from management reasonable benefitshttps://t.co/oOVNSPJXQA
The National Labor Relations Board is expected to issue election dates after pre-election matters are resolved through an NLRB hearing currently in progress.
The IAM will continue to help the Tool and Die Maintenance Technicians at Nissan North America by educating them and their co-workers on their rights to form a union under the National Labor Relations Act.
IAM international and local leadership issued the following statements after the recent mass shootings in Atlanta:
“The Machinists Union is outraged and deeply saddened by the senseless murders in Atlanta,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Asian Americans make up a critical, and growing, segment of our union family and our communities. A racially based attack on any of our Brothers and Sisters is an attack on each and every one of us. We are firmly against the surging violence against Asian Americans and any group based on race. Our union and the labor movement will always fight against hate. We stand strong for equality and understanding. The IAM’s profound thoughts and prayers go to the victims’ loved ones and we pledge to fight for a better tomorrow.”
“These women were killed while working low wage, vulnerable jobs while the COVID-19 pandemic continues,” said Georgia AFL-CIO President and IAM member Charlie Flemming. “While the motive for the shootings are still under investigation, one thing is certain: These attacks speak to the systemic impacts of misogyny, racism, and white supremacy targeted at the Asian American community. We stand in solidarity with the families who have had these lives unjustly stolen from them. However, Asian Americans need more than solidarity — they need our support, commitment and real solutions.”
More than 200 union appliance service technicians, including Machinists Union members, ratified a new two-year contract with GE-Haier this week. The contract includes general wage increases and caps healthcare costs, putting an average of $6,000 in the pockets of the members.
The technicians are represented by different unions, but use a Joint Bargaining Committee (JBC) to negotiate a national agreement. This increases the bargaining power of the group who reside all across the U.S. and work out of their company provided service vans.
“Congratulations to committee and all the service techs on their new agreement,” said IAM Collective Bargaining Director Craig Norman. “The Joint Bargaining Committee is a great example of how workers can use strength in numbers and solidarity to improve their wages and working conditions.”
“Congrats to the JBC and IAM Local Lodge 78 members on the successful ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement,” said District 10 Business Representative and Joint Bargaining Committee members Joe Terlisner. “Everyone involved should be commended for their commitment and dedication towards negotiating this agreement. The bargaining strength of the JBC, and unity of all the unions involved, aided in securing this national agreement for the members.”
“Congratulations to everyone involved in this new agreement,” said Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “It’s great to see Representatives and members from different labor organizations and different parts of the country, come together and secure a contract that benefits all brothers and sisters.”
The JBC consists of representatives from four major international unions: International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), United Association (UA) and United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE).
Each year, April 28 is recognized as Workers’ Memorial Day, a day for us to commemorate the thousands of workers killed, injured or sickened on the job. Your local can memorialize a fallen member with a personalized brick placed at the IAM Workers Memorial located at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, MD.
The deadline to submit personalized bricks is Friday, March 26.
The brick can have two lines of lettering with up to 20 characters per line (including spaces on each line) without the logo for $100. There’s also the option to purchase a brick with three lines of lettering with up to 15 characters per line, along with the IAM logo for $125.
There’s also the option to purchase a larger brick: an 8×8 can be purchased for $200. This option comes with four lines of lettering with up to 20 characters per line without a logo, or with two lines of lettering with up to 15 characters per line, along with your own preferred logo or the IAM logo.
If your local has a member who died on the job, a complimentary brick will be place at no cost. Please fill out and submit the Complimentary Brick Order Form.
The IAM Workers’ Memorial was completed in 2001. It was dedicated to the remembrance of those who lost their lives while on the job. The bricks surrounding the Memorial bear the names of fallen members along with bricks donated from lodges and proud members of the IAMAW.
On or around April 28 each year, a ceremony is conducted at the memorial to remember those who lost their lives and rededicate ourselves to the prevention of on the job injury and death to workers.
At Guide Dogs of America/Tender Loving Canines, the comfort, safety and health of their dogs is a top priority. To improve on those efforts, they are building for the future with a full renovation of their kennel center this year and could use your help.
Guide Dogs of America/Tender Loving Canines currently has 80 runs, a socialization area for puppies, a recreation area for dogs of all ages and an administrative area for the team that cares for these amazing animals. While all these spaces are functional, they are in need of updates and renovation. We have reached out to the experts in the industry for the most state-of-the art technology, and will be focusing on the following improvements:
New HVAC and air filtration systems.
UV disinfectant light system
Updated walls, gates, safety latches and personal storage.
Sanitized feeding systems.
Airtight, non-porous epoxy flooring.
Fresh water and drainage systems.
Cleaning and waste mechanisms
You can have your name displayed on a kennel or whelping bay you helped build by being a Silver, Gold or Platinum level sponsor. Or you can simply help out by donating to the renovation campaign. No donation is too small, as every little bit will help provide a better kennel space for their life-changing dogs.
Guide Dogs of America is the IAM’s favorite charity. In 2020, GDA completed a merger with Tender Loving Canines, and now provides hardworking service dogs for people who are blind/visually impaired, veterans, children with autism and facilities to become trusted companions that bring confidence, independence and mobility. Their services are provided free of charge to residents in the U.S. and Canada.
87 Tool and Die Maintenance Technicians at Nissan North America are fighting to join the IAM for
a voice on the job
(@MachinistsUnion)