The IAM is calling on the Biden administration to reinstate critical job security protections for Service Contract Act (SCA) workers, many of whom work at military bases across the country.
Service Contract workers are private sector employees who work under federal contracts, primarily at military bases and other federal installations. The IAM represents nearly 40,000 Service Contract Workers in a variety of industries, spread across more than 800 locations.
In 2019, former President Trump rescinded Executive Order 13495, which President Obama implemented to provide vitally important job security to service contract workers. The order, known as “Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts,” granted workers the right of first refusal for continued employment when an SCA government contractor or employer is replaced by a new successor contractor at the same location. This policy benefited both the government and the workers by ensuring workforce continuity as government contracts change hands.
“Not only is President Trump’s petty rebuke of President Obama’s policy bad for government contracting efficiency, it is also disastrous for the workers who are displaced, along with their families and the communities where they reside,” wrote IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. in a letter to Biden. “We respectfully ask that you swiftly reinstitute EO 13495 for the sake of efficient government procurement and fairness to these workers and their families.”
Facing routine discrimination, women workers in the U.S. proved detractors wrong in the 1940s as they competently filled vacant jobs that were left open as millions of men left to fight in WWII. Female labor participation during this time was highlighted by Rosie the Riveters, thousands of women manufacturing workers, including Machinist Members at District 751 who assisted the war effort by building military aircraft on assembly lines. Some of them would ascend to the position of IAM Committeewomen within a decade. Harold J. Gibson, then President of District 751, once said: “These women are among the most active Members of our Union.”
By the mid-1950s women of the IAM continued to gain recognition as skilled laborers, union leaders and a powerful voice for organized labor. An early icon was Margaret Beverly, International President of the IAM Ladies’ Auxiliary. By 1953 Beverly would lead the organization, which initially consisted of thousands of wives of Machinists members. The Auxiliary served as a backbone of the Union by organizing social and fraternal gatherings for their husbands and IAM families at 296 locals across North America. Beverly, a staunch labor activist, once said: “Sell your union to new members.”
By 1954 IAM women continued to emerge as prominent organizers. In March of that year Ada Messerschmidt, Member of District 720 in California was honored as Organizer of the Month. The mother of four children, who worked as an assembler at the sprawling Douglas Aircraft plant in Torrance, CA, submitted 54 membership applications in one month from an unorganized unit of employees at the facility. “My method for gathering applications is to tell prospective new members about the many benefits won by the union,” said Messerschmidt. “I point out that these benefits include higher pay, vacation pay, paid rest periods and seniority protections.”
Across the country Machinist Mary Martin would serve as President of Local 350 in Connecticut. She initially rose from Shop Steward to IAM Negotiating Committeewoman at the Underwood Typewriter plant in Hartford. By the summer of the 1954 Martin was President of a 2,500-member Lodge earning the respect of her male colleagues.
“She’s doing an outstanding job,” said Joseph V. Cronin, then Business Manager of District 26. “We’re proud of her.”
Women would also play a crucial role at the 1956 IAM Grand Lodge Convention in San Francisco, CA. At that point it was the largest gathering of female Delegates in the Union’s history. Then President Al Hayes proudly took a public photograph on stage with at least 25 women Machinists. Female attendees like Pauline Ward, Member of Lodge 739 in Alameda, CA, freely participated in convention business, spoke openly at the floor microphone during sessions and voted on resolutions like the creation of the IAM Defense Fund Strike Benefit.
The IAM is urging Senators to vote “yes” on a desperately-needed relief package that would help IAM members and all working people recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The American Rescue Plan has passed the House and the Senate is expected to vote this week. Please act now to implore your Senators to vote “yes” on the American Rescue Plan and oppose any amendments to weaken this well-constructed recovery package.
“The American Rescue Plan contains a number of key provisions that the Machinists Union has supported since the outbreak of the deadly virus to help struggling workers nationwide,” IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. wrote in a letter to U.S. Senators.
The package includes the following relief measures, fought for by the IAM:
$1,400 emergency checks for individuals making less than $75,000 and couples making less than $150,000. A family of four could receive up to $5,600 in direct economic assistance.
$15 billion to extend the airline worker Payroll Support Program (PSP) and protect the jobs of thousands of airline workers
$3 billion to support aviation manufacturing supply chain workers
$30 billion for public transit
$1.5 billion to recall furloughed Amtrak workers and prevent further layoffs
Increases the federal unemployment benefit to $400 per week for an additional six months
Butch Lewis pension legislation to provide retirement security
Provides COBRA subsidies to help laid-off workers remain on their employer-sponsored health insurance plans
Newly-formed IAM District 2020 held its inaugural convention last weekend in Virginia Beach, VA with International President Robert Martinez Jr, General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes and Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace in attendance. Martinez, Cervantes and Wallace addressed the delegation, driving home the importance of organizing and bringing union representation to workers in the South who desperately need it.
The Greater Mid-Atlantic District Lodge 2020 consists of IAM locals in North Carolina, Virginia and part of South Carolina, with the exception of air transport and railroad locals. In 2019, Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace sought out a way to give more support and resources to the districts. He put together a consolidation plan to provide better service to the membership and help the districts in their organizing efforts.
“We have made the necessary moves to be able to better serve the membership and grow the IAM’s footprint in this region of the country,” said Wallace. “I’m really excited to see how the district flourishes as it strives to improve the lives of working families.”
“The COVID pandemic has proven that working people in this country need a voice in the workplace more now than ever before,” said International President Martinez. “The reorganization of these districts and locals puts them in a better position to expand our great union and help grow the middle class.”
“I am glad that I was invited to the District 2020 inaugural convention,” said Cervantes. “We have all been through so much with this pandemic. It was good to gather with our members once again to address our members’ issues. Even during this pandemic, while practicing health and safety measures through COVID guidelines, the convention was a success.”
“This is exciting times for the Machinists Union and the members of District 2020,” said Directing Business Representative Larry Battle. “I want to thank GVP Wallace for his leadership and direction. I also want to thank the members and delegates of District 2020 for their participation in our inaugural convention, following COVID protocols and safely paving the way for our district.”
IAM District 2020 Executive Council
The inaugural convention consisted with the business of the district, including the election of officers and executive board members. Re-elected to their positions were Directing Business Representative Larry Battle, Business Representative Charles Mann and Business Representative Charlie Long. Wilbert Woods was also elected as a new Business Representative.
The rest of the District 2020 Executive Board includes Secretary-Treasurer Linda Henderson, Educator Theodore McNeal Jr., Antoinette Pearson, Jennifer Arnold, Rory Brown, Cody Schnabel, James Coburn and Daniel Mason.
While the delegates convened, IAM members working at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia launched the SS Katherine Johnson to the International Space Station. The spacecraft was named after the famed mathematician featured in the movie “Hidden Figures.” The Northrup Grumman Cygnus resupply spacecraft carried an 8,000 lbs. payload of science and research, crew supplies and vehicle hardware to assist researchers there in numerous investigations.
The district also recognized all U.S. military service veterans in attendance by name and honoring them with pins from the branch in which they served.
More than 140 members of IAM Local 2439 voted to ratify a new contract on Saturday with TCC Pennwest Homes. The three-year agreement netted economic and non-economic gains in many areas for the members who produce modular homes at the Emlenton, PA facility.
The new deal includes a very significant increase in hourly pension contributions to the IAM National Pension Fund. The members also secured increases in overtime pay, wage incentives, longevity pay, life and accidental death insurance and some improvements on many non-economic issues.
“I would like to thank the staff at the W3 Center for providing the committee with the online Negotiation Prep Class training which was a great resource for the committee,” said District 98 Directing Business Representative Bob Miller. “I also want to thank the committee for their preparation, dedication and long hours working on behalf of their membership for a contract they deserve.”
“Negotiating during these unusual times can be extremely difficult, yet the committee was able to secure a contract they can be proud of,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Jimmy Conigliaro Sr. “Great job by everyone involved in reaching this agreement, including the membership for their solidarity.”
The Local 2439 Bargaining Committee participated in a online Negotiation Preparation for Bargaining Committees class with instructors from the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center. Due to the COVID pandemic, bargaining committees have not been able to travel to the school in Hollywood, MD, so the staff adjusted to providing curriculum taught online.
(Photo: The Local 2439 Negotiation Committee consists of Mike Mercer, JD Burk, Chris Bradybaugh and Joe Beck.)
