May 20, 2021 | iMail
It’s free. No cost. You pay nothing.
If you are an IAM member, retiree or relative, you can go to college, free of charge.
In October 2017, the IAM started offering a free college program as a Machinist benefit, allowing IAM members and their families to earn an associate’s degree from Ohio’s Eastern Gateway Community College in a variety of educational tracks.
Machinists and their families signed up in droves. The growth of the program was incredible and quickly expanded to include a four-year- bachelor’s degree program, as well as short term job certificates. When last year’s pandemic kept so many at home, the program once again became a valued asset for many in the IAM family.
The program covers the costs of tuition, fees, books and any amount not covered by federal or employer education grants. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old, with a high school diploma or a GED equivalent and be part of the Machinists Union family.
Want to find out more? Head over to https://freecollege.goiam.org/ or call 888-897-9671 to get started.
College is expensive but a clear path to the American Dream. Let the Machinists Union help you take those first steps.
The post Free College – Another Way It Pays to be IAM appeared first on IAMAW.
May 20, 2021 | iMail
IAM CREST would like your feedback. Due to continued COVID restrictions this year, we are considering holding a virtual Safety & Health Conference using the ZOOM Platform. Please consider taking part in the IAM CREST Survey to help determine participant interest.
The conference helps IAM members enhance their safety awareness and receive training in multiple areas, including workplace violence, opioid addiction, active shooter, hazards women face in the workplace, worker safety awareness, and more.
Please submit your responses by June 4, 2021.
Participate in the IAM CREST Survey.
Questions or concerns about the survey can be directed to IAM CREST at 301-967-4707.
The post Make Your Voice Heard in the IAM’s Safety and Health Conference Survey appeared first on IAMAW.
May 20, 2021 | iMail
IAM Local 701 is leading the charge to demand Illinois auto mechanics are paid fairly for warranty repairs. Legislation fought for by Local 701, which would force manufacturers to compensate dealerships at a higher pay rate for all warranty repairs, was recently passed by the Illinois House.
The legislation, introduced by Illinois State Rep. Larry Walsh, an IAM member, is now expected to go to a vote in the Illinois Senate by May 31.
ILLINOIS MEMBERS TAKE ACTION: Urge your Illinois Senator to vote “yes” on HB 3940
“This legislative change would not only force the manufacturers to compensate the dealerships the retail rate of pay for all warranty repairs, but it would also drastically change how our members working at automobile dealerships are paid for doing warranty work,” said IAM Local 701 Directing Business Representative Sam Cicinelli. “This is a game-changer for the industry.”
WATCH: HB 3940 Video Explanation
More than three years ago, Local 701 became aware of California and Wisconsin changing their franchise agreement laws on how manufacturers pay automobile dealerships for warranty work. As a result, these states forced manufacturers to compensate dealerships at a higher pay rate for all warranty repairs.
“Passing this important piece of legislation out of the Illinois Senate is not only vital for our members at IAM Local 701, but the entire Illinois auto industry,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “The Midwest Territory will engage every Illinois IAM member to ensure HB 3940 passes out of the Illinois Senate. Our members deserve fair and just compensation for their work.”
Currently, auto technicians are paid in warranty and non-warranty retail rates. The warranty rate is less than the retail rate. For example, if a technician replaces a battery under warranty, the factory pays one hour for the job. Conversely, when a customer brings their vehicle in for a battery replacement not under warranty, the technician would receive two hours of pay. There is a considerable difference in the times and pay.
READ: HB 3940 Fact Sheet
The decreasing amount of retail duties being performed on vehicles today makes it more challenging to make enough hours in a week. This was one reason technicians went out on strike for seven-and-a-half weeks in 2017. The method of compensation from the factory is unfair.
Local 701 reached across the aisle to the Dealer Association, stating IAM Local 701’s intent to pursue this legislative change, and offered to join in a collaborative effort. Even if the Association wasn’t interested in joining in the IAM’s efforts to change legislation, the union intended to pursue this on its own.
As the renewal of the upcoming agreement came nearer, the Association said it was interested in pursuing this with the IAM. The IAM worked with the Association to draft an agreement that said if it was successful in getting the legislative change, they would, in turn, compensate IAM members for the retail times. The Illinois State AFL-CIO and the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) were also recruited to help in this effort.
Cicinelli testified at a contentious hearing amid strong opposition from the Illinois Manufacturers Association and several representatives from a myriad of manufacturers.
The post IAM Local 701 Urges Illinois Senate to Pass Auto Mechanic Warranty Work Reimbursement Bill appeared first on IAMAW.
May 20, 2021 | LL S6 Leadership Alerts, LL S6 Upcoming Events
Brother and Sisters,
Local S6 is proud to announce we collected over 13,000 for the Astor family on our first shift gate collection!
Your generosity will help the family during this difficult and tragic time.
Let’s show our solidarity and get another large collection on the 2nd shift to show our support for this Union family.
In Solidarity,
Local S6 Leadership
May 18, 2021 | iMail
The Machinist Union is urging Congress to co-sponsor legislation that would protect air travelers and workers in the airline industry from foreign carriers undercutting wages and safety standards.
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr sent a letter to all members of the House of Representatives urging them to co-sponsor the bi-partisan “Fair and Open Skies Act” recently introduced by the Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA).
Tell Your Representative to Co-Sponsor the Fair and Open Skies Act
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“We cannot let foreign carriers exploit the rules in place and undermine American workers and passengers,” said Martinez. “This pro-worker legislation would give DOT the authority it so desperately needs to protect fair wages and working conditions for American aviation workers while enhancing safety for the flying public.”
The “Fair and Open Skies Act” would prohibit the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) from issuing a new foreign air carrier permit for U.S. operations to any airline that exploits “flags of convenience” to avoid important employment, tax and safety regulations of its home country, or otherwise undermine labor standards.
Flag of convenience carriers are foreign air carriers established in a country other than the home country of its majority owner. This is done in order to avoid regulations of the home country, which undermines labor standards in the industry, and in the countries where the flag of convenience carrier operates.
“As travel begins to pick back up following the COVID-19 pandemic, this bipartisan bill will make sure that any foreign airlines looking to serve the United States play by the rules,” said Chair DeFazio. “In the past, we have seen foreign airlines set up under a flag of convenience business model to exploit weaker labor laws outside their home countries in order to save money, undercut competition, and skirt important labor standards to get a leg up. By preventing such an airline from serving the U.S., this bipartisan bill protects American jobs from predatory and unfair competition.”
The post Tell Congress to Protect Airline Workers and Co-Sponsor the ‘Fair and Open Skies Act’ appeared first on IAMAW.
