Jan 25, 2022 | iMail
The recently unsuccessful opportunity for the U.S. Congress to thwart the rising attacks on our nation’s voting rights is unfortunate, but that will not stop the Machinists Union from continuing to advocate for means to restore the voting rights to protect the democracy of this great nation.
Despite aggressive advocating from the IAM and scores of other labor unions, the Senate recently failed to get enough votes to pause the filibuster rule, which is the 60-vote threshold to advance most legislation. The action failed in a 48-52 vote with Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) joining all Senate Republicans in the opposition of the rules change.
That essentially halted the advancement of the House-passed Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, two pieces of legislation that would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
That includes:
- Require early voting in all fifty states
- Create a national standard for mail voting
- Give Americans a public holiday to vote
- Establish clear federal redistricting standards to stop gerrymandered districts
- Create automatic voter registrations
The right to vote for whom we want to represent us is the foundational cornerstone of our democracy. Our ability to cast our ballot each Election Day is fundamental to our system of government. Yet, in 2021, at least 19 states passed 34 laws restricting access to voting. American democracy is under attack.
“Despite the disappointing vote in the Senate, our only recourse is to keep battling and organizing to protect our basic democratic right, the freedom to vote,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr., who previously wrote a letter to U.S. Senators. “This fight is far from over. The Machinists will continue to lobby for this vital legislation because our democracy is too important for us ever to relent.”
Also, IAM members contacted their Senators, asking them to end the filibuster procedure and support the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
The post IAM Vows to Keep Fighting to Protect Voting Rights appeared first on IAMAW.
Jan 25, 2022 | iMail
At a moment’s notice, a flight attendant may have to address a hazardous safety or security situation in the air. They are the first responders inside the aircraft cabin. Implementing a mandatory 10-hour rest period between shifts for this group of workers is something the Machinists Union has been fighting for decades.
Today, the IAM stands in solidarity with some of the largest airline unions in the world in a letter urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to make this a reality, as soon as possible. Although the regulation was initially passed in 2018 as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act, delayed adoption of the law’s requirements have created loopholes that some airline companies are taking advantage of, and therefore putting flight attendants in unsafe or even perilous situations having to work without the proper rest.
Read the full letter here.
In a joint letter submitted to the FAA and the DOT by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Airline Division (IBT), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), and the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), the group stresses the importance of adopting this law as quickly as possible.
“In a time of chronic understaffing, economic cutbacks, and egregious customer behavior in many cases, it is now more important than ever that our first responders in the air get the rest they need and deserve,” said Richard Johnsen, Chief of Staff to the International President. “This is an issue that has been in the halls of Congress for decades. It’s time for our federal government to act now and ensure the highest level of safety for the airline workers of the skies and the passengers they serve and protect.”
Right now, because there is no regulation that requires it, various airline companies have found ways around the rule, especially during labor contract negotiations or during peak operations times. Passage of this act would make the 10-hour rest period mandatory, taking away the ability for any group or company to reduce the amount of rest time. Ultimately, this will keep workers, and the flying public safeguarded from unnecessary risks.
The post Machinists Union Stands By 10-Hour Rest Rule for Flight Attendants appeared first on IAMAW.
Jan 25, 2022 | iMail
The IAM and the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) joined the other members of the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition, rail labor’s largest coalition, in issuing a statement on the status of bargaining with the major U.S. Class 1 railroads.
“After more than two years of bargaining with the major U.S. Class 1 railroads, discussions completely stalled last week,” according to the statement. “Accordingly, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Railway Labor Act, top leaders of 10 rail unions applied to the National Mediation Board (NMB) for the assignment of a federal mediator to assist in our negotiations.”
“We have multiple issues facing our members, and we must fight to keep integrity at the bargaining table,” said Richard Johnsen, IAM Chief of Staff to the International President. “Our members want an agreement that reflects the personal sacrifices they made before the pandemic and continue to make every single day to keep the rail industry moving.
“The Carriers have used every possible stall tactic, despite the Coalition’s repeated good faith efforts to achieve voluntary agreement,” said TCU/IAM President Artie Maratea. “They’re making record profits, off the backs of our members, who have literally kept rail – and America – running through a pandemic. Mediation is the next crucial step towards reaching an agreement.”
“I speak to our members and local leaders regularly and hear their concerns,” said IAM District 19 President Mike Perry. “We must obtain an agreement that recognizes the sacrifices made over the past few years. This agreement must create a better balance between the rail carriers and our members doing the work while keeping our members safe.”
Click here for the press release from the CBC.
The unions comprising the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition are the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA); the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen / Teamsters Rail Conference (BLET); the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS); the International Association of Machinists (IAM); the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB); the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers/SEIU (NCFO); the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU); the Transportation Communications Union / IAM (TCU), including TCU’s Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division (BRC); and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART–TD).
Collectively, the CBC unions represent more than 105,000 railroad workers covered by the various organizations’ national agreements and comprise over 80% of the workforce who will be impacted by this round of negotiations.
The post Railroad Coordinated Bargaining Coalition Reaches Dead End on Path to Voluntary Agreement appeared first on IAMAW.
Jan 20, 2022 | iMail
National Airlines Flight Attendants are officially joining the largest and most powerful airline union in the world.
The Flight Attendants sought out IAM representation, citing a lack of respect from National Airlines management, poor work rules and sub-standard pay and benefits.
“We could not be more excited to welcome National Airlines Flight Attendants into the IAM,” said Richard Johnsen, IAM Chief of Staff to the International President. “We will use every resource available to ensure they secure a strong first contract that addresses their workplace issues.”
“Our thanks go out to Grand Lodge Representative Joe Stassi for his hard work and determination through this successful campaign, along with the lead organizers in the Flight Attendant group,” said IAM Transportation Coordinator Edison Fraser. “Today, National Airlines Flight Attendants no longer stand alone. They now have the support of 600,000 IAM members from across North America.”
The National Mediation Board mail-ballot election took place between December 16, 2021 and January 20, 2022. The final tally was held on January 20.
The IAM is the largest airline union in North America, representing over 100,000 airline workers.
National Airlines, an Orlando-based carrier, has supported industry and governments, aided military forces and provided subsistence logistics solutions to some of the most remote global locations. National Airlines has grown from a small, regional U.S. cargo airline, to one of the world’s leading air cargo carriers, and ultimately into a passenger airline.
The post National Airlines Flight Attendants Vote Overwhelmingly to Join the IAM appeared first on IAMAW.
Jan 20, 2022 | iMail
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh seeking his immediate assistance to obtain actual enforcement on the use of Canadian loggers under the I-l2A immigration system.
The letter details how the IAM has been working with Maine’s hard-working and highly-skilled loggers for years to help them bargain collectively and stop depressing wages in the industry. The situation is so dire that it has forced U.S. workers to give up altogether and leave the logging industry in the region.
“When we started this campaign three years ago, we were faced with a large group of workers that had been turned into independent contractors while still being completely directed at every step of the day by landowners,” wrote Martinez. “Since that time, we have moved on to another concern; one that I thought would be very easy to accomplish but has proven to be a much more difficult task: the illegal use of H2A drivers in the logging industry. As you know, H2A workers are only supposed to be utilized if they do not affect the wages or working conditions of U.S. workers. Our national union representatives and Maine Senate President Troy Jackson have met with hundreds of workers and have been out in the harvesting areas of northern Maine to witness firsthand the abuse of these workers. All of this is the result of violations of federal cabotage laws or point-to-point hauling in the United States.”
“The IAM urges the Department of Labor to enforce the law and protect the U.S. workers in Maine’s logging industry,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Brian Bryant. “The IAM Eastern Territory remains committed to providing every resource possible to protect Maine loggers. We hope this matter is reviewed swiftly and puts the proper enforcement in place. The IAM will fight to ensure justice is served.”
Read the full letter here.
The post IAM Urges U.S. Labor Department to Protect Maine Loggers appeared first on IAMAW.
