Want to build up our IAM Sisters while sharpening your leadership skills? Consider joining other active IAM women from across the U.S. and Canada and participating in the 2022 Women’s Leadership Program March 20-25, 2022 at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, MD.
The curriculum empowers participants to look for resolutions to working women and family issues, through education and solidarity. It is an excellent learning experience for members to strengthen their leadership skills, building women’s committees or just interested in the issues.
Space is limited and the class fills quickly, so get registered now.
Download the call letter in English or French and return the completed registration form to the Women’s and Human Rights Department no later than January 21, 2022.
Please contact the Women’s and Human Rights Department at 301-967-4747 with any questions.
Fifty healthcare professionals from Overton Brooks Department of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center outpatient clinic in Longview, TX recently voted overwhelmingly to join the IAM. The successful campaign was the third and final piece of an organizing project for Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCS).
The CBOCS project, which began last year for more than 150 healthcare professionals, also successfully organized groups in Texarkana, TX and Monroe, LA. The three CBOCS service more than 462,000 veterans annually.
“I am appreciative that we were able to guide and educate this group of healthcare Professionals to their goal of unionizing,” said IAM Grand Lodge Representative Juan Eldridge, lead organizer on the campaign. “They were ready to gain our representation, grievance procedure and supplemental benefits as well as the protections from working under our master contract agreement that we already have in place with the Shreveport, Louisiana Medical Center.”
“I want to welcome our newest healthcare members into the IAM and thank them for their unrelenting support throughout the process,” said IAM Organizing Director Vinny Addeo. “I thank Grand Lodge Representative Juan Eldridge for leading this campaign, Special Representative Chris Casteel for his assistance and all the Organizing Department staff for bringing this campaign to fruition. The CBOCS Organizing Project was for three locations and took time and resources, but our department never wavered in its conviction to help these workers form a union with the Machinists.”
This group of healthcare professionals, covering more than 10 counties in East Texas, includes doctors, registered nurses, pharmacists, audiologists, licensed professional counselors and licensed social workers.
After a legal fight that lasted more than two years, the Machinists Union is proud that a group of former employees from Strategic Technology Institute (STI) will receive full back pay with interest and benefits after being unjustly fired for trying to join the IAM.
The decision comes from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Something didn’t make sense in 2019 when 17 aircraft maintenance employees working for STI at the Little Rock Arkansas Air Force Base were fired over a span of just a few weeks. This group of Service Contract Act (SCA) workers were hired as part of a government contract and maintained the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules for the U.S. Air Force. All were discharged for poor performance according to the company, even though there was no record of that being the case.
The workers and the IAM felt the real reason for the mass firing was because the group was trying to join the Machinists Union. So the IAM filed charges with the NLRB on behalf of the group.
Two years later, a judge agreed that the workers were unjustly fired for trying to form a union and they deserved compensation for being discriminated against.
Finally, justice prevailed. The decision requires that each employee should receive full back pay with interest and benefits, but more importantly to these workers, the ruling clears their names and gives them back their dignity.
“After serving in the U.S. Military, it makes sense that many of our veterans find SCA jobs as a way to further to serve this country as a civilian,” said IAM Southern Territory Grand Lodge Representative Ramon Garcia. “As a veteran myself, I know the pride that comes with working in the SCA world. This employer thought they could bully these patriots, but they stood strong and proud. And even though this group was never able to become full-fledged Machinists Union members because they were fired during the organizing drive, they told me they couldn’t believe the fight the IAM put up for them.”
Minus the cost of taxes, these workers will receive full compensation and benefits, as well as any search-for-work or interim employment expenses they acquired while looking for a new job.
But this win is bittersweet. Good for the STI employees who will be made whole again, but bad because it highlights our labor law system that isn’t working for American workers. Two years is too long for justice to be served.
“This is a huge win for these workers, but it also stands as a startling example of why the current labor laws are ineffective and outdated,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “Justice delayed for this long is not justice served. And it happens all the time with companies using the judicial system to delay proceedings for as long as possible. It’s especially harmful when this happens during an organizing campaign because often the employee is unable to return to the job after so long, for a variety of reasons.”
But while the Machinists Union continues to work to change labor laws that hurt workers, our union family is taking a moment to celebrate this win for the STI employees who were unjustly fired. Their determination and solidarity to see this to the end remind us all that when one worker wins, we all win.
Representatives of Local 625 and District 19 recently held a meeting to discuss issues at CSX with U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter. The idea of this meeting came from Vice President and Local Chairman Pete Gibson at the recent Georgia State Council meeting.
Issues discussed included Precision Scheduled Railroading, forced overtime, excessive discipline and the COVID-19 vaccines.
“At no time in history has it been more apparent that we need to make our voices heard in the political arena than now,” said Gibson.
An in depth discussion about the effects of Precision Scheduled Railroading gave Rep. Carter a chance to understand what our members have been dealing with. Members also had a discussion about a possible vaccine mandate at CSX.
“This was a good opportunity to get our issues out there so that we can find ways to remedy them,” said District 19 Assistant to the President / Directing General Chairman Andrew Sandberg. “It doesn’t matter which side of the isle our Representatives are on, we need to get them involved in our hometowns when possible in an effort to improve conditions for our members. No one can explain our position better than we can and we cannot expect that anyone else will.”
“Engaging elected officials at every level is one of the most vital things we can do,” said Richard Johnsen, IAM Chief of Staff to the International President. “Not just at the federal level, but state and local as well, so that the issues important to our members and their families are understood, and their rights are protected.”
“This demonstrates the important work being done at our Machinists State Councils,” said IAM Transportation Coordinator Edison Fraser. “Without the work of our political arm, this meeting likely wouldn’t have taken place. We are very grateful to Local 625 and District 19 for all they do on behalf of our railroad membership.”
Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen was recently on hand to swear in the incoming officers of Local Lodge 63 in Portland, Oregon.
There were many notable moments regarding this transition of Local Lodge officers. Former President John Kleiboeker chose not to run for re-election to make way for a younger and more diverse leadership. Brother Kleiboeker had been mentoring newly elected President Jessica Deming both on the job and at the Local. Brother Kleiboeker has always made sure that the future of the IAM is reflective of the membership and will be an honor to their 133-year history. Sister Deming has been active in the Young Machinists, Women’s Committee, and an Executive Board member, just to name a few. Sister Deming is excited to see where Local Lodge 63 will be in the next three years and beyond, “We have an amazing legacy to uphold and we want to build on that in the future.”
Incoming Secretary-Treasurer Kristy Nguyen was elected as the first Vietnamese S/T of Local Lodge 63 and made the decision to run and get involved in an effort to encourage more involvement from the Vietnamese community. Newly elected Vice President, Eric Bitney shared that he was moved to get involved to ensure that our sisters are treated with dignity and respect
The Young Apprentices of Local Lodge 63 also graciously presented challenge coins made by member Chris Carn to honor the outgoing officers.
“I am moved by the commitment to diversity in leadership by Local Lodge 63 and look forward to the great work that the Local will accomplish together,” said General Vice President Allen. “The new compliment of officers has the full support of the Western Territory.”
The new officers include President Jessica Demming, Vice President Eric Bitney, Secretary-Treasurer Kristy Nguyen, Recording Secretary Beth Lacey, Conductor Sentinel Scott Lacey, and Trustees Kerry Young, Greg Demars, and John Kleiboeker.
