Mar 10, 2022 | iMail
During Women’s History Month this year, the IAM is highlighting current trailblazers in the union. Are you an IAM Sister interested in taking a more active role in your union? Reach out to your District leadership about the IAM Leadership Assembly of Dedicated Sisters (LEADS) Program.
Dianna Koch became an IAM Local 743 member in 1986. She was very involved in her lodge and became a shop steward in 1989, holding that position and various other local and district positions for 24 years. In November 2021, Koch was appointed to District 26 Business Representative.
Coming from a shop made up of a majority of men, Koch says there were people who tried to stand in her way.
“But I learned to not let this stop my desire to use the union as a way to improve my life and the lives of my coworkers and their families,” said Koch. “It took decades of work to get the trust and support I needed to move forward”.
“The more I have gotten involved with my union over the years, the more it makes me realize that this is truly what I was meant to do,” said Koch. “I couldn’t stand by and watch my coworkers get treated the way they were and not step in to defend, assist or speak on their behalf whenever they needed me to. I can honestly say that throughout all the years that I have transitioned from one position to the next in my union I absolutely love what I do, and I can’t imagine doing anything else”.
“Dianna is a true unionist who is an inspiration for all our IAM Sisters. She is a proven leader of her Local Lodge, and was an easy choice for Business Representative for District 26,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Brian Bryant. “The IAM is a better and stronger union with Dianna in a leadership role for our members. As General Vice President of the Eastern Territory, I couldn’t be more proud of the work Dianna has done for our members and it is an honor working with her to better the lives of our members.”
Koch realizes the importance of mentors and says she had and still has an awesome mentor, Local 743 Recording Secretary Karen Blanchard.
“This sister has been there through thick and thin and always brings a fresh perspective to any situation at hand,” said Koch. “Her style of mentorship was to push me way outside of my comfort zone. Every time she did that, it made me grow as a person and it just made things easier for me moving forward.
Koch hopes to continue to mentor other sisters in the IAM and encourage them so they too can make great leaders in our organization.”
“Don’t give up,” said Koch. “Keep learning, keep volunteering, keep communicating, and most of all, be honest and admit when you are wrong. You should look inside yourself and emphasize your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Don’t let fear hold you back. You have a lot to contribute to this union. Let the women who came before you be an example of what is possible. Learn to accept good advice and always strive to look for the possibilities in others and help bring out their strengths and guide them in their journey. Don’t look at other women as competition. Look at them as future leaders. Be inclusive, not exclusive. Learn to pick out the people around you who are putting in the work to improve our union and our workplaces. Give them positions of responsibility and let them shine.”
Koch says she admires Hillary Clinton because she persevered through a lot of prejudice against women in leadership.
“She didn’t give up,” said Koch. “She believed in herself and her abilities. There are many other women I admire for these same reasons. Women like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Kamala Harris, Madeline Albright, and Michelle Obama are names that come to mind.”
“My hope for the future of women workers is that it won’t be as hard for them to move forward as it was for some of us and that they too can be a part of the decision-making in our workplaces and in our unions,” said Koch. “I hope that our leadership will look more like our society and workplaces with all people represented”.
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Mar 10, 2022 | iMail
The IAM has launched the IAM Strike Fund on goIAM.org to benefit members enduring a strike, creating a unique opportunity for IAM members and supporters who wish to provide aid.
Providing additional support to sisters and brothers from across this great union to the mantra of – “one day longer” etches our Fighting Machinists solidarity in stone.
The IAM Strike Fund allows for donations of non-dues money from members, families, friends, and other labor supporters.
Following the launch of the strike fund, the AFL-CIO added this resource to their active strike map and donation page, which you can view here.
The post IAM Strike Fund Now Available for Online Donations appeared first on IAMAW.
Mar 8, 2022 | iMail
In celebration of International Women’s Day, our sisters gathered for a group photo at the 2022 Western Territory Officer and Staff Conference in San Diego, CA.
“It is an enormously proud moment for me to see so many women in leadership positions at every level in the Western Territory,” said Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “The future of our great Union will burn bright with a foundation built upon diversity and inclusion. I look forward to seeing where the voices of these strong leaders will take us.”
“I could not be more excited about all the women activists in the Western Territory and across our union,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “From the new IAM LEADS Program to the women taking leadership roles around the IAM, I am looking forward to a bright future for the IAM.”
The post IAM Women Activists Honored at Western Territory Officer and Staff Conference appeared first on IAMAW.
Mar 8, 2022 | iMail
Approximately 350 cargo warehouse and office workers at Swissport in Newark, NJ is taking a big step toward joining the IAM. The IAM Transportation Department on Tuesday filed for a union representation election with the National Labor Relations Board.
“Workers at Swissport deserve to have North America’s largest and strongest airline union fighting for them,” said Richard Johnsen, IAM Chief of Staff to the International President. “My thanks go to IAM Assistant Airline Coordinator James Carlson, Grand Lodge Representative Gary Naylor Jr., District 141 President and Directing General Chair Mike Klemm, as well as Frank Giannola, Carmelo Benedicto, and James Wells for their continued dedication to this important campaign.”
The IAM currently represents Swissport workers at several locations, including in Houston, Los Angeles, Montréal, and Chicago.
“Swissport workers in Newark are seeking the dignity and respect on the job that only an IAM contract can bring,” said IAM Transportation Coordinator Edison Fraser. “We look forward to standing with them at every phase of this campaign and welcoming them into the IAM.”
Image Provided by Muvon53, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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Mar 8, 2022 | iMail
More than 100 workers at the Cascades Containerboard facility in Niagara Falls, N.Y. have overwhelmingly ratified a strong first collective bargaining agreement.
The facility’s group of more than 100 workers voted to join the Machinists Union in April 2019 and have been attempting to bargain for a fair contract for nearly three years. Cascades Containerboard, a Canadian-owned company, failed to listen to U.S. lawmakers, labor leaders, or their workers as they called on the company to bargain a fair contract.
READ: It took 3 years, but Cascades workers in Niagara Falls ratify the first contract | The Buffalo (N.Y.) News
“I could not be more proud of these members for their solidarity, courage, and dedication to get the first contract for each other,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Brian Bryant. “This has been a long time coming, and there aren’t many groups that could continue to display the solidarity and patience these members have. The longer the process has gone on, the more resolve these members have shown. I want to thank IAM Canadian General Vice President David Chartrand and his staff for their work putting pressure on this Québec-based manufacturer, helping us achieve this long-awaited victory.”
“While there is good news for these members today, that doesn’t take away the fact they have faced union-busting tactics for nearly three years while the company refused to bargain with their employees,” continued Bryant. “We need to strengthen U.S. labor laws to hold corporations accountable and create an economy that works for working people.”
WATCH: Cascades Containerboard Workers Demand Contract
“I am so proud of this group and the solidarity and patience they have shown over the past few years,” said IAM District 65 Directing Business Representative Ron Warner. “They have handled all the union-busting tactics with professionalism and strength. Their determination and resolve is something for the labor history books.”
“Our members at Cascades are the major reason for the company’s success. They earned and fought for the right to vote on a fair first contract,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “This opportunity will give these dedicated individuals a voice in the workplace. I commend them for their focus in obtaining a contract that will make life better for their families and the Niagara Falls community.”
“The Canadian Territory is thankful that our Brothers and Sisters at Cascades in New York were able to secure a first contract,” said IAM Canadian General Vice President David Chartrand. “The IAM stood strong across the borders because all workers deserve respect and fairness. That’s what a team does—when you hurt one, you hurt all. We hope that this struggle is behind us, and we can move forward toward creating a better workplace.”
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