Richard Johnsen, IAM Chief of Staff to the International President (IPCOS), recently visited members of IAM Air Transport Locals 1351 and 2202 in Washington State. The visit included meetings and question and answer sessions with IAM members in the Seattle (SEATAC) and Tacoma airports.
IPCOS Johnsen has spent nearly the past year traveling the country to listen to air transport members and address their concerns in the industry.
“Meeting and listening to our members continues to be a top priority of mine,” said IPCOS Johnsen. “I want to hear and speak with members directly and answer any questions or concerns they may have about their workplace and the IAM.”
IPCOS Johnsen was joined on the visit around the SEATAC airport by Grand Lodge Rep Jeffrey Tobius, IAM District 142 President and Directing General Chair John M. Coveny Jr., District 142 General Chairs Kaleb Rosa, David Figueira, Jason McAdoo, Ole Staveland, Carrie Lessley, VP of Alaska Justin Bates and District 141 Assistant General Chairs Mike Maiorino, Shannon Robello, and Kyle Carroll.
“It’s crucial for the workers to hear from our Grand Lodge Representatives. Having IPCOS Johnsen doing these stations visits is very important,” said John M. Coveny Jr., IAM District 142 President and Directing General Chair.
IPCOS Johnsen visited with members at Alaska, American, Hawaiian Southwest, McGee Air Service and United Airlines.
IAM Local 4 (District 4) members continue to serve veterans in Charlotte Hall, MD. Their aspirations are an example of coordination with local VSOs (Veterans Service Organization)that the IAM Veterans Services Department encourages.
The Fighting Machinists at Local 4 provided liquid laundry detergent, body wash, and compression socks to the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home residents. Commander Mark Phippen of DAV Chapter 26 lauded the partnership with the IAM.
“This is just the beginning of a great partnership,” said Phippen. “The Fighting Machinists of Local 4 sets the standard for unions to follow when it comes to helping our veterans.”
Following the rollout of the new Veterans Benefits Support program and a rejuvenated Veterans Services Steering Committee, other Local and District Lodges are establishing more Veteran Service Committees of their own.
“This partnership with the DAV and Local 4 has been ongoing and has been incredibly beneficial for both groups,” said IAM Local 4 President Jeremy Leissner. “We look forward to continuing that relationship.”
The maintenance staff and caregivers at the Charlotte Hall, MD facility are Machinists Union members who take great pride in caring for the veterans residing there. In addition, members of Local 4 and the residents alike can see the improvements to the quality of life since the Machinists Union secured its first contract with the facility back in December 2017.
“Just as our members are passionate, so is the entire Executive Council to provide support to our military veterans,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Bryant. “We will continue to find ways to support our defenders, active and retired.
Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) are organizations that aid and serve veterans, service members, dependents, and survivors. Descriptions of different types of VSOs appear in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA’s) VSO Directory.
According to the directory, VSOs may fall into one or more of the following categories:
– congressionally chartered organizations
– organizations recognized by VA
– organizations recognized by VA to prepare, present, and prosecute claims
– national organizations
– state, county, or tribal governmental organizations
– regional or local organizations or
– nonprofit organizations.
There is no uniformly applied statutory definition of the term VSO, but certain laws use the term more narrowly than the Directory of VSOs. For example, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and
Modernization Act of 2017 (P.L. 115-55) stated: “The term ‘veterans service organization’ means any organization recognized by the Secretary for the representation of veterans under section
5902 of title 38, United States Code.”
Maryland public library employees took their voices and their message to the State Capitol to lobby lawmakers to support House Bill 1225 which would give public library employees across the Free State the freedom to collectively bargain.
Negotiating committee members from IAM Local 175, along with District 98 Assistant Directing Business Representative Kermit Forbes, Winpisinger Education, and Technology Center (W3) Director Chris Wagoner, Director of Collective Bargaining Craig Norman completed a Negotiation Preparation Field Program prior to entering contract talks with Harley-Davidson last week.
The four-day training provided the bargaining committee with the tools needed to develop a strategic negotiating plan. Training included writing contract language, analyzing the company’s strengths and weaknesses, and communicating with members. The week concluded with the group giving a bargaining presentation, a facet of the class created to give the bargaining committee a simulation of the atmosphere at the bargaining table.
“The field negotiation prep program is one of our most important tools,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Brian Bryant. “This negotiating team has our full support and resources at their disposal.”
“The week of intense long days gave us the opportunity to assemble and develop a detailed plan to secure the best contract possible,” said Forbes. “The Committee worked hard, and they are better prepared to represent the needs of the members.”
“A huge thank you to the bargaining committee and ADBR Kermit Forbes for their hard work,” said District 98 Directing Business Representative Kevin Hallam. “Their hard work will pay off during the negotiation process.”
After rigorous preparation by the negotiating committee which represents nearly 700 IAM members working at three separate United Launch Alliance (ULA) locations across the USA, this week marked the beginning of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.
“We want to build and launch rockets, that’s what we are here to do. And no one can do it as well as the group of ULA machinists who have spent decades of their careers honing their skills and expertise,” said IAM Aerospace Coordinator Tony Wirth. ”Our team is the best of the best, helping ULA maintain a 100% mission success rate for launches. We are ready to partner with this company to bring to fruition a strong contract which will benefit both sides.”
“We build and launch the best rockets in the industry and that’s because of the dedicated men and women who have spent their careers making sure ULA remains a leader in the aerospace industry,” said IAM District 166 Assistant Directing Business Representative Kevin DiMeco. “I am so proud of this negotiating team and how prepared they are to bring home the best IAM contract for the members they represent.”
The current agreement covers Machinists Union members from IAM Local 610 in Cape Canaveral, FL, Local 44 in Decatur, AL, and Local 2786 at Vandenburg AFB in California, with the current contract set to expire on May 1, 2022. ULA Machinists are the hardworking men and women who make sure this country’s launch capability remains second to none by not only manufacturing but helping to launch rockets such as the Atlas 5, working with NASA, DoD, and a number of other federal agencies.
“These members put their lives, and the lives of their families, on the line during the COVID-19 pandemic by coming to work every day and making sure ULA remained an aerospace leader even in the most tumultuous of times,” said IAM Aerospace General Vice President Mark Blondin. “They deserve a contract that compensates them for all they have given to this company. We are ready, willing, and able to bring home a strong, IAM contract with wages, benefits, and working conditions that mirror the success this company has enjoyed because of our member’s hard work and expertise on shop floors across the country.”
“I am very proud of our members who launch the most technically advanced rockets that keep us safe and make our lives better,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “Our members’ world-class work deserves a world-class, top-notch contract.”
“For more than half a century, the members of the Machinists Union have left their fingerprints on every aspect of the space program. We are very proud of that,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “We enter into this negotiation knowing the path for success our members have already carved and how the IAM will continue to set the trajectory for the future of space exploration and for ULA. We will do whatever it takes to bring home the best, possible contract for our members who deserve nothing less.”
With the country and the industry watching, the IAM/ULA negotiations are set to last for about two weeks. Priorities for IAM members in this contract will be to maintain health care costs, job protections, secure retirements and make sure our contracts are the preeminent standard in the aerospace industry.
For daily updates from the bargaining table, you can log onto www.iamulanow.com.
