Apr 14, 2022 | iMail
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has appointed David J. Lehive as a Headquarters Communications Representative, effective April 14, 2022.
Lehive, formerly the IAM District 141 Communications Director, is an award-winning communicator with a long history of telling worker stories and helping to develop and implement strategies that advance the goals and brand of the IAM.
“The IAM is fortunate to welcome Dave on board at Headquarters after many great years of service to our members at District 141,” said Martinez. “Our members across North America will quickly get to know Dave as a passionate and dedicated advocate for our union and all working people.”
Lehive was hired on with Piedmont Airlines in April 1985 and became a union organizer almost immediately. After years of airline mergers and persistence, Lehive and his coworkers won IAM representation at US Airways in 1994 and he initiated Philadelphia’s Essington Obie O’Brien IAM Local 1776.
In 2005, Lehive was appointed shop steward, where he helped with communications duties. In 2008, he was appointed local lodge communicator and in early 2009 was appointed District 141 communications coordinator for US Airways, and later for all air carriers in the district.
In 2019, Lehive was appointed communicator for the Pennsylvania State Council of Machinists Executive Board.
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Apr 14, 2022 | LL S6 Leadership Alerts, LL S6 Upcoming Events
Brothers and Sisters,
Please find the mid-term wage adjustment agreement below.
Rates are effective as of April 18, 2022, per the agreement.
CLICK HERE: Midterm Wage Rate MOA: CLICK HERE
In Solidarity,
Local S6 Leadership
Apr 14, 2022 | iMail
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has appointed Edison Fraser, currently, IAM Transportation Coordinator, to serve as IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff. The creation of the Air Transport Territory, which will be led by Richard Johnsen, and the appointment of Fraser are effective May 1, 2022.
Fraser, a 19-year IAM member, has served as Transportation Coordinator since June 2021. Under the leadership of Johnsen and Fraser, the new Air Transport Territory will continue with the progress made toward securing strong contracts, organizing new members, increasing membership communications, and fighting for increased staffing and other on-the-job improvements for air transport workers.
“This is an exciting time to be a part of the IAM, the largest and most powerful air transport labor union in North America,” said Fraser. “I cannot wait to continue growing the strength of our membership through our organization.”
Fraser, who has also served as a Special Representative and Grand Lodge Representative, has worked on several successful organizing campaigns for Districts 19, 141, and 142. He was initiated into Baltimore IAM Local 846 as a Southwest Airlines Customer Service Agent in 2002 and held several local positions, including Shop Steward, Recording Secretary, and President.
“Edison is a leader and mentor for so many of our members,” said Johnsen. “Together, we are committed to transparency, communication, and constant interface with the membership.”
Fraser graduated from the National Labor College in 2014 with an associate degree, went on to earn a bachelor’s degree a year later, and in 2018 was one of the first two IAM members to earn a master’s degree through a partnership with SUNY Empire State College.
“The IAM Air Transport Territory leadership team represents our proud membership extremely well,” said Martinez. “We are going to continue to grow the IAM in strength and numbers in the air transport industry.”
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Apr 13, 2022 | iMail
Thirteen IAM Local 698 (District 60) members at Swissport are on strike for respect and a better contract at the Detroit Metro Airport. The strike began on Friday, April 1.
Members rejected a subsequent offer from the company on Tuesday, April 12. IAM Members at Swissport maintain and repair fueling equipment.
“The IAM mechanics and quality techs at Swissport are on strike for fair wages and working conditions,” said IAM District 60 Business Representative Heather Hildebrand. “Until the company addresses those issues, we will remain on strike.”
“We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters at Swissport in Detroit,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Brian Bryant. “The IAM will utilize all of our resources to help them achieve a fair and just contract.”
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Apr 13, 2022 | iMail
The IAM is seeking answers to JetBlue’s possible misuse of funds from the Payroll Support Program (PSP), a component of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
In 2020, as a response to the destruction of demand for air travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the CARES Act. The legislation, which included the PSP, provided approximately $50 billion in aid for U.S. airlines and mandated that the carriers not engage in involuntary layoffs, cut the salaries or reduce the benefits of airline workers.
JetBlue Airways received approximately $2 billion in aid, with most of it coming in the form of taxpayer-funded grants that do not have to be repaid. However, as they took the government funds, JetBlue management cut the working hours of its employees, which consequently cut their pay and benefits.
“We believe what JetBlue did was wrong,” said Richard Johnsen, IAM Chief of Staff to the International President. “JetBlue cut the salaries of thousands of ground workers by at least 20 percent. These are frontline, essential workers who risked their lives coming to work during the height of the pandemic when no vaccine was available. They’re heroes in my book and deserve to be repaid with interest by JetBlue executives.”
The IAM’s Transportation and Legislative Departments are in communication with government officials to get specific answers to specific questions.
“JetBlue just came up with $3.6 billion to buy Spirit Airlines last week,” continued Johnsen. “Some of that money needs to be put back in the pockets of JetBlue workers and not used to shower money on greedy airline executives and shareholders.”
The IAM is the largest airline union in North America and represents over 600,000 members.
The post Machinists Union Demands Answers to JetBlue’s Potential Misuse of Taxpayer-Funded Airline Aid appeared first on IAMAW.
