IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has announced the appointment of Chuck Herod, an 18-year IAM member and current Eastern Territory Grand Lodge Representative, as Eastern Territory Chief of Staff. The appointment is effective May 1, 2022.
“Chuck has tremendous experience organizing, negotiating and connecting with our membership,” said Martinez. “Our members in the Eastern Territory will be well served by his leadership and dedication in this new role.”
Herod joined the IAM Eastern Territory staff in September 2015 as a Special Representative and progressed to his current position as Grand Lodge Representative. Previously, he was appointed an apprentice organizer in January 2014 after serving as co-chair of the IAM District 65 Organizing Committee in western New York.
Herod initiated into the IAM in 2003 as an operating specialist at the West Valley Demonstration Project. He got involved in the union by serving as a trustee, steward and then chief steward at Local 2401 in West Valley, NY.
As previously announced, David Sullivan, current Eastern Territory Chief of Staff, will join the IAM Executive Council as Eastern Territory General Vice President on May 1.
“I’m so excited about the future of the Eastern Territory,” said Sullivan. “Myself, Chuck and the Eastern Territory Grand Lodge staff look forward to working with IAM leaders and members across the territory to continue the progress made under General Vice President Bryant.”
The Machinists Institute (MI), the training arm of IAM District 751, continues to make an impact and improve lives for those in the Puget Sound. In March, another group graduated from the Machinists Institute Youth Academy – energized to have learned skills to gain entry-level positions in the manufacturing/aerospace industry. The program is a partnership with Partner in Employment (PIE) to expose area youth immigrants to manufacturing processes and machining skills that can lead to a career pathway to middle-class jobs.
District 751 President Jon Holden congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments. He encouraged them to consider entering an apprenticeship program where you earn while you learn and can obtain a journey-level card that will open doors to middle-class jobs. He also emphasized the importance of seeking union-represented future jobs so you have rights on the job and can determine priorities with your co-workers.
Because the program was created as a vision of IAM District 751, every class teaches a segment on the benefits of union membership to gain rights on the job. This segment is missing from most other manufacturing programs, but should be taught so students can understand the advantage they will have if they have a union job (according to the Department of Labor, union jobs have nearly a 20% pay advantage, along with additional benefits, better health care and much more).
As a result of earlier Youth Academy success, MI and PIE are working to secure additional grants for the future. It is still in the development stages, but if the reaction of those graduating is any indication, the program is having an impact.
MI Instructor and Program Developer Batholomew Kimani clearly inspires students and pushes them out of their comfort zone to tackle more skills. His enthusiasm is contagious.
Over the 10-week course, students get hands-on experience with basic drilling, riveting, deburring and working on mini-lathes. They are exposed to various machining, robotics, CNC machining, programmable logic controllers, soldering, and safety practices while working in a shop environment. The training also introduced students to metrology, depth gauges and radius gauges to gain an understanding of measurement tools, as well as QA concepts. One of the first projects was using calipers to measure a strand of their own hair, which showed each hair had a different measurement. Students also learned fundamental building blocks of CNC programming by cutting their initials into material.
Each student also built an electronic resume that they can continually update as they learn new skills, get additional certificates or gain job experience. The students get to walk through and meet with area employers who are looking for entry-level workers to fill their manufacturing needs. The goal is to get the students interested in the various apprenticeship programs.
“It was such a great thing to learn about an industry that isn’t normally discussed in school. This 10-week program opened my eyes to what you can do not just in manufacturing, but in other industries as well,” said one graduate.
“It was profoundly gratifying to attend the graduation of the next generation of aerospace workers! I applaud District 751 for helping the community and investing in the future by creating the Machinists Institute,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “This work is inspiring, and I commend the leadership of 751 for their vision and determination in pursuing job security for Puget Sound.”
This is just one program offered by the Machinists Institute, which also provides training for our existing members to reach their career goals and is continually adding programs to ensure our aerospace/manufacturing workforce is prepared for challenges of the future.
District 77 is proud to announce the formation of its’ new Veterans Services Committee. Business Representative (BR) Sherman Phillips, a 34-year union member and U.S. Navy Veteran, was recently appointed by District 77 Directing Business Representative John Steigauf to chair the new committee.
“Job No. 1 of our committee is identifying our veterans in all IAM workplaces, then assisting them in obtaining their earned benefits,” said Phillips. “This is one of the most important member benefits we offer for those that selflessly served our country. Navigating through VA bureaucracy can be quite a task for veterans. Thanks to our new IAM Veterans Benefit Services program, we now have in house professional guidance to locate many benefits veterans might not otherwise know they are entitled to. Assisting them through the processes of obtaining their benefits is priceless.”
“Brother Phillips is a dedicated activist,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “His passion for representing our members is only equal to his passion for assisting veterans. This will be a great addition to our menu of IAM member benefits and services”
“We encourage all of our Local and Districts to form Veterans Committee’s,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Just last month, the IAM Veterans Services Program conducted its’ first certified Veterans Service Agents (VSA) training program. Machinists Veterans from across the organization stepped up to the plate to become veteran advocates. Every IAM member should be proud to know we are the first union to establish this type of program. Our in house VSA is capable to assist with all parts of the difficult process of properly filing government claims for our members who are veterans.”
The IAM is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the labor movement.
If an IAM member and veteran, or a family member, is interested in learning more about the IAM Veterans Services Program, please go to iam4.me/VeteranServicesplease call 1-866-IAM-4VET.
So, what happened in 1947? Congress enacted the anti-union Taft-Hartley Act, which gave us so-called “right-to-work” states. The Machinists Non-Partisan Political League was founded and the average wage for an IAM member was $1.56 an hour.
In February of the same year, brave workers in Cherry Point, NC took a vote to organize a Local Lodge, and on March 20, 1947 their charter was signed by International President Harvey Brown and the General Secretary-Treasurer Eric Peterson.
Now, in 2022, Local 1859 marked the occasion by receiving a plaque noting the anniversary from District 2020.
“It was my pleasure to be here,” said District 2020 Directing Business Representative Larry Battle. “To help mark the first 75 years, and kick off the next 75 was a personal honor.”
“The future looks bright at Fleet Readiness Center East. New construction is happening and new aircraft are being introduced,” said Local 1859 President Scott Walker. “Our members have the right organization on their side to ensure Local 1859 and the Fighting Machinists last long into the future.”
“I congratulate Local 1859 as they mark this important milestone,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “Local 1859 is continuing the Machinists Union tradition of justice on the job and service to the community, and I send them thanks on behalf of the IAM.”
“This local has a long, and storied past representing a diverse group of workers,” said Walker. “We’ll kick off the next 75 years the same way, by continuing to fight for working families across North Carolina.”
Approximately 30 brave members of IAM Local 447 (District 15) are back on the job at Cummins locations in New England after achieving the guaranteed pay raises fought for in a nearly two month strike. The members had been on strike since February 12 at Cummins locations in Dedham, MA, Scarborough, ME and Concord, NH.
Cummins management had attempted to implement inconsistent and subjective pay-for-performance policies instead of guaranteed wage language, which has been negotiated since the contract’s inception.
Instead, thanks to the solidarity of IAM members and their allies, including the Massachusetts congressional delegation and a rally that included numerous community organizations and leaders, Cummins workers got guaranteed pay raises of 4%, 3% and 3% in the three-year agreement ratified on Thursday, April 8. Members returned to work on Monday, April 11.
“Our members at Cummins held strong to get a contract that values their hard work and will make life better for themselves and their families,” said IAM District 15 Assistant Directing Business Representative Mike Vartabedian. “We want to express our sincere thank you to the New England community and elected officials for their unwavering support.”
In addition, the membership also achieved:
More paid holidays
Discretionary leave
$1 an hour increase in road differential
District 15 benefits plan (legal services, identity theft protection and roadside assistance)
Increased shoe and boot allowance
Increased on-call pay
“Our Local 447 membership demonstrated tremendous strength and solidarity, and they had the entire Machinists Union, labor movement and all of our allies behind them every step of the way,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Brian Bryant. “I’m extremely grateful to District 15 Assistant Directing Business Representative Mike Vartabedian, Grand Lodge Representative Craig Hughes and the entire team at IAM Headquarters and across the Eastern Territory who gave every resource necessary to our brave Local 447 membership.”
IAM members at Cummins service generators in nursing homes, keep emergency vehicles running, and support frontline workers.
