Julie Frietchen, IAM Director of Women’s and Human Rights, talks about the recent Moral March on Washington. The Machinists Union supported the protest, along with thousands of others from around the country who converged on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. Activists joined Rev. William Barber to speak out for the millions of Americans who struggle with systemic poverty.
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WASHINGTON, June 22, 2022 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has reached a tentative agreement with Alaska Airlines that, for the first time in the carrier’s history, will put approximately 5,300 Alaska Airlines workers at the top of the airline industry’s pay scale.
The tentative agreement extension covers IAM members who work in Ramp, Stores, Clerical, Office and Passenger Service at the carrier. Alaska Airlines hubs include Anchorage, Alaska; Seattle-Tacoma; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; and Los Angeles.
If ratified by IAM members at Alaska Airlines, the four-year contract would:
Read full highlights of the tentative agreement here.
IAM members at Alaska Airlines will vote on the tentative agreements in the coming weeks. IAM representatives will also hold contract educational meetings at locations across the country.
“The IAM’s tentative agreement with Alaska Airlines is historic for our union, the carrier, and the entire airline industry,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “IAM members have built Alaska Airlines into a perennial top-performing airline, and now, they have an industry-leading contract to vote on that rewards their dedication, skill, and sacrifice.”
“The IAM’s negotiating committee at Alaska Airlines has put in countless hours of hard work obtaining this tentative agreement,” said IAM District 142 President and Directing General Chair John Coveny. “From our leadership to our membership and everyone in between, this tentative agreement is the result of our union’s strength and solidarity.”
“As the largest air transport labor union in North America, our membership knows that they have the strength of the entire IAM at the bargaining table,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser. “We are proud to present this industry-leading tentative agreement to our hard-working IAM membership at Alaska Airlines.”
“I could not be more proud of the IAM negotiating committee and our membership,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Airline Coordinator Tom Regan. “We look forward to speaking to IAM members at Alaska Airlines from coast to coast about this industry-leading, historic contract.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is the largest and most powerful airline union in North America, representing more than 100,000 air transport members in North America. The IAM is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
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The IAM is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of retired Machinist, Charlie (Gene) Bradford, at the age of 89. Bradford held many roles in the IAM in his 43-year career, and his 70 years with the IAM earned him the rare honor of a Gold Lifetime Membership card, bestowed upon members who reach 50 years of membership.
At the time of his retirement, he was the Director of Apprenticeship, Scholarship, Safety and Health, Community Services, Retirees as well as IAM CARES and IAM CREST.
“The IAM has lost a great union Brother and pioneer,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Brother Bradford’s mission in life was to serve those who were suffering or in need. He helped build programs in the IAM that addressed those issues, championed civil rights and assisted the disabled. On behalf of the Executive Council and the entire Machinists Union, I send our condolences to his wife, Dorothy, their daughter and our own IAM Info Systems Director Colleen Morgan, and the entire Bradford family.”
Bradford initiated into the IAM in 1952. He worked various union jobs including Anheuser Busch brewery, serving as President of his Local 41.
His devotion to assisting others transitioned him to take a job in 1968 with the Human Resources Development Institute (HRDI) of St. Louis to assist in the newly developed Civil Rights programs.
In 1972, Bradford took a position at the AFL-CIO’s HRDI program in Washington, DC where he became the Executive Director. In his final years at HRDI, he assisted the IAM in 1977 in the development and training of the first IAM Civil Rights department.
In March 1979, Bradford took a position at IAM Headquarters where he held many positions over the years. He participated in the first Organizing training program at the Winpisinger Center. He later developed the IAM CARES Program. He also began the IAM CREST program to provide safety/OSHA training onsite with major companies to keep the IAM members safe while on the job.
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180 IAM Local Lodge 1379 (IAM District 65) members at Kennedy Valve in Elmira, NY, who produce fire hydrants and water valves, recently ratified an extremely strong three-year agreement.
The membership voted overwhelmingly to accept the tentative agreement, which includes:
– Major wage increases
– Improvements to pensions
– Bereavement language
– Shift differential
– Life insurance
– Accidental death and dismemberment
– Safety shoe and safety glass allowance
– And employee personal vision care while maintaining their health insurance.
“These members have been underpaid and their benefits have been attacked contract year after contract year. This time it was our turn,” said IAM District 65 Directing Business Representative Ron Warner. “Thanks to the solidarity of the membership, who continued to go to work day in and day out throughout the pandemic, their efforts were rewarded with this outstanding contract. Our negotiating committee was outstanding and they knew exactly what their members would accept and made that clear to the company.”
“This contract was achieved by the negotiating committee’s unrelenting will,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “I congratulate our members for their solidarity and their faith in the committee to deliver a contract that contains many major job improvements. Special thanks go to District 65 Directing Business Representative Ron Warner and all of the district staff who provided leadership and guidance throughout negotiations.”
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The IAM is saddened to report that the union has lost retired Western Territory General Vice President Justin Ostro, a longtime leader with a great passion for the IAM and working people. Ostro, 94, passed away on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
“The IAM has lost a true leader and giant of the labor movement,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “Brother Justin was the mentor for me, a true fiery Fighting Machinist, and a catalyst for my passion for the IAM and the labor movement. Myself and the entire IAM Western Territory send our heartfelt condolences to the Ostro family during this difficult time.”
Ostro, a more than 50-year gold member of the IAM, joined the IAM as a structural aircraft mechanic at Republic Aviation in Long Island in 1951. Ostro quickly became a shop steward, with a vision to speak for those without a voice.
He worked his way up through the ranks and quickly became local lodge president, where he was a tenacious negotiator, securing major contracts on behalf of IAM members. As an elected leader with the Long Island Federation of Labor, Ostro and others met with President Lyndon Johnson on union matters.
“Brother Justin made a huge mark on our union and the entire labor movement,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “His legacy has and will continue to live on in the Machinists Union for generations to come. The IAM sends our thoughts and prayers to the entire Ostro family.”
In 1966, Ostro relocated to West Hartford, CT and became an IAM Grand Lodge Representative and chief negotiator for the workers at Pratt and Whitney. Here, he also served as President of the Hartford Labor Council, and Vice President of the Connecticut State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
In 1977, Ostro was elected as a Western Territory General Vice President. He negotiated major contracts with Boeing and Lockheed, continuing to help improve the lives of workers on an even larger scale.
As General Vice President in 1979, United Farm Workers President Cesar Chavez was locked in a tough labor dispute after thousands of its union members demanded better pay from corporate lettuce growers in California. Ostro and Chavez worked closely together as IAM members stood in solidarity.
Ostro was also elected for several terms to the Democratic National Committee where he served as a delegate to many Democratic conventions. While in California, he served as Vice President of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. Ostro happily retired in 1992 to spend time with his loved ones.
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