After more than two years of fruitless negotiations with the various class 1 railroads and after three weeks of in-person meetings in Washington, DC, the National Mediation Board has offered arbitration to rail unions, including the IAM, Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) and TCU/IAM Brotherhood Railway Carmen Division (BRC) members.
All unions in our coalition plan to reject the arbitration offer, which under the Railway Labor Act sets the stage for President Biden to appoint a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) to hear the dispute.
“After three years of needless stalling from rail carriers, the National Mediation Board has found that a voluntary agreement is simply not possible,” said TCU/IAM National President Arthur Maratea. “We look forward to continuing to advocate forcefully for our membership in this new stage of negotiations.”
“Our skilled and dedicated membership has worked tirelessly, through a pandemic and without a raise, to keep our nation’s rail system moving,” said Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the IAM International President. “We will work side by side with every rail union to obtain the best possible agreement for our membership.”
More information will be provided to the membership as soon as it is available.
Frank Wilson is a U.S. Navy Veteran, 18-year shop steward, and trustee of IAM Local 1005 in District W24. He works for the City of Portland, OR as a vehicle and equipment mechanic and is very passionate about helping U.S. military veterans struggling with mental health.
Wilson is one of three local delegates on the steering committee for IAM’s Veterans Services Program. He has been attending classes at the IAM’s Winpisinger Education and Technology Center (W3) to become accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a representative. At one of the W3 classes, he was introduced to “Do Good Multnomah,” a non-profit organization that provides support services and low-barrier shelter to homeless veterans.
As a military veteran, Wilson knows how hard it can be to return to civilian life after being in the military.
“Going in was really easy,” said Wilson. “Coming out, man, that was one of the hardest times of my life. I have friends who have PTSD, so it means a lot to me, and it’s a way to help them since I can’t do it personally.”
Wilson was so impressed by the work Do Good does that he invited its director to speak at Local 1005 and then decided to participate in Do Good’s first-annual Ruck March fundraising event.
To prepare for the Ruck March, Wilson bought a new pair of boots and broke them in by walking around his neighborhood with a weighted backpack garnering donations. He pledged to shave his head as he had for Navy bootcamp once he reached $500 in donations. Wilson kept his promise and shaved his head at the $500 benchmark after about two weeks of fundraising.
Wilson’s team, which he named “IAM Ruck On,” raised the second-most donations of all the teams that participated.
“It’s all going to an excellent cause. I want to take care of them,” says Wilson “My members who are veterans need love, and I don’t know who they are. I’m working on finding who our IAM veterans are with Veterans Services. I’m impatient to get them help; I just want to help.”
Wilson’s own local, Lodge 1005, contributed $220 for the 22 veterans in America who commit suicide every day, a somber statistic.
The March took place on Memorial Day, May 30, 2022, in Portland, OR. Wilson carried a 35-pound rucksack for twelve miles. He was joined by his wife, Laura Wilson, W24 Business Representatives Dwain Panian and Larry Bickett with wife Carla Bickett, W24 Business Representative and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Carol Krohn, and fellow Navy veteran and Laborer’s Union Local Lodge 483 member Steven Burton.
“I have such a passion for this, and it’s nice to see others get excited about veterans’ stories,” says Wilson. “I’m just trying to help my friends.”
“Frank Wilson did a great job leading this effort,” said IAM Western Territory Vice President Gary R. Allen. “District W24 and the Western Territory support veterans as much as we can. The Veterans Services Program is a great resource for our members, and we’re proud of Frank and Local 1005 for getting involved and using the program to become a VA representative and help our veteran members.”
Frank Wilson is a U.S. Navy Veteran, 18-year shop steward, and trustee of IAM Local 1005 in District W24. He works for the City of Portland, OR as a vehicle and equipment mechanic and is very passionate about helping U.S. military veterans struggling with mental health
Wilson is one of three local delegates on the steering committee for IAM’s Veterans Services Program. He has been attending classes at the IAM’s Winpisinger Education and Technology Center (W3) to become accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a representative. At one of the W3 classes, he was introduced to “Do Good Multnomah,” a non-profit organization that provides support services and low-barrier shelters to homeless veterans.
As a military veteran, Wilson knows how hard it can be to return to civilian life after being in the military.
“Going in was really easy,” said Wilson. “Coming out, man, that was one of the hardest times of my life. I have friends who have PTSD, so it means a lot to me, and it’s a way to help them since I can’t do it personally.”
Wilson was so impressed by the work Do Good does that he invited its director to speak at Local 1005 and then decided to participate in Do Good’s first-annual Ruck March fundraising event.
To prepare for the Ruck March, Wilson bought a new pair of boots and broke them in by walking around his neighborhood with a weighted backpack garnering donations. He pledged to shave his head as he had for Navy boot camp once he reached $500 in donations. Wilson kept his promise and shaved his head at the $500 benchmark after about two weeks of fundraising.
Wilson’s team, which he named “IAM Ruck On,” raised $1,099, the second-highest amount raised by the teams that participated. Altogether the March raised $14,000 total.
“It’s all going to an excellent cause. I want to take care of them,” says Wilson “My members who are veterans need love, and I don’t know who they are. I’m working on finding who our IAM veterans are with Veterans Services. I’m impatient to get them help; I just want to help.”
Wilson’s own local, Lodge 1005, contributed $220 for the 22 veterans in America who commit suicide every day, a somber statistic.
The March took place on Memorial Day, May 30, 2022, in Portland, OR. Wilson carried a 35-pound rucksack for twelve miles. He was joined by his wife, Laura Wilson, W24 Business Representatives Dwain Panian and Larry Bickett with wife Carla Bickett, W24 Business Representative and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Carol Krohn, and fellow Navy veteran and Laborer’s Union Local Lodge 483 member Steven Burton.
“I have such a passion for this, and it’s nice to see others get excited about veterans’ stories,” says Wilson. “I’m just trying to help my friends.”
“Frank Wilson did a great job leading this effort,” said IAM Western Territory Vice President Gary R. Allen. “District W24 and the Western Territory support veterans as much as we can. The Veterans Services Program is a great resource for our members, and we’re proud of Frank and Local 1005 for getting involved and using the program to become a VA representative and help our veteran members.”
The leadership of the new IAM Rail Division recently witnessed the skilled craftsmanship of IAM Local 1676 (District 19) members at the Norfolk Southern facility in Conway, PA.
Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President, joined District 19 General Chairs James Orwan and Jason Gibbs on a tour of the locomotive repair facility, talking to IAM members along the way.
“Our membership is closely watching the national freight negotiations,” said Hartford. “We have been, and will continue to, urge Norfolk Southern and every freight railroad to negotiate a fair agreement with our union coalition.”
The IAM, along with the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM), has also worked to combat the negative effects of Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), which has caused members at Local 1676 and elsewhere to work longer hours with less staff.
IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes has appointed Chiqui Guevara to serve as a Grand Lodge Auditor. Guevara will service and assist District and Local Lodges in the Eastern and Western Territories.
“We welcome Chiqui to the Grand Lodge Auditing Team and look forward to the contributions she will continue to make to our membership,” said Cervantes. “With her talent and eagerness to serve our members, Guevara will add a fresh perspective and renewed points of view to the General Secretary-Treasurer’s Department.”
“The IAM has taken a stance to diversify and to acknowledge those who have the skills and talent to service our membership,” said Paul Kendall, Assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer. “Sister Guevara will be a great addition to the team, she is the future of the IAM.”
Guevara began her career with the IAM in 2008 when she was hired on as an Aircraft Mechanic III (Armament) for M1 Support Services at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.
She helped charter her Local SC711 and went on to become the Secretary-Treasurer for the lodge and serve as the shop steward for the Armament Backshop. Guevara chairs the Local’s Women’s and Human Rights Committee, Negotiations Committee, and By-Laws Committee. She assists with organizing efforts to recruit new members and participates in fundraising events for Guide Dogs of America/Tender Loving Canines.
Guevara is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and is highly trained and performs off-aircraft maintenance on weapons delivery and gun systems, including the F-15 C/D/E, F-16, A-10, and F-22s. She possesses a government security clearance, holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and is currently working on a master’s degree in psychology and other certifications.
