Jul 21, 2022 | iMail
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has appointed Julian Bruner, a longtime District 70 activist and representative, as a Southern Territory Special Representative. The appointment was effective July 1, 2022.
Bruner, known by most people around the IAM as “Juice,” initiated into Wichita, KS IAM Local 733 in 1996 when he was hired into Raytheon Aircraft, formerly known as Beechcraft, and since has been merged into Textron Aviation and Local 774.
“Brother Bruner’s experience and positive influence on those who come in contact with him make Juice an outstanding union representative,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “Juice will be a great addition to the Southern Territory for years to come.”
Bruner has worked his way up through the ranks of the IAM, serving on various local committees such as safety advocate, women’s committee, human rights, negotiator, and strike captain. Bruner was elected Shop Steward in 1997, Trustee in 2000, In-Plant Chairperson from 2004 to 2017, District 70 Business Representative in 2017, and was later reelected to the position in June 2020. Bruner has attended all the leadership classes at the IAM’s Winpisinger Education and Technology Center, and also holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Friends University in Wichita.
Bruner is a second-generation IAM member whose father, J.C. “Cash” Bruner, also worked for Beechcraft and retired after 42 years of IAM membership.
“I am proud to be able to follow in my father’s footsteps in the union, he taught me at an early age what unions are all about,” said Bruner. “I just hope I can make him and all the people who have been there for me proud in this next step in my career.”
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Jul 19, 2022 | iMail
More than 100 JetBlue Ground Operations Crewmembers recently came out for an appreciation rally at JFK airport in New York.
The event was hosted by the Machinists Union Organizers assigned to JFK, which ground crews at JetBlue are seeking to join. The rally was attended by IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen and IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser.
“We are here to show our support and appreciation for these brave workers,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Johnsen. “People are tired of sitting on the sidelines. That’s why this campaign at JetBlue is so exciting, it’s a vital part of a larger movement to prove that working people deserve just as much respect as managers and executives, that’s why we have committed all the resources at our disposal for this effort.”
“These workers deserve the protections and benefits that an IAM contract can provide,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser. “Dedication on the job has earned them the right to a secure future for themselves and their families.”
Tristan “Lion” Dutchin, one of the lead organizers and founders of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), was also in attendance.
“I wanted to come out and show support for what Ground Ops is trying to do,” said Dutchin. “It’s not easy. Really, organizing with a union is impossible until suddenly it’s not.”
The rally was held to showcase union organizing at the airline and recognize ground crews currently working towards joining the Machinists Union. JetBlue Crewmembers participated in a raffle, were served an assortment of food items, and signed union authorization cards.
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Jul 19, 2022 | iMail
IAM District 54 members recently attended President Biden’s recent announcement at Max S. Hayes High School in Cleveland. President Biden focused on his economic agenda, increasing vocational training opportunities, and building the economy from the bottom up and middle out.
IAM District 54 members Jim McClelland, Phil Baker, Mary Napier, Barbara Sherrod, and John Graf attended the event.
“So here’s the deal,” said Biden while addressing the Cleveland crowd. “The deal is quite simple. When I ran, I was criticized for the basis upon which I ran. I said I’m running for three reasons. One, to restore the soul of America — the decency and honor of this country. And two, to rebuild the backbone of the country. The backbone of the country is the working women and men, the middle class. And, you know, there’s a middle class for one reason: American unions.”
“It was meaningful to have President Biden visit Max S. Hayes High School, my alma mater and that of many of our members, and bring the spotlight on one of our few trade schools in the Cleveland area,” said T. Dean Wright, Jr., President & Directing Business Representative District Lodge 54. “His visit to our trade school is a signal of his commitment to investing in the middle class and Machinists Union members and their families.”
“Announcements like this are impactful for our members,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “A strong economic agenda is not only good for our members, but it is good for the nation. The policies implemented by this administration will positively impact our members here in Ohio and elsewhere for years.”
President Biden lauded the work of Democrats and U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for their leadership.
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Jul 19, 2022 | iMail
Honolulu, HI Sister Jan Suster was recently appointed by International President Robert Martinez Jr. to the position of Special Representative assigned to the Western Territory.
Sister Suster began her career with the Machinists Union in 2016 when she was hired as an Office Assistant for Local Lodge 1998 in Honolulu, HI. The late Sister Maria Santiago Lillis recognized the talent and potential Sister Jan exhibited and immediately began mentoring her. Suster was later appointed as Organizer in 2018 and in 2021 appointed as Business Representative.
“The future of the Western Territory burns bright with Sister Jan’s appointment,” said Western Territory General Vice President Gary Allen. “Jan has shown continued growth from the moment she joined Team Hawaii and I am excited to see what she will accomplish for the IAM and the labor movement now and in the future. Sister Suster is one of the many young bright leaders in the Western Territory.”
Sister Suster has been an active part of the labor movement in Hawaii with her involvement in Appleseed, an organization dedicated to raising the minimum wage in Hawaii and serves as a delegate to the Pearl Harbor Metal Trades Council.
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Jul 19, 2022 | iMail
Since late 2021, the economy has suffered debilitating setbacks primarily due to wrinkles in the global supply chain. As a result, President Biden hosted a supply chain summit with 14 other countries that same year to begin tackling the immediate supply chain issues.
Fact Sheet: Global Supply Chain Summit
Machinists Union was invited to participate in the Labor and Workforce Development breakout of the two-day 2022 Ministerial Forum on Global Supply Chain Resilience, scheduled for July 19 and 20.
The event hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, focuses on ways to tackle the supply chain issues championed by President Biden.
Included in these discussions were geographic diversity of advanced manufacturing centers, fostering stakeholders in labor, small businesses, transportation, and logistics to improve supply chains. All while expanding global training to enhance readiness in workforce participation for all workers, including women and other underutilized minority groups.
2022 Supply Chain Ministerial
“The IAM made it clear that to improve supply chain issues, the next generation of workers must receive the skills they need to fill good middle-class jobs,” said Peter Greenberg, IAM Strategic Resources Assistant Director. “We need improved and consistent funding for apprenticeship programs and the continuation of Trade Adjustment Assistance programs for displaced workers.”
The overall goal for this global partnership is to reduce and end near-term supply chain disruptions. The Departments of State and Commerce are committed to building long-term solutions while easing future troubles in the global supply chain. Advocacy and education are needed at every level, from workers, city leaders, state, federal, and international leaders. In addition, the Biden Administration aims to secure custom supply chain solutions for businesses and workers in each locality – securing jobs for all workers.
Watch: The Modern World Doesn’t Work Without the Global Supply Chain.
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