Aviation High School recently held its annual graduation ceremony, the first in-person event since the pandemic. 480 students received their high school diploma, with many earning their Airframe and Powerplant licenses certifying them to work as mechanics in the airline industry.
This year, the IAM awarded four tool boxes and two scholarships to graduates. There were several other airline representatives and sponsors that presented the graduates with donations and prizes, but the IAM remains the only labor organization that awards students with scholarships and toolboxes for their educational achievements.
“It was an honor to be in attendance,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “It’s rewarding knowing all the students have accomplished in this program already. Knowing they will be better prepared for the next step in their lives is priceless.”
Aviation High School, a New York City public school, has an incredible 93% graduation rate and many graduates have expressed a desire to work in the airline industry and become IAM members.
The IAM has enjoyed a long partnership with Aviation High School and SUNY Empire State College (ESC) and now a new partnership was recently developed with the help and support of the IAM, the United Federation of Teachers, and the American Federation of Teachers. Visit the SUNY Empire State College website to learn more about this new and exciting program.
The late IAM Western Territory Grand Lodge Representative Maria Santiago Lillis was a tireless mentor and fierce advocate for workers’ rights, human rights, and social justice, tackling the most contentious issues with grace while treating everyone with dignity and respect.
In order to continue her mentorship and legacy and to encourage all representatives to emulate the extraordinary qualities she exhibited as an IAM representative, the IAM Executive Council has instituted the “Maria Santiago Lillis Advocacy Day – A Commitment to Serve (ACTS).” ACTS takes place each year on August 10, which was Sister Lillis’ birthday. Each year on this day, we will engage in activities to strengthen our commitment to serve and to learn from Representatives who mirror Sister Lillis’ dedication, advocacy, compassion, and fairness.
This year on August 10, we will honor Maria’s commitment to serving by implementing a Day of Action and Community Service. The goal on this day is for IAM lodges to take action in their communities through service.
Many local lodge women and human rights committees are very involved in community service. Some examples include:
Adopting a park or beach to clean and beautify
Volunteering at veterans’ homes
Having a school supply drive to donate backpacks and school supplies for local school children
Pick a service and act of kindness that would best suit your community and take action! After your local Day of Action, make sure to share your stories and pictures with IAM Women’s and Human Rights Director Julie Frietchen at jfrietchen@iamaw.org. We want to share your community day of action with all of our union family. Let’s make this a memorable event to honor a memorable IAM Sister.
“Everyone knew that Maria was a champion of justice and fair play – all you had to do was talk to her for a few minutes, and you felt her love and support,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “Her mentoring never stopped. She touched so many, and we will always keep her memory alive through a call to service.”
“The goal of this day will be to highlight the qualities that made Sister Lillis an outstanding advocate for working families and her commitment to serve,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Her work has left an indelible mark on the labor movement, and we need to carry her torch with the same compassion and dedication in her name.”
Approximately 2,500 members of IAM District 837 opened contract negotiations on July 6, 2022, with Boeing Defense. IAM members are spread throughout Boeing facilities in St. Charles, MO, St. Louis, and Mascoutah, IL.
These highly skilled members fabricate, assemble and build some of the world’s most advanced military and passenger aircraft and missiles.
The negotiating team will be discussing wages, healthcare, retirement, job, and income security. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these workers were declared essential and did their part to protect this country.
“Our goal is to emerge from these talks with a contract that is both fair and equitable,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “Our members were declared essential early on and expected to show up to work each day and they did. They were considered essential so we expect to see some essential treatment reflected in this contract.”
A priority for this group will being strengthening the 401(k) and eliminating a two-tier wage system.
“The inequities created by the two-tier wage system is not a real investment in Boeing workers,” said Galloway. “It is a de-valuing of American industrial jobs.”
“We need a lot more than what the company is giving right now to secure retirement,” said IAM Aerospace General Vice President Mark Blondin. “A strong 401(k) contribution by the company will help secure workers for decades, creating a long-standing and stable workforce.”
“I am proud of the hard work from the negotiating team leading up to these negotiations and confident we will bring a strong contract home to the membership,” said Tom Boelling, District 837 President and Directing Business Representative.
Negotiations are expected to run from July 6-15, 2022. A vote is scheduled for Sunday, July 24, 2022, the day the current contract is set to expire.
