Aug 11, 2022 | iMail
Edison Fraser, IAM Air Transport Chief of Staff spoke this week at the N.J State Council of Machinists in Atlantic City. He reported about the recently ratified contract for Alaska Airlines Ramp and Customer Service workers. Brother Fraser also informed the membership about Spirit Airlines and JetBlue’s merger commenting about their job security and the upcoming IAM election for 350 Swissport workers at Newark airport.
The post Air Transport Territory Shares Updates on Negotiations, Organizing Campaigns appeared first on IAMAW.
Aug 11, 2022 | iMail
Members of IAM Local 737 (District 77) in St. Paul, MN ratified a strong new contract agreement with 20 area automotive dealers.
The IAM represents 600 body shop technicians, painters, frame alignment technicians, advanced diagnostic and repair technicians, automotive technicians, internal technicians, parts runners, counterpersons, lot persons, stock persons, and detailers at the dealerships.
District 77 Assistant Directing Business Representative John Duerscherl said the final agreement “received nothing but praise from everybody.”
The agreement contains many highlights, including wage increases each year of the contract: 6% in year one and 2% in years two and three. It also lays out a new warranty premium pay system with increased rates and adds two paid sick days per contract year. The employers increased their contribution to the Joint Health Trust Fund and increased the tool insurance coverage. The contract also readjusted wage rates for lower classifications and adopts the IAM National Pension Fund Preferred Schedule Rehabilitation Plan.
With this contract, there is only one job class with wages under $15 an hour.
“This is another great contract out of District 77 with wage and benefit increases,” said IAM Midwest Territory Vice President Steve Galloway. “The IAM Local 737 Bargaining Committee, along with Assistant Directing Business Representative John Duerscherl and Directing Business Representative John Steigauf, put a lot of time and effort into getting a solid contract with protections for retirement. Congratulations to them and the entire Local 737 membership.”
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Aug 11, 2022 | iMail
Commander Mark Phipbin of the nonprofit organization Disabled American Veterans (DVA) presented IAM Local 4 (District 4) with an award for “dedication and devotion to fellow veterans; serving those who served” to show appreciation for their new and growing partnership.
DVA assists veterans in getting claims processed through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), provides veterans with transportation to VA hospitals and brings counseling and employment resources to veterans.
Local 4 Vice President Bob Chase is a U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force veteran and volunteer staff member for DVA Chapter 26. In September 2021, when Chase found out that Chapter 26 was going to lose its office space, he went to Local 4 President Jeremy Leissner with a proposal to allow DVA to work out of the union hall.
“I felt like it was something we had to do, not just for our members but for the community – this is the way I see our local lodge giving back to the community,” said Leissner.
Now, DVA Chapter 26 conducts its business from the IAM Local 4’s union hall one day of the week and they get the entire building to themselves.
“We represent more than 1,300 members at NAS Patuxent River, Webster Field Annex, Solomon’s Island Annex, and Charlotte Hall Veterans Home,” said Leissner, a U.S. Navy veteran. “Eighty-five to 90% of our members are veterans.”
One Saturday, DVA held a special event to provide assistance only to Local 4 members. Forty-five member-veterans attended.
“The word is getting out now that DVA is using our local lodge. I’ll have veterans come in and ask if DVA is in today. Then we get to talking and tell war stories,” said Leissner. “The word is getting out to the community that the DVA and IAM Local Lodge 4 are working together hand-in-hand to make sure that the veterans in our community are being taken care of.”
Local 4’s leadership is looking forward to growing its partnership with DVA. They are making plans to bring in counselors and medical professionals to talk about PTSD triggers and coping tactics. Both IAM Local 4 and DVA Chapter 26 will have booths at the Saint Mary’s County Festival, and they are joining forces for the Veterans’ Day parade in Leonardtown this November.
“We want to have as many banners and flags and members out there as possible,” said Leissner. “We have a lot of things planned for the future to be a face in the community together.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of Local 4 for opening up the union hall to DVA to work out of. That’s exactly the kind of thing we should be doing as a union,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “Supporting veterans has been a theme for Local 4. Because so many members of Local 4 are veterans, I am happy about what this partnership will do for our members, providing them with an incredible resource, but also what this partnership will do for the community.”
The post Maryland Local 4 Steps Up to Help Disabled American Veterans Chapter Continue Service appeared first on IAMAW.
Aug 11, 2022 | iMail
This week over 50 Machinists Union EAP Representatives attended the Labor Assistance Professional conference in Las Vegas Nevada. The IAM was one of the dozens of Labor unions that had regional and peer coordinators there to hear from treatment center staff and providers. The training these dedicated EAP Reps receive is valuable knowledge in helping our members.
The post 2022 Labor Assistance Professional Conference appeared first on IAMAW.
Aug 9, 2022 | iMail
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2022 – Robert Martinez Jr., International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released the following statement:
“The Machinists Unions applauds the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 by the U.S. Senate. Our union considers this legislation, which now moves to the House, critical to helping fight inflation, lower costs for America’s working families, and create millions of good-paying manufacturing and construction jobs in the clean energy sector. Our nation has a clear path to a clean energy future while ensuring fairness in our tax code by making the extremely wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share of taxes.
“The Inflation Reduction Act adds fairness to our tax code by ensuring that the extremely wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share of taxes while making historic investments in clean energy manufacturing, production, and deployment. Workers will benefit from the bill’s tax credits, including labor protections that strengthen and enforce prevailing wage requirements, apprenticeship programs and Buy American domestic content standards, ensuring these investments will create high-quality jobs here at home.
“The healthcare provisions included in this legislation will cap seniors’ out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs and reduce health insurance premiums for millions across the country.
“The IAM will push to ensure that this bill that creates high-quality jobs and increases domestic manufacturing passes the House.”
The post Machinists Unions Applauds Senate Passage of Inflation Reduction Act appeared first on IAMAW.
