New York Veterinary Specialists Set To Begin Bargaining For First Contract

Aug 9, 2022 | iMail

More than 130 workers at Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Services (VSES) in Rochester, NY, are set to begin bargaining for a first agreement. The unit of 130 workers is made up of licensed veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, front desk staff, and other critical staff.

Some of the significant issues for Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Services workers included unfair working conditions, including understaffing, and stagnant wages despite rising costs for pet medical procedures.

“These brave workers understand the importance of a strong IAM contract,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “Now begins the all-important bargaining for a first agreement that reflects their dedication to the employer and their patients.”

“In January 2022, the employees of VSES voted overwhelming for representation by the IAM,” said District 65 Directing Business Representative Ron Warner. “Thrive Pet Healthcare, VSES’s corporate owner, initially chose to fight the election result rather than bargain. The IAM is pleased to announce that Thrive has now chosen to abandon its legal appeals, and the IAM now looks forward to negotiating a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement for the workers.”

READ: New York Veterinary Hospital Workers Win Historic Victory, Join IAM

The grassroots organizing campaign was successful in part due to a partnership with Liz Hughston, president of the National Veterinary Professionals Union.

The post New York Veterinary Specialists Set To Begin Bargaining For First Contract appeared first on IAMAW.

IAM, TCU/IAM Members Featured on Virtual Freight Railroad Worker Town Hall

Aug 9, 2022 | iMail

The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) held a virtual rail worker town hall recently that featured a panel of union members moderated by AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond. U.S. freight rail workers are in the third year of fighting for a new national contract with freight railroads.

Freight rail workers from across the country shared personal stories and account about “urgent” issues facing the nation’s freight rail system. At the forefront of the issues for rail, workers is the so-called Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) a scheme by the railroads that calls for fewer train starts, fewer locomotives, and fewer workers – nearly 45,000 fewer over the last five years.

Calling freight rail workers “heroic,” Redmond said while the railroads demand more with less, workers are saddled with stagnant wages, long hours, health and safety concerns, and quality of life issues, despite increased workloads and a smaller workforce, and strict schedules with little to no time off.

“It’s a hard life,” said IAM member Reece Murtagh. “The conditions we work in – 14 hours, 16 hour days outside in all kinds of weather, tool bags on our backs, walking up and down the tracks, it’s hard on our bodies.”

“I have no personal life,” said Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) member Esmerelda Montelongo. “It feels like home is at work, I literally work 70 hours a week. It’s like we’re not human, they use us until we can’t or until someone gets hurt.”

“While workers are experiencing significant hardships, major freight railroads are earning historically record-breaking profits,” said Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President. “All while failing to negotiate in good faith a new labor contract with the unions. “We’re fighting alongside our members until they get the contract they deserve, with the dignity and respect they have earned.”

One of the main concerns with precision scheduled railroading (PSR) is the detrimental effects that it is having on railroad workers and their safety. For example, mass layoffs are a central component of PSR operations. Fewer workers translate into a railway slashing costs and thus increasing profits.

After two and a half years of negotiations and mediation failed to yield a contract, President Biden appointed a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) on July 15th to investigate the contract dispute. The Board will issue its recommendations for a fair contract in mid-August. The creation of the PEB forestalls a rail lockout or stoppage for 30 days as the PEB investigates and develops its recommendations.

View the town hall:

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=549740426838105

YouTube  https://youtu.be/fOg9_lPDJQM

The post IAM, TCU/IAM Members Featured on Virtual Freight Railroad Worker Town Hall appeared first on IAMAW.

5,300 Machinists Union Members at Alaska Airlines Vote Overwhelmingly to Ratify Industry-Leading Labor Contract

Aug 6, 2022 | iMail

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2022 – Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) at Alaska Airlines are moving to the top of the airline industry’s pay scale for the first time in the carrier’s history.

Approximately 5,300 IAM members at Alaska Airlines who work in Ramp, Stores, Clerical, Office and Passenger Service have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a historic, industry-leading four-year contract.

The newly ratified contract at Alaska Airlines, which runs until Sept. 27, 2026, includes the following highlights:

• Raises base wage rates for all classifications to between 8.9% and 17.4% on Aug. 10, 2022.
• Further raises all base wages rates for all classifications by 2.5% on Aug. 10, 2023
• Base wage rate increases by a minimum of 2.5% on Aug. 10, 2024 and Aug. 10 2025, subject to an industry review.
• In 2024 and 2025, the agreement calls for an industry review, which will give employees a minimum 2.5% base wage rate or the percentage required to match the top of the scale as the No. 4 airline, whichever is greater.
• No changes to strong existing medical and other benefits.
• Longevity pay increases starting after year 6 at 5 cents per hour, and topping out after year 12 and beyond at 35 cents per hour.
• Strong existing job security language extended until Sept. 27, 2028

WATCH: Air Transport Leadership Visits Alaska Airlines IAM Members Ahead of Historic Contract Vote

Alaska Airlines hubs include Anchorage, Alaska; Seattle-Tacoma; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; and Los Angeles.

“This newly ratified IAM agreement at Alaska Airlines has raised the bar for the entire airline industry,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “After keeping our world moving during the pandemic, our members at Alaska Airlines deserve the absolute best agreement possible. Today, the IAM has made that a reality.”

“Our IAM negotiating committee and the entire support staff around them had one goal in mind—obtain a contract that fairly compensates some of the best air transport workers in the world,” said IAM District 142 President and Directing General Chair John Coveny. “We have succeeded for our membership at Alaska Airlines, and we look forward to building on this contract for all airline workers.”

“The strength and solidarity of the IAM has again delivered an industry-leading contract for our membership,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser. “This contract is going to help our members and their families live better lives and achieve their goals on and off the job.”

“IAM members at Alaska Airlines have set a new standard for airline negotiations for years to come,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Airline Coordinator Tom Regan. “We are grateful to our negotiating committee and Alaska Airlines management for joining together to do what’s best for the men and women who make this carrier a world-leader in the airline industry.”

The post 5,300 Machinists Union Members at Alaska Airlines Vote Overwhelmingly to Ratify Industry-Leading Labor Contract appeared first on IAMAW.