Fundraisers for the IAM’s Third Annual 2022 Kourpias K-9 Classic, hosted by the IAM Midwest Territory, spent three days braving the heat of South Dakota to fulfill their sponsored commitments of riding hundreds of miles on motorcycles to raise money for Guide Dogs of America – Tender Loving Canines.
Each rider is encouraged to raise $1,200 to sponsor their ride and all of them either met that goal or beat it, raising a total of $102,500 – the highest total of the Kourpias K-9 Classic’s three-year history to date.
The Kourpias Ride is hosted by a different IAM Territory every year, and this year was the Midwest Territory’s turn.
“We are honored to host the Kourpias Ride, named after the late IAM International President George Kourpias, who hails from the Midwest Territory,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “I want to express my thanks to Grand Lodge Representatives Tony Wickersham and Shannon Stucker, and District 5 Directing Business Representative Jeremy Pearson for their hard work taking the lead in this effort and making it successful.”
On day one of the ride, fundraisers drove 225 miles through Devil’s Tower, Full Throttle Saloon, and Spearfish Canyon. On Day 2, they went 190 miles on Needles Highway, through Custer State Park, and on Iron Mountain Road – a ride that featured the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore. On the third day, they rode 130 miles through canyons to Sturgis.
IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes and IAM Aerospace General Vice President Mark Blondin also participated in the ride, both for their third year in a row.
“It’s for a good cause. Our whole union has rallied around this cause,” said Cervantes. “GDA provides a service dog to visually impaired people, Veterans with PTSD, and kids who are autistic. I have been raising money for GDA for many years and have witnessed firsthand the new-found life these dogs bring to those who need them. It is worth any and every sacrifice we make to get these dogs to the people who need them.”
“It costs $50,000 to purchase a guide dog,” said Blondin. “Our charity, Guide Dogs of America, provides these guide dogs to people who need them for free: veterans, people with disabilities, children with autism. It is very important to all of us.”
“Thanks to IAM members, districts, staff, families, and friends for their generous donations,” said Galloway. “Thank you for making the Midwest’s Kourpias run an enormous success.”
For more information on these and other IAM Midwest Territory events to benefit Guide Dogs of America, visit the Spirit of the Midwest website at SpiritoftheMidwest.org.
The IAM’s favorite charity, Guide Dogs of America – Tender Loving Canines, transforms lives through partnerships with service dogs for countless veterans, people who are blind/visually impaired, families affected by autism, and facilities in need that depend on GDA’s services every day. To continue to be successful, GDA/TLC depends on the talents, goals, and generosity of dedicated volunteers and donors like IAM members across North America.
About 35 San Diego-area auto technicians from IAM Local 1484 (District 190) are on an unfair labor practices strike at Mercedes Benz of San Diego. An unfair labor practice (ULP) strike occurs when workers strike over an employer’s unfair labor practice. The ULP strike began on June 16.
Members from Local 1484 recently provided an update on the recent struggles from the picket line.
“The members are determined now more than ever to fight for a fair agreement even after the company bullying of the workers,” said IAM Local 1484 Chief Shop Steward Pedro Gomez. “The Mercedes Benz dealership was the first automotive dealership to unionize in Southern California. The dealership is now taking the position to try and break the union. My life has changed since becoming organized at the Mercedes Benz dealership in San Diego. “This fight isn’t just about this dealership; it’s about making sure we stand strong for other auto technicians across the state of California.”
“The dealership is trying to break us, but our group is holding strong and standing together in solidarity,” said IAM Local 1484 Lead Technician and 13-year employee Francisco Oseguera. “The Mercedes Benz dealership is better off when our highly skilled group of auto technicians take care of the customers.”
The IAM has the IAM Strike Fund on goIAM.org to benefit members enduring a strike, creating a unique opportunity for IAM members and supporters who wish to provide aid. The IAM Strike Fund allows for donations of non-dues money from members, families, friends, and other labor supporters to our members on the picket line in San Diego.
Local 1484 members also created a GoFundMe page to help their fellow striking auto technicians.
“We need to have our members’ back as they fight against the Penske Automotive Group, one of the biggest auto dealership groups in the nation,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “The Western Territory is united and is pledging the total resources of our union to ensure that Local 1484 members are equipped on the picket line and at the bargaining table. Our members will keep fighting until they win.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 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 authors of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 for drafting this vitally important legislation which will help fight inflation, lower costs for America’s working families, create millions of good-paying manufacturing and construction jobs in the clean energy sector, paving the way for a clean energy future, and add fairness to our tax code by ensuring that the extremely wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share of taxes.
“The Inflation Reduction Act will make historic investments in clean energy manufacturing, production, and deployment. The tax credits proposed in the bill include 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 reduce costs for working families and retirees.
“Today, on behalf of our 600,000 members, the Machinists Union sent an urgent letter to all U.S. Senators urging them to vote ‘yes’ to pass the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. We must pass the Inflation Reduction Act to create high-quality jobs and boost domestic manufacturing.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among North America’s largest industrial trade unions and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airline, railroad, transportation, and shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.
Members of IAM District 6 and Local 1526 recently completed a community project as a part of the IAM Midwest Territory’s “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” program. H.E.L.P.S. stands for Honoring, Engaging, Lifting, Providing, and Servicing.
More than 21 volunteers from four Locals 1526, 1010, 388, and 831 pitched in to complete the project of laying blocks for landscaping and overall cleanup at the Catherine McAuley Center in Cedar Rapids, IA. The center is a nonprofit that helps refugees, immigrants, and low-income families with various services like legal assistance, housing, and job placement just to name a few.
“I am very proud of these members,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “My thanks go out to all District 6 volunteers for making a difference in this community.”
“I’d like to thank Local 1526 Community Service Chairperson Harvey Williams and Katie Splean with the Catherine McAuley Center for spearheading this event,” said District 6 Directing Business Representative John Herrig. “It was a huge success to bring awareness to the community that the IAM cares and wants to make a difference.”
The IAM Midwest Territory, along with its Districts and Locals, has hosted more than 25 “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” events, with nearly 500 volunteers across the Territory, to date. Each District and Unaffiliated Local is tasked with hosting at least one event per year.
For more information on the IAM Midwest Territory’s “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” program, click here.
