Oct 27, 2022 | iMail
The IAM is committed to continue advocating on behalf of policies and practices to end human trafficking and to help victims and survivors.
Given the IAM’s role in the transportation industry, many members are trained to spot, act, and alert authorities for those who may be victims of trafficking.
This past July, Air Transport Local Lodges 811 and 2198 hosted a seminar in Houston to ensure members and the general public have the skills to identify indicators of people at risk and signs of human trafficking.
And now this week, Local 811’s Women’s Committee members, Sarah Monderoy Garcia and Evelita Everitt, dropped off a large donation of supplies for basic necessities to United Against Human Trafficking, an advocacy organization located in Houston dedicated to end human trafficking and empower survivors. These supplies were donated by members of Locals 811 and 2198.
“We are extremely proud of our IAM members who acted and took a step further to help survivors who are in need,” said IAM Air Transport General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “It’s important to be informed when it comes to human trafficking but it’s also important to get involved.”
The Houston area ranks in the top amongst all the regions in the country in terms of human trafficking.
“The IAM will continue to raise awareness of this critical issue and encourage our members to help vulnerable survivors,” said IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes. “These individuals deserve a chance and by providing them assistance with basic needs, we can help them with their recovery.”
You can help raise awareness of human trafficking by getting more involved in your Local’s Humans Rights and/or Women’s Committees.
If you suspect a case of human trafficking, take note of your observations and call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
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Oct 25, 2022 | iMail
District W24 woodworkers, their families, labor allies, and community members recently gathered at Local W246’s union hall in Springfield, OR for a show of solidarity with IAM District W24 Weyerhaeuser workers who have been on strike against the company for six weeks.
WATCH: Oregon AFL-CIO Rally Video
IAM District W24 Directing Business Representative Brandon Bryant, IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen, and AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler all spoke to the audience about the strength W24 members in Washington and Oregon have shown on the strike line.
“A lot of our members have taken on additional roles that they’ve never had to do before,” said Bryant. “Being strike captains, making strike signs, spending time on the line. They’ve been helping organize strike check distribution. We’ve never had to do this before; it’s been 36 years since we’ve had to put on strike. Our members stepped up and made this strike as strong as it can be.”
Bryant announced that the bargaining unit reached a new tentative agreement with a company in a late-night session the evening before the rally.
READ: IAM District W24 Members in Pacific Northwest Strike Weyerhaeuser for Fair Contract
“We think it’s the best that we can get at this time, and we only got the best that we can get this time because of the strength of our members and what they did and holding the company accountable.”
Included in the tentative deal is the largest wage increases Weyerhaeuser woodworkers have seen in a four-year deal, a better shift differential, improved vacation, and fewer cuts than what the company was originally offering. The agreement puts strong caps on what employees’ healthcare costs will be, with no increases over the course of the contract.
READ: Weyerhaeuser workers continue strike, prepare to vote on tentative deal KEZI (ABC) News
“This kind of movement is going on all over the country and all over North America,” said Allen. “Our strength is from our unity and no matter what you decide to do next week when you vote on this contract, we walk in shoulder-to-shoulder, hand-in-hand, as brothers and sisters, because the majority rules.”
Shuler thanked District W24’s membership for their sacrifice on the strike line, saying it’s a hopeful sign for workers across the nation who are watching.
“The strength that you showed, coming together, holding the line ¾ you’re not just holding it for yourselves, you’re holding it for working people everywhere,” said Shuler. “You’re holding it for the next generation.”
The post IAM District W24 Rallies in Oregon, Puts Tentative Agreement with Weyerhaeuser to Vote appeared first on IAMAW.
Oct 25, 2022 | iMail
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), North America’s largest defense and aerospace union, sent a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives in full support of retaining important language to enhance Buy American domestic content requirements for major defense acquisition programs in the final version of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
The language would bolster U.S. economic and national security and create good, middle-class jobs across the country by gradually increasing Buy American domestic content requirements for major defense acquisition programs to 75 percent by 2029.
U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) first introduced the Buy American domestic content language as an amendment to the NDAA, while U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the language as an amendment to the FY23 NDAA in the Senate with bipartisan support. Norcross championed the language to its eventual inclusion into the House-passed version of the FY23 NDAA.
“Buy American policies serve the public good by targeting our tax dollars for the purchase of American-made products, thereby employing U.S. workers and putting our federal tax receipts to work here at home,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “For far too long we have neglected to properly consider the impact of defense procurement policy on our domestic industrial base and, consequently, on the U.S. economy. We as a nation need to act strategically when it comes to defense procurement.
“Not only do we need to supply our men and women in uniform with the best possible products and equipment, but we must also support the U.S. defense industrial base, including the small and midsized firms across America that constitute the supply chain for critical defense programs,” continued Martinez. “We must understand that the foundation of our industrial base lies with the skills and abilities of the American worker. This language would help ensure that our tax dollars are used to support both the U.S. workforce and the firms who employ them.”
The IAM has been pushing for a phased-in approach to give the domestic defense industry the time and clear signal needed to create jobs by adjusting to the increased domestic content requirement.
Click here to read the full letter.
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Oct 25, 2022 | iMail
Members of IAM Air Transport Territory Local 1759 in Herndon, VA recently held their third annual Paws for Pascarella fundraising event. Over 50 IAM members from Virginia, Boston and Philadelphia participated in raising money for the IAM’s charity of choice, Guide Dogs of America/Tender Loving Canines.
The post Capital Local 1759 ‘Paws for Pascarella’ Charity Event Benefits GDA appeared first on IAMAW.
Oct 25, 2022 | iMail
President of IAM Air Transport Territory Local 368 Tim Nestler recently greeted the Florida AFL-CIO at the historic Miami Springs union hall to host an organizing summit of several labor unions. The 70-year-old local was very honored to welcome U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL), and Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to speak at this important meeting of organized labor.
Click here to watch the report.
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