The IAM’s Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (IAM CORE), the first Apple workers to join a union, kicked off formal negotiations last week with Apple management.
The negotiations come on the heels of the historic organizing victory for the retail store employees, by voting to form the first union at the tech giants’ Towson, MD location, last June.
“This is a historic moment for these workers,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Winning the right to a seat at the table through collective bargaining is the only equalizer working men and women have to better their working lives. They bring to the table with them the backing of every tool at the IAM’s disposal.”
“It is exciting to see these workers empowered,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “The courage these new members have shown in joining together to take that first step to organize is inspiring.”
“These new members are ready and have invested a lot of their own time for these negotiations,” said IAM District 4 Directing Business Representative Jay Wadleigh. “The Negotiating Committee also spent a week at the IAM’s William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center preparing for negotiations with the tools to get the job done.”
District 54 Vice President and Veterans Committee Chairman Fred Confer recently attended a veterans roundtable discussion hosted by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) facility in Ashland, OH.
The roundtable discussed the newly-established PACT Act, the benefits it will provide for veterans, and how to make those benefits accessible to veterans as efficiently as possible.
Also sitting at the roundtable were the Ashland County Sheriff, representatives from Ashland County Veterans Services, officers from the VFW, and Mansfield Veterans Affairs Clinic workers.
About 20 veterans from the community observed the discussion, some of whom Confer served with in Desert Storm. Confer served in the United States Army (active, reserves, and National Guard) from 1976 to 1997, reaching the rank of Sergeant.
Confer has been an IAM member for a little over 18 years, and he serves as Vice President of the Ohio State Council of Machinists and President of Local 1297, in addition to his District Lodge 54 positions.
At union meetings, Confer distributes IAM Veterans Services information and gives reports on Veterans Committee activities and initiatives.“I’m just trying to educate people on the resources that are out there for veterans,” said Confer. “I plan on attending the IAM’s Veterans Services classes at W3 so that I can help other veterans and learn about all of the ways we can continue advocating for veterans.”
“Fred is known in the Ashland community as a resource for veterans,” said IAM District 54 President and Directing Business Representative T. Dean Wright Jr. “He was the first person to be invited to Senator Brown’s veterans roundtable, and they couldn’t have chosen anyone to better speak on policy intended to support veterans.”
“Brother Confer served our country in the Army and is continuing his service to the community as a political advocate for workers and veterans,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “It is our responsibility as activists to do right by our military veterans, and fight for them. I’m thankful to members like Fred who use opportunities in the union, like the Ohio State Council of Machinists, to get involved with political matters and help our communities.”
On January 18, the Machinists Union and other labor and advocacy organizations sent a letter to President Biden to ensure that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is implemented as intended, which includes measures to advance a new wave of manufacturing jobs and rebuild trust with American workers taking into account good clean energy jobs.
The letter comes as a response after the European Union and other trading partners’ claims that the structure of tax incentives for manufacturing in the clean energy economy offered through the IRA violates World Trade Organization (WTO) and Free Trade Agreement rules.
“The IRA creates provisions to create and support good clean energy jobs helping communities that have been affected by outsourcing and failed trade policies,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “The Administration shouldn’t be dissuaded by outdated trade rules not intended to support emerging industries and must keep its promise to working Americans to reignite our manufacturing industries.”
The IRA has the potential to create historic clean energy investments that would lead to good paying union jobs.
The IAM has made it clear that it will continue to advocate for strong middle-class jobs and will oppose any trade rules that are detrimental for the industries we represent.
The letter sent to the White House was signed by the Machinists Union, Public Citizen, the United Steelworkers, the United Auto Workers and Sierra Club.
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. has appointed accomplished union, workers’ rights and social justice attorney Connie Vallas as an Associate General Counsel in the IAM Legal Department. The appointment was effective January 9, 2023.
Over the course of her career, Vallas has represented workers in the areas of negotiations, contract enforcement, administrative appeals, unemployment matters and Unfair Labor Practice charges. She has also led all aspects of internal and external organizing in order to strengthen union membership and fight for issues important to working families on a local and national level.
“Connie brings as extraordinarily wide range of experiences and expertise to our Legal Department and our entire union,” said Martinez. “We look forward to her passion for our movement benefiting our membership and the causes we fight for every day.”
Vallas joins the IAM from SEIU Local 500 in Maryland, where as Director of Organizing and Campaigns she helped to organize workers across public and private education, human services and non-profit industries. Prior to that, Vallas served for 12 years with SEIU Local 1000, where she represented more than 100,000 state workers throughout California as the union’s Assistant Statewide Field Director.
In addition to fighting for working people, Vallas also has a passion for serving her community. She has held key volunteer responsibilities with the Black Women Organizing Action (BWPOA), the Poor People’s Campaign, the Volunteer Low Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, the Public Defender’s Office, Domestic Violence Clinics, the Public Law Center, adolescent outreach programs and Bar associations.
Vallas holds a Juris Doctor from Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from California State University Long Beach.
Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President for the Rail Division, and District 19 General Chairman Heath Jacobs traveled to Chicago, IL to attend Local 498 and Local 2600 monthly membership meetings.
While in Chicago, Hartford and Jacobs visited members at Amtrak and met with several new members who are excited to be a part of the IAM and Local 2600.
“I am proud to be a member of the IAM,” said new member Dave Steffan. “The IAM is the strongest union at the Chicago Shop, and our leadership really looks out for us.”
Hartford and Jacobs also met with Soo Line Railroad (SOO) members to discuss the tentative agreement that will be out for membership ratification soon. The members had great questions and were thankful for the visit.
The final shop visit was at Union Pacific’s (UP) M19A commuter rail facility. Members here inspect, maintain, and repair UP’s commuter rail fleet that provides passenger service for METRA.
“Our members do a great job ensuring Chicago commuter rail riders are safe,” said Hartford. “Our members make sure the traveling public is able to get to their destinations on time.”
At the same time, IAM Special Representative for the Rail Division Derrick Battle and District 19 General Chairman Kenny Krause met with the approximately 80 CSX Traveling Roadway Mechanics in Jacksonville, FL for the annual “startup” meeting. These members work on various systems and regional tie and rail gangs across the entire 26-state system.
Meetings were also held with CSX Labor Relations to discuss changes to the travel allowance and per diem negotiated by the IAM Rail Division and District 19 in the last round of national bargaining ratified by the membership late last year.
“The work these members perform repairing and maintaining the equipment used to install and replace rail and ties are essential to CSX’s ability to keep trains moving efficiently and safely,” said Battle. “These members spend a lot of time away from home to do their jobs and the IAMAW Rail Division and District 19 are committed to working with CSX to improve the travel allowance and per diem that these members truly deserve.”
