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.”
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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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Oct 24, 2022 | iMail
The IAM, North America’s largest air transport union, has reached a new tentative agreement with Southwest Airlines that would give its members between a 16% and 25% general wage increase over four years and place its members at the top of the airline industry’s pay scale.
The IAM represents approximately 8,300 Customer Service Employees, including Customer Representatives, Customer Service Agents and Source of Support Representatives, at Southwest Airlines.
The five-year tentative agreement includes several improvements over the previous failed tentative agreement, including:
- Higher general wage increases
- “Me too” clauses for top-of-scale wage rate, signing bonus/retro pay, and paid parking.
- Higher bonuses with no maximum
- Part-time employee overtime wage rate improvements
- Stronger mandatory overtime protections for all employees
Click here for full highlights of the tentative agreement.
The tentative agreement also includes robust job and scope protection language. The IAM negotiating committee unanimously recommends a “yes” vote.
“IAM members at Southwest Airlines have made their strength and their voices heard,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “The IAM continues to negotiate agreements that make history for our members and raise the bar for all airline workers.”
In the coming days, the full version of the tentative agreement will be provided to members.
“Our members made it clear that they demand and deserve the best contract possible from Southwest Airlines,” said IAM District 142 President and Directing General Chair John M. Coveny Jr. “We’re proud to present this industry-leading contract as a testament to their strength and solidarity.”
The IAM will also hold tentative agreement informational meetings as soon as all ratification vote locations and dates are confirmed.
“The membership, negotiating committee, District 142 leadership, Airline Coordinator Tom Regan, and Grand Lodge Representative Jeff Tobius have worked tirelessly to secure this strong tentative agreement,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser. “We’re grateful for their work and our partnership with Southwest Airlines to make this industry-leading agreement possible.”
“Our IAM negotiating team and membership has been steadfast to obtain an agreement that treats Southwest Airlines workers with the respect they’ve earned,” said IAM Airline Coordinator Tom Regan. “This agreement represents years of work, through a pandemic, to put our members at the top of the industry.”
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Oct 20, 2022 | iMail
Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) sent a letter of solidarity to IAM District W24 members who have been out on strike against Weyerhaeuser Timber Company for six weeks.
READ: Weyerhaeuser strike: Six weeks in, still no deal
In the letter, BWI pledges their support of the striking North American woodworkers’ fight against Weyerhaeuser’s unfair management.
“When we learned the way the Management of Weyerhaeuser thinks that they can treat you and the fellow workers that have brought with your labour so much profit to the company and their last concessionary offer in which they propose to cut vacation time, increase the cost of your health insurance with a very meagre increase in wages, we understood your anger and we felt the need to express our solidarity on behalf of all our members with your struggle,” reads the letter from BWI.
READ: IAM District W24 Members in Pacific Northwest Strike Weyerhaeuser for Fair Contract
Building and Wood Workers International is a Global Union Federation that represents 12.5 million workers in the construction and wood working sectors. The Machinists Union is one of 375 unions that comprise BWI and have always played an important role in the Federation. Mike Rose, Chief of Staff for IAM’s Woodworkers Department, is BWI’s North American Regional Vice President.
“We whole-heartedly appreciate the offer of support and solidarity from our BWI brothers and sisters from across the globe,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice-President Gary Allen. “Our woodworkers are asking Weyerhaeuser for a contract that brings dignity and respect to their work; workers all over the world resonate with this struggle, and global solidarity is proof of that.”
“We wish you all the best and be assured of our solidarity and that we will do whatever we can to support you in the struggle for a fair contract at Weyerhaeuser that will honour your justified demands, restores decent work and dignity to all workers,” writes BWI.
The letter is signed by BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson.
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