Oct 5, 2022 | iMail
IAM Local 873 members in Horicon, WI, have voted to ratify a new agreement negotiated with John Deere Horicon Works with historic wage and benefit gains.
The membership overwhelmingly voted “yes” to a new four-year contract. The many advancements in this groundbreaking agreement include general wage increases of over 32% throughout the life of the agreement, elimination of all health care premiums for everyone, increases to all retirement benefit packages, and a ratification bonus.
“The Fighting Machinists of Local Lodge 873 supported the negotiating committee and showed their solidarity Thursday, passing a contract that we feel was well deserved, after a long seven years, a pandemic, and many logistical challenges,” said IAM District 10 Directing Business Representative Alex Hoekstra. “This vote demonstrates the pride of these skilled and hardworking members who have been producing premium riding lawn equipment, attachments, and utility vehicles here in Horicon for decades. These workers are proud of our small town feel in such a large company like Deere.”
“Congratulations to the members of IAM Local Lodge 873 in negotiating and securing an industry-leading contract with John Deere,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “I’d like to extend a special thank you to the Bargaining Committee, IAM District 10 Assistant Director Joseph E. Terlisner, and IAM District 10 District Business Representative Alex Hoekstra for all their hard work in what will undoubtedly set a new standard for IAM members, the Horicon community and beyond.”
The IAM Local 873 negotiating committee thanks its members for their support in the year-long preparation in getting to the negotiating table. The historic contract took effect on October 1, 2022.
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Sep 30, 2022 | iMail
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2022 — The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) applauds the U.S. House passage of the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 7321), bipartisan legislation that strengthens Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight of commercial airline repair facilities outside the United States. The chamber’s action advances the legislation for Senate consideration.
“We thank the U.S. House of Representatives for passaging this very important bill that prioritizes the safety of passengers and airline workers,” said IAM Air Transport General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “We now look to the Senate to pass this legislation and get it signed into law. This would finally set some much-needed standards for carrier facilities outside the U.S. It’s only fair that foreign locations apply the same high-quality standards done here domestically, which helps ensure the safety of passengers and airline workers.”
The House passage comes just days after the IAM, the largest airline union in North America, representing over 100,000 airline workers, signed onto a joint letter supporting the legislation that was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR).
“We thank Chairman DeFazio for introducing and championing for House passage of this bill. For years, we’ve been saying that it’s unfair for U.S. employees to compete for work against foreign facilities that do not mirror our standards. That has resulted in carriers increasingly enticed by the financial incentives to push this work overseas,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr. “In addition to safety, this legislation helps preserve good, highly skilled jobs here in the U.S.”
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 900 aircraft maintenance and repair stations have been certified by the FAA outside the U.S., which includes countries such as China, Singapore, and Brazil.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
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Sep 29, 2022 | iMail
IAM Local 4 in Saint Mary’s County, MD hosted a candidate forum about military veterans and labor issues to allow members to hear from some of the runners in upcoming local and state elections.
Local 4 invited all of the candidates running for every race in Maryland: Maryland’s Governor, Comptroller, State Senator, House of Delegates, and Attorney General, as well as the candidates for Saint Mary’s County Commissioner and Maryland’s seats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
“This forum is about voter education,” said IAM Local 4 President Jeremy Leissner. “We wanted to give our local and state candidates the opportunity to speak to Lodge 4 members about the issues that are important to us, like workers and veterans.”
Local 4 represents many members who are also U.S. military veterans. The lodge recently started a partnership with Disabled American Veterans, allowing the non-profit to conduct its work helping veterans obtain their earned benefits from Local 4’s union hall.
READ: Maryland Local 4 Steps Up to Help Disabled American Veterans Chapter Continue Service
Attendees and the Local 4 Legislative Committee asked the candidates about their stance on waiving tuition fees for dependents of disabled veterans, how they would use their position to help veterans in the community if they support pushing for state-wide legislation allowing for public library employees in every county to unionize, and whether they would walk the picket line with striking workers.
READ: Maryland Law Giving Baltimore County Public Library Employees the Right to Collectively Bargain and Join the Machinists Union Goes Into Effect July 1st
“I think it’s terrific that my local union did this,” said Carlos Flores, an employee of VX20 and a five-year Local 4 member. “I don’t know any other place I could’ve gone to hear from the candidates. I passed out the flyer to other members and encouraged them to come.”
Assistant Political and Legislative Director Ty Richardson closed the forum and spoke about the Machinists Union efforts on Capitol Hill and in Annapolis, MD, lobbying on legislation that affects working people. That included the importance of passing federal legislation like the PRO Act and legislation to build the country’s infrastructure, in addition to state legislation that would allow for public library workers to organize in every Maryland county.
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Sep 27, 2022 | iMail
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2022 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), North America’s largest airline union, has filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to represent approximately 500 Jetstream aircraft cleaners and ground handling agents at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Jetstream workers launched their campaign to join the IAM in May after reports of subpar working conditions and disrespect from management.
“Jetstream workers deserve nothing less than a strong IAM contract,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “We look forward to bringing fairness and dignity on the job to Jetstream workers in Charlotte, who have worked tirelessly through a pandemic to keep this critical hub moving.”
The Jetstream announcement comes on the heels of the IAM’s filing to represent approximately 3,000 JetBlue Fleet Service workers.
“Our thanks go to IAM Air Transport Associate Organizer Charlie Hines and the leadership and membership of IAM Local 1725 in Charlotte,” continued Johnsen. “We look forward to the IAM’s presence growing even stronger in Charlotte with the addition of Jetstream workers to the IAM family.”
The IAM is the largest airline union in North America and represents airline workers at every major U.S. airline.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion | @iamairtransport
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Sep 27, 2022 | iMail
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) urges the House to pass the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 7321), bipartisan legislation that would strengthen Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight of commercial airline repair facilities outside the United States.
The IAM, the largest airline union in North America, representing over 100,000 airline workers, signed onto a joint letter supporting the legislation that was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR).
The committee approved the bill in June, setting it up for full House floor consideration.
“This legislation addresses loopholes that threaten the safety of passengers,” said IAM Air Transport General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “It’s long overdue that carrier facilities outside the U.S., apply the same high-quality standards done here domestically that helps ensure the safety of passengers and airline workers.”
“The current lack of uniform regulatory standards and oversight sets an unlevel field with carriers increasingly enticed by the financial incentives to push this work overseas,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr. “This results in job losses in the U.S. and risks passenger safety. It’s time to undo this problem and put the safety of passengers first.”
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 900 aircraft maintenance and repair stations have been certified by the FAA outside the U.S., which includes countries such as China, Singapore, and Brazil.
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Sep 27, 2022 | iMail
This week, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) responded to correspondence from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack with a letter outlining solutions and next steps to help alleviate retention problems among federal wildland firefighters. The proposed solutions include permanent pay raises, increased funding and staffing, and the development of a robust occupational series, among other things.
“NFFE, Secretary Vilsack, and other leaders within USDA have a great working relationship and a commitment to reforming the wildland firefighting workforce for a better future,” said President Erwin. “However, it was necessary to share the concerns that we were hearing from our members on pay, the occupational series, and other issues. As we begin making policies to resolve these issues, it is critical that we address each problem as best as possible, and that we do it right the first time. We are confident that Secretary Vilsack will join us in implementing solutions that NFFE wildland firefighters have recommended to meet the challenges we see today.”
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