More than 400 Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) workers at 19 locations successfully completed a two-year process from voting to be IAM members to signing their first collective bargaining agreement.
Library employees who were part of the negotiations team proudly signed the new contract with management at the Loch Raven Library in Towson, MD on September 13.
“It’s been a tremendous honor to get to this point where the agreement was finally signed with the county, the agreement was ratified several months ago and because of their budgetary process we are just now being able to get the agreement signed,” said IAM District 4 Business Representative Sheldon Barber. “The Machinists Union was instrumental in getting legislation passed that allowed the library workers to even organize in the first place.”
IAM Steward and negotiator Anita Bass member talked about the real work that now begins, saying “we have a seat at the table, we have been wanting this for a long time we are happy to be part of the IAM Machinists!”
On September 15, IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes was presented with the inaugural 2022 Pioneering Woman of Labor Award by Emerge, a leading organization that trains and mentors aspiring women leaders to get involved in politics and run for office. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride also received the award.
The award recognized the critical role the recipients have played in the labor movement and their passion and commitment to protecting and advancing working rights.
“[We] recognize what unions bring to our labor force and communities.” said A’shanti Gholar, Emerge President. “I have the privilege of honoring these amazing women.”
Cervantes has served as IAM General Secretary-Treasurer since 2015 and became the first woman and first Latina to hold the position in the history of the IAM. Cervantes has used her position as a woman union leader to improve the lives of IAM members and empower Latinos in the union and beyond.
“We have to stand up and fight. We need people that look like us… Yes, I am a pioneer, a trailblazer, a first, but I certainly won’t be the last. If I can serve as an inspiration or mentor to other Women, Girls and Sisters, then I have served a greater purpose.” Cervantes told the audience.
“The women in our movement are standing strong,” said Shuler. “Let’s keep tapping into that network of strong women, helping each other, helping them run, helping win and helping them lead.”
In addition to honoring these trailblazers, the event also served as an opportunity to highlight the reasons why women empowerment in politics is necessary.
“It’s important to think globally and run locally,” said McBride. “Run, whether it’s for union office or for public office.”
IAM Local 2600 (District 19) members, their families and union siblings of other crafts recently gathered for food, fun and music at the first annual IAM Local 2600 Summer Block Party.
Executive board members voted earlier this year to move their annual membership solidarity event from the holiday season in December to the summer months; and this decision turned out to be a big success.
“We are a smaller local and we just never had a good turnout for our annual event,” said IAM Local 2600 President Mark Barco. “We want to make sure we are being responsible with our local funds and giving back to the members through our event as much as possible. Holding our annual membership event this summer was a huge success. This event had the largest turnout of any membership event in the last several years.”
This year, the board also voted to honor a member, Derek Rieckmann, who has exemplified service to other members, leadership on the job and solidarity within the local.
“Derek is a lead machinist and has stepped up in his role when working with new hires; guiding and training them in the best way possible,” said IAM Local 2600 Financial Secretary Mike Reilly. “Even though he is not an officer, he takes charge when need be if there are not any officers on shift. He also took the initiative to research parts for the new Siemens locomotive fleet. He created a list with part numbers and procedures for preventative maintenance on the new locomotives, printed it out and posted it in the foreman’s office.”
In addition to Machinist families, union members of other crafts in the shop were invited to join the event. Mike Gallardo, a SMART (International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers) union member in attendance at the event, said he appreciates all the work IAM members have done in the shop to bring solidarity among all of the crafts.
Gallardo emphasized that it is important to bring all union members together, regardless of what their craft and union, because, at the end of the day, they are all working side by side, and fighting for the same things – fair compensation in wages and benefits, and safety and dignity on the job. Events such as these help to strengthen that bond and help all unions stand together and have each other’s backs in the workplace.
The Summer Block Party also helped raise money for Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines through member and visitor donations.
“It was great seeing the solidarity amongst our membership and rail labor, which is stronger now than ever,” said Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President for the IAM Rail Division. “We’re so thankful to IAM Local 2600 for holding this tremendous event for the membership to benefit Guide Dogs of America.”
“I think the event was phenomenal and it was great that we were able to contribute to Guide Dogs of America as well,” said IAM Local 2600 Vice President Robert Mendez. “I definitely look forward to doing it again next year.”
IAM’s Corporation for Re-Employment and Safety Training (CREST) will present training on setting up joint labor/management safety committees for small employers. The training will be held over Zoom On Thursday, September 22, at 1:00 pm EST,
The participants will learn the benefits of having a joint labor/management safety & health committee and how to overcome barriers to working together in the interest of safety.
For those interested in joining, please send an email to SandH@iamaw.org to register.
This training is presented under grant number SH-37163-SH1 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Approximately 1,100 members of IAM District W24 are on strike against timber company Weyerhaeuser after rejecting the company’s concessionary offer.
IAM District W24 represents Weyerhaeuser workers in Washington state and Oregon with 14 different contracts in locations from Aberdeen, Longview, and Raymond in Washington state to Coos Bay, Springfield, and Cottage Grove in Oregon.
Sawmill workers, log yard scalers and equipment operators, mechanical loggers, and log truck drivers, including a host of maintenance, mechanical, and electrical workers represented by IAM District W24 have been working under an expired contract since May 31, 2022.
In Weyerhaeuser’s last proposal, general wage increases were too low, vacation time was cut, and healthcare costs increased.
“We wanted to come to an agreement that would reflect changes and improvements that need to happen in order to recruit and retain high-quality workers so that Weyerhaeuser can continue to make record profits,” said IAM District W24 President and Directing Business Representative Brandon Bryant. “Those profits don’t happen unless the work happens, and the work only happens if our members do it. We are taking that work away from Weyerhaeuser in order for them to see us, see our value, see the actual people that make their profits.”
“Our District W24 members are fighting for proper respect from Weyerhaeuser. Our members work hard every single day to make sure that Weyerhaeuser succeeds and unfortunately their contract offer has failed to recognize their contribution to that success,” said IAM General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “We call on Weyerhaeuser to fairly recognize our members’ contribution to their record-breaking profits. We stand in full solidarity with our membership and will continue to provide all resources necessary to obtain a strong contract.”
Hispanic Heritage Month is observed each year from September 15 – October 15 to pay tribute to the contributions, rich legacy, culture, and influence of the Hispanic and Latino community in the United States.
The celebration dates back to 1968 when President Lyndon B. Johnson created Hispanic Heritage Week beginning September 15 to honor the contributions of this growing community and to mark the anniversary of the independence of a few Latin American countries. The observation was then expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period.
The IAM honors the history-making power of past and present Latino leaders who have been critical to the advancement of the labor movement – within our union and beyond.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, the IAM recommits to keep fighting for a more equal and just workforce and takes pride as having one of the most diverse Executive Councils with Latino representation in the labor movement.
International President Robert Martinez Jr. made history as the first Hispanic ever elected to the IAM Executive Council and the first Latino in labor to head a major North American international union. General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes also paved the way as the first Hispanic to serve as General Secretary-Treasurer in the history of the IAM.
In order to mentor and build the next generation of Latino leaders in the union, the IAM created the Spanish Leadership Program at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center. The program provides IAM members with the skills and tools they need to effectively represent and fight for workers’ rights.
IAM also partners with many Latino advocacy organizations to address and educate about issues affecting Latino working families. This includes groups like the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), an AFL-CIO constituency group committed to improving the rights and conditions of Latino workers.
El Mes de la Herencia Hispana es celebrado cada año desde el 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre para rendir homenaje a las contribuciones, el rico legado, la cultura y la influencia de la comunidad hispana y latina en los Estados Unidos.
La celebración se remonta a 1968 cuando el presidente Lyndon B. Johnson creó la Semana de la Herencia Hispana a partir del 15 de septiembre para honrar la contribuciones de esta creciente comunidad y para conmemorar el aniversario de la independencia de algunos países latinoamericanos. La celebración fue luego ampliada por el presidente Ronald Reagan en 1988 para cubrir un período de 30 días.
La IAM honra el poder histórico de los líderes latinos del pasado y el presente quienes han sido fundamentales para el avance del movimiento laboral, dentro y fuera de nuestra unión.
Mientras celebramos el Mes de la Herencia Hispana, la IAM vuelve a comprometerse a seguir luchando por una fuerza laboral más equitativa y justa y se enorgullece de tener uno de los Consejos Ejecutivos más diversos con representación latina en el movimiento laboral.
El presidente internacional, Robert Martinez Jr., hizo historia como el primer hispano elegido para el Consejo Ejecutivo de la IAM y el primer latino en el movimiento laboral en encabezar una de las uniones internacionales más grandes de América del Norte. La Secretaria-Tesorera General Dora Cervantes también rompió barreras al convertirse en la primera hispana en desempeñarse como Secretaria General-Tesorera en la historia de la IAM.
Con el fin de guiar y formar la próxima generación de líderes latinos en la unión, la IAM creó el Programa de Liderazgo en Español en el Centro de Educación y Tecnología William W. Winpisinger. El programa brinda a los miembros de la IAM las habilidades y herramientas necesarias para representar y luchar de manera efectiva por los derechos de los trabajadores.
La IAM también colabora con muchas organizaciones que ayudan a la comunidad latina para abordar y educar sobre los problemas que afectan a las familias trabajadoras. Una de estas organizaciones es el Consejo Laboral para el Avance del Trabajador Latino Americano (LCLAA, por sus siglas en inglés), un grupo afiliado a la AFL-CIO que está comprometido con mejorar los derechos y las condiciones de los trabajadores latinos.
