Aug 9, 2022 | iMail
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2022 – Robert Martinez Jr., International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released the following statement:
“The Machinists Unions applauds the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 by the U.S. Senate. Our union considers this legislation, which now moves to the House, critical to helping fight inflation, lower costs for America’s working families, and create millions of good-paying manufacturing and construction jobs in the clean energy sector. Our nation has a clear path to a clean energy future while ensuring fairness in our tax code by making the extremely wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share of taxes.
“The Inflation Reduction Act adds fairness to our tax code by ensuring that the extremely wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share of taxes while making historic investments in clean energy manufacturing, production, and deployment. Workers will benefit from the bill’s tax credits, including labor protections that strengthen and enforce prevailing wage requirements, apprenticeship programs and Buy American domestic content standards, ensuring these investments will create high-quality jobs here at home.
“The healthcare provisions included in this legislation will cap seniors’ out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs and reduce health insurance premiums for millions across the country.
“The IAM will push to ensure that this bill that creates high-quality jobs and increases domestic manufacturing passes the House.”
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Aug 9, 2022 | iMail
More than 130 workers at Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Services (VSES) in Rochester, NY, are set to begin bargaining for a first agreement. The unit of 130 workers is made up of licensed veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, front desk staff, and other critical staff.
Some of the significant issues for Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Services workers included unfair working conditions, including understaffing, and stagnant wages despite rising costs for pet medical procedures.
“These brave workers understand the importance of a strong IAM contract,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “Now begins the all-important bargaining for a first agreement that reflects their dedication to the employer and their patients.”
“In January 2022, the employees of VSES voted overwhelming for representation by the IAM,” said District 65 Directing Business Representative Ron Warner. “Thrive Pet Healthcare, VSES’s corporate owner, initially chose to fight the election result rather than bargain. The IAM is pleased to announce that Thrive has now chosen to abandon its legal appeals, and the IAM now looks forward to negotiating a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement for the workers.”
READ: New York Veterinary Hospital Workers Win Historic Victory, Join IAM
The grassroots organizing campaign was successful in part due to a partnership with Liz Hughston, president of the National Veterinary Professionals Union.
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Aug 9, 2022 | iMail
The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) held a virtual rail worker town hall recently that featured a panel of union members moderated by AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond. U.S. freight rail workers are in the third year of fighting for a new national contract with freight railroads.
Freight rail workers from across the country shared personal stories and account about “urgent” issues facing the nation’s freight rail system. At the forefront of the issues for rail, workers is the so-called Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) a scheme by the railroads that calls for fewer train starts, fewer locomotives, and fewer workers – nearly 45,000 fewer over the last five years.
Calling freight rail workers “heroic,” Redmond said while the railroads demand more with less, workers are saddled with stagnant wages, long hours, health and safety concerns, and quality of life issues, despite increased workloads and a smaller workforce, and strict schedules with little to no time off.
“It’s a hard life,” said IAM member Reece Murtagh. “The conditions we work in – 14 hours, 16 hour days outside in all kinds of weather, tool bags on our backs, walking up and down the tracks, it’s hard on our bodies.”
“I have no personal life,” said Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) member Esmerelda Montelongo. “It feels like home is at work, I literally work 70 hours a week. It’s like we’re not human, they use us until we can’t or until someone gets hurt.”
“While workers are experiencing significant hardships, major freight railroads are earning historically record-breaking profits,” said Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President. “All while failing to negotiate in good faith a new labor contract with the unions. “We’re fighting alongside our members until they get the contract they deserve, with the dignity and respect they have earned.”
One of the main concerns with precision scheduled railroading (PSR) is the detrimental effects that it is having on railroad workers and their safety. For example, mass layoffs are a central component of PSR operations. Fewer workers translate into a railway slashing costs and thus increasing profits.
After two and a half years of negotiations and mediation failed to yield a contract, President Biden appointed a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) on July 15th to investigate the contract dispute. The Board will issue its recommendations for a fair contract in mid-August. The creation of the PEB forestalls a rail lockout or stoppage for 30 days as the PEB investigates and develops its recommendations.
View the town hall:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=549740426838105
YouTube https://youtu.be/fOg9_lPDJQM
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Aug 6, 2022 | iMail
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2022 – Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) at Alaska Airlines are moving to the top of the airline industry’s pay scale for the first time in the carrier’s history.
Approximately 5,300 IAM members at Alaska Airlines who work in Ramp, Stores, Clerical, Office and Passenger Service have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a historic, industry-leading four-year contract.
The newly ratified contract at Alaska Airlines, which runs until Sept. 27, 2026, includes the following highlights:
- Raises base wage rates for all classifications to between 8.9% and 17.4% on Aug. 10, 2022.
- Further raises all base wages rates for all classifications by 2.5% on Aug. 10, 2023
- Base wage rate increases by a minimum of 2.5% on Aug. 10, 2024 and Aug. 10 2025, subject to an industry review.
- In 2024 and 2025, the agreement calls for an industry review, which will give employees a minimum 2.5% base wage rate or the percentage required to match the top of the scale as the No. 4 airline, whichever is greater.
- No changes to strong existing medical and other benefits.
- Longevity pay increases starting after year 6 at 5 cents per hour, and topping out after year 12 and beyond at 35 cents per hour.
- Strong existing job security language extended until Sept. 27, 2028
WATCH: Air Transport Leadership Visits Alaska Airlines IAM Members Ahead of Historic Contract Vote
Alaska Airlines hubs include Anchorage, Alaska; Seattle-Tacoma; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; and Los Angeles.
“This newly ratified IAM agreement at Alaska Airlines has raised the bar for the entire airline industry,” said IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “After keeping our world moving during the pandemic, our members at Alaska Airlines deserve the absolute best agreement possible. Today, the IAM has made that a reality.”
“Our IAM negotiating committee and the entire support staff around them had one goal in mind—obtain a contract that fairly compensates some of the best air transport workers in the world,” said IAM District 142 President and Directing General Chair John Coveny. “We have succeeded for our membership at Alaska Airlines, and we look forward to building on this contract for all airline workers.”
“The strength and solidarity of the IAM has again delivered an industry-leading contract for our membership,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser. “This contract is going to help our members and their families live better lives and achieve their goals on and off the job.”
“IAM members at Alaska Airlines have set a new standard for airline negotiations for years to come,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Airline Coordinator Tom Regan. “We are grateful to our negotiating committee and Alaska Airlines management for joining together to do what’s best for the men and women who make this carrier a world-leader in the airline industry.”
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Aug 4, 2022 | iMail
Fundraisers for the IAM’s Third Annual 2022 Kourpias K-9 Classic, hosted by the IAM Midwest Territory, spent three days braving the heat of South Dakota to fulfill their sponsored commitments of riding hundreds of miles on motorcycles to raise money for Guide Dogs of America – Tender Loving Canines.
Each rider is encouraged to raise $1,200 to sponsor their ride and all of them either met that goal or beat it, raising a total of $102,500 – the highest total of the Kourpias K-9 Classic’s three-year history to date.
The Kourpias Ride is hosted by a different IAM Territory every year, and this year was the Midwest Territory’s turn.
“We are honored to host the Kourpias Ride, named after the late IAM International President George Kourpias, who hails from the Midwest Territory,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “I want to express my thanks to Grand Lodge Representatives Tony Wickersham and Shannon Stucker, and District 5 Directing Business Representative Jeremy Pearson for their hard work taking the lead in this effort and making it successful.”
See photos from the 2022 Kourpias K-9 Classic.
On day one of the ride, fundraisers drove 225 miles through Devil’s Tower, Full Throttle Saloon, and Spearfish Canyon. On Day 2, they went 190 miles on Needles Highway, through Custer State Park, and on Iron Mountain Road – a ride that featured the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore. On the third day, they rode 130 miles through canyons to Sturgis.
IAM General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes and IAM Aerospace General Vice President Mark Blondin also participated in the ride, both for their third year in a row.
“It’s for a good cause. Our whole union has rallied around this cause,” said Cervantes. “GDA provides a service dog to visually impaired people, Veterans with PTSD, and kids who are autistic. I have been raising money for GDA for many years and have witnessed firsthand the new-found life these dogs bring to those who need them. It is worth any and every sacrifice we make to get these dogs to the people who need them.”
“It costs $50,000 to purchase a guide dog,” said Blondin. “Our charity, Guide Dogs of America, provides these guide dogs to people who need them for free: veterans, people with disabilities, children with autism. It is very important to all of us.”
“Thanks to IAM members, districts, staff, families, and friends for their generous donations,” said Galloway. “Thank you for making the Midwest’s Kourpias run an enormous success.”
For more information on these and other IAM Midwest Territory events to benefit Guide Dogs of America, visit the Spirit of the Midwest website at SpiritoftheMidwest.org.
The IAM’s favorite charity, Guide Dogs of America – Tender Loving Canines, transforms lives through partnerships with service dogs for countless veterans, people who are blind/visually impaired, families affected by autism, and facilities in need that depend on GDA’s services every day. To continue to be successful, GDA/TLC depends on the talents, goals, and generosity of dedicated volunteers and donors like IAM members across North America.
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Aug 4, 2022 | iMail
About 35 San Diego-area auto technicians from IAM Local 1484 (District 190) are on an unfair labor practices strike at Mercedes Benz of San Diego. An unfair labor practice (ULP) strike occurs when workers strike over an employer’s unfair labor practice. The ULP strike began on June 16.
Members from Local 1484 recently provided an update on the recent struggles from the picket line.
“The members are determined now more than ever to fight for a fair agreement even after the company bullying of the workers,” said IAM Local 1484 Chief Shop Steward Pedro Gomez. “The Mercedes Benz dealership was the first automotive dealership to unionize in Southern California. The dealership is now taking the position to try and break the union. My life has changed since becoming organized at the Mercedes Benz dealership in San Diego. “This fight isn’t just about this dealership; it’s about making sure we stand strong for other auto technicians across the state of California.”
“The dealership is trying to break us, but our group is holding strong and standing together in solidarity,” said IAM Local 1484 Lead Technician and 13-year employee Francisco Oseguera. “The Mercedes Benz dealership is better off when our highly skilled group of auto technicians take care of the customers.”
The IAM has the IAM Strike Fund on goIAM.org to benefit members enduring a strike, creating a unique opportunity for IAM members and supporters who wish to provide aid. The IAM Strike Fund allows for donations of non-dues money from members, families, friends, and other labor supporters to our members on the picket line in San Diego.
Local 1484 members also created a GoFundMe page to help their fellow striking auto technicians.
“We need to have our members’ back as they fight against the Penske Automotive Group, one of the biggest auto dealership groups in the nation,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “The Western Territory is united and is pledging the total resources of our union to ensure that Local 1484 members are equipped on the picket line and at the bargaining table. Our members will keep fighting until they win.
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