Four IAM members recently visited the IAM’s Winpisinger Center to prepare for upcoming negotiations this March. IAM Local 2011 President James Deaton, of Dallas-Fort Worth, reports about the training class and the important work that Local 2010 and 2011 members do to provide weather reports and air notification bulletins for pilots. The 150 IAM members are based near Washington Dulles and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airports.
Thanks in large part to the IAM’s relentless efforts, the recently passed Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Department of Defense Appropriations bill include extensive funding for defense programs that are built and maintained by IAM members.
The legislation, recently signed into law by President Biden, provides for record funding levels for defense spending totaling $858.4 billion for national defense programs.
Each year, the NDAA authorizes funding levels and provides authorities for the U.S. military and other critical defense priorities, ensuring our troops have the training, equipment, and resources they need to carry out their missions.
Thanks to the IAM’s lobbying efforts, the 2023 NDAA and DoD Appropriations bill provides robust funding for the following IAM- built and maintained programs:
F-35 Joint Strike Fighters
F-18 Super Hornet
C-130J Super Hercules
F-15 Eagles
KC-46 Tankers
P-8 Poseidons
DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class Destroyers
Virginia-class Attack Submarines
Columbia-class Ballistic Submarine program
IAM-built missile system and ammunition manufacturing
The annual legislation also authorizes significant funding for federal employees in this year’s iteration, including many priorities for NFFE-IAM members.
NFFE-IAM supported many provisions of the 2023 NDAA, including the continuation of the one-year probationary period for DoD workers, the extension of a waiver on annual pay caps for international DoD workers, resources for Child Development Centers available to DoD employees, and the insertion of both the Plum Act and the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. Two specific priorities contained in the final bill that NFFE promoted were funding for new workloads at Army depots, including $183 million for the Red River Army Depot, as well as new presumptive illness provisions for federal firefighters.
The Machinists will always fight for robust funding for these programs and improvements in the ongoing negotiations over defense appropriations.
Each year, April 28 is recognized as Workers’ Memorial Day, a day for us to commemorate the thousands of workers killed, injured, or sickened on the job. Your local can memorialize a fallen member with a personalized brick placed at the IAM Workers Memorial at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, MD.
The deadline to submit personalized bricks is Friday, March 1, 2023.
The brick can have two lines of lettering with up to 20 characters per line (including spaces on each line) without the logo for $100. There’s also the option to purchase a brick with three lines of lettering with up to 15 characters per line, along with the IAM logo for $125.
There’s also the option to purchase a larger brick: an 8×8 can be purchased for $200. This option comes with four lines of lettering with up to 20 characters per line without a logo, or with two lines of lettering with up to 15 characters per line, along with your own preferred logo or the IAM logo.
If your local has a member who died on the job or because of the job, a complimentary brick will be placed at no cost. Please fill out and submit the complimentary brick order form.
The IAM Workers’ Memorial was completed in 2001. It was dedicated to remembering those who lost their lives while on the job. The bricks surrounding the Memorial bear the names of fallen members along with bricks donated from lodges and proud members of the IAMAW.
On or around April 28 each year, a ceremony is conducted at the memorial to remember those who lost their lives and rededicate ourselves to prevent on-the-job injury and death to workers.
Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President for the Rail Division, recently attended New York IAM Local 754’s Annual Fellowship and Awards Banquet, which honored members with 15 to 50 years of service with the Machinists Union. Local Chairman Billy Hunt presented Thomas “Tommy” Cappetta with his 50-year Gold Membership Card and pin. Brother Robert Geffken was also supposed to receive his card and pin but, unfortunately, passed away just a few days prior to the banquet.
“Congratulations to Brother Cappetta for dedicating 50 years of service to our great union,” said Hartford. “Fifty years is a great accomplishment, and I applaud him for his exemplary service. My condolences go to Brother Geffken’s family. His commitment to the IAM and his union sisters and brothers will leave a proud legacy.”
Also, during the event, Hartford presented Local 754 with their 2021 Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL) Achievement Award for raising more than $17 per member.
“It’s great to see this local knows and understands the importance of having a voice in the political arena and voluntary donations from members to MNPL ensure the IAM Rail Division will continue to have a strong voice,” said Hartford.
While in New York, Hartford, accompanied by District 19 Assistant President and Directing General Chairman Andrew Sandberg and Local Chairman Billy Hunt, met with several members at many different locations across the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). The visits included stops at a diesel shop where members maintain and rebuild LIRR’s diesel locomotive fleet, the LIRR West Side Yard where members operate the new wheel true machine, and the Hillside facility where our members build and repair air brake components and train wheel sets, fabricate new parts in the machine shop, and the welding shop.
“I always look forward to meeting IAM members on the shop floor, who are the heartbeat of our union,” added Hartford. “The LIRR is the busiest commuter rail company in the U.S. and Machinists members work hard in providing an invaluable service keeping New York commuters moving.”
The IAM is proud to announce that the 3rd annual IAM International President’s Capital Classic Golf Tournament will benefit the creation of a military veterans memorial on the grounds of the IAM’s William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, MD.
Fill out and return the registration and sponsorship form today [Online Form | Print Form]. The deadline to register and sponsor the tournament is Friday, March 24, 2023.
3rd annual IAM International President’s Capital Classic Golf Tournament
Monday, May 1, 2023 Oak Creek Golf Club, 600 Bowieville Manor Lane, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
Entry fees are $150 per person or $600 per foursome and include green and cart fees, a continental breakfast and a post-round lunch, a trophy presentation, and raffle drawings. Registration and breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 9 a.m.
Ready for a day on the links to show our support for our military veterans? Fill out and return the registration and sponsorship form today [Online Form | Print Form].
Sponsorship Opportunities $5,000 Tournament Sponsor: Two foursomes, hole sponsorship, and logo on Tournament Sponsor banner at registration. $3,000 Hospitality Sponsor: One foursome, hole sponsorship, meal, driving range, putting green, prize, or other sponsorship. $1,000 Hole Sponsor: One foursome and hole sponsorship. $500 Hole Sponsor
If you have any questions about the tournament, please contact Terri Kenealy at tkenealy@iamaw.org or 301-967-4555.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) proudly represents 600,000 active and retired members across North America. Many of our members are military veterans who work in the defense, aerospace, and federal sectors, supporting the mission of our service members every day.
A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) judge ruled this week that a Missouri-based manufacturer, Motor Appliance Corporation (MAC) violated federal labor law when they committed unfair labor practices (ULP) by threatening employees engaged in union activity with job losses and pay freezes. MAC manufactures electric motors and chargers.
The dispute began in January 2022, when the IAM filed a petition with the NLRB seeking to represent full-time and part-time production and maintenance employees at MAC. Thereafter, MAC contracted with Sparta, a labor consulting company, “to provide a ‘systematic, organized counter-campaign to secure an election win,’” the Judge wrote.
In doing so the company conducted mandatory anti-union captive audience meetings where employees were threatened with unspecified consequences for voting for the Machinists, freezing wages, and even surveillance. MAC also fired three workers – union supporters for protected activities.
In his decision, the judge ruled that MAC and Sparta cease and desist from their unlawful conduct and that the Machinists be recognized as the exclusive representative of the bargaining unit, and upon request, bargain with the IAM. The ruling also calls for the terminated employees to be returned to work and made whole, including wages and benefits.
“The IAM is proud to stand with employees at Motor Appliance Corp., and any worker who is subject to mistreatment on the job due to their desire to form a union,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steven Galloway. “We look forward to further representing Motor Appliance Corp. workers and bargaining a strong union contract – one that protects each worker’s dignity and rights. These findings should put all employers – who wish to violate their workers’ rights to form a union – on notice, and should empower all workers to push forward in their fight to bargain collectively for better rights on the job.”