A group of 19 IAM staff members from every territory and multiple districts attended an impactful three-day train-the-trainer course of the Be More Than a Bystander program, conducted by the Canadian group Ending Violence Association of BC in partnership with the BC Lions and BC Centre for Women in the Trades at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center.
The Be More Than a Bystander program is designed to inform participants about how to recognize workplace harassment and violence, specifically against women and the LGBTQ+ community, and how to appropriately intervene to help someone.
“The course is about teaching men how to be better brothers to our sisters in the labor movement, pushing back against gender-based violence and harassment, specifically in the workplace, and how to intervene meaningfully,” said IAM Eastern Territory Special Representative Andrew Hounshell, who attended the training and will now teach the course to IAM staff and members.
The IAM is the first labor group in the United States to be trained in the Be More Than a Bystander program.
“It was very impressive,” said Hounshell. “I’m looking forward to going out and sharing the information that we learned to help improve our organization.”
The objective of the program is to help men understand the impact of gendered violence in the workplace and the role they can have in speaking up.
“It was an honor for me to observe the first Be More Than a Bystander Program,” said IAM Women’s and Human Rights Director Julie Frietchen. “I found it informative and think that we will be able to use this material to make our union even more inclusive and stronger than ever.”
“‘Justice on the job and service to the community’ is the Machinists’ motto,” said Frietchen. “Part of fulfilling the commitment to our motto is to be a better ally to all of our members. I am excited for the opportunity we have.”
The IAM, along with other unions, wrote a letter to Majority Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi to endorse the bipartisan pro-union Tax Fairness for Workers Act (H.R. 2549 / S. 1157). The act provides an above-the-line individual tax deduction for workers’ union dues payments, delivers direct cash tax benefits to millions of middle-class Americans, helps increase union membership, and strengthens labor unions’ capacity to negotiate for increased wages, better benefits, and safer, healthier workplaces.
“Unions are essential to holding corporations accountable for the wage inequities between workers and CEOs and unfair treatment,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “If corporations are allowed to deduct union-busting expenses and other anti-union activity, then it’s only fair that workers should be able to deduct dues expenses for their pursuit of improved wages and benefits.”
“Our members are troubled the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated the longstanding tax benefit for unreimbursed workplace expenses, and workers are especially frustrated the law forbids them from deducting their union dues payments,” reads the letter.
In 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was enacted, which stated that workers couldn’t deduct the cost of the union dues they pay to support their unions.
“The IAM places a high priority on the education of its membership,” said Winpisinger Center Director Mary McHugh. “After attending programs, members return home ready to contribute to their Local Lodge, in their workplace, and in the broader community. We look forward to engaging first-time and returning participants in 2023.”
Officers can register participants for Leadership I, Leadership II, Advanced Leadership, and Train-the-Trainer using the web-based registration link in the call letter. The same link can be used to register for the online versions of Leadership I and Leadership II.
Leadership Programs fill up quickly and members are encouraged to talk with their lodge officers concerning the registration and enrollment process. Registrations must be submitted by a lodge president, business representative, or general chair.No member or officer is permitted to submit their own registration.
The Winpisinger Center has removed the vaccination requirement as of December 1, 2022. Provided that current conditions do not substantially change, proof of vaccination is no longer required from members or guests. Our complete list of COVID protocols can be found on the Winpisinger Center website in the FAQ section.
Questions about the registration process, enrollment status, and travel to the Winpisinger Center can be directed to Registrar Donna Hudson at 301.373.8820.
This week, IAM Locals 1871 and 1782 (District 141) members joined AFA-CWA flight attendants and Teamsters mechanics to stand in solidarity with ALPA pilots for an informational picket at San Francisco International Airport. IAM Air Transport General Vice President Richie Johnsen was at the informational picket to show the support of the entire IAM.
“United Airlines is touting how much they’re investing in this company,” said Johnsen. “They haven’t invested in their most valuable asset–their employees. It’s time to take care of your employees.”
The IAM and other unions at United Airlines recently formed a bargaining coalition to strengthen employees’ voices in their workplace and coordinate closely on bargaining and other issues.
The first-ever IAM Unity and Growth Conference, “Building Our Future Sector by Sector,” will be held from Sunday, August 20 to Thursday, August 24 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel (1 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101).
The 2023 IAM Unity and Growth Conference will train, educate and inspire IAM officers, staff, activists, and other leaders to organize new members in all sectors and continue to embrace and strengthen the diversity of our union. Morning plenary sessions will feature dynamic speakers and panels, while afternoon breakout sessions will include instruction on fresh organizing tactics, and how communications, strategic research, legal matters, and diversity can help grow our union.
Breakout industry sectors include:
Aerospace and Service Contract Act
Automotive
Manufacturing and Shipbuilding
Wood, Pulp and Paper, and Natural Resources
Public Sector, Healthcare, and Non-Traditional Industries
Transportation
Delegates will also convene in individual industrial sector meetings to discuss, review, and produce a proactive, strategic organizing plan. Each sector will give a report to the full conference.
More details and registration information will be posted and sent to Lodges in the coming weeks.
IAM District 66 members recently gave back to the community by volunteering and participating in a large-scale food distribution for an organization that helps feed over 4,000 Wisconsin families monthly.
On December 17, 2022, IAM District 66 members and their families assisted in the Food Fair at Wafer Food Pantry in La Crosse, WI.
IAM members performed a variety of activities for this coordinated effort including food distribution, stocking, donation packages assembly and more. They served nearly 300 vehicles providing food supplies to Wafer Food Pantry beneficiaries.
This effort brought together IAM District 66, IAM Local 21 and IAM Local 1115 as part of their IAM H.E.L.P.S. program.
“Our members care about their communities and want to help build better lives for everyone. No one should go to bed hungry or worry about their children going hungry. We want to do what we can to help”, said IAM District 66 Directing Business Representative Jana Kirch. “The Wafer Food Pantry has been crucial for many people in the La Crosse area and we are happy to play a small role in their continuance to help those in need.”
“IAM members pride themselves on giving back to those in need and ongoing efforts like this one prove it,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “Through the H.E.L.P.S. initiative, we want to keep supporting hardworking families so they can have a better life, which ultimately will strengthen their communities.”
The IAM Midwest Territory began the “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” initiative in the spring of 2017 to provide essential assistance to residents in need. H.E.L.P.S. stands for Honoring, Engaging, Lifting, Providing and Servicing. For more on IAM H.E.L.P.S. click here.
IAM District 751 President and Directing Business Representative Jon Holden was recently appointed to a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) panel to review Boeing’s safety management processes. The 24-member panel was required by Congress under a 2020 law to reform how the FAA certifies new airplanes.
The appointment comes days after Congress recently reached an agreement on an end-of-year government spending bill that included an amendment granting Boeing a modification to the certification deadline, which would allow the 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 jets to complete aircraft certification without significant disruptions. The amendment, which includes several mandatory safety enhancements, protects thousands of Machinists’ jobs by ensuring a deadline included in legislation passed in 2020 does not apply to the MAX 7 and MAX 10 models that have yet entered service.
Holden was hired at the Boeing Co., starting his career at the Everett, Washington plant in 1997. Since 2014, Holden has served as the president and directing business representative of IAM District 751, which represents about 32,000 aerospace workers at Boeing and other suppliers, as well as other manufacturing industries.
“It’s an honor to represent our members’ voice on the future and culture of Boeing,” said Holden. “Our members are on the frontlines daily and understand the processes needed to ensure the customer’s safety and well-being. This panel is a step in the right direction and allows us to strengthen our presence in the aerospace industry.”
The panel is tasked with reviewing Boeing Co.’s safety management processes and will have nine months to complete the review and issue findings and recommendations.
IAM members from across the country gathered in Washington, DC, for the AFL-CIO’s Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference to listen and learn about critical issues affecting the labor movement and minorities.
The conference workshops and plenary sessions focused on the labor movement’s key priorities: youth organizing, civil rights, racial and economic justice, and many other topics that affect working families and unions.
Hundreds of union members, including Machinists, also honored Dr. King’s legacy by performing community service projects throughout the Washington DC Metro Area.
Some of the community service projects included letter writing for the Armed Services retirement home, meal preparations for families in need and more.
“MLK Day is also recognized as a National Day of Service, which calls for all of us to band together to give back to our communities,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “The Machinists take great pride, individually and collectively, in spearheading the betterment of our neighbors.”
IAM members also joined civil and labor rights activists and community members for the 2023 MLK Holiday DC Annual Peace Walk & Parade in South East Washington, DC. This year’s theme was “Recapture The Dream Lift Every Voice: ‘Till Victory is Won!
Machinists are proud to be attending the @AFLCIO Martin Luther King Jr. Human and Civil Right Conference this weekend to discuss and learn how we can continue to fight for economic justice and protect our democracy!#MLKDay2023#1upic.twitter.com/wRlQUT7psQ
Mutual aid and community service always has and always will be an essential part of the labor movement.
Today union members are giving back across across the Washington, DC region as part of our #MLK Human and Civil Rights Conference! #1upic.twitter.com/g8MsKeq6gV
Machinists writing letters for residents of Armed Forced Retirement Home here in DC, one of the multiple community service projects happening now at the 2023 MLK Civil and Human Rights Conference #MachinistsCarepic.twitter.com/DfY061Iox3
This executive order led to greater equality for employees in the workplace, and significant changes regarding promotion systems, scheduling, working conditions, benefits and more.
The IAM, along with the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM Federal District 1), represents approximately more than 100,000 blue and white collar government workers across the United States and continues to advocate to ensure that America’s civil servants get the respect and dignity they have earned.
