Maria Santiago Lillis was a Grand Lodge Representative for the Western Territory who passed away in June 2021. She was a mentor to many and a tireless champion for workers, women, and human rights.
In order to honor her memory, continue her legacy, and encourage all IAM members to emulate her commitment to service, the IAM Executive Council instituted August 10, Sister Lillis’s birthday, as “Maria Santiago Lillis Advocacy Day – A Commitment to Serve (ACTS).”
IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen presented Homeboy Industries, an organization committed to improving the lives of former gang members and ex-cons in the Los Angeles area, with a monetary donation. The Western Territory also collected broken and old electronics for Homeboy Industries’ electronics recycling program that employs and rehabilitates participants.
“Sister Maria is missed dearly, and it makes me incredibly proud of our membership to see so many people honoring her with tremendous acts of community service,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “This is exactly what we were hoping for when we instituted Maria Santiago Lillis Advocacy Day: community, comradery, humanity, compassion – all the things that Maria personified. Her light will shine on through our service.”
District 160 in Washington state raised $1,000 for the Community & Family Services Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to foster parents and the abused and neglected children they care for.
District 751 hosted a stuffed animal drive and donated the stuffed animals to two retirement facilities to comfort the residents.
Local SC 711 made a $250 donation for school supplies to Vegas Verdes Elementary School in Las Vegas.
The Local 933 Women’s Committee organized a sock drive for their local women’s shelter with the goal of each union member donating one pair of new socks, which would mean 1,100 pairs of socks donated. Their total ended up being 1,421 pairs of socks donated to the shelter.
Local 794 donated $200 to Roadrunner Food Bank, a well-known organization that distributes food items to communities in need all across New Mexico.
District W24 and members of Locals 1005 and 1432 hosted a barbeque for military veterans living in transitional housing that allows veterans “to build responsible independence with their own space while offering the opportunity to connect with the community.”
Locals 389, 1125, and 755 presented $600 to Darlene Moreno, Development Coordinator of the YWCA of San Diego, “Becky’s House”. Becky’s House is a shelter in San Diego that houses women, children, and men who have decided to break the cycle of domestic violence.
Local 1998 and Local 1979 officers and members collected food donations for and volunteered at the Pantry. With the help of community donations, they collected 400 pounds of goods, impacting 272 families and 690 individuals who are in need and contributing to the Pantry’s weekly goal of collecting 19,400 pounds of food and goods to support the community and the island of Hawaii.
Local 1746 hosted a “Backpack Rally” event that supported 559 families and 1,072 students with stamp cards; they handed out 2,000 backpacks stuffed with school supplies donated by The Winpisinger Center, the IAM Eastern Territory, and Local 1746. They also used the event as an organizing opportunity and spoke to community members interested in bringing a union into their workplace.
Local 2797 raised $255 through a 50/50 drawing for The Youth Project, a local organization with the mission to make Nova Scotia a safer, healthier, and happier place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth through support, education, resource expansion, and community development.
Local 2198 members donated $750 for their Women’s and Human Rights Committees to sponsor 30 kids from the BEAR Organization, an organization that provides hope and help for abused and neglected children and the caseworkers who protect them within Harris County.
IAM Districts and Locals in Illinois have raised $100,000 to support an Illinois constitutional guarantee of workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively. The Illinois Workers’ Rights Amendment would be one of four such guarantees enshrined in state constitutions, but Illinois Amendment 1 goes a step further than other states by also banning anti-union “right-to-work” laws.
The IAM is joining the Illinois AFL-CIO and legislative allies to promote the passage of the pro-worker ballot initiative, which will be on the ballot for Illinois voters on Nov. 8, 2022. To amend the state constitution, 60% of voters will need to vote “yes.”
The proposed amendment would add a new section to the Illinois Bill of Rights guaranteeing workers the fundamental rights to organize and bargain collectively and to negotiate wages, hours and working conditions. It would also prohibit any law from being passed that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety.The pro-worker efforts under Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker are in stark contrast to former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, who failed in his effort to pass a statewide anti-union “right-to-work” law to weaken unions in 2015. At that time, Rauner declared that Illinois cities, counties, towns and villages could enact “right-to-work” laws. State courts threw that measure out.
“IAM members in Illinois, along with our allies in labor and state government, are leading the charge to make the state more worker-friendly,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “It’s our hope that other states will also make efforts to put workers’ rights at the forefront of their state constitutions.”
Freight rail members of the IAM Rail Division will receive a 24% compounded general wage increase over five years if new tentative agreements reached with railroads bargaining under the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) are ratified by the membership.
The IAM Rail Division consists of IAM District 19, the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM), and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC).
“This comes after a long, tough process that began almost three years ago and led us through every step of the Railway Labor Act, including a Presidential Emergency Board,” said Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President. “Since serving Section Six Notices, your IAM Rail Division leaders have fought tirelessly, advocating in your best interests and demanding a fair agreement.”
The IAM Rail Division fully supports the tentative agreements and recommends members vote “yes.”
Among the highlights of tentative agreements secured by the IAM Rail Division negotiating committee are:
IAM Rail Division members will receive the highest general wage increases (GWIs) ever achieved through National Freight Bargaining. This means a 22% GWI (24% compounded) over five years and includes $5,000 in recognition bonuses.
Full retroactive pay.
An additional paid day off for all members to use as a Personal Leave Day, Single Vacation Day, or a Personal Holiday.
Enhanced hearing benefits and added coverage for diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder, while protecting all the excellent benefits of our healthcare plans.
A “Me-Too” clause, ensuring IAM Rail Division members will receive the same additional value if another union reaches an agreement that improves the terms of this agreement.
“Your IAM Rail Division knows the TA’s would not have been possible without all of Rail Labor standing together,” said Hartford. “We fought side by side against the carriers’ attack on wages and healthcare benefits. We stood together and pushed back against work rule changes that would have affected every rail union member. Our solidarity has resulted in a truly historic victory for IAM Rail Division members and every rail worker.”
IAM Rail Division members will receive more information and be notified of voting dates, times, and locations in the near future.
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio, Aug. 29, 2022 — 104 members of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 439 (District 54) at Eberhard Manufacturing Co., in Strongsville are on strike after overwhelmingly voting to reject the company’s concessionary last, best, and final offer.
After also overwhelmingly voting to strike on Sunday, Aug. 28, IAM Local 439 members have been on the picket line outside Eberhard Manufacturing since 12:01 a.m. ET Monday.
The company’s contract offer includes concessions in wages, benefits, and working conditions.
“Our IAM Local 439 members at Eberhard Manufacturing are standing strong for themselves, their families and the Strongsville community,” said IAM District 54 President and Directing Business Representative T. Dean Wright, Jr. “We stand ready to negotiate a fair contract with the company that treats our membership with the respect they have earned.”
“The entire Machinists Union stands with our Local 439 members at Eberhard Manufacturing,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “We will use every resource available to support them through this strike and get the contract they deserve.”
IAM members at Eberhard Manufacturing produce hardware products that are used throughout the world.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among North America’s largest industrial trade unions and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airline, railroad, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care and other industries.
The IAM Local 1746 Women’s Committee celebrated August 10, 2022 – Maria Santiago Lillis Advocacy Day – A Commitment to Serve (ACTS) to honor Santiago Lillis’ tireless fight for workers’ rights, human rights and social justice by participating in the East Hartford Public School (EHPS) Backpack Rally to help fill and distribute over 1,000 backpacks to children and families in need.
The event was well attended and exceeded its goal by distributing 2,000 backpacks to more than 559 families in need. The committee “womaned” a table at the event, distributing IAM supplies as well as IAM literature about organizing and the benefits of being in a union. They were able to talk to thousands of attendees at this huge event.
The highlight of the event for children is leaving the rally with a new backpack, stocked with school supplies, so they’re ready for the upcoming school year. More than 1,000 of the backpacks distributed contained IAM supplies.
“The Local 1746 Women’s Committee has many people to thank,” said Local 1746 Women’s Committee Chair Therese Hervieux. “Chuck Herod from the Eastern Territory and Mary McHugh from the Winpisinger Center for their generous donations of over 1,000 each IAM pencils, pens, highlighters, folders, stickers and rulers. Also, a huge thank you to the members of our local for the generous $1,000 donation. We used the donation to fully fill 72 backpacks, along with supplies donated to the school system by shop floor members.”
“Our thanks go out to Howie Huestis, Julie Spielman, Ryan Tyrol, Mark Hervieux, Mark Gambe, Tatianna Diaz and Sue Toegal,” said Local 1746 Women’s Committee Taylor Salman. “A very special thank you to IAM Women’s and Human Rights Director Julie Frietchen and IAM Eastern Territory Special Representative Lorie Wilson. Without their help and assistance, this project wouldn’t have been possible.”
While many businesses and volunteers made this event a success, it was clear that the IAM made a huge impact on its outcome.
“We were very pleased and amazed at all the interest in our information at the table,” said Salman. “The Women’s Committee is forging a continuous relationship with the EHPS for future events such as STEM Day and Career Days. We are honored to have been able to have such a successful day and truly felt the spirit of Maria guiding our efforts.”
“Tremendous effort by all involved,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “I’m extremely proud of this committee and the work they did to make the outcome such a success. My thanks go out to all involved.”
“This community service project is a perfect example of A Commitment to Serve,” said IAM Women’s and Human Rights Director Julie Frietchen. “I’m extremely proud of this committee and their efforts to provide the very basic needs for kids going back to school.”
The Machinists Wood, Pulp and Paper Council (MWPPC) on Saturday held its third annual virtual barbeque competition to help raise money for Guide Dogs of America / Tender Loving Canines (GDA/TLC). The successful event brought in approximately $14,000.
“The MWPPC had another tremendously successful barbeque, with our most participants ever grilling out for a great cause,” said MWPPC President Billy Barnwell. “Our congratulations go to all the winners, and we are so thankful to the sponsors, judges, grillers and volunteers who make this a one-of-a-kind fundraiser for GDA/TLC.”
GDA/TLC is the IAM’s favorite charity. GDA recently completed a merger, and now provides hardworking service dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired, veterans, individuals with autism, and facilities to become trusted companions that bring confidence, independence and mobility. Their services are provided free of charge to residents in the U.S. and Canada.
Sponsors Title Sponsors: IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr.
Choice Sponsor: IAM Woodworkers Department
Prime Sponsors: Machinists Wood, Pulp and Paper Council, IAM District 131, Union Sportsmen’s Alliance
Select Sponsors: District W2021, American Income Life, Michelle Barnwell, IP Casino Resort and Spa, IAM Local W12, IAM Local 414, Scott Capital Advisors
Judges Winpisinger Center Director Mary McHugh, IAM Associate General Counsel Laura Ewan, GDA/TLC Executive Assistant/Event Coordinator Yvette Sheehan, and retired IAM Education Representative Henry Bagwell
Winners First Place Grand Champion: IAM Southern Territory Grand Lodge Representative James Little
Second Place Grand Champion: IAM District W2021 President and Directing Business Representative Chuck Bennett
Third Place Grand Champion: Retired IAM Government Employees Director James E. Price Jr.
Rib Champion: Andrea Tortorich
Chicken Champion: Laurel Henry
More than 100 members and their families joined various company representatives in raising more than $6,500 to benefit GDA/TLC. The school relies solely on donations, so rolling strikes at events like this one make sure it stays viable to provide guide dogs to blind and visually impaired people across the U.S. and Canada.
“What a great success,” said IAM District 166 Directing Business Representative Kevin DiMeco. “We had members and their families and company representatives, all coming together for this great event. We’ve already reserved the lanes for 2023.”
“Many thanks to the members and their families for supporting this event,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “A fun family outing all while raising money for a great cause, and our favorite charity Guide Dogs of America.”
“My thanks for making this event possible go to Michele Seeley, Mike Phillips, Murray Caldwell, Peggy Semelsberger, Lisa Lorence, Tom Newton, and Ed Grabowski,” said DiMeco. “Without their efforts, this wouldn’t have been the success that it was.”
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.
