EAP Helping Hands for March: How to Prioritize Bills When You Can’t Pay Them All

EAP Helping Hands for March: How to Prioritize Bills When You Can’t Pay Them All

Mar 27, 2020 | EAP, Featured, Front Page, Helping Hands, Home, Home | 0 comments

Peer EAP Coordinators:

Continuing our effort to anticipate the needs of our members, this special edition focuses on finances. Specifically, prioritizing how you spend money during critical situations and being able to survive a crisis. There is a list of governmental resources that can help increase awareness of special orders to financial institutions that may help with the mortgage, rent, IRS income tax deferrals, and the possibility of checks mailed to everyone making less than $100,000 last year.

Finally, there are a few ideas on financial preparedness and decisions to avoid that could make your situation worse.

All of these ideas came from one web site: Clark.com. Normally, I would not promote a financial web site, but this site is dedicated to helping people weather difficult financial situations and helping people become finically savvy. It is good information. The underlined text in the body of the newsletter can serve as a link to some of the site’s resources – if you have an electronic copy. Use your cursor to “hover” over the underlined text until your cursor becomes a pointer – then click on the link.

We are several weeks into the coronavirus crisis, most metropolitan areas are under some kind of “stay in place” orders (not including transportation workers) and there is some reason for hope. China and South Korea appear to have effectively dealt with the outbreak and are beginning to restart businesses. We have a long road ahead, I believe we will get through this – it’s going to take all of us believing in each other.

I hope each of you and your families are safe and free of the virus. Please know how much I appreciate everything you are doing! I am grateful to have such a dedicated and talented group of people focused on helping others through the most difficult and challenging time we have faced in a decade.

Bryan Hutchinson,
IAMAW District 141 EAP Director

 

IAMAW District 141 President Mike Klemm on the Stimulus Package: “Help is on the Way.”

IAMAW District 141 President Mike Klemm on the Stimulus Package: “Help is on the Way.”

Mar 26, 2020 | Airlines, American, COVID, EAP, Featured, Front Page, Hawaiian, Home, Home, Philippine, Safety, Spirit, Uncategorized, United | 0 comments

Sisters and Brothers,

Working almost around the clock since Monday, the leadership of the House of Representatives and the US Senate engaged in negotiations to produce a historic $2 trillion stimulus bill that provides significant relief to our nation’s health care and transportation workers.

The Senate voted 96-0 last night to adopt the bi-partisan agreement, and it now moves to the House, where it will be introduced by Speaker Pelosi tomorrow and it is expected to pass.

Your actions since the beginning of this crisis, and your quick mobilization this week to contact elected officials in Washington made the difference for every working person in our country. Thanks to you, we are more certain of our future.

 

Once it becomes law, the CARE Act will secure the airline industry and our jobs for the next 6 months as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and will provide loan guarantees to rebuild our nation’s aviation infrastructure for the long term.

 

Key highlights for airline relief include:

 

  • $25 Billion in grants to airlines for payroll assistance. Before Labor’s input, the bill only had a loan program. These grants are EXCLUSIVELY for the continuation of payment of employee wages, salaries and benefits. Before Labor’s input, this provision did not exist. 
  • No condition to open Collective Bargaining Agreements and enter concessionary  negotiations to receive grants or loans. Before Labor’s input, the Treasury Secretary had the power to impose unlimited conditions for receiving federal funds. Your calls helped us close this major loophole.                                                                                                                  
  • As a condition to receive federal grant funds, a carrier must refrain from conducting involuntary furloughs until September 30, 2020. Before Labor’s input, this important provision did not exist.
  • Prohibition on stock buybacks and dividend payments until September 30, 2021, and limits on executive compensation and “golden parachutes.” Neither of these requirements existed before our Labor negotiators insisted on them.

I also want to remind our Brothers and Sisters at American Airlines that the ratification vote for the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement will close tonight at 8:00 Eastern Standard Time. You can find information at the Association Website if you have questions or are having difficulty voting. Please take a few minutes to make your voice heard.

Thank you again for your dedication and professionalism. In these most difficult circumstances, you are showing up every day to get our customers where they need to go. We are not out of the woods yet, by a long shot, but if we continue to speak up, show up, and take care of ourselves and each other, we will overcome this crisis.

Please make sure you take time to unwind, and try to get enough rest. Our EAP Representatives are always available at https://iam141.org/employee-assistance-program/

In Solidarity, 

Mike Klemm,
President and Directing General Chair, 
District 141, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

 

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March Helping Hands EAP Newsletter: Coping With Coronavirus

March Helping Hands EAP Newsletter: Coping With Coronavirus

Mar 19, 2020 | Community Service Page, COVID, EAP, Featured, Front Page, Helping Hands, Home, Home, Uncategorized | 0 comments

EAP Peer Coordinators:

 
Coronavirus has changed everything. All Airlines have experienced a severe drop off of load factors associated with reduced flying due to governmental flying restrictions.
 
This special edition addresses the situation by looking at how to cope with stress in this specific situation. I ask you to distribute the issue everywhere you believe it would benefit from the content.
 
We are facing unprecedented events – you are on the front lines and getting the brunt of this most difficult situation. Know that all of us – the regional representative, the airline coordinators and me are all available to talk through any situation. That is why we are here – to support you.
 

Thank you for supporting your co-workers while you and your family are facing the same uncertainty. One thing I do know – we will get through this – together. There has never been anything we have not been able to respond to and to find our way through!  I am confident we will get through this.

Bryan,

Bryan Hutchinson, M.S.
 

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District 141 PDGC Mike Klemm Responds to United Statement Re: COVID-19

District 141 PDGC Mike Klemm Responds to United Statement Re: COVID-19

Mar 16, 2020 | Airlines, Community Service Page, COVID, EAP, Education Class, Featured, Front Page, Home, Home, MNPL, Pinned Post, Safety, Safety, Uncategorized, United

Dear United Member,

 I’m sure by now most of you have had a chance to read the communication put out by Oscar Munoz and Scott Kirby last night. I want to start off by commending both men and their teams for keeping the IAM completely informed with the dire financial outlook of, not only United Airlines, but the airline industry in general. They have made it clear that their number one goal is to do everything possible to limit the impact on United’s workforce, which includes approximately 28,000 IAM members. With that said, it’s important you know the financial situation is significantly worse than the days and weeks following 9/11.

 Oscar and Scott stated that March is typically United’s busiest month of the year. But this year, in just the first two weeks of March, one million fewer customers have boarded United aircraft compared to March, 2019. United is also currently projecting that revenue in March will be $1.5 billion lower than last March, and the months ahead look grim as well.

 I want to share something with you. When Oscar and I came into our respective positions, weeks apart in 2015, he approached the Union and committed to do right by IAM members. He expressed his desire to enter negotiations early to improve the wages of IAM members at United.

 Our response was, “wages are important but more critical than money is that IAM members’ work is protected. We need real job security and to not worry which station was next to be outsourced.” He heard us, understood IAM members’ needs and he and his team negotiated in good faith. We were able to gain the security IAM members so very much deserve. Oscar’s word was good and I am grateful for that.

 The IAM’s current relationship with Oscar Munoz and Scott Kirby is solid and there exists a level of trust between both parties that we value. It is because of this relationship that the IAM will have input on any decisions that are made that will impact IAM members at United.

 I want to emphasize that the IAM’s ONLY priority is to protect IAM members’ interests during this very uncertain time.

 As more information becomes available, I will relay that to you.

 God bless, stay safe and protect yourselves and your families by following the CDC guidelines.

 

Sincerely and Fraternally,

 

 

Mike Klemm

President and Directing General Chair,
IAMAW District 141

 

 

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IP Martinez Message to IAMAW Members on COVID-19 Outbreak

IP Martinez Message to IAMAW Members on COVID-19 Outbreak

Mar 14, 2020 | Airlines, American, Community Service, Community Service Page, COVID, EAP, Education, Featured, Front Page, Hawaiian, Home, Home, Philippine, Safety, Safety, Spirit, Uncategorized, United

GOIAM.COM /////////////

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

I know there is much uncertainty surrounding the evolving COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak that has now been classified as a global pandemic. Our daily routines are being affected by the cancellation of many events in an effort to limit the spread of the virus. I want each and every member of our IAM family to know that the IAM is taking all necessary action to keep all of us safe while continuing the important work of our union.

The most important thing each of us can do now is to heed the advice of health officials. Please closely follow guidelines and monitor updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The best way to avoid being exposed to this virus is to:

– Clean your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

– Avoid close contact with people who are sick

– Stay home and seek medical care if you are sick

– Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow

– Wear a facemask if you are sick

– Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily

I also encourage you to monitor the IAM Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Center for more information, specific safety tips for our membership in the healthcare and transportation industries, as well as any updates on changes in IAM operations. Beginning this Saturday, March 14, we have made the decision to suspend programming at the Winpisinger Education and Technology Center for two weeks. We will closely monitor the situation and provide updates on all status changes.

To ensure that everything possible is being done to protect our membership at work, IAM Local Lodge Safety and Health Committees should meet with employers on steps being taken to mitigate the risk of virus transmission. Every employer has the responsibility to do everything necessary to keep its employees safe. Our union has a duty to hold employers responsible to that commitment.

The IAM Grand Lodge is working with elected officials to ensure that sufficient funding is available to respond to the outbreak and that steps are taken to protect jobs in industries that are especially affected by the pandemic.

Lastly, I want our membership to know that we will get through this difficult time together. Throughout our union’s 132-year history, we have always confronted great challenges. Our unity has pulled us through the toughest of times and this situation will be no different.

Let’s be smart, stay safe and continue our march toward dignity and justice for all working people.

Fraternally,

Robert Martinez Jr.
International President

United Announces Flight Reductions in Response to COVID-19

United Announces Flight Reductions in Response to COVID-19

Mar 4, 2020 | EAP, Featured, Home, Safety, Uncategorized, United

Sisters and Brothers,

United Airlines informed its employees today that the airline will reduce its international flight schedule by 20 percent and its domestic flight schedule by 10 percent in April, and have begun planning similar reductions for the month of May. These reductions are in response to the global outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

United management is offering voluntary, unpaid leaves for active, non-probationary, US-based employees. Management has also instituted a hiring freeze, and postponed salary increases.

Please know that these salary freezes DO NOT affect IAM-represented United employees.

IAM contracts are in full force and unaffected, and all provisions in our contracts must be followed. It is also important to note there are no plans for involuntary furloughs.

I would like all IAM members at United to know that your union is here for you. We have weathered many storms together and we will get through this one as we have done in every other instance. Please know that your IAM representatives are here to answer questions that you may have and the Union’s EAP program is always available for members during times of stress.

I will work closely with United management, and I will make sure all IAM members at United Airlines are fully informed of all developments. In the coming days, IAM District 141 will inform members of measures that we will take to ensure our members’ interests at United Airlines are well protected.

While today’s news is not what any airline worker wants to hear, we have confidence in United’s leadership to make the right decisions to protect the best interests of United employees and the airline.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your local union committee. For the latest on COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website, Coronavirus Disease 2019 webpage.

 

Michael G. Klemm
President & Directing General Chairman
IAMAW, District Lodge 141