Mary Sansom Has Receipts: A union activist who has recorded and made history

Mary Sansom Has Receipts: A union activist who has recorded and made history

Oct 16, 2020 | Community Service, Community Service Page, Education, Featured, Featured News, Front Page, MNPL, Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, retirement, Row 2, Safety, Video | 0 comments

“Shut ‘Em Down!”

Mary Sansom has fought for airline workers for decades, taking on managers, politicians, and even retirement on the way.

Sister Mary Sansom was initiated into Local 1833 of the Machinists Union in 1973 when she began working in the flight kitchen at Northwest Airlines in Minneapolis, Minnesota. One of her co-workers “dragged” her to local meetings, but she did not fully understand the value of union membership (among other things) until she was furloughed during a pilots strike 5 years later. She marks that as the beginning of her “union education” that has guided her through more strikes, airline mergers, and also many successes as a champion for working people.

Mary has served as Chief Steward and has been recognized for her work as a safety advocate. As the first woman to chair the Labor Division of the National Safety Council, she has received several awards for her service. She has represented Local 1833 in 5 Grand Lodge Conventions, where she earned the nickname “Shut ‘Em Down Mary” because of her strong criticism of airline mergers and the immense pain they inflict on workers. In 2006, she was recognized again by the Machinists & Aerospace Union as “Sister of the Month” for the United States.

During a turbulent period in the airline industry in the 1990s, Mary continued her advocacy work as a delegate to the IAMAW Legislative Conference and the Minnesota State Council of Machinists. She was elected Recording Secretary of Local 1833 in 2000, a position she still holds, even after her retirement in 2010. 

As a retiree, Sister Mary stays active as Recording Secretary for the Minnesota State Council of Machinists, is a founding member and serves as Recording Secretary for the Minnesota State Council Machinists Retirees, and is the president of the Local 1833 Retired Members Social Club.

We are pleased to welcome Mary Sansom to the District 141 Video Report.

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“Vote Early, Stay Safe” Pennsylvania Machinists Get Out the Vote on the Streets of Philadelphia

“Vote Early, Stay Safe” Pennsylvania Machinists Get Out the Vote on the Streets of Philadelphia

Oct 14, 2020 | COVID, Education, Featured, Featured News, Front Page, MNPL, Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Video | 0 comments

A small army of Fighting Machinists took to the streets of Philadelphia this week to encourage union members to get out and vote.

In-person early voting is underway in Pennsylvania, and members of IAM Air Transport Local 1776 left voting information on the doors of 1,030 union households in neighborhoods of South Philadelphia. The Machinists GOTV event was coordinated with the Pennsylvania State AFL-CIO, where Obie O’Brien, a member of Local 1776 serves as Vice President and IAM Representative. 

 

The IAM team, led by Local 1776 President Larry Reeves and former President Rich Howell, included Maurice Bonner, James Brown, Jason Custis, Milo Dabney, Elliot Eldridge, Tom Marshall, Andre Robinson, Troy Smack, Bill Zebley, and Dave Lehive, who is also a District 141 Communications Representative. 

“We were received very warmly in the neighborhoods where we worked. Several people thanked us for sharing information about how people can vote early and stay safe,” said Ines Garcia-Keim, President of the New Jersey State Council of Machinists, who joined the team with her husband John, a member of the American Federation of Musicians. “We are thrilled to be here to help the Machinists Union Get Out the Vote effort in one of the targeted states in the Eastern Territory,” she added.

IAM members may find information regarding our endorsed candidates, opportunities to volunteer, and other resources at https://iam2020.org/get-out-the-vote/, or by contacting your local’s president or legislative committee. 

 

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Apply Now for the 2021 IAM Scholarship Competition

Apply Now for the 2021 IAM Scholarship Competition

Sep 21, 2020 | Community Service, Community Service Page, Education, Front Page, GOIAM Stories, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized | 0 comments

The 2021 IAM Scholarship Competition is accepting applications. The competition is open to members of the IAM and their children throughout the United States and Canada. The deadline for applications is February 12, 2021. 

Apply for a 2021 IAM Scholarship.

In 2020, the IAM awarded 16 scholarships valued at $64,000. The winners were selected out of over 300 applicants.

The IAM also has a vocational-technical two-year scholarship available to both members and their children.

The IAM Scholarship Fund, which is used exclusively to make these awards possible, was established by the delegates of the 1960 IAM Grand Lodge Convention.

If you would like to receive a scholarship packet by mail, or have any questions regarding the program, please call our Scholarship Department at 301-967-4708.

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///  Lobby Your Senator and Help Save Airline Jobs This Fall 

/// This story first appeared on GoIAM.org

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Video Report: Will Riley, Adoph Stutz Memorial Scholarship Winner

Video Report: Will Riley, Adoph Stutz Memorial Scholarship Winner

Aug 14, 2020 | Community Service Page, Education, Featured News, Front Page, Row 2, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

A Conversation With Will Riley, Scholarship Winner

A student at the University of Houston, he is the winner of $2,000 from the Adolph Stutz Memorial Scholarship

Hello Machinists & Aerospace Union Members!

I’m 22 years old and from Houston, Texas. I’ve lived in Texas all my life. I graduated from Kingwood High School in 2016. I graduated from UT Austin with my Bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering this past May. Right now I’m attending the University of Houston for my Master’s degree in biomedical engineering. Though I did research for a year in undergrad, I start working in my professor’s lab for research later this month.

My mom’s name is Kim. She’s also from Houston and is a professional photographer like her dad. She originally got a job as a Reservations Agent at Continental Airlines in 2006 and started working for United Airlines after the merger in 2012. 

– Will Riley
Biomedical Engineering Masters Student

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Video Report: A Conversation With Workers’ Compensation Attorney, Kathleen Grace Walsh

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Jul 17, 2020 | Education, Featured, Front Page, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

Attorney and Workers’ Rights Expert, Kathleen Grace Walsh

An Important Conversation about Workers’ Compensation 

Kathleen Grace Walsh is a Virginia attorney whose practice specialties encompass Virginia Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability. She is known and respected throughout the state’s legal community, and was recognized by her peers in 2019 and 2020 with a Super Lawyer designation and was selected a Leader in the Law for 2019. In addition, she is beloved by her clients for her empathy, her determination to help them, and her kindness. 

She attended The George Washington University in Washington, DC, (B.A. 1980), where courses in Political Science first sparked her interest in the law. Following graduation, Kathleen worked as a reporter from 1980 – 1983 for Commerce Clearing House, focusing on Consumer Product Protections and Food & Drug regulation. It was here that Kathleen honed her interest in protecting society’s workers, and those in need. 

In 1983, Kathleen entered The Columbia School of Law at Catholic University in Washington, DC (JD, 1986). Ms. Walsh opened her solo practice in 2000 in Occoquan, VA.  Her firm specializes in Workers’ Compensation. 

In 2015, Kathleen was accepted as a Fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers.  Her professional positions include the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Inn of Court, where she is Past President and continues to serve on the Executive Committee and the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Inn of Court Advisory Conference, where she is Chairperson (2019 – 2021).  

As an attorney who represents unionized workers, Kathleen annually trains the International Association of Machinists on Workers’ Compensation Law.

Virginia IAMAW Members may contact Kathleen and learn more about Workers’ Compensation at The Law Offices of Kathleen Grace Walsh. 

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The Adolph Stutz Scholarship Essay Deadline Has Been Extended

The Adolph Stutz Scholarship Essay Deadline Has Been Extended

Jul 14, 2020 | Education, Front Page, Organizing, Uncategorized, Upcoming Events | 0 comments

The deadline for entering the Adolph Stutz Memorial Scholarship Essay Contest has been extended to July 24th, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

District 141 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is offering six $1,000 scholarships and one $2,000 scholarship to the winners of its yearly Adolph Stutz Memorial essay contest. The contest is open to select union members and their families.

Children, spouses, and dependent grandchildren of members with one year or more of good standing in District Lodge 141 who are graduating high school seniors or who are currently enrolled full time and/or commencing college full time. The competition is also open to any members with one year or more of good standing in District Lodge 141 who are enrolled in college with a minimum of six units per semester.

Applications must be signed by a Local Lodge Recording Secretary to ensure that the sponsoring member qualifies for the scholarship program. District union officers, their families, and previous winners are not eligible.

This year’s topic is, “What I Look For in a Leader in This Election Year.” Applicants, including graduating high school seniors or college students, are asked to submit essays with at least 700 words and a maximum of 1,000 words.

Entries must be printed on standard-sized paper (8.5″ x 11″) and must also be submitted as a Microsoft Word Document. The entrant’s name or other identification should appear on each page, with the title of the essay at the top of the paper. All entries should include a recent image of the applicant.

Six essays will be selected to win $1,000 scholarships, and one will be selected for the $2,000 top prize. In addition to the money, the top essay will be featured in the  District 141 quarterly Newsletter.

The competition ends on July 24, 2020, and winners will be announced by August 1, 2020.

Click Here for full contest rules and a printable application >>