IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. brings members up to date on the union’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resources available to the membership.
IAMAW District 141 /////
Sisters and Brothers,
In recent weeks, many of you have contacted your local union representatives, Assistant General Chairpersons or me directly to express your fears of possible pay cuts, furloughs or the likelihood of your carrier going bankrupt or completely out of business. You have good reasons to be concerned.
The airline industry is facing an existential threat from a global pandemic. The spread of the Coronavirus across continents has resulted in a decrease in demand for air travel by two-thirds worldwide, with at least one airline going out of business. For over two months, airline workers have worked on the front lines of the crisis, and you have adapted to reductions in flight schedules, last-minute policy changes, and have worried about how to best protect your personal health and safety. The worst part is the unease that comes from not seeing a clear end to this crisis.
As airlines announce more cuts in service, IAM General Vice President Sito Pantoja said today that “US carriers are contemplating further capacity cuts or shutting down operations altogether, which only a month ago was unimaginable.”
The President of the United States and members of Congress are discussing how they can best help the airline industry, which is the backbone of our nation’s economy. There are several ideas being considered, and we support any action that helps workers quickly and directly. As workers, we need to unite and say with a clear and strong voice that the need is great and immediate.
I urge you to call your representatives today at 202-224-3121 and ask them to take any action necessary to save our airline jobs.
Click here to send a message to your Federal Representatives:
Please act today to protect your job and those of thousands of airline workers and millions more who depend on our industry for their livelihoods. Many of you are applying for voluntary leaves and reductions in schedules, which shows how committed we are to get through this crisis together. I ask that we work with our elected officials to make sure no one gets left behind.
Thank you for your activism and solidarity.
Fraternally,
Mike Klemm
President and Directing General Chair,
District 141
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Please print and post on all IAMAW bulletin boards.
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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
Please print and post on all IAMAW Bulletin Boards.
Members of the Local 1759 Legislative Team joined over 200 union members from across the state at the Virginia AFL-CIO Legislative Conference this week. The opening session featured speeches by Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax and State House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, which was followed by meetings with state representatives and lobbying. Bill Peer, Adriana Picasso, and Claudio Nery discussed issues with state legislators and stated our strong support for bills to strengthen collective bargaining rights, raise the minimum wage, boost prevailing wage agreements, repeal of the state’s “Right to Work” laws and expand the workers’ compensation law so it covers repetitive injuries. Virginia just became the 38th and final state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) which seeks to ban discrimination on the basis of gender and guarantee equality for women under the US Constitution.
The District 141 Machinists Non-Partisan Political League relies on member contributions to advance the interests of airline workers and organized labor in public policy. Please consider becoming a contributing member of the IAM141 MNPL by pledging your support today. Sign up for recurring contributions for any amount at IAM141.org/MNPL. Thank you for your support.
When airlines spend millions to influence public policy, they don’t always have the best interests of their workers in mind.
The Machinists Union Non-Partisan Political League was formed to ensure that airline workers are not forgotten as critical legislation is drafted.
Activists like District 141 Legislative Director Dave Roderick have worked from the MNPL to help advance the interests of front-line airline workers around the nation. Thanks to these efforts, gate agents are better protected from assault and more airline workers are getting adequate rest periods, protecting their safety and that of the flying public. These victories have helped improve the entire industry.
But, there’s still more work to do. Airline workers are under threat by well funded corporate lobbyists. Our pensions, our health care, and our contracts are under constant threat. Your help is urgently needed.
Visit the MNPL tab at IAM141.org to sign up for voluntary, recurring donations to the IAM141 MNPL.
And, Thank You For Your Support
A snowstorm that caused hundreds of flight cancellations at O’Hare did not deter thirty-one District 141 activists from attending the first MNPL Seminar held for two days at the District offices this week. District 141 MNPL and Legislative Director Dave Roderick organized the event to educate and motivate members to get more involved in lobbying and political advocacy on behalf of Machinists Union members and all working people. US Representative Dan Lipinski from Illinois stopped by and addressed the participants.