Machinists & Aerospace Union IP Martinez Leads Call for Airline Worker Relief With Schumer

Machinists & Aerospace Union IP Martinez Leads Call for Airline Worker Relief With Schumer

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Machinists & Aerospace Union IP Martinez Leads Call for Airline Worker Relief With Schumer

Airline workers are grateful for the extension of a relief program that brought thousands of frontline aviation workers back on the job, IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. said on a virtual call with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The IAM is North America’s largest airline union.

Martinez led the call of IAM airline workers with Schumer, along with Transportation General Vice President Sito Pantoja and District 141 President and Directing Chair Mike Klemm.

“Without this much needed relief, our airline membership faced dire economic consequences,” said Martinez. “Many didn’t know how they were going to pay their mortgage or rent and put food on the table.”

The airline Payroll Support Program (PSP) expired in September 2020, but was extended in December through March 31, 2021. The relief program is keeping hundreds of thousands of frontline airline workers on the job as the industry reeled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My family was nowhere and got places because of the union movement,” said Schumer. “Here’s an example of why people need unions. If there was no Machinists Union, we wouldn’t have had this bill.”

At the IAM’s urging, and with the support of Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the relief program went directly to workers, not airline CEOs and executives.

“Although the four month extension of the PSP is not enough, it will still keep us from total disaster until a real recovery plan can be put in place,” said Martinez. “You have my word, the Machinists Union is totally committed to fighting for a recovery package that will lift up all workers and meet the demand of a vaccine distribution and full economic recovery.”

The Organizers’ Toolkit: A New Resource for Machinists & Aerospace Workers

The Organizers’ Toolkit: A New Resource for Machinists & Aerospace Workers

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The Organizers’ Toolkit: A New Resource for Machinists & Aerospace Workers

Help Grow the Machinists & Aerospace Union

Contact an Organizer

You can help create a better life for the working class in America. Contact an IAMAW District 141 Organizer today.

 

IAM Headquarters this week is officially launching the Organizer’s Toolkit, a library of both customizable and static materials designed specifically for organizing campaigns. The toolkit, which is being run by the Organizing and Communications Departments, will include access to a customizable campaign website, organizing meeting presentations, handbills, banners, social media graphics and more.

“Growing our membership continues to be priority No. 1 for our Union,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “That means giving our organizers every resource possible to encourage them to become more aggressively involved in organizing and to help them win campaigns.”

Organizers have faced unprecedented challenges in recent years, including multi-million dollar anti-union campaigns, the most hostile labor board in modern history and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. The Organizing Toolkit is designed to help organizers address these challenges.

“Organizing is and always has been one of the most difficult tasks facing the labor movement,” said IAM Organizing Director Vinny Addeo. “Our aim is to help organizers by providing them campaign-proven, professional materials to help them navigate their way through their organizing campaigns. Not to mention open them up to focus more on the ground portion of their campaign, as well as perform servicing and other union-related tasks.”

For access to the Organizer’s Toolkit, please contact your Territorial Organizing Lead.

Machinists & Aerospace Union Recognized at Inauguration Welcome Ceremony

Machinists & Aerospace Union Recognized at Inauguration Welcome Ceremony

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The Machinists Union was recognized Saturday by the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) during its programing America United: An Inauguration Welcome Event Celebrating America’s Changemakers.

Machinists & Aerospace Union Recognized at Inauguration Welcome Ceremony

The Machinists Union was recognized Saturday by the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) during its programing America United: An Inauguration Welcome Event Celebrating America’s Changemakers. The video congratulates the incoming administration and pays tribute to IAM essential workers who have been on the frontlines during the pandemic.

The PIC hosted a welcome event to celebrate America, reflect and honor its history, and highlight the incredible diversity of the nation. It featured musical performances, celebrity appearances and remarks from some of the most popular leaders from across the country. The event kicked off five days of programming leading into Wednesday’s inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Watch the entire program.

Baltimore County Library Staff Want to Join the Machinists & Aerospace Union

Baltimore County Library Staff Want to Join the Machinists & Aerospace Union

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“These hardworking men and women are the keepers of history in the community.  They provide an essential service for families in and around Baltimore. They deserve to have a voice and a vote on the job,” says Fitzgerald. 

Baltimore County Library Staff Want to Join the Machinists & Aerospace Union

For nearly two years, the Baltimore County library staff have been trying to organize.

And then, COVID-19 hit and the need became even more crucial. Citing better transparency and communication from management, alongside health care benefits for nearly half the staff, the employees of the Baltimore County library want the IAM in their corner. 

But since local library systems are state agencies, state legislation has to be passed for this to happen. Bills, filed by Maryland House Del. Cathi F. Forbes (D-District 42a) and Maryland State Sen. Shelly Hettleman (D-District 11) would allow the nearly 600 employees to bargain and form a union.

Lead organizer Grand Lodge Representative Bridget Fitzgerald says the onset of the pandemic has brought to the surface the underlying issues of these employees. Especially since so many of the staff do not have health care benefits.

“This group of workers love what they do and just want to make sure it’s safe to come to work,” explains Fitzgerald. “They want to know that management has their best interests at heart when making decisions that will affect them, especially with the cases of COVID-19 on the rise again.”

A statement put out by the library and its board of directors says they “support the right of employees to pursue collect bargaining.” Hearings on the bill are scheduled for February, and the Machinists Union is working with the library staff to assist in any way possible, believing a union contract is the best way to make sure these workers are heard and protected during a time that’s rewriting the history books they shelve.

“Collective bargaining rights should be the basic principles afforded to every worker in our country,” says IAM’s Director of Organizing Vinny Addeo. “Unfortunately, because of the intricate county laws that apply to the State of Maryland’s Baltimore County Library staff, they currently do not have these basic rights. I am confident that with the combined professional teamwork of IAM GLR Bridget Fitzgerald, Assistant Political and Legislative Director Monica Lee Silbas and Associate General Counsel Laura Ewan, we will get the job done and bring justice to these workers.”

“These hardworking men and women are the keepers of history in the community.  They provide an essential service for families in and around Baltimore. They deserve to have a voice and a vote on the job,” says Fitzgerald. 

READ: Baltimore County librarians seek to unionize through legislation that’s going before General Assembly The Baltimore Sun

Machinists & Aerospace Union Demands More Protections for Airline and Rail Workers in Light of Threats

Machinists & Aerospace Union Demands More Protections for Airline and Rail Workers in Light of Threats

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Machinists & Aerospace Union Demands More Protections for Airline and Rail Workers in Light of Threats

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IAM Transportation Department General Vice President Sito Pantoja issued the following statement regarding the need for increased airline and railroad security in the coming weeks:

“As a result of the assault on the Capitol Building and subsequent violent behavior by unruly airline travelers, the IAM demands that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and all airlines and rail carriers adjust and reinforce their security policies to further ensure the safety of all airline and rail workers and passengers.
 
While there have been some security improvements at airports and rail stations, more needs to be done. We have already witnessed dangerous behavior on aircraft from unruly passengers and with reports circulating of upcoming “protests” nationwide in the days leading up to the inauguration, the threat of violence to airline and rail workers and passengers will be increased.
 
Airline and rail workers have already risked their health by working tirelessly through the COVID pandemic, transporting travelers and goods across the globe. This country must do a better job protecting the people who work and use the transportation industry than they have done protecting those in the U.S. Congress.”

Organizing for Power: District 141 Recognized for Growing Union

Organizing for Power: District 141 Recognized for Growing Union

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District 141 was recognized for union organizing efforts that saw more than 800 new members and 11 new locations added to the Machinists & Aerospace Union in 2019.

Organizing for Power: District 141 Recognized for Growing Union

District 141 of the Machinists & Aerospace Union was recognized for its union organizing work, which saw 11 new locations and more than 800 new members added to the union in 2019. The accolades were presented at the second annual International President’s Excellence in Organizing Awards, held near Washington, DC., last week. 

The event, held virtually this year due to the pandemic, recognizes union members for their continued efforts to grow the IAMAW and increase working families’ power. 

District 141, one of the largest aviation and transportation workers’ groups in the US, was singled out for two awards, the Top Organizing District Award and the Top Organizer Award. Accepting on behalf of the District was President & Directing General Chair Mike Klemm. 

After decades of decline, labor is starting to show real signs of growth in recent years. According to a recent Gallup Poll, 64% of Americans have a favorable view of unions, marking a 50 year high. Union members make an average of 20% more overall compensation and are more likely to have pensions and better health care than their non-union counterparts. Because of this, labor is finding increasing success in places like aviation. 

“In 2018, we were number one in the entire AFL-CIO for organizing,” said the Machinists & Aerospace Union International President Bob Martinez. “We continue to organize new members across North America and deliver a better life to working families.” Martinez praised the union’s efforts to create a multi-level strategic organizing strategy that has proven that labor can grow and expand – even in the face of the COVID pandemic. 

In presenting the awards, Machinists & Aerospace Organizing Director Vinny Addeo said, “This district… has consistently demonstrated the Transportation Department’s strategy for organizing through collective bargaining, and this approach has been working, as is evident by their success.” 

“District 141 is the largest district in the IAM, and that’s not by accident,” said IAMAW General Vice President, Sito Pantoja. “Eight years ago, District 141 had about 24 thousand members. Today, they have 38 thousand members. That tells you the effort that they’ve put into organizing. Organizing over 13 thousand members in that period of time is quite an achievement. Congratulations to Mike Klemm and District 141.” 

“I am so proud of the efforts our organizers and leaders have put in to growing our great union and bringing power back to the working people in the U.S. and Canada,” said Martinez. “Organizing can be an extremely difficult, yet rewarding job and these members do it with tenacity, passion and drive. I want to thank Organizing Director Vinny Addeo, the Organizing Department and all the organizers in every Territory for their dedication to working families and to growing the IAM.”

“Recognizing our Brothers’ and Sisters’ successes in organizing is so paramount to the task itself,” said Addeo. “Organizing is the most difficult challenge in the labor movement and that’s why it is so important for our Union to show our appreciation to them, which reinforces the significance of their accomplishments.”

 Awards for 2019 were given for the top District or Local from each respective territory, top individual organizer from each respective territory, top organizing territory and top individual organizer.

Top Organizing Territory: Western Territory

Organizer of the Year: Justin Mauldin, District 725 Director of Organizing


Western Territory

Top District/Local: District 725

Individual: Justin Mauldin, District 725 Organizing Director

Transportation Department

Top District/Local: District 141

Individual: Mike Klemm, District 141 President and Directing General Chair

Eastern Territory

Top District/Local: District 1

Individual: Brent Coleman, District 1 Organizer

Southern Territory

Top District/Local: District 776

Individual: Valerie Rodriguez, Grand Lodge Representative

Canadian Territory

Top District/Local: District 11

Individual: Nektarios (Nik) Sifakis, District 140 Organizer

Midwest Territory

Top District/Local: Local 701

Individual: Scott Brown, Local 778 Business Representative

IAM Headquarters

Individual: Dennis Mendenhall, Grand Lodge Special Representative