Meki Pei: Our Zoom Flight Over the Pacific Stops in Hawaii for Aloha

Meki Pei: Our Zoom Flight Over the Pacific Stops in Hawaii for Aloha

IAMAW 141 Video Report: Meki Pei

This week we travel over the Pacific once again via Zoom! This time, we’re meeting up with to speak with Meki Pei, President of Local 1979 in Honolulu. Brother Meki has had an incredible journey through our union, which he describes below and in this week’s IAMAW District 141 Video Report. 

 

Aloha Sisters and Brothers,

My name is Meki Malala Pei, President of Local Lodge 1979.

I started in the airline industry on May 21, 1998, with Hawaiian Airlines as a Part-Time Junior Agent.

In June 1999, I transitioned to Full Time Junior Agent, which remains my classification today.

When I first started in the airline industry, I was one of those guys who didn’t pay much attention to union activities and wasn’t interested in getting involved.

But in 2010, I had an incident at work and the company was going to suspend me for 3 days. I didn’t agree with the findings and when I asked about my option to challenge it, I was told that if I go through a hearing, there’s a possibility that I could get suspended for 1 to 2 weeks. I had a hearing to fight the 3-day suspension and I lost. The Hearing Officer then suspended me for 2 weeks without pay. I contacted most of my Union Reps and finally connected with AGC Arthur Croker, who supported me in appealing the decision. It took almost 4 months to get a decision on the appeal but it was worth the wait as I was relieved to learn we prevailed on the appeal. The company was ordered to reinstate my pay for the 2 weeks they had suspended me.  The company presumed I would give in to the 3-day suspension and forego a hearing but their approach made me fight for what I believed to be right.

This experience motivated me to get more involved in Union activities. So in 2012, I became a Shop Steward on the ramp and attended my first Leadership class in Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in 2013.

In January of 2016 I was elected a Local Committee Person. Then in May of 2016, I was appointed by PDGC Mike Klemm as the EAP Chairman – Hawaiian Airlines.

In 2017, I was elected as the Conductor Sentinel for Local Lodge 1979.

And in 2018, I was elected by my fellow members to be President of Local Lodge 1979 and I’m very proud to be the first Samoan to hold this position in the IAM. It’s been a privilege and honor to serve in this capacity. I continue to learn every day.

Thank you for all you do for our UNION and our Membership!

Be Safe out there and Stay Healthy!!

In Solidarity,

Mahalo and Fa’afetai Tele Lava

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A Seat at The Table: IAM Representative Appointed to Biden-Harris Transition

A Seat at The Table: IAM Representative Appointed to Biden-Harris Transition

The Biden-Harris Transition announced on Tuesday their appointments to Agency Review Teams (ARTs), which will be responsible for evaluating the operations of key federal agencies to ensure a smooth transfer of power.

Owen Herrnstadt, Esq., the Chief of Staff to the International President and the Director of the Office of Trade and Globalization of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, will serve on the ART for the US Department of State. 

Brother Herrnstadt joined the IAMAW in 1987 as Associate General Counsel. In addition to his many responsibilities as Chief of Staff for the IP, he develops policy for international trade, economic investment, international labor standards, and human rights matters as Director of Trade and Globalization. He represents American workers in several international labor federations. He is also the author of many articles and presentations on corporate social responsibility, challenges of the global economy, US labor law, and international transportation. He is a Research Associate at the Economic Policy Institute and an Adjunct Professor at the Washington College of Law of American University. 

According to the announcement, the review teams “…are composed of highly experienced and talented professionals with deep backgrounds in key policy areas across the federal government. The teams possess a diversity of perspectives critical to addressing America’s most urgent and complex challenges.”

The Biden-Harris Transition has appointed the most diverse agency review teams in presidential transition history. Over half of team members are women, and approximately 40% “represent communities historically underrepresented in the federal government, including people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities.” Over 25 union representatives will join professionals from business and non-profit organizations to work in review teams for several key incoming Federal Departments. The list includes the Department of Education, Justice, State, Transportation, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and Labor; and also the ARTs for the Federal Reserve, NASA, the Office of Personnel Management, US Trade Representative, Social Security Administration, and the US Postal Service. 

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Saluting Those Who Served

Saluting Those Who Served

A Veterans Day Message from IAMAW International President, Robert Martinez

This Wednesday, we set aside a special day to honor the brave men and women who have stepped up and served our countries with military service.

We owe a great amount of gratitude to our veterans. For their sacrifice, we are forever indebted.

These great patriots secure our democracy and the freedoms we hold sacred–the right to vote, the right of free speech, freedom of the press, and the right to peacefully protest. Our work as a union would not be possible without these American and Canadian heroes.

As a U.S. Navy Veteran, I am extremely proud that the Machinists Unions has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the entire labor movement.

Just as they made a commitment to defend our great nations, the Machinists Union makes a commitment to each and every veteran. We continue to advocate on their behalf, support their missions and proudly build and maintain the best military equipment in the world.

As we recognize Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada, please join me in thanking all those who have served our great nations.

In solidarity,

Robert Martinez Jr.
International President

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A Veterans Day Message from GVP Sito Pantoja

A Veterans Day Message from GVP Sito Pantoja

Today, we celebrate Veterans Day. On this special day, let us pause and salute all who have served and honor the tremendous sacrifices made by members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families to preserve our freedom.

It is the courage, conviction and service of our veterans and active military that allowed more than 150 million Americans to vote in last week’s election. Our military protects the freedom which provides us the right to vote. 

 

This occasion also gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the many important contributions of the thousands of veterans who are now working here at the IAM. Thank you for your strength, bravery and sacrifice which allows us to live in the land of the free.

 

Sito Pantoja,
IAMAW General Vice President

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Frontline Transportation Workers Persevere Through Pandemic

Frontline Transportation Workers Persevere Through Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the livelihoods and safety of all Americans, especially those working on the frontlines.

Transportation air and rail members, whose jobs are essential to moving travelers and goods across our country, have not only battled through the devastating effects of the virus, but had to do so without a coordinated, national plan from the federal government. The government’s failure has jeopardized the safety and livelihoods of tens of thousands of Machinists.

Federally-mandated policies and safeguards would protect our members and the traveling public.

IAM District 142 EAP Representative Lisa Ferm

In the absence of federal leadership, the groups who interact most with travelers, flight attendants and customer service agents, have had to adapt on the fly to changes to the passenger traveling experience.

“The new normal for airline travel has changed so much for both travelers and crew members,” said Commutair Flight Attendant and District 142 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Representative Lisa Ferm. “The easiest way to describe it would be to say a paranoia has set in, and it is going to stay awhile.”

Flight attendants and customer service agents are put into the unenviable position of dealing with passengers who aren’t required by federal mandate to wear a mask. These brave groups are who the flying public remembers most. Whether the passenger has a good experience or a bad one, they associate it, justly or not, to the faces they see as they check-in, onboard and deplane.

Although airlines have instituted a mandatory mask policy, front-line workers have to enforce the policy without federal support.

IAM District 141 Vice President Stacey Williams

IAM members have to confront an unruly passenger who refuses to wear one. This has led to dangerous confrontations, and also places our members in unnecessary risk of being exposed to someone who might be contagious.

In addition to these face to face encounters, there have been many other instances where employees’ safety has been compromised. Employees are being told far too late that they have come into contact with a passenger or coworker who has tested positive for COVID-19.

“Employees are scared to come to work,” said District 141 Vice President and 29-year Hawaiian Airlines Customer Service Agent Stacey Williams. “They are scared because they feel that there aren’t enough standardized regulations that all Americans should abide by. Mixed messages are being sent out and people are confused. When the president disagrees with the top physicians of infectious diseases in the United States, we have a problem.”

In addition to possibly being exposed to a dangerous virus, workers have also experienced increased mental and emotional stress over future job security and daily work anxiety.

“Being an EAP Representative, I’ve seen an increase in requests for help,” added Ferm. “Anxiety and fear can lead to depression, and that can, in many cases, lead to substance abuse.”

COVID Knows No Bounds

IAM Local 753 President and Local Chairman Matthew Tyler

The virus’ wide-ranging effects are not confined to urban areas. The horrific impact of COVID-19 is also experienced by members at suburban areas, like those at rail Local 753, who work for Metro-North Railroad in the lower Hudson Valley. This railroad line is used to travel from New York City to points in Connecticut and the southern counties of upstate New York.

This is a government run operation, which falls under the umbrella of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and includes the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and New York City Transit (bus and subway).

Workers at this rail shop and yard inspect and repair diesel locomotives, build wheel set assemblies and air compressor units for electric and diesel equipment.

“We had no idea that the virus would hit our area so hard; we do not work in the city,” said Matthew Tyler, President and Local Chairman of IAM Local 753. “As of now, three workers have died, many have been hospitalized, and hundreds have been out of work for extended periods.

We believe that all of this could have been prevented if our government had developed a plan to deal with it. Instead, the federal government was caught unprepared and we saw our coworkers get sick and some, unfortunately, died.”

 

IAM Fighting on Capitol Hill

Since the pandemic began, the Machinists have been leading the charge on Capitol Hill to protect our members and the transportation industry. The IAM has been fighting to do what the government hasn’t, preserving its members’ futures and ensuring their job safety.

The IAM’s legislative team’s unrelenting work behind the scenes, along with tens of thousands of members inundating their elected representatives with calls and letters, resulted in getting the CARES Act Payroll Support Program (PSP) passed by Congress in March, and at the time of printing was working on getting an extension passed through March 31, 2021. The PSP allocates grants to commercial airlines and airline contractors for the exclusive purpose of keeping employees on payroll with wages and benefits during this unprecedented period for the industry.

“The pandemic has devastated the airline and rail industries for years to come,” said IAM Transportation General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “The recovery will be slow and arduous, but the real travesty is the lack of a response from the federal government to ensure the safety of the American people. Politicizing a pandemic is criminal. The Machinists Union will not sit quietly, waiting for the government to do its job. We will continue to lead the fight to secure provisions that will protect all our members and their families. Come November 3, we cannot forget how our lives and families were jeopardized by the federal government’s colossal failure of leadership.”

The Transportation Department has also been in constant contact with all represented carriers to mitigate involuntary furloughs when government payroll assistance ends, and, in many cases, has negotiated Letters of Agreement that will allow an employee who takes a voluntary leave to receive partial pay, retain their medical status as an active employee and continue their airline traveling privileges.

Other negotiated general safety conditions that apply to many carriers and companies include:

  • Gloves, face coverings and sanitizers are provided while at work
  • Protective shields are located at customer facing positions
  • Increased cleaning frequencies are in place for break rooms and workplaces
  • Airport parking modification have been made to lessen employee bus reliance
  • Temperature checks occur in many work locations
  • Reservations locations have maximized work-at-home
  • Some airlines have spaced aircraft seating to separate FAs from passengers

“I am grateful the IAM has taken the initiative to secure our futures and did not wait for the government,” added Stacey Williams. “Their foresight will help our union get through this pandemic, and we will emerge even stronger.”

Machinists Force United Airlines to Backdown

After an intense IAM legislative, legal and public relations campaign, United Airlines was forced to back away from its illegal scheme to force 15,000 full-time IAM members into part-time positions.

After accepting $5 billion from taxpayers as part of the CARES Act, United made the unilateral decision to drastically reduce the wages, retirement benefits and paid leave of IAM-represented Fleet Service and Passenger Service members. The IAM quickly responded with a lawsuit, alleging United had violated the intent of the CARES Act, as well as the Railway Labor Act and the IAM’s collective bargaining agreements with the carrier.

In the face of the IAM’s lawsuit, pressure from Congress and even public opposition to United’s interpretation of the CARES Act by other airlines, United changed its course.

United’s plan drew bipartisan scorn, including from U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). More than 12,000 messages were sent to members of Congress from the IAM’s action alert asking lawmakers to intervene.

The IAM’s campaign captivated the attention of the entire labor movement, since United’s action threatened to spur other companies to mistreat workers while accepting taxpayer dollars from coronavirus relief legislation. The International Transport Workers’ Federation supported IAM members in a letter to United Airlines, urging the carrier to reconsider forced layoffs.

American Airlines challenged United’s assertion that the CARES Act’s airline relief section allowed for furloughs.

  • LR

/// This story originally appeared on GOIAM.org

Machinists and Aerospace Union Will Partner with Biden-Harris to Heal Country, Bring Jobs Home

Machinists and Aerospace Union Will Partner with Biden-Harris to Heal Country, Bring Jobs Home

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2020 – Robert Martinez Jr., International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released the following statement regarding the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the next president and vice president of the United States:

“The American people have spoken and democracy has prevailed. Our union and our nation are moving forward with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to do the work needed to emerge stronger than ever from these difficult times.

“We sincerely congratulate President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris, and all the pro-union candidates who won races from coast to coast. The Fighting Machinists Union was proud to endorse you in a membership vote and looks forward to building a better future with you. I am also grateful for every Machinists Union member who voted in this election, no matter how they cast their ballot.

“A new kind of work begins today—and the task in front of us is great. We have seen unemployment unrivaled since the Great Depression. Millions of American families have seen loved ones pass or sickened from an out-of-control pandemic. Our nation has deep divisions along the lines of race and class.

“But a new day has come to America. This time, the interests of working people must be put before corporations and the ultra-wealthy. Our members have seen their plants close, livelihoods upended and communities torn apart in the name of corporate greed. And just as we did during this administration, we will hold the next administration accountable to bring our jobs home.

“The Machinists Union can be counted on to serve as a trusted partner in building back our nation better than ever before. Working together, we can preserve and create good union jobs that will power us to a brighter future. We can ensure that every American has access to quality healthcare and a secure retirement. We can create opportunity for each and every one of us—no matter our race, religion, national origin or who we love.

“We can and we will accomplish great things together. The next chapter of this great American story begins now.” 

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among the largest industrial trade unions in North America and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airlines, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries.

goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

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