Feb 20, 2020 | American, Featured, Home, Organizing
A principal member of the negotiating team at American Airlines, Wilson will serve as Assistant General Chair for District 141.
Mike Klemm, President and Directing General Chair announced the appointment of William “Billy” Wilson as Assistant General Chair at the February District 141 Board Meeting.
“Billy Wilson is a dedicated and proven leader whose energy and steady advocacy on behalf of our members helped us achieve a fair agreement with American Airlines. He is a valued member of our District 141 leadership,” said Klemm.
Just six months after he began working for US Air in Philadelphia in 1987, Billy recognized the benefits of having a union and a voice in the workplace and became a Shop Steward. He earned the support of his coworkers and was re-elected multiple times. In 2006 he was elected to the Local 1776 Grievance Committee, where he continued to distinguish himself and was elected Grievance Chair in 2014, a position he held for six years.
In the Summer of 2015, Billy joined the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiating Committee of the TWU-IAM Association as a representative of the IAM. That same year, he became a District 141 Vice President At-Large.
“Working as a member of the IAM JCBA was an honor and a privilege. I learned that in negotiations it is alright to not get everything you asked for. If you get everything, then you probably didn’t ask for enough,” Wilson stated.
Wilson was relentless in his pursuit of justice and a fair contract for all union members, at and away from the negotiating table. A video of his exchange with American Airlines President Robert Isom at a “town hall” meeting went viral in April 2018.
Wilson’s resolve at the negotiating table is balanced with an easy-going personality that makes him accessible to the members he represents. He stressed that there is nothing more important than paying attention, and stated, “I think one of the most sincere forms of respect is taking the time to actually listen to others.”
Feb 20, 2020 | EAP, Featured, Helping Hands, Home, Organizing, Uncategorized
The experience of shame—a feeling of being unworthy, bad, or wrong—can be extremely uncomfortable.
Shame has the potential to change the way we see ourselves and may lead to long-lasting social, professional, and other difficulties.
The word “shame” means different things to different people. Shame is very different from guilt and embarrassment. Guilt is usually understood to involve negative feelings about an act one has committed, while embarrassment deals with a societal reaction. Shame, on the other hand, involves negative feelings about oneself, and although a person can be shamed by peers or society in general, shame can also be experienced secretly.
Unresolved shame can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Shame may also be a symptom of some mental health diagnoses, such as body dysmorphia, or the product of a traumatic experience, such as rape or sexual assault. Living with shame, regardless of the shame’s source, can be a lonely and demoralizing experience. Therapy can help by addressing the underlying cause. When shame is due to a past misdeed, a qualified counselor can support a person to make amends or move on.
WHERE DOES SHAME COME FROM?
The experience of shame can be deeply unpleasant. People experiencing shame are struck by the overwhelming belief that they—as opposed to their actions or feelings—are bad. In some people, this may inspire a change in behavior. In others, shame can be paralyzing. Shame has many sources. Sometimes a person is plagued by feelings of shame without a clear cause. Some studies have linked conditions such as depression or social anxiety to shame. Because mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety remain stigmatized, a person experiencing shame due to these conditions may continually become more ashamed of themselves and their condition, making symptoms worse and making it difficult to seek help.
HOW TO GET HELP FOR SHAME
Getting help for shame begins with identifying shameful emotions. Some people are not conscious of their shame. Others know they feel ashamed, but worry that seeking help will force them to disclose their shame to others. Because shame is linked to feelings of unworthiness and low self-esteem, some people fear that those from whom they seek help will eventually discover that the shame is deserved. They fear exposure, and worry that others will reject them when they see the truth.
These are self-defeating thoughts. Shame is treatable, no matter where it comes from. If you feel that your shame is deserved, it’s important to know that your shame serves no purpose. Instead, it may cause you to harm yourself or others. Brene Brown’s shame resilience theory is a comprehensive approach to preventing and overcoming shame.
Brown argues that resilience to shame has four components:
• Recognizing signs of shame and understanding a person’s triggers for shame.
• Awareness of shame, its cultural origins and how it functions in relationships.
• Reaching out to others to share your story.
• Giving voice to feelings of shame, since shame derives much of its power from secrecy.
HELP DEALING SHAME
Shame often stems from a traumatic experience. A person may fear that they deserved the trauma, experience guilt and shame about having survived, or feel ashamed of sexual or other abuse. When shame is due to trauma, it’s critical that therapy is trauma-sensitive, addressing the root cause of shame. Some treatment options include:
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps people understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Therapists focus on automatic thoughts that typically go unnoticed— such as “I don’t deserve love if I make a mistake.”
• Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): CPT is short term and involves talking about your trauma. CPT works to understand how trauma affects emotions and behavior and implements strategies for controlling the effects of trauma, including shame.
• Stress inoculation training (SIT): Stress inoculation training is a variant of CBT that teaches people how to respond to stress before it overwhelms them. It includes training on breathing techniques, muscle relaxation, noticing and changing automatic negative thoughts, and role-playing exercises.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR is a stage-based approach to treatment that uses specific eye movements to help a person talk about trauma. Over time, a person learns to manage their emotions and to integrate the trauma into their life story.
These techniques may also work for other forms of shame, such as shame due to depression. Finding a therapist who respects your values and helps you set goals is key. Your local Employee Assistance Program representative listed below can help you find the right resource.
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Feb 14, 2020 | Community Service, Education, Education Class, Featured, Home, Uncategorized, Video
District 141 of the Machinists and Aerospace union is partnering with local union lodges to help provide education and training for union stewards at airports around the nation.
The program, headed by Director Mike “Mac” McGovern, attracts hundreds of union stewards each year.
This past week, a recently expanded education staff held training classes for Union Stewards at Dulles (Local 1759) and Minneapolis (Local 1833).
“Great group of members,” said District Educator Chris Lusk of his visit to Dulles. “This is a great opportunity to meet union stewards, find out what their issues are, and help to educate them on how to be better stewards.”
“We go over a number of things in the education department. We go through scenarios, we go over things that may be shared from station to station.”
Assistant General Chairs Mike Cyscon and Rich Creighton were present in Dulles to offer expert guidance for the stewards.
Feb 14, 2020 | Community Service, Featured, Home, Uncategorized
There was a time long ago, before dating sites and apps on the internet, when the only way to meet someone was to go out and interact with people. As union members who believe in solidarity, we do this all the time. But how does solidarity turn into true love? To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we asked a few couples who are active members of District 141 how they met and what made them realize they had found “The One.”
— Jenn and Jeff Carlson
Jenn and Jeff worked together but didn’t really know each other. That changed on May 23, 2006.
Jeff Carlson’s car was in the shop, so he was riding home from work with a friend. They stopped for a beer, and Jeff began a conversation with Jenn that lasted for hours. Jenn offered to drop him off, and he was smitten: “I kissed her good night as I was getting out of the car, and I knew she was the one.”
“I called her the next day and made plans to go out, and we have been by each other’s side ever since. We were married exactly 3 years from the night we met,” said Jeff.
The Carlsons have both served as Committee Chairs at Local 2210 in San Antonio, TX. Jenn holds the position at present, and Jeff describes his role as “right hand” Shop Steward.
Their roots in the airline business run deep. Jenn is the 4th generation in her family to work at United. Jeff’s mother was a flight attendant for Allegheny Airlines and his father was a ramp serviceman at American. Jeff said they proudly honor that legacy: “My father taught me how important a union was from the time I was a child, and Jenn and I carry our parents’ support of unionism forward as we represent our members on the shop floor every day.”
— Adriana and Dave.
Adriana and Dave met (of course!) when he took her picture.
During the 2011 United/Continental representation election, Rich Pascarella, President of Local 1759 (who later became a District 141 AGC), organized an informational meeting for Ramp Service workers at Washington Dulles Airport (IAD). Adriana Picasso, a Lead Customer Service Agent at United and Shop Steward, was a volunteer at the IAM T-shirt booth. Dave Lehive, as a Communications Representative for District 141, was interviewing workers and photographing the event. At the end of the day, Adriana asked Dave to take her picture, and he says that “the rest is history.”
Dave and Adriana’s friendship flourished through emails and Facebook, and a few months later they found themselves together again, this time in Las Vegas at the District 141 Convention. After several dinners and many dates over the next 3 years, Dave and Adriana tied the knot on March 8, 2015.
“We found true love through the IAMAW,” said Adriana. “We’re both passionate about our Union and each other.”
— Helena and Sonny.
Helena and Sonny’s wedding reception included 400 Brothers and Sisters from District 141.
“I did not expect to find my husband at my first District 141 Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada!”
Helena was relatively new to the union, but her activism earned her election as Conductor Sentinel at Local 1725 in Charlotte, NC. At the 2010 District 141 Convention, former AGC (now Grand Lodge Representative) Gil Simmons introduced Helena to Sonny Thornton, a Committeeman from Local 1776.
After 2 years in a long-distance relationship, they were married during the 2012 District Convention at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. After the wedding, Sonny continued to work in Philadelphia and he and Helena scheduled vacations and day trades to be together. After four years of managing flight and work schedules, Sonny transferred to Charlotte in 2016 intending to retire soon after. He’s still working.
“During our first dates, I would say ‘no union talk’ which was very hard for Sonny,” says Helena. “‘What do I talk about now?’ he would ask, because he was passionate about his union work. Now I’m the local’s Recording Secretary and the roles are reversed, so I’m the one that ‘talks union’ all the time.”
Maria and Ivan’s union work is an extension of their family life.
Maria and Ivan Caban.
Maria and Ivan Caban were introduced by their parents, who were coworkers at the Houston Airport. Ivan’s family moved to Texas from Puerto Rico when his dad was laid off by Pan American Airways.
Their courtship began at the airport while Maria worked at the Duty-Free shop. After 33 years together, their commitment to justice and to each other drives their work. Maria is a Trustee at Local 2198, while Ivan serves as Trustee at Local 811, both in Houston, Texas.
They also enjoy working on policy-making and legislative issues, and Maria says the work brings them closer together. She said, “We are passionate about the same things, such as human rights, a better quality of life, the right to organize, defending the voiceless and those who are afraid to speak up for themselves. We went through unfair practices at the job and were happy that we could spend time together fighting with the union for what we believe.”
Feb 4, 2020 | American, Featured, Home, retirement, The Association, Uncategorized
February 4, 2020
What to Know About the Early Out Offer at American Airlines
Sisters and Brothers,
The Company has informed the Association that they are planning to offer an Early Out to Association Members at some point and time under terms and conditions established by the Company.
Why is this not part of the Agreement in Principle:
- As part of the negotiation process over the past several years, the Company has discussed offering an Early Out to Association Members. The Association informed the Company that if we were to agree to an Early Out as part of the contract it would have to be offered by Seniority to any Member in the system who applied. The Company stated they could not agree to such application.
- In the last session, prior to reaching an Agreement in Principle on the terms and conditions of open items that the Association had proposed, the Company indicated that the cost of offering an Early Out during the JCBA was going to cost millions of dollars. The Association did not agree to any cost for an Early Out since it is a program the Company will unilaterally offer and is not part of the collective bargaining agreement. In fact, the carrier could have made the offer at any time, since it was never a part of our negotiations.
- So, an Early Out could be offered by the Company, but since the Company does not agree to offer such Early Out by Seniority as the Association discussed, the terms and conditions of the Early Out will be solely established by the Company.
Many of you have sacrificed much over the years and may have the opportunity to participate in an Early Out, but the Association could not agree to allow the Company to circumvent a Member’s Seniority or allow millions of dollars to be held over our heads in negotiations.
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Jan 29, 2020 | Featured, Home, MNPL, Video
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.
