Noelle Sakamoto Named New Regional EAP Coordinator for Northwest Region

Dec 17, 2020 | Community Service Page, EAP, Featured, Featured News, Front Page, Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Perusals, Row 2 | 0 comments

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Incoming EAP Coordinator for the Northwest Region, Noelle Sakamoto has been active in Community Service and Outreach efforts at Local 1781 in San Francisco since the mid ’90’s.

Noelle Sakamoto Named New Regional EAP Coordinator for Northwest Region

IAMAW District 141 President Mike Klemm has tapped San Francisco Community Services Co-chair Noelle Sakamoto to be the new Coordinator for the EAP Northwest Region. She will be replacing Roberto Mendez, who recently retired.

“I want to congratulate the District for appointing Noelle Sakamoto as the new EAP Regional Coordinator for the Northern California Region,” Mendez said of the announcement. “I know she will do a great job.”

Noelle’s career with United Airlines began in 1994 when she first started working in the Reservations center at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Two and a half years later, she transferred to the Stores Department, where she became active in the IAMAW as a Union Steward.

Noelle grew familiar with the Local 1781 Steward Program over the next few years, becoming a vital and trusted voice for her coworkers in the process. After returning from Winpisinger Center Leadership training in 2018, Noelle helped rebuild the Local 1781 Women’s Committee as co-chair.

Noelle has spent years working to make union activism more accessible to front-line members. She has been involved in projects designed to get more of her coworkers involved and educated. For example, she served on a committee that designed commemorative jackets for members that attend six or more monthly Union Business Meetings in a year. She has also worked alongside a team of six members who organized a successful food distribution program for furloughed union members.

But, Noelle is probably best known in San Francisco for her dedicated and compassionate work with the Employee Assistance Program.

With the help and support of IAMAW District 141 Assistant General Chairs Troy Rivera and Olu Ajetomobi, Noelle was trained in her EAP role by Roberto Mendez, who she eventually replaced when he retired in July of 2020. Noelle was appointed the EAP Coordinator of Local 1781 in October before her new appointment to the District 141 Northwest Regional position in December.

In her new role, Noelle will be responsible for helping members in need to find competent, professional assistance as they face challenges related to their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

“I want to join EAP Director Bryan Hutchinson in welcoming Noelle to the position of Regional Coordinator,” said IAMAW District 141 President, Mike Klemm. “Her work over the years has set her apart as a committed and compassionate advocate for our membership. Her kindness, generosity, and unwavering spirit of activism are qualities that are needed now more than ever.”

The IAMAW District 141 Employee Assistance Program offers free and confidential help to union members seeking professional counseling and crisis intervention services. By partnering with hundreds of caring and trained professionals, the IAMAW District 141 EAP can quickly connect members to a wide range of mental health and wellbeing services. If you would like to learn more, please contact an EAP Representative at IAM141.org/141EAP.

History: American Airlines Workers Launch Vaccine Shipments From ORD to MIA

The American Airlines Cargo team carried its first shipment of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine Sunday evening. In close collaboration with pharmaceutical and cargo partners, the airline received the shipment by truck at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and loaded the shipment onto a Boeing 777-200 aircraft flying to Miami International Airport (MIA). The vaccine shipment arrived at its final destination a few hours later in a U.S. territory in the Caribbean. With this flight, American follows United Airlines as the two largest carriers transporting the priceless cargo.

“Make no mistake, our Association membership and other airline workers are on the front lines of history at this moment,” said IAMAW District 141 President, Mike Klemm. “These women and men are safely, efficiently, and quickly moving massive amounts of life-saving vaccines throughout this nation, as part of the work they do,” Klemm said. “These essential, front-line workers are truly integral to this effort,” he continued. “This is why these jobs are so critical to our nation. There is simply no other way to move as much vaccine as safely, as quickly, and to as many destinations, as you can though our nation’s air transportation system.”

“I am incredibly proud of the work that airline workers are doing to end this pandemic, and restore some sense of normalcy to the world,” Klemm said.

American Airlines began conducting trial flights in November to simulate the conditions required to transport the COVID-19 vaccine, stress testing the thermal packaging and operational handling process to ensure it remains stable in transit.

American has the largest dedicated temperature-controlled pharmaceutical shipping facility operated by an airline in the United States. From the time a shipment arrives at one of American’s facilities, it is tracked throughout its journey on the ground and from the airline’s Cargo Control Center, located within its Integrated Operations Control in Fort Worth, Texas.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, America Airlines Workers have been transporting hundreds of thousands of pounds of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical equipment, COVID-19 test kits, and pharmaceuticals to help battle the coronavirus, as well as components for Phase III COVID-19 vaccine trials.

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the airline industry, dropping daily passenger counts to less than half of normal levels and has led to tens of thousands of furloughs and layoffs. The job losses and cutbacks have hit non-union airline workers particularly hard, with those who are still on the job dealing with half-wages and many lost benefits.

Since February, over 300,000 Americans have perished from COVID-19, including thousands of workers in healthcare and other essential services like transportation.

The vaccines are expected to start becoming available for most Americans in early 2021.

Sources: AA Newsroom

Lawmakers Shouldn’t Go On Vacation if Mitch McConnell Can’t Do His Job, Pass Relief

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2020 – IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. issued the following statement regarding the current state of COVID-19 relief negotiations:

“Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans must pass long-overdue, comprehensive COVID-19 relief legislation before Congress takes yet another vacation. Millions of working people are out of jobs, going hungry, being evicted from their homes, and losing hope. The failure to pass desperately needed relief is squarely on the shoulders of Senate Republicans, who are more interested in playing games with people’s lives and going on vacation than fulfilling their obligations to the American people. It is outrageous.

“As the largest airline, defense, and aerospace union in North America, we have seen Machinists Union members act heroically during this pandemic to keep our nation and our economy moving. It has been a slap in face to them and their families to allow critical lifelines, like the airline Payroll Support Program, to expire and put hundreds of thousands of hardworking men and women out of a job. These are the working people who will continue to be critical front-line workers as we undertake the massive task of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to hundreds of millions of Americans. We need relief now for them and every working family struggling through no fault of their own.

“My message to Mitch McConnell is this—it is time for you to make the needs of our people a priority and put aside petty politics. We need passage of comprehensive economic relief 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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Machinists Mobilize for Pro-Worker Candidates in Georgia

The IAMAW is urging members to pack the polls and elect two pro-worker US Senators: John Ossoff and Rev. Rafael Warnock, to carry out a working family agenda in Washington.

Union members believe that a progressive Senate will do a better job of solving critical problems like the COVID-19 Pandemic and rebuilding the economy, top concerns for IAMAW District 112 President Reggie Dixon and Assistant to the President (IAMAW District 19) Andrew Sandberg. “We’re coming up with more positivve cases, and more deaths, because of the way this virus is being handled… or not handled,” said Sandberg.

IAM Political advocates also want Congress to pass the PRO Act, which will ban anti-union “Right to Work” laws nationwide. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives and could pass the Senate if Ossof and Warnock win in the Georgia runoffs. “This is one of the most important peices of legislation to come down for unions in 80 years,” said Jim Clements, the Georgia State Council of Machinists Presidents. “I have not seen anything that has the potential to have as much impact on me personally, on everybody that works in my shop, and everybody that works in a union or wants to work in a union,” he said.

“This is the future of what could happen to unions,” said IAMAW District 141 Legislative Director, David Roderick. “I really don’t want to see the demise of unions,” he continued.

Along with the anti-worker JANUS v AFSCME Supreme Court Decision, Right to Work Laws have made it possible to confiscate union property, including services and expertise, without paying for their use. Under these laws, union members must perform work for free, on demand, a set-up intended to bankrupt employee groups. Shifting control of the Senate could reverse these policies.

Early voting in Georgia begins on December 14.

In Georgia, runoff elections occur when candidates do not win a required majority of votes in a regular election. The US Senate is closely divided, and if both Ossoff and Warnock win in the Peach State, Democrats will hold a slight majority.

To learn more about how to get involved in IAMAW Legislative Action, or to get more information about how the MNPL is funded and operates, contact IAMAW District 141 Legislative Director, David Roderick at IAM141.org/Advocacy.

141 Report: Union Educators Adapt to Virtual Formats to Support Members

District 141 Communications Representative Dave Lehive recently sat in a class with District 141 Educator Kim Krasani, to see how the Education Department continues their work during the pandemic using virtual tools.

A 20-year veteran at United Airlines and an active member of Local 1776 in Philadelphia, Kim talks about her background and shares her experience leading union classes via Zoom. Dave also interviews a class participant, Jordan Kausin, a newly appointed Shop Steward from Monterey, California. Jordan speaks about why he volunteered to represent his coworkers during these challenging times.

Kim credits the quick actions of Mac McGovern, District 141 Education Director, who recognized early on that travel restrictions during the pandemic created a need for new ways to reach members and continue the department’s mission. With the full support of District PDGC Mike Klemm, and his assistant Ann Clifford, who makes sure participants receive all supporting materials for classes on time, District 141 Educators continue to provide the resources needed to represent members effectively.

For more information about virtual training classes or to sign up, contact your local lodge leadership or District 141 AGC, who will coordinate with Director Mac McGovern and District 141 educators to best serve your needs.

Roberto Mendez, Longtime Machinists & Aerospace Union Activist, Retires After a 36 Year Career

Labor groups praise the career of Machinists & Aerospace activist Roberto Mendez on his retirement from United Airlines after 36 years of service.

Roberto Mendez could not have known how important his career path would become when he was hired to work in the United Airlines Flight Kitchens more than three decades ago. In 1984, Roberto was a young, modest employee at the airline’s peripherals, working his way from food prep to Cabin Cleaner, ultimately earning a position at the Maintenance Base.

With a reputation for kind honesty and a willingness to work hard, Roberto became an active member of IAMAW Local 1781 in the San Francisco Bay Area. He quickly established himself as a trusted voice on behalf of his coworkers, serving as Shop Steward, Local Lodge Trustee, and Chairman of the 1781 Community Service Committee. As Chairman, he helped lead the 1781 Committee to become one of the nation’s most effective Community Service operations.

After 9/11, Roberto began partnering with the San Mateo Labor Council to expand the role of unions in historically under-represented communities. Working alongside Labor Council Community Services Director Rayna Lehman, their partnership set up programs that helped thousands of union members in the region. The collaboration also led to the creation of a large-scale, labor-run food distribution network in San Mateo County involving the Second Harvest Silicon Valley Food Bank. The food distribution program is still operating, helping families on a regular, ongoing basis.

As the efforts grew in complexity and size, Roberto became instrumental in food-distribution efforts that have lasted over 17 years.

In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Roberto partnered again with the San Mateo Labor Council to help provide for union families, delivering more than 1,700 free and healthy meals a month. Dubbed the “Union Grab and Go Food Distribution,” the program was run from the Local 1781 parking lot.

In 2003, Roberto was named the District 141 EAP West Coast Coordinator, a position he used to “save jobs and save lives,” according to the San Mateo Labor Council, who recently praised his years of activism at their August Membership Meeting. At the ceremony, a member rose to give credit to Roberto for saving his life after the member fell victim to a downward spiral of substance abuse.

IAM Local and District officers were quick to thank Roberto for his years of service and sacrifice.

“Roberto is the epitome of a service-oriented EAP professional, always there when needed,” said District 141 EAP National Director, Bryan Hutchinson. “How can I help?” “Tell me what you need. That’s Roberto,” he said.

San Mateo Labor Council Executive Secretary-General Julie Lind also praised Roberto for his “unity and thoughtfulness.” Noting Roberto’s years of partnership with the Council and other community groups, Lind said, “He always put the good of the Council before any and all potential divisive issues that arose; always a calm, analytical voice,” she told the assembly.

Roberto’s work in community service and food distribution efforts inspired his longtime partner, San Mateo Labor Council Community Service Director Reyna Lehman, to offer some of the most heartfelt praise. “In the world of work, the highest compliment you can give is to call a coworker a colleague and in the world of life, the highest compliment is to call someone a friend. And, Roberto is both of those to me.”

Lehman described the millions of pounds of food they had distributed, the thousands of toys, and the hundreds of workshops and training programs they had provided to those in need.

“Roberto has been a source of pride for our district and our union,” said IAMAW 141 President and Directing General Chair, Mike Klemm. “I want to congratulate, from the bottom of my heart, Brother Roberto Mendez, for his years of service and his well-deserved retirement. He’s helped establish our union as a compassionate, professional, and dedicated group of workers who want to work together to make the world a better place.”

Now that they are both retired, Roberto and Maria, his wife of 45 years, plan to enjoy more baseball games and time with grandchildren.