Negotiations Drag Along in Chicago; District 141 Negotiators Leery with Pace of Talks

Negotiations Drag Along in Chicago; District 141 Negotiators Leery with Pace of Talks

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Negotiations Drag Along in Chicago; District 141 Negotiators Leery with Pace of Talks

 

26 March 2022

The IAM District 141 Negotiations Committee and United Airlines negotiators met this week in Chicago. The week started slowly, with no progress made. However, by the week’s end, each side presented and considered proposals from the other. We agreed to a deadline of August 1, 2022, to reach tentative accords on new contracts for approximately 25,000 IAM members covered under seven different agreements. The Union and Company have scheduled six weeks of additional talks between now and August 1, 2022, at hub locations across the system.

The proposals exchanged by both sides primarily dealt with modifying existing contract language regarding system bid rules, uniforms, company-mandated equipment requirements, and vacation rules. These issues are essential to the IAM membership at United. We hope to resolve them fairly and expeditiously, so we can move on to the other priorities of IAM members at United.

We remain cautiously optimistic that we will be able to achieve success in this expedited process. We define success as gaining improvements regarding the issues prioritized by IAM members in the survey and proposal process. This week, we reminded United management that the expedited negotiations process provides excellent value to the Company. It can lock in contracts for the near future in an expedited fashion. This gives the Company certainty regarding the labor costs of over 25,000 Machinists, the most prominent workgroups at the carrier, and avoids labor strife during United’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We remain committed to achieving the industry-best contracts that we deserve at United. Much more work needs to be done to achieve our goal, and we ask that IAM members at United stay informed and focused on these negotiations. Please read and distribute these bulletins. Our power in negotiations comes from a unified membership that demands fairness.

Thank you for all your support and solidarity and your work to make United the successful airline it is. Without you, there is no United Airlines.

In Solidarity,

Your District 141 Negotiating Committee

Olu Ajetomobi
Joe Bartz
Victor Hernandez
Barb Martin
Andrea’ Myers
Terry Stansbury

Faysal Silwany
Erik Stenberg
Sue Weisner

Michael G. Klemm

President & Directing General Chair,
IAMAW District 141

Recording Secretaries: Please print and post on all IAMAW bulletin boards.

JetBlue Crewmembers: Union Job Protection Can’t Come Soon Enough

JetBlue Crewmembers: Union Job Protection Can’t Come Soon Enough

JetBlue Crewmembers: Union Job Protection Can’t Come Soon Enough

Justice at JetBlue
15 March 2022

Last week, CEO Robin Hayes wrote to JetBlue employees saying surging fuel prices threaten the airline industry’s recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic. He is correct.

CEO Hayes also stated how JetBlue workers could step up and help out during this time, which is reasonable. He claimed that airline executives would scale down JetBlue’s schedule due to higher fuel prices making specific routes unprofitable. Realistic.

Everyone, including the IAM, wants to see JetBlue be successful. But, how can we protect ourselves during these very uncertain times? What if the financial situation in our industry gets so bad that JetBlue has to declare bankruptcy?

Many airline analysts are forecasting airline bankruptcies. Alarmingly, JetBlue’s poor management style has earned it the dubious title of “worst airline” in America for a range of management failures. What if the industry’s financial condition gets so bad that mergers/acquisitions are the only way the airline can survive? History has shown that airline mergers and acquisitions are more likely to happen during industry downturns. They are also more likely to occur to mismanaged airlines that cannot handle basic scheduling logistics. 

Joining a union is the best way to protect ourselves. Why? Airlines MUST NEGOTIATE with employee unions during the bankruptcy process, and workers have a voice in the outcome. During mergers, airlines are legally required to negotiate seniority rights, wages, benefits, and working conditions with unions. In short, if the worst happens, then having union representation benefits us.

While we hope our industry can make it through these uncertain times, we need to prepare for the alternative. Hoping is not enough. Having IAM representation would go a long way to ensuring that our interests are represented no matter what happens.

 

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SOLIDARITY: The Machinists Union Strike Fund

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SOLIDARITY: Machinists Union Strike Fund

GOIAM.org
14 March 2022

The IAM Strike Fund allows for donations of non-dues money from members, families, friends, and other labor supporters. 

Following the launch of the strike fund, the AFL-CIO added this resource to their active strike map and donation page, which you can view here.

30 Local Lodge 447 Machinists members at Cummins, who have been on strike for four weeks fighting for a fair contract, held a rally this week to spotlight the company’s retrogressive contract demands. The rally drew heavy support from the local community and other union affiliates.

View One Day Longer, One Day Stronger video of the rally here.

“We are here because this company has forgotten how it became successful,” said IAM District 15 Assistant Directing Business Representative Mike Vartabedian. “Even though they made billions of dollars in profit last year, they don’t want to provide wage increases to the people who helped build the company. These Machinists keep the generators working at hospitals and nursing homes. In short, they are the people who fix the engines that drive our economy and support our frontline and emergency workers. They are on strike only because the company doesn’t want guaranteed wages increases going forward. They have the full support of the Machinists Union and the labor movement behind them.”

Cummins, which draws about $20 billion in annual revenue, builds heavy machinery and parts for railroads, trucks, generators, and tractors.

“Local 447 members continue to inspire Machinists and the labor movement with their fortitude and resolve in their fight for a fair and just contract at Cummins,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President Brian Bryant. “With each passing day, they become stronger and more united. All Machinists will continue to fight with them until they are treated fairly by the company.”

The IAM has launched the IAM Strike Fund on goIAM.org to benefit members enduring a strike, creating a way for fellow union members to offer vital assistance and show solidarity with workers forced to go on strike. 

Providing additional support to sisters and brothers from across this great union to the mantra of – “one day longer” etches our Fighting Machinists solidarity in stone.  

The IAM Strike Fund allows for donations of non-dues money from members, families, friends, and other labor supporters.  

Following the launch of the strike fund, the AFL-CIO added this resource to their active strike map and donation page, which you can view here.

Sen. Warren voices her support for Local 447 Machinists.

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141 Report: The Machinists Union-Represented Security Force at United

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This week, join the 141 Report for an interview with two machinist guests from San Franciso airport. Our focus this week is on the IAM-represented United Airlines Security officers who watch over the 3000 workers who go into the hanger facility each day.

IAM District Lodge 141 Report with Host Dave Lehive is a weekly podcast featuring Machinist Union Members and Allies of the Labor Movement. Our Video report airs every Friday at 2:00 PM EST (1:00 CST) on Facebook and Youtube and is also on Spotify.

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IAM Files for Representation Election for 350 Swissport Workers

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The IAM this morning filed a petition at the National Labor Relation Board (NLRB) in Newark, NJ, to represent approximately 350 Swissport cargo workers. The workers employed at the Newark Liberty Airport facility have sought IAM representation for almost three years.

“I’d like to congratulate the Swissport workers on filing for an election,” said IAM District 141 President and Directing General Chairman Mike Klemm. “It’s been a long road. I truly admire the resolve of these workers and look forward to them joining the IAM family.”

“Membership Services Director Frank Giannola has provided the leadership and support Swissport workers have needed to bring this campaign to a vote,” continued Klemm. “His team of District 141 Educators which include Carmelo Benedicto and James Wells worked hard to keep this campaign alive and never gave up on these workers.” Throughout this process, the Machinists Union Transportation Department under Chief of Staff Richie Johnsen has been an invaluable resource. Along with unwavering help from James Carlson, Assistant Airline Coordinator at the IAM, we are reaching more workers with a pro-union message, demonstrating the value of collective bargaining to a new generation of working people.  

After failing to obtain an election in 2019, the Swissport workers answered the bell during the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping goods and services flowing during the most tumultuous period in airline industry history. And then, in 2021, they recommitted to their campaign for IAM representation.

“I am very happy for the Swissport workers. They have exhibited courage and a steadfast commitment to gaining collective bargaining rights,” said Frank Giannola. “We will see this campaign through with a Yes vote and a strong first contract.” 

The NLRB will now review the representation petition, and IAM union leadership expects Swissport workers to deliver a final vote soon.

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Machinists Union: President Biden’s Historic ‘Buy American’ Expansion Answers Decades-Long Calls from U.S. Workers

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“The Machinists Union has championed and called for an expansion of ‘Buy American’ domestic content requirements for decades. Today’s announcement is further proof that in President Biden, we finally have a champion for U.S. workers in the White House.”

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2022 – Robert Martinez Jr., International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace, the largest aerospace and defense labor union in North America, released the following statement regarding President Biden’s expansion of “Buy American”:

“The Machinists Union has championed and called for an expansion of ‘Buy American’ domestic content requirements for decades. Today’s announcement is further proof that in President Biden, we finally have a champion for U.S. workers in the White House.

“Today’s announcement makes real what we have been saying all along—that ‘Made in America’ should mean ‘Made in America.’ In fact, the Machinists Union, along with U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, championed an amendment to the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act that would have made a similar ‘Buy American’ threshold increase for defense products. That bipartisan amendment passed the House before being defeated by corporate-backed politicians in the Senate.

“The Biden administration is now applying that rule—that any product stamped with ‘Made in America’ should have 75% of its value come from parts made here in the United States—to all products purchased with taxpayer dollars by 2029.

“This is critical for our domestic supply chains. It is music to the ears of American workers. It puts our tax dollars toward buying the best products made by the best workers. And it will finally make a real difference toward bringing back U.S. jobs that have been sent out of the country by bad trade deals and corporate greed.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Biden administration and the Made in America Office for hearing our call and the calls of millions of Americans. Let’s build the future right here in America.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of the largest and most diverse industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, manufacturing, transit, healthcare, automotive and other industries.

 

goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

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