American Democracy is Working

American Democracy is Working

Nov 6, 2020 | Featured, Featured News, Front Page, MNPL, Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized | 0 comments

Sisters and Brothers,

As the vote count continues nationwide, one thing is clear—IAM members and voters from coast to coast turned out in record numbers. Despite the pandemic and deliberate barriers to silence our voices, more people voted in this election than any in the history of our country.

Local election officials are doing their jobs by protecting a free and fair election and are now working long hours to count every ballot as quickly as possible. We should all support them and remain patient as this process plays out. The will of the people will prevail.

In America, the voters decide who will represent us, not the courts. We pick our leaders – our leaders do not pick their voters. We must reject any attempt to sow doubts about our election or interfere with the legitimate count of ballots.

Myself and the IAM Executive Council are extremely proud of every IAM member who voted in this election—no matter who you support. This is one Fighting Machinists family.

We will count every ballot and move forward as one union and one nation.

In solidarity,

Robert Martinez Jr.
International President

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What’s At Stake? A conversation with District 141 Legislative and MNPL Director Dave Roderick

What’s At Stake? A conversation with District 141 Legislative and MNPL Director Dave Roderick

Oct 30, 2020 | Featured, Featured News, Front Page, MNPL, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

141 Report: New Jersey State Council of Machinists President, Ines Garcia-Keim

On the last District 141 Report before Election Day 2020, we talk with Dave Roderick about where the candidates for president stand on issues such as organizing rights, minimum wage laws, plans for infrastructure improvements, human rights, health care, retirement security, and so-called “right to work” laws. Don’t miss this side-by-side comparison on these important issues before you vote.

The Machinists Union conducted a democratic endorsement process where the majority of members chose Joe Biden as their preferred candidate for President of the United States. How you vote, however, is a personal decision. Our union has researched the candidates’ records and platforms to help you cast an informed vote.

Vote to protect your family and your union. Make your voice heard! VOTE!  

 

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Have You Voted Yet?

Have You Voted Yet?

Oct 30, 2020 | Community Service, COVID, Education, Featured, Featured News, Front Page, GOIAM Stories, MNPL, Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Row 2, Uncategorized | 0 comments

We wanted to check in to make sure you have voted or have a plan to vote in this very important election.

Visit iam2020.org to get all the information you need to vote.

You may remember that IAM members voted to endorse Joe Biden in a first-of-its-kind membership vote this March. Click here to view the IAM’s endorsed U.S. Senate candidates.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will:

– Defend the Voices of Machinists Union Members: Joe Biden will fight against anti-union “right to work” laws.

– Protect Our Health and Keep Us Safe: Joe Biden will make sure employers aren’t risking our health and our lives during this pandemic.

– Secure Our Retirement: Joe Biden will work hard to make sure all our retirement plans are protected.

The stakes couldn’t be higher in this election, so please make your voice heard. Visit iam2020.org and make a plan to vote today.

 

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“Halloween Hurricane” Zeta Batters Air Travel Along the Gulf Coast

“Halloween Hurricane” Zeta Batters Air Travel Along the Gulf Coast

Oct 29, 2020 | American, Featured, Featured News, Front Page, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Safety, Safety, Uncategorized | 0 comments

Zeta has weakened to a tropical storm over Alabama after slamming into the Louisiana Coastline as a Catagory 2 hurricane just days before Halloween.

Airline workers have faced 27 tropical storms in 2020, with 11 of them strengthening to hurricane status.

The last year so many named storms made landfall in the U.S. was 1916, making 2020 the worst weather year in commercial aviation history. Hurricane season ends on November 30. 

Zeta will likely impact several communities served by American Airlines, including airports in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. 

American issued a travel alert for nine coastal airports, allowing customers whose travel plans are impacted by Hurricane Zeta to rebook without change fees. 

By late afternoon on October 28, all major airlines had canceled flights from Louis Armstrong Airport (MSY) in New Orleans. Most flight activities were restored by the morning of the 29th.

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Big Money is Buying an Anti-Union Supreme Court

Big Money is Buying an Anti-Union Supreme Court

Oct 27, 2020 | Featured, Featured News, Front Page, GOIAM Stories, MNPL, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized | 0 comments

When it comes to who is chosen to fill an open seat on the highest court in the United States, the process isn’t just a matter of picking a well-known judge from the lower courts. It’s a multi-million-dollar industry-funded from hard to trace origins.

Former U.S. Attorney and current U.S. Sen. Whitehouse (D-RI) does a good job of explaining the dark money trail fueling Supreme Court cases and Justice nominations last week during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Most notable is the part where he discusses the anti-worker Janus case and the amount of money being used to fight unions in the highest court in the U.S.

Watch the entire video here.

The current nominee to the court, Judge Amy Coney Barrett has an troubling anti-labor past, as highlighted in this IAM video.

The Senate Judiciary Committee confirmed Judge Barrett today, moving to a full Senate confirmation vote scheduled for next week.

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Broken Promises: Aerospace Workers on the Line

Broken Promises: Aerospace Workers on the Line

Oct 26, 2020 | Featured, Featured News, Front Page, GOIAM Stories, MNPL, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

United Technologies in California

In July of 2018, United Technologies Corporation (UTC) informed IAM Local 755 they were going to lay off approximately 300 members from their Chula Vista, CA facility. IAM members have been making aerospace components at that location since 1941.

“They’ll go to the cheapest corner of the world to make a profit,” said Juan Villalobos, IAM Local 755 member and 20-year employee who is laid off.

UTC has been steadily outsourcing the work performed at the plant to facilities in Mexico. UTC in Chula Vista is one of dozens of IAM-represented facilities that have closed during the Trump administration.

“When I was there they were getting 118 pesos, which was less than $10, a day,” said Villalobos. “Not an hour, a day.”

“When is it going to be important for us to have U.S.A made stuff,’” said Local 755 member and 22-year employee Kimberly Lepper. “I thought Trump was going to save my job, and I wish he would’ve.” 

Watch the IAM’s video about UTC outsourcing IAM jobs to Mexico on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

Watch all the IAM’s “Broken Promise” videos.

“Unfortunately we live in a time where corporate greed knows no boundaries and hard-working American families are the ones who suffer,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “We need elected officials who will hold these companies accountable for offshoring jobs, not reward them with tax breaks like the current administration does. This employer and all others shipping our jobs to Mexico and elsewhere should be ashamed of themselves, putting corporate profits over American jobs”

“It makes my blood boil every time another U.S. based corporation sends our work across the border or overseas, these corporations are guilty of economic treason against the United States,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “We need leaders in Washington that will hold corporations accountable and penalize these companies for the economic devastation caused by outsourcing and off-shoring good paying union jobs. My heart goes out to our members who fall victim to the greed of this country’s elite – it’s time to fight back at the ballot box!”

 

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