Texas and California Governors’ Warning: Wear Your Masks or Risk Another Full Shutdown

Texas and California Governors’ Warning: Wear Your Masks or Risk Another Full Shutdown

Jun 24, 2020 | COVID, Featured, Front Page, MNPL, Row 2, Safety, Uncategorized | 0 comments

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The governors of California and Texas, two big states with major airline hubs in them, say residents need to start wearing masks and taking COVID-19 seriously, or the states might be forced to shut back down. 

Pre-pandemic, an estimated 143.6 million air passengers traveled to and from destinations in California and Texas each day. This accounts for more than half of all daily air travelers in the United States in 2019. Destinations in California accounted for more than 80 million passengers per day before state officials mandated shut-downs to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Texas is home to the headquarters for Southwest and American Airlines, and is also one of the largest hubs for United Airlines, which combined carried over 60 million passengers per day in 2019. 

A return to widespread closures in either state would deal yet another serious blow to commercial aviation in the US, forcing major airlines to shrink for the long term, and would kill regional carriers outright.

In a statement released this week, Governor Gavin Newsom of California said the state currently had enough hospital space to handle the exploding numbers of COVID patients, but a continued upward trend in cases would overwhelm the system.   

This week, California officials reported over 184,765 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with over 5,500 deaths. The state is struggling to reopen for business and prepare for the new school year to begin in August. Some school districts are trying to open early to make up for lost learning time in the spring. 

“California’s strategy to restart the economy and get people back to work will only be successful if people act safely and follow health recommendations,” Newsom said in a press conference. “That means wearing a face covering, washing your hands, and practicing physical distancing.” 

However, with too many people ignoring the recommendations, and no sign of the pandemic waning in the state, on June 18th Newsom issued an order that requires all Californians to wear a face-covering when in public. Since early April, similar mandates have been put in place by governors in 14 states and the District of Columbia. 

The new policy creates a more standardized response in California, which previously had a range of different regional and municipal rules in place. Some counties had strict rules regarding masks and face coverings, while others were being withdrawn or scaled back due to public protests and outcry, including death threats.

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott scolded “20-somethings” for not wearing masks or practicing social distancing. 

“Over the past week or so, really for the month of June, we have seen an increase in the number of people in their 20s testing positive,” the Republican governor said in an interview with KLBK in Dallas which aired on Monday.

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“We believe that a lot of people have let down their guard,” said the governor. “The summer’s here. Things are opening up. They feel like they can go out without having to wear a face mask. And they are not realizing this very important fact: COVID-19 still exists in Texas, in America and across the globe.”

The Texas governor has not issued a state order requiring face coverings, but has approved policies that mandate masks for employees and customers in businesses in several counties and municipalities, including Austin, the state capital. “I know some people feel that wearing a mask is inconvenient or an infringement of freedom, but I also know that wearing a mask will keep Texas open,” he said. In Houston, individuals that ignore the requirement to wear a face covering may not face any fines – but the businesses they visit are. Stores, bars, and other businesses are subject to a $1,000 fine per violation if they allow customers or employees without face coverings on their property. 

Governor Abbott said the health systems were handling the patient volumes well overall, but noted that the rate of hospitalizations for COVID-19 has doubled since Memorial Day. NPR reported that the demand for hospital beds in the Houston area has increased to the point that the Texas Children’s Hospital is now admitting adult patients. 

The governor stressed that closing Texas down again would always be a “last resort,” but also said that if people failed to wear masks, practice safe social distancing and basic personal hygiene, the state may soon have to consider more severe measures to deal with the pandemic.

On Tuesday, Governor Abbott announced that 5,489 new COVID-19 cases, an all-time high, had been confirmed by health authorities in the state. Texas now has a total of 120,370 confirmed COVID-19 cases, trailing New York, California, New Jersey and Illinois.

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A Conversation With Safety Advocate, Danny Schwarz

A Conversation With Safety Advocate, Danny Schwarz

Jun 19, 2020 | Row 2, Safety, Uncategorized, Video | 1 comment

A Conversation with Safety Advocate and Attorney, Danny Schwarz

Danny Schwarz has established himself as a fierce enforcer of workplace safety, and a dedicated defender of airline and airport workers.

His pioneering work is forcing employers to eliminate poorly maintained and unsafe equipment and maintain a safe work environment. In a half-century of taking on billion-dollar corporate giants in court, Danny Schwarz and his firm had noticed disturbing industry injury trends, which they began to track. In response to these alarming injury trends, Danny Schwarz developed a groundbreaking program to report and track repetitive workplace injuries. The Safety System Danny created collects specific information obtained from OSHA and industry activists like us. The data can then be used to protect the safety of workers … and hold employers accountable.

Today, Danny Schwarz is helping OSHA to modernize and digitize many of its record-keeping systems in a project overseen by the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. 

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National Group Protection offers airline workers a wide variety of supplemental insurance options. Find out more at the National Group Protection website.

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IAMAW District 141 Juneteenth Statement

IAMAW District 141 Juneteenth Statement

Jun 19, 2020 | Community Service Page, Featured, Featured News, Front Page, Row 2, Uncategorized | 0 comments

June 19, 2020

Brothers and Sisters,

In recent weeks, our commitment to our country’s fundamental values has been put to a test, and we must all recognize the importance of this moment. For those who are quick to dismiss it as just heightened politics in a divided nation, we urge you to consider how your views on human rights fit within this struggle for justice.

We must not let partisan, class, or racial politics get in the way of the important human and civil rights issues we need to discuss right now. We cannot allow more suffering and the loss of the human connections we value as union members and as one nation. As union members, we are sometimes too comfortable taking these values for granted.

As elected union leaders, the entire District 141 Executive Board works to protect the rights of every member, and our processes guarantee equal rights for all. We are bound by an oath of office and by our personal convictions to represent people who may not look like us and whose life experiences may be very different from ours, but who are our Brothers and Sisters. Every day, and especially now, we reinforce our commitment to these values and honor the trust you have placed in us to represent all of you.

We ask that you read the statements that our GVP Sito Pantoja, IAMAW International President Bob Martinez, and the AFL-CIO General Board have issued recently, and use them to begin your own examination of how you can be part of a more inclusive future for organized labor and our nation. This moment in history demands that we not just take comfort in not being racist ourselves, but to actively denounce racism. We realize this self-reflection and conversations with others may be difficult, but we must have them so we learn from each other and grow.

We must rise to this moment, and work together to build a future where the labor movement and our nation will truly live up to our ideals of liberty and justice for all.

In Solidarity,

Michael G. Klemm

President & Directing General Chair
IAMAW District 141

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IAMAW District President Calls on JetBlue to Respect Workers, End Outsourcing

IAMAW District President Calls on JetBlue to Respect Workers, End Outsourcing

Jun 18, 2020 | COVID, Featured, Featured News, Front Page, Organizing, Row 2, Uncategorized | 0 comments

/// En Español

Mr. Hayes,

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), District 141, has become aware of JetBlue’s plan to outsource the work of JetBlue employees in “smaller BlueCities,” which JetBlue failed to identify in its memo. I think it is unconscionable that after taking approximately $1 billion of taxpayer funded airline bailout money that you now turn your back on the essential frontline JetBlue workers who have served our nation so bravely during the worst health crisis in modern history.

I think it’s vital that everyone knows what’s going on here. You are NOT upending the lives of these JetBlue workers because you are cutting some staff to meet reduced demand for air travel. You are cutting ALL these workers and bringing in LOWER PAID workers, who likely are earning minimum wage with no benefits, to do the jobs of JetBlue workers. Classic greed.

Even worse, you are using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse.

I call on you to do what is right and maintain JetBlue workers in these “smaller BlueCities.” They were there for us when we needed them most. They were there to load medical supplies on flights, to transport medical professionals to where they needed to be to treat sick people and to otherwise keep our nation’s air transportation system operating. They deserve better treatment and to remain employed in the cities where they and their families live.

In the memo announcing this misguided plan from VP of Airports Experience, Mike Parkinson, to JetBlue employees, he claims, “Taking care of impacted Crewmembers is our priority.” If you truly want to take care of JetBlue employees, then don’t outsource their work and don’t upend their lives and the lives of their families. Keep them working where they live.

You can be sure that the IAM will do everything in its power to fight this unbelievably cruel plan.

Sincerely,

Michael G. Klemm

President & Directing General Chair
IAMAW District 141

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Machinists Union Joins Call for Police Reform, Racial Justice

Machinists Union Joins Call for Police Reform, Racial Justice

Jun 16, 2020 | Community Service, Community Service Page, Front Page, MNPL, Row 2, Uncategorized | 0 comments

The IAM is supporting recommendations issued by the AFL-CIO’s general board to take concrete action to address America’s long history of racism.

The board approved the recommendations after emergency meetings of the AFL-CIO Committees on Civil and Human Rights and the AFL-CIO Committee on Legislation and Policy. Both committees discussed the murder of George Floyd and unanimously agreed to actions the labor movement could take to address racial injustice and police brutality against people of color.

Read the full AFL-CIO general board recommendations.

Members and leaders of the IAM are also encouraged to participate in future central labor council community listening sessions on racial justice.

“On behalf of myself and the entire IAM Executive Council, we ask everyone in our union family to not only participate in these discussions, but take a look inward and see how you can be part of the solution,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Our union has a proud history of human rights activism. We will always stand firm in our belief that any form of discrimination has no place in our society.”

Read Martinez’s full statement addressing racial justice.

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Paying Dues on Company Leave (COLA) and Furlough

Paying Dues on Company Leave (COLA) and Furlough

Jun 15, 2020 | Airlines, American, COVID, Front Page, Hawaiian, Uncategorized, United | 0 comments

/// En Español

 

Question: How do I pay my dues while I’m out on Company Offered Leave?

Short Answer: Contact your Local Lodge Secretary-Treasurer. Your Secretary-Treasurer is the best person to talk to about all things related to union finances. Your Secretary-Treasurer can also help you find out if you qualify for special rates, automatic payroll deductions, and other assistance. (You have to be out of work from the first of the month to the last day of the month in order to get reduced fees. Again, talk to your Secretary-Treasurer for more information.)

News flash: not everyone loves paying dues. But with everyone pitching in, we have been able to do some remarkable things. Before the pandemic hit, we raised our wages and protected the health care and pensions of thousands of airline workers. These wins have led to stronger bargaining positions for thousands of additional airline workers. 

Importantly, we’ve helped create safety measures and policies that keep us and our passengers safe. We have not suffered involuntary furloughs. We haven’t experienced the kinds of deep pay cuts and benefits reductions that non-union workers have faced. Unlike non-union employees, we have earned ourselves critical time to prepare for whatever our companies plan to do. 

Non-dues paying employees at other airlines, meanwhile, have been the victims of mass layoffs, pay and benefit cuts, and worse. 

Protecting the advantages we have isn’t easy, and it isn’t cheap. No single employee can possibly cover the costs alone; workers simply must work as a group in order to stand a chance.

To put it bluntly: if we weren’t paying dues, we would have been furloughed or laid off long ago. 

A typical grievance that goes into arbitration might cost airline workers (as a union) $10,000 to litigate. That’s $10k for each instance where we need to enforce our contracts. Negotiating a union contract with a major airline is another expensive project that requires strong financial support. Additionally, workers need to pay people for the work they do. A typical union salary for a local lodge president in the IAMAW is around $100 per month. Union members who work for their lodge need reimbursements for the work they do on “lost-time.” These payments to union activists are fair and necessary. There are also utility bills, rent costs and other expenses that have to be met.

Maintaining your good standing with the IAMAW is required to participate in union activities such as voting in union elections, running for office, benefiting from free college and other programs and discounts, and attending union meetings and conferences.

To find out how you can remain current, just check with your Local Lodge Secretary-Treasurer. They can look at your specific case and take care of all the back-end work for you. You may also qualify for a reduced rate while you aren’t on payroll. Your local Secretary-Treasurer can take care of that for you too. If you need help contacting your Secretary-Treasurer, just ask any local lodge officer or committee member, or send a message to IAMAW District 141. 

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There are billionaires who want to use any excuse to take away your paycheck and pension. There are billion-dollar reasons to take away your ability to work at all during the COVID outbreak. But, if we stick together as a union, we can keep what we have, negotiate fairly when needed, and survive much better than we could as separated employees just trying to hold on to our jobs and futures.

 

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