Machinist & Aerospace History: Buzz Aldrin and the Machinist Moonwalk

Machinist & Aerospace History: Buzz Aldrin and the Machinist Moonwalk

On July 20, 1969, millions of people watched in awe as astronauts Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon for the first time. Aldrin, an honorary IAM member, was part of a three-man crew that flew a 240,000-mile flight aboard Apollo 11.

Aldrin’s team was initially shot to space on July 16 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard a giant 36-story-tall Saturn V rocket, which was built by nine IAM locals in Florida.

“I watched out the window to see Neil go down the ladder,” said Aldrin about the historic mission. “When it was my turn to back out, I remembered the checklist said to reach back carefully and close the hatch, being careful not to lock it.”

Aldrin accepted his honorary Machinist membership card in 1967 at the IAM Aerospace Conference in Houston after working as an onboard mechanic on the Gemini 12 space mission a year earlier. During the banquet, which was hosted by then IAM Headquarters General Vice President Ross Mathews, Aldrin thanked the union.

“This means an awful lot and I appreciate it,” said Aldrin. “Thank you very much.”

During his acceptance speech, Aldrin would go on to praise Machinists who helped make space flight possible.

“We really appreciate everything the group has done for us in making many events that we have been able to participate in,” said Aldrin.

In addition to building the space vehicles that flew Aldrin and his team to the moon, IAM members would go on to play a pivotal role upon their return to Earth. More than 100 IAM Local 1786 members operated a sophisticated scientific lab at NASA in Houston that quarantined the astronauts for three weeks as doctors monitored their health.

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Machinists, Aviation Unions Commend Bipartisan Push for Airline Worker Payroll Support Program Extension

Machinists, Aviation Unions Commend Bipartisan Push for Airline Worker Payroll Support Program Extension

The IAM along with other aviation unions are lauding 223 bipartisan members of Congress for calling for an extension of the CARES Act Payroll Support Program (PSP) through March 31, 2021.

The program, which allocated grants to commercial airlines and airline contractors for the exclusive purpose of keeping employees on payroll with wages and benefits, is set to expire September 30, 2020.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) led the letter to congressional leadership.

 “The IAM thanks the 223 members of Congress for swiftly responding to the airline industry’s call for an extension of the Payroll Support Program grants,” said IAM Transportation General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “The continuation of this program is vital to protecting the livelihoods of thousands of Machinists come October 1. The IAM will continue to lead the fight on Capitol Hill to ensure our members’ futures.”

With the resurgence of COVID-19 in several states across the country and a vaccine for the virus yet to be developed, passenger demand for air travel will not recover before the PSP expires. Without an extension of the PSP before then, hundreds of thousands of airline workers could be furloughed on October 1.

 As a response to the worst financial crisis in U.S. airline industry history brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. airlines received $50 billion under the March 2020 CARES Act, with $25 billion in direct grants to be utilized exclusively for the continuation of airline workers’ pay, benefits, and employment.

 

Letter Urging Extension of Airline Aid to Prevent Furloughs Has a Majority of Support in Congress

Letter Urging Extension of Airline Aid to Prevent Furloughs Has a Majority of Support in Congress

More than 200 members of Congress have signed a letter supporting a union-backed plan that would prevent mass airline furloughs this fall. 

The letter, written by the Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR), asks lawmakers to support the extension of the Payroll Support Program, a provision within the CARES Act that provides much-needed help to airlines in exchange for a moratorium on furloughs and layoffs. If approved, the six-month extension would protect airline jobs until March 2021. 

This month, United and American Airlines notified employees and lawmakers of plans to reduce their workforces by as much as 60,000 total employees on October 1, when the current PSP assistance will expire. The industry is expected to shed nearly one million jobs overall, beginning on October 1st, or immediately after the Payroll Support Program ends. 

In early May, District 141 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers sued United, which stopped the airline from furloughing thousands of union members to part-time status. Company executives were able to furlough management and staff, however, since they are not represented by a union. Managers and administrative workers at the airline have been unsuccessful at reversing furloughs through individual motions in court. 

The PSP extension is also supported by every major airline union, including the IAMAW, which led this joint effort to lobby members of Congress across ideological and party lines. If adopted, the amount of aid each airline would receive would likely be based on that carrier’s third-quarter payroll expenses in 2019.

“This extension will not hurt the airlines financially or make it any more likely that they would need to cut more workers in March,” said IAMAW District 141 Legislative Director Dave Roderick. “All it will do is provide help to airlines so they can cover labor costs for a few more months while our nation deals with the coronavirus pandemic,” he said. “If scientists can develop a treatment or vaccine in that time, air travel could improve to the point that furloughs are no longer necessary. That’s what we’re hoping for.” 

IAMAW District 141 President Mike Klemm reminded union members working at airlines to stay aggressive in their efforts to protect their jobs while underscoring the very real threat. “We must not underestimate the task before us,” he said. “We are facing very long odds. But, we’re not beat yet; we can still fight, and as long as that remains the case, we can still win.” In an interview with the  NBC-Affiliate KPRC Channel 2 in Houston, TX, Klemm encouraged every airline employee to contact their elected representatives and push for an extension of the Payroll Support Program. He stressed the importance of asking for Congressional support for the program, even among those airline workers not impacted directly by furloughs. “Unless we can get this extension, people will be out of work, and they will lose their medical benefits,” he said, adding that this will probably be the worst financial quarter in the history of United Airlines.

The letter supporting the extension of aid to airlines gathered 223 signatures when it closed on Monday, July 27th, representing a clear majority of members of the House of Representatives. Typically, letters like this are used to determine how much political will there is behind a given measure. The letter does not carry the force of law and does not legally obligate those who signed it to vote for a final bill. Nevertheless, with the proposal gaining so much bipartisan support in such a short time, it seems likely that an extension of aid to airlines, if included in a future bill, will not be controversial or find much opposition from lawmakers. 

While the Machinists Union is focused on a legislative solution to mass unemployment caused by the pandemic, the threat of furloughs remains very real. IAMAW District President Mike Klemm recently forged an agreement with United executives that will provide partial pay and vacation accruals, medical and dental coverage at active rates, and additional placement opportunities for many of the members who may end up on furlough lists this fall. The agreement also expands recall rights and adds millions of dollars in value to union members. IAM-represented employees at United Airlines who are interested in learning more about the Letter of Agreement with United are encouraged to contact their local Grievance Committee.

The ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic on the global airline industry cannot be overstated. Facing historically low demand for air travel, carriers are being forced to shrink to control costs, losing skilled labor in the process, while the world waits for researchers to produce a vaccine and effective treatment for COVID-19. This research and development process is estimated to last at least another year. 

Since March, Congress has enacted several pieces of legislation designed to mitigate the economic effects of the pandemic. The Payroll Support Program stands out as an example of a very effective job protection program and is credited with saving the livelihoods of over one million airline workers. With coronavirus cases spiking in some areas of the United States and no recovery in sight, airline workers are relying on the renewal of this vital program to support their families and help maintain the health of their communities. Members of the Machinists Union, Transportation Territory, and District 141 will continue working with Senators and Senate leadership to make the PSP a part of any new coronavirus relief legislation.  

“The IAM thanks the 223 members of Congress for swiftly responding to the airline industry’s call for an extension of the Payroll Support Program grants,” said IAM Transportation General Vice President Sito Pantoja. “The continuation of this program is vital to protecting the livelihoods of thousands of Machinists come October 1. The IAM will continue to lead the fight on Capitol Hill to ensure our members’ futures.”

Did your Congressional Representative sign on to support airline workers? CLICK HERE to read the letter and the names of supporting Members of Congress

 

Video Report: Machinists & Aerospace Union Legislative Action

Video Report: Machinists & Aerospace Union Legislative Action

IAMAW District 141 Video Report: Legislative Action to Prevent Airline Furloughs

IAMAW District 141 Legislative Director David Roderick Discusses Legislative Efforts to Extend the CARES Act Furlough Protections

This week’s 141 report is about Legislative action and what members should do to protect transportation Jobs. IAM 141 Director of Legislation Dave Roderick joins the conversation with host Dave Lehive.

Airlines such as American and United have promised to furlough more than 60,000 airline jobs within hours of the expiration of the CARES Act on October 1. However, Congress can extend the provision of the CARES Act that prevents furloughs.

How You Can Help Save Hundreds of Thousands of Airline Jobs

In March, as U.S. COVID-19 cases began rising exponentially, Congress rose to the occasion by enacting the CARES Act to provide assistance to tens of millions of Americans who found their financial security, if not their health, directly imperiled by the pandemic.

Among other things, the CARES Act created the Payroll Support Program (PSP), under which the Treasury Secretary issued $32 billion in grants to airlines and their contractors exclusively to keep their workers on the payroll through September 30, 2020.

But while time marches on, so does the pandemic, Airline workers are facing the worst crisis by far in the industry’s history. Last Wednesday, a major airline put 36,000 workers across the country on notice that they could be furloughed on or after October 1. Other carriers have issued and will issue similar notices.

Please ask your member of Congress to join House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) on a bipartisan letter to House and Senate Leadership, urging them to extend the PSP authorities in the CARES Act through March 31, 2021, and save hundreds of thousands of frontline airline workers’ jobs.

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Machinists & Aerospace Union and United Airlines Agree to Voluntary Partial Pay Leave Program

Machinists & Aerospace Union and United Airlines Agree to Voluntary Partial Pay Leave Program

July 24, 2020

To IAM-represented workers at United Airlines:

IAM District 141 and United Airlines have come to an agreement for a new 12-month Voluntary Partial Pay Leave (VPPL) program. The VPPL will provide 25 percent pay continuation, medical and dental coverage at active rates, 25 percent vacation accrual and all IAM-represented employees hired after November 1, 2013 will now have a minimum of six years of recall rights. IAM-represented workers hired before November 1, 2013 will maintain unlimited recall rights.

The Union and the Company also agreed that temporary assignments in two (2) stations may be extended by seven months to a maximum of 12 months. These assignments will be offered to active and furloughed IAM members before workers from outside the Company are hired.

The economic realities of the global airline industry are forcing carriers, unions and workers to make the best decisions they can out of a host of bad options. IAM District 141 and United management worked together to devise the VPPL program, which, coupled with the VSP program, has the potential to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in value to IAM members while significantly decreasing the number of furloughs on October 1, 2020. The IAM will do everything possible to mitigate layoffs via participation in voluntary programs. And, when the time comes when United finds it necessary to commence a reduction in force, it will be conducted per the IAM-United collective bargaining agreements, which outline members’ rights under a reduction in force.

I strongly urge everyone to take a hard look at this new VPPL program and decide whether or not it would work for you and your family.

In Solidarity,

 

Michael G Klemm

President & Directing General Chair,
IAMAW District 141

Please print and post on all IAMAW bulletin boards.

Get Printable Copy >>

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How You Can Help Save Hundreds of Thousands of Airline Jobs This Fall

How You Can Help Save Hundreds of Thousands of Airline Jobs This Fall

Ask Congressional Leadership to Save Hundreds of Thousands of Airline Jobs

In March, as U.S. COVID-19 cases began rising exponentially, Congress rose to the occasion by enacting the CARES Act to provide assistance to tens of millions of Americans who found their financial security, if not their health, directly imperiled by the pandemic.

Among other things, the CARES Act created the Payroll Support Program (PSP), under which the Treasury Secretary issued $32 billion in grants to airlines and their contractors exclusively to keep their workers on the payroll through September 30, 2020.

But while time marches on, so does the pandemic, Airline workers are facing the worst crisis by far in the industry’s history. Last Wednesday, a major airline put 36,000 workers across the country on notice that they could be furloughed on or after October 1. Other carriers have issued and will issue similar notices.

Please ask your member of Congress to join House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) on a bipartisan letter to House and Senate Leadership, urging them to extend the PSP authorities in the CARES Act through March 31, 2021, and save hundreds of thousands of frontline airline workers’ jobs.