Hurry, There’s Still Time! Thousands of Dollars in Scholarship Money is Available!

Hurry, There’s Still Time! Thousands of Dollars in Scholarship Money is Available!

Jul 3, 2023 | Community Service, Education, Front Page, GOIAM Stories, Other News, Recent News, Row 2

Hurry, There’s Still Time! Thousands of Dollars in Scholarship Money is Available!

IAM141.org
July 2, 2023

Calling all members of Machinists Union District 141! If you’ve ever considered continuing your education or know someone who is, now is the time to take advantage of the unique opportunity before you – the 2023 Adolph Stutz Memorial Scholarship Essay Competition. This is no ordinary competition; there’s an abundance of unclaimed scholarship money waiting for worthy candidates. Thousands of dollars are up for grabs and could go home with you or a family member!

Currently, more scholarships are available than entries, which means your odds of securing one are higher than ever. The deadline to submit entries is fast approaching: midnight, July 15, 2023. So, we strongly urge you to put pen to paper, or rather, fingers to keyboard, and get your entries in!

The scholarship is open to children, spouses, and dependent grandchildren of members who’ve been in good standing for a year or more (as of June 1, 2022) in District Lodge 141. These members should be graduating high school seniors or enrolled full-time in a college or trade school. Our members enrolled in college or trade school, taking at least six units per semester, are also eligible to enter the competition. Only one award per family is allowed. And, if you’ve already won a scholarship, you’ll have to sit this it out. 

The 2023 essay competition asks you to delve into the subject, “Public approval of labor unions among the U.S. public is at its highest level since 1965, according to a new Gallup poll. Are U.S. labor unions making a comeback? Yes or no? Why?” Your essay must be between 700 to 1,000 words and submitted as a Microsoft Word document to dan@bleicomm.com. Please include a recent photograph of yourself, place the title and your name at the top of the document, and include a bibliography of sources for your essay material. To ensure that the work submitted is entirely yours – authenticity matters!

The awards are too big to miss. One overall winner will be awarded $2,000, and six placement winners will each receive $1,000. The winners will be announced around August 1, 2023, after careful and impartial judgment by an outside Scholarship Committee chaired by Daniel Brin.

The winning contestants will be honored at a local lodge ceremony and published by Machinists Union District 141. 

This is a tremendous opportunity to let your voice be heard, gain recognition, and secure funding for your education. So why wait? 

Take up your metaphorical pen and begin crafting your thoughts. We look forward to reading your entries! Don’t let this opportunity and the unclaimed scholarship money go to waste. Hurry, the competition ends soon!

Official Rules
Check Out Our Podcast! Will $$$ Go Unclaimed?

Related News

Stay up to date with all the latest news and information from the Machinists Union

Sign up for Email Alerts

Hurry, There’s Still Time! Thousands of Dollars in Scholarship Money is Available!

July 2, 2023

Calling all members of Machinists Union District 141! If you’ve ever considered continuing your education or know someone who is, now is the time to take advantage of the unique opportunity before you – the 2023 Adolph Stutz Memorial Scholarship Essay Competition. This is no ordinary competition; there’s an abundance of unclaimed scholarship money waiting for worthy candidates. Thousands of dollars are up for grabs and could go home with you or a family member!

Currently, more scholarships are available than entries, which means your odds of securing one are higher than ever. The deadline to submit entries is fast approaching: midnight, July 15, 2023. So, we strongly urge you to put pen to paper, or rather, fingers to keyboard, and get your entries in!

The scholarship is open to children, spouses, and dependent grandchildren of members who’ve been in good standing for a year or more (as of June 1, 2022) in District Lodge 141. These members should be graduating high school seniors or enrolled full-time in a college or trade school. Our members enrolled in college or trade school, taking at least six units per semester, are also eligible to enter the competition. Only one award per family is allowed. And, if you’ve already won a scholarship, you’ll have to sit this it out. 

The 2023 essay competition asks you to delve into the subject, “Public approval of labor unions among the U.S. public is at its highest level since 1965, according to a new Gallup poll. Are U.S. labor unions making a comeback? Yes or no? Why?” Your essay must be between 700 to 1,000 words and submitted as a Microsoft Word document to dan@bleicomm.com. Please include a recent photograph of yourself, place the title and your name at the top of the document, and include a bibliography of sources for your essay material. To ensure that the work submitted is entirely yours – authenticity matters!

The awards are too big to miss. One overall winner will be awarded $2,000, and six placement winners will each receive $1,000. The winners will be announced around August 1, 2023, after careful and impartial judgment by an outside Scholarship Committee chaired by Daniel Brin.

The winning contestants will be honored at a local lodge ceremony and published by Machinists Union District 141. 

This is a tremendous opportunity to let your voice be heard, gain recognition, and secure funding for your education. So why wait? 

Take up your metaphorical pen and begin crafting your thoughts. We look forward to reading your entries! Don’t let this opportunity and the unclaimed scholarship money go to waste. Hurry, the competition ends soon!

Official Rules
Check Out Our Podcast! Will $$$ Go Unclaimed?

Related

United CEO Scott Kirby Takes a Private Jet Amid Thousands of Flight Cancellations

United CEO Scott Kirby Takes a Private Jet Amid Thousands of Flight Cancellations

Jul 1, 2023 | Front Page, Other News, Recent News, Row 2, United

United CEO Scott Kirby Takes a Private Jet Amid Thousands of Flight Cancellations

IAM141.org
July 1, 2023

Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, issued an apology on Friday for his decision to board a private aircraft amidst the flight cancellation chaos that left thousands of United’s passengers stranded around the nation earlier this week.

Kirby did not know that chartering a private jet because he could not depend on his airline would outrage stranded passengers. Once informed of the backlash, he issued a characteristically tone-deaf statement of remorse. “Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home,” Kirby said in response. “I sincerely apologize to our customers and our team members who have been working around-the-clock for several days — often through severe weather — to take care of our customers.”

Kirby ended his statement with a vow to better embody his respect for his team’s dedication and the customers’ unwavering loyalty.

The private flight taken by Kirby was from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Denver on Wednesday. This was the same day United canceled a staggering 750 flights, accounting for one-fourth of the day’s entire schedule. This count doesn’t include the cancellations related to United Express flights. Over the week, United canceled approximately 3,000 flights, with the highest number reported at its hub, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, which has been wracked by chronic staffing issues. The lack of adequate staffing left the airline helpless in the face of typical if heavy, mid-summer thunderstorms.

Kirby blamed the disruption in Newark over the previous weekend to a shortage of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers. In an internal communication, he told employees the FAA had “let us down” by restricting the frequency of landings and departures at the airport, where United is a significant presence.

In response to Kirby’s accusations, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) were quick to call out the United CEO.

Buttigieg pointed out that every airline in the region experienced the same weather as United. But only Scott Kirby’s airline saw such mass cancellations and delays. “Look, United Airlines has some internal issues they need to work through,” the Transportation Secretary said in an interview with CNN. “They’ve really been struggling this week, even relative to other U.S. airlines,” he continued.

“I want to be very clear, air traffic control issues are not the number one issue causing cancellations and delays. They’re not even the number two issue. All the data, including industry’s own data is very clear on that,” he said.

Pilots at United echoed the criticisms of the Department of Transportation. “United’s travel disruptions this week stem from one source; Company senior management’s inadequate planning and insufficient investment in the airline infrastructure,” the Union said.

“Our pilots agree with our passengers that this lack of foresight and disregard of warning signs is unacceptable. It’s time for United leadership to change their thinking and invest in its labor, staff support, and facilities with updated contracts instead of ensuring our CEO has the highest salary.”

Pilots at United have been locked in seemingly endless contract negotiations at United. Talks are now in the fifth year as United management refuses to modernize the routing systems that organize flight schedules. According to airline pilots, this failure is resulting in too many pilots “timing out” during their schedules. (For safety reasons, pilots are legally barred from flying too many hours without rest breaks.) When pilots are required by law to stop flying, the airline often has to scramble to find new flight crews who can legally fly.

The high number of canceled flights led to the displacement of United’s planes and crews, severely impeding the airline’s functioning when adverse weather conditions struck on Sunday, as explained by Kirby. As the operational difficulties continued throughout the week, Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary whose department includes the FAA, noted on Twitter that, barring United, other airlines had bounced back from the storm’s impact. To emphasize this point, he shared a bar graph that compared United’s cancellation rate with the rest of the industry.

There has been some improvement in United’s operations since the middle of the week. FlightAware, a flight tracking service, indicated that the percentage of canceled flights dropped from 26% on Wednesday to 18% on Thursday and further down to 8% by Friday evening. However, even on Friday, United was still leading all U.S. carriers in the number of canceled flights for the seventh consecutive day.

United has committed to rectifying its operations before the anticipated busy July 4 holiday weekend. On Thursday alone, the Transportation Security Administration screened more than 2.7 million people, and a similar or larger crowd was expected on Friday.

The frustration of United passengers was made public via social media and interviews, with many talking about long queues at the airport and being forced to sleep in the terminals after flights were canceled. Unions representing United’s pilots and flight attendants joined in the criticism, accusing the management of inadequate planning, crew scheduling, and operating excessive flights.

The Chicago-based United clarified that it did not pay for Kirby’s private flight on Wednesday. Kirby, who has a net worth of at least $45 million, can more than cover the costs of private charter jets. The airline refused to comment whether Kirby often uses private planes for travel.

Related News

Stay up to date with all the latest news and information from the Machinists Union

Sign up for Email Alerts

United CEO Scott Kirby Takes a Private Jet Amid Thousands of Flight Cancellations

July 1, 2023

Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, issued an apology on Friday for his decision to board a private aircraft amidst the flight cancellation chaos that left thousands of United’s passengers stranded around the nation earlier this week.

Kirby did not know that chartering a private jet because he could not depend on his airline would outrage stranded passengers. Once informed of the backlash, he issued a characteristically tone-deaf statement of remorse. “Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home,” Kirby said in response. “I sincerely apologize to our customers and our team members who have been working around-the-clock for several days — often through severe weather — to take care of our customers.”

Kirby ended his statement with a vow to better embody his respect for his team’s dedication and the customers’ unwavering loyalty.

The private flight taken by Kirby was from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Denver on Wednesday. This was the same day United canceled a staggering 750 flights, accounting for one-fourth of the day’s entire schedule. This count doesn’t include the cancellations related to United Express flights. Over the week, United canceled approximately 3,000 flights, with the highest number reported at its hub, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, which has been wracked by chronic staffing issues. The lack of adequate staffing left the airline helpless in the face of typical if heavy, mid-summer thunderstorms.

Kirby blamed the disruption in Newark over the previous weekend to a shortage of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic controllers. In an internal communication, he told employees the FAA had “let us down” by restricting the frequency of landings and departures at the airport, where United is a significant presence.

In response to Kirby’s accusations, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) were quick to call out the United CEO.

Buttigieg pointed out that every airline in the region experienced the same weather as United. But only Scott Kirby’s airline saw such mass cancellations and delays. “Look, United Airlines has some internal issues they need to work through,” the Transportation Secretary said in an interview with CNN. “They’ve really been struggling this week, even relative to other U.S. airlines,” he continued.

“I want to be very clear, air traffic control issues are not the number one issue causing cancellations and delays. They’re not even the number two issue. All the data, including industry’s own data is very clear on that,” he said.

Pilots at United echoed the criticisms of the Department of Transportation. “United’s travel disruptions this week stem from one source; Company senior management’s inadequate planning and insufficient investment in the airline infrastructure,” the Union said.

“Our pilots agree with our passengers that this lack of foresight and disregard of warning signs is unacceptable. It’s time for United leadership to change their thinking and invest in its labor, staff support, and facilities with updated contracts instead of ensuring our CEO has the highest salary.”

Pilots at United have been locked in seemingly endless contract negotiations at United. Talks are now in the fifth year as United management refuses to modernize the routing systems that organize flight schedules. According to airline pilots, this failure is resulting in too many pilots “timing out” during their schedules. (For safety reasons, pilots are legally barred from flying too many hours without rest breaks.) When pilots are required by law to stop flying, the airline often has to scramble to find new flight crews who can legally fly.

The high number of canceled flights led to the displacement of United’s planes and crews, severely impeding the airline’s functioning when adverse weather conditions struck on Sunday, as explained by Kirby. As the operational difficulties continued throughout the week, Pete Buttigieg, the Transportation Secretary whose department includes the FAA, noted on Twitter that, barring United, other airlines had bounced back from the storm’s impact. To emphasize this point, he shared a bar graph that compared United’s cancellation rate with the rest of the industry.

There has been some improvement in United’s operations since the middle of the week. FlightAware, a flight tracking service, indicated that the percentage of canceled flights dropped from 26% on Wednesday to 18% on Thursday and further down to 8% by Friday evening. However, even on Friday, United was still leading all U.S. carriers in the number of canceled flights for the seventh consecutive day.

United has committed to rectifying its operations before the anticipated busy July 4 holiday weekend. On Thursday alone, the Transportation Security Administration screened more than 2.7 million people, and a similar or larger crowd was expected on Friday.

The frustration of United passengers was made public via social media and interviews, with many talking about long queues at the airport and being forced to sleep in the terminals after flights were canceled. Unions representing United’s pilots and flight attendants joined in the criticism, accusing the management of inadequate planning, crew scheduling, and operating excessive flights.

The Chicago-based United clarified that it did not pay for Kirby’s private flight on Wednesday. Kirby, who has a net worth of at least $45 million, can more than cover the costs of private charter jets. The airline refused to comment whether Kirby often uses private planes for travel.

Related

Ingestion Fatality at SAT Airport Ruled a Suicide

Ingestion Fatality at SAT Airport Ruled a Suicide

Jun 29, 2023 | Front Page, Other News, Recent News, Row 2, Safety

Ingestion Fatality at SAT Airport Ruled a Suicide

IAM141.org
June 29, 2023

In a tragic incident late Friday night at San Antonio International Airport, a ground crew member, David Renner, 27, lost his life after he was pulled into the engine of a Delta Air Lines plane. Firefighters and police officers responded to the event around 10:25 p.m.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), “Delta Flight 1111 was taxiing to the gate, with one engine on at that time, and a worker was ingested into that engine at 10:25 p.m.” The NTSB confirmed the incident on Saturday, stating the man was indeed “ingested” into the engine. The flight had just arrived from Los Angeles.

According to a report from the San Antonio Express, the plane’s captain “felt the aircraft shake,” as Renner was pulled into the engine. A police report indicated that Renner passed a suicide note to a coworker, wrapped in a one-dollar bill. He then watched as Renner walked, “to the captain’s side of the jet, bend down and jump up into the engine.”

On Monday, the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled his cause of death as blunt and sharp-force injuries, and listed the manner of death as suicide.

This information was also provided to the NTSB, who responded, “The NTSB will not be opening an investigation into this event. There were no operational safety issues with either the airplane or the airport,” indicating a belief that the tragic event didn’t raise concerns about overall airport safety.

 

Renner was employed by Unifi Aviation, a company Delta Airlines contracts to support ground-handling operations. The Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates airlines and aviation safety, has indicated that it would proceed with an investigation into the incident.

Responding to the incident, Delta said it was “grieving the loss of an aviation family member’s life in San Antonio.” The airline expressed its full support for the ongoing investigations.

Unifi Aviation has been wracked with employee complaints over poor training, short staffing, and low pay, all of which contribute to extraordinary levels of turnover at the company. The mass influx of new and inexperienced employees is a safety concern, according to industry experts.

“My experience here at Unifi in MSO has been highly unsatisfactory,” said one worker who did not want to be named. “Largely due to the inadequate trainers and ineffective leadership,” he continued. The contractor holds a two-star rating from employees on Glassdoor.com. Only 42% of current employees would recommend working at Unifi to a friend.

In a short statement, the company was quick to disavow itself of any responsibiity in the fatality.

The statement read, “Unifi Aviation is deeply saddened by the loss of our employee at San Antonio International Airport during a tragic incident in the late hours of Friday, June 23, 2023. Our hearts go out to the deceased’s family, and we remain focused on supporting our employees on the ground and ensuring they are being taken care of during this time. From our initial investigation, this incident was unrelated to Unifi’s operational processes, safety procedures, and policies. Out of respect for the deceased, we will not be sharing any additional information. While police and other officials continue to investigate this incident, we defer to them on providing further details.”

Unifi, like Delta, is based in Atlanta and describes itself as North America’s largest ground-handling and aviation services provider, boasting a workforce of 20,000 aviation workers who handle baggage, cargo, catering, fueling, and other jobs at 200 locations.

According to online job postings, Average Unifi hourly pay for new employees starts at approximately $11.94 per hour.

 

This Message Found You For A Reason

Life has a way of throwing challenges at us, but you don’t have to face them alone. District 141’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here for you.

 

Remember, reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but a strength. EAP offers free, professional, and compassionate assistance to all members of District 141 who may be struggling with life’s difficulties, be it personal or work-related.

 

Start your journey towards better health and wellbeing today. Click here to learn more about the District 141 EAP and how it can assist you. You’re not alone, and help is just a click away.

  

You’ve got this, and we’ve got you.

 

Related News

Stay up to date with all the latest news and information from the Machinists Union

Sign up for Email Alerts

Ingestion Fatality at SAT Airport Ruled a Suicide

June 29, 2023

In a tragic incident late Friday night at San Antonio International Airport, a ground crew member, David Renner, 27, lost his life after he was pulled into the engine of a Delta Air Lines plane. Firefighters and police officers responded to the event around 10:25 p.m.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), “Delta Flight 1111 was taxiing to the gate, with one engine on at that time, and a worker was ingested into that engine at 10:25 p.m.” The NTSB confirmed the incident on Saturday, stating the man was indeed “ingested” into the engine. The flight had just arrived from Los Angeles.

According to a report from the San Antonio Express, the plane’s captain “felt the aircraft shake,” as Renner was pulled into the engine. A police report indicated that Renner passed a suicide note to a coworker, wrapped in a one-dollar bill. He then watched as Renner walked, “to the captain’s side of the jet, bend down and jump up into the engine.”

On Monday, the Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled his cause of death as blunt and sharp-force injuries, and listed the manner of death as suicide.

This information was also provided to the NTSB, who responded, “The NTSB will not be opening an investigation into this event. There were no operational safety issues with either the airplane or the airport,” indicating a belief that the tragic event didn’t raise concerns about overall airport safety.

 

Renner was employed by Unifi Aviation, a company Delta Airlines contracts to support ground-handling operations. The Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates airlines and aviation safety, has indicated that it would proceed with an investigation into the incident.
Responding to the incident, Delta said it was “grieving the loss of an aviation family member’s life in San Antonio.” The airline expressed its full support for the ongoing investigations.

Unifi Aviation has been wracked with employee complaints over poor training, short staffing, and low pay, all of which contribute to extraordinary levels of turnover at the company. The mass influx of new and inexperienced employees is a safety concern, according to industry experts.

“My experience here at Unifi in MSO has been highly unsatisfactory,” said one worker who did not want to be named. “Largely due to the inadequate trainers and ineffective leadership,” he continued. The contractor holds a two-star rating from employees on Glassdoor.com. Only 42% of current employees would recommend working at Unifi to a friend.

In a short statement, the company was quick to disavow itself of any responsibiity in the fatality.

The statement read, “Unifi Aviation is deeply saddened by the loss of our employee at San Antonio International Airport during a tragic incident in the late hours of Friday, June 23, 2023. Our hearts go out to the deceased’s family, and we remain focused on supporting our employees on the ground and ensuring they are being taken care of during this time. From our initial investigation, this incident was unrelated to Unifi’s operational processes, safety procedures, and policies. Out of respect for the deceased, we will not be sharing any additional information. While police and other officials continue to investigate this incident, we defer to them on providing further details.”

Unifi, like Delta, is based in Atlanta and describes itself as North America’s largest ground-handling and aviation services provider, boasting a workforce of 20,000 aviation workers who handle baggage, cargo, catering, fueling, and other jobs at 200 locations.

According to online job postings, Average Unifi hourly pay for new employees starts at approximately $11.94 per hour.

 

This Message Found You For A Reason

Life has a way of throwing challenges at us, but you don’t have to face them alone. District 141’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here for you.

 

Remember, reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness, but a strength. EAP offers free, professional, and compassionate assistance to all members of District 141 who may be struggling with life’s difficulties, be it personal or work-related.

 

Start your journey towards better health and wellbeing today. Click here to learn more about the District 141 EAP and how it can assist you. You’re not alone, and help is just a click away.

  

You’ve got this, and we’ve got you.

 

Related

Retired Guide Dog Britta Takes Center Stage at Denver Charity Fundraiser

Retired Guide Dog Britta Takes Center Stage at Denver Charity Fundraiser

Jun 22, 2023 | Community Service, Front Page, Other News, Recent News, Row 2

Retired Guide Dog Britta Takes Center Stage at Denver Charity Fundraiser

IAM141.org
June 22, 2023

On the vibrant green fairways of Broadlands Golf Course near Denver, Colorado, a special guest named Britta stole the show at an annual golf charity event hosted by Machinists Union Local 1886 and Local 47. Britta is a retired guide dog who has spent her years serving as a loyal companion and a breeding “Momma” for Guide Dogs of America. Now at six years old, Britta retired after three years of dedicated service, helping to improve the lives of children with autism, veterans suffering from PTSD, and those with vision impairments, among other forms of critical assistance.

Britta, the mother of two litters of puppies, was brought to the charity event by Christine Coyle, a dedicated Guide Dogs Representative, and Los Angeles resident. With an impressive 25 years of service under her belt, Coyle has bred and raised seven dogs from start to finish for Guide Dogs of America.

Coyle’s passion for community service and giving back inspired her involvement with Guide Dogs. “It just looked like a great way for our entire family to get involved,” Coyle said, reflecting on what initially drew her to the charity. “It’s just a really wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and money for Guide Dogs of America and the work they’re doing.”

According to Local 47 President Garry Harper, the fundraiser has seen an increase in participation each year. Harper, who has served Union Members in the Denver region as President for the past 30 years, described the increase in participation, saying, “When we first started doing this, we had 60 golfers who signed up. Today, we have more than 140.” The numbers would be higher this year, but, as Harper quipped, “they don’t have enough golf carts.”

According to Local 1886 President Johnny Martinez, the chief organizer of the fundraiser, last year’s event raised over $23,000. A figure he believes will be surpassed this year. “I seriously want to thank everyone who helped make this happen,” he said. “This is one of the largest tournaments of its kind held at this location,” he continued.

“We try to limit costs by working with local businesses and community organizations, and we hold raffles and other drawings, which is where we actually get most of our donations,” he added. 

The help is very much needed. Breeders like Christine have to pay out of pocket to raise a puppy for Guide Dogs of America, relying on tax write-offs to recoup costs such as food and other related costs.

Coyle further explained the financial aspects of raising guide dogs. “The school provides vet care and breeding,” she said. “In all, it can cost about $4,000 to get a dog into training. But, that’s just the breeding cost. To get the service dog through breeding and training, and to actually deliver it to a recipient, the total costs can range as high as $70,000.”

She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Machinists Union for their support. “Those expenses are why we’re so appreciative of the Machinists Union’s generosity and assistance. We truly couldn’t do it without you guys,” she said.

Guide Dogs of America is dedicated to creating partnerships between people and service dogs, enhancing the lives of visually impaired or blind individuals and service dogs for veterans and children with autism. The organization also assigns facility dogs to professionals in various environments, such as hospitals, schools, and courtrooms. These expertly trained dogs serve as reliable companions, boosting their human partners’ confidence, mobility, and independence. All services, including transportation, personalized training, lodging, and ongoing support after graduation, are offered entirely free of charge to the beneficiaries.

Machinists Union Assistant General Chair Rich Robinson also attended the event, praising the fun and festive atmosphere. But he wanted to recognize more than just the event’s ambiance. “This local has proven itself time and time again. They want to support their community and this great cause, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work they’re doing.”

Related News

Stay up to date with all the latest news and information from the Machinists Union

Sign up for Email Alerts

Retired Guide Dog Britta Takes Center Stage at Denver Charity Fundraiser

June 19, 2023

On the vibrant green fairways of Broadlands Golf Course near Denver, Colorado, a special guest named Britta stole the show at an annual golf charity event hosted by Machinists Union Local 1886 and Local 47. Britta is a retired guide dog who has spent her years serving as a loyal companion and a breeding “Momma” for Guide Dogs of America. Now at six years old, Britta retired after three years of dedicated service, helping to improve the lives of children with autism, veterans suffering from PTSD, and those with vision impairments, among other forms of critical assistance.

Britta, the mother of two litters of puppies, was brought to the charity event by Christine Coyle, a dedicated Guide Dogs Representative, and Los Angeles resident. With an impressive 25 years of service under her belt, Coyle has bred and raised seven dogs from start to finish for Guide Dogs of America.

Coyle’s passion for community service and giving back inspired her involvement with Guide Dogs. “It just looked like a great way for our entire family to get involved,” Coyle said, reflecting on what initially drew her to the charity. “It’s just a really wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and money for Guide Dogs of America and the work they’re doing.”

According to Local 47 President Garry Harper, the fundraiser has seen an increase in participation each year. Harper, who has served Union Members in the Denver region as President for the past 30 years, described the increase in participation, saying, “When we first started doing this, we had 60 golfers who signed up. Today, we have more than 140.” The numbers would be higher this year, but, as Harper quipped, “they don’t have enough golf carts.”

According to Local 1886 President Johnny Martinez, the chief organizer of the fundraiser, last year’s event raised over $23,000. A figure he believes will be surpassed this year. “I seriously want to thank everyone who helped make this happen,” he said. “This is one of the largest tournaments of its kind held at this location,” he continued.

“We try to limit costs by working with local businesses and community organizations, and we hold raffles and other drawings, which is where we actually get most of our donations,” he added. 

The help is very much needed. Breeders like Christine have to pay out of pocket to raise a puppy for Guide Dogs of America, relying on tax write-offs to recoup costs such as food and other related costs.

Coyle further explained the financial aspects of raising guide dogs. “The school provides vet care and breeding,” she said. “In all, it can cost about $4,000 to get a dog into training. But, that’s just the breeding cost. To get the service dog through breeding and training, and to actually deliver it to a recipient, the total costs can range as high as $70,000.”

She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Machinists Union for their support. “Those expenses are why we’re so appreciative of the Machinists Union’s generosity and assistance. We truly couldn’t do it without you guys,” she said.

Guide Dogs of America is dedicated to creating partnerships between people and service dogs, enhancing the lives of visually impaired or blind individuals and service dogs for veterans and children with autism. The organization also assigns facility dogs to professionals in various environments, such as hospitals, schools, and courtrooms. These expertly trained dogs serve as reliable companions, boosting their human partners’ confidence, mobility, and independence. All services, including transportation, personalized training, lodging, and ongoing support after graduation, are offered entirely free of charge to the beneficiaries.

Machinists Union Assistant General Chair Rich Robinson also attended the event, praising the fun and festive atmosphere. But he wanted to recognize more than just the event’s ambiance. “This local has proven itself time and time again. They want to support their community and this great cause, and I couldn’t be more proud of the work they’re doing.”

 

Related

Juneteenth: The Fight Continues for Racial and Economic Equality

Juneteenth: The Fight Continues for Racial and Economic Equality

Jun 19, 2023 | Front Page, MNPL, Other News, Recent News, Row 2

Juneteenth: The Fight Continues for Racial and Economic Equality

IAM141.org
June 19, 2023

“Our union has recognized the importance of racial justice in and outside of the workplace over the years.”
-Machinists Union International President, Robert Martinez

Juneteenth holds a vital place in American history. As a holiday, it commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Celebrated on June 19, this day is a tribute to the abolition of slavery, first observed in 1866 by Black Texans in Galveston, Texas. As the IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. articulates, this day was more than just an end to a harrowing chapter of history. He writes, “This day marked the end of an ugly chapter in American history and a new beginning for Black Americans and their quest for equality.”

However, Martinez underscores that the fight for democracy and economic justice is ongoing. “This day is a reminder that the fight continues for democracy and economic justice for all Americans,” says Martinez, elucidating on the role of the IAM union in this battle. Their efforts have been instrumental in dismantling societal barriers and paving the way for full participation for everyone.

According to Martinez, collective bargaining agreements are essential in confronting current threats and ensuring economic success. “The collective bargaining agreements we have fought for over the years have been an essential tool that allows everyone to succeed economically,” he says. An existing threat looming large is the erosion of voting rights, which labor movements strive to counter by highlighting harmful legislation.

In the fight for workers’ rights, Martinez emphasizes the significance of unity and diversity. He states, “We must all come together and fight for workers’ rights. The best way to achieve that goal is to embrace and celebrate our diversity.” For the IAM union, racial justice has always been a pivotal issue. Their constant fight is to ensure its presence in their collective bargaining agreements. Martinez believes “racial justice and economic justice go hand in hand.”

As Juneteenth approaches, Martinez encourages reflection on the strides made thus far and the future work required to achieve racial and economic equality for all. He writes, “Please take this holiday to reflect on how far we have come and the work needed in the future to achieve racial and economic equality for all.”

In closing, Martinez’s words resonate as a profound rallying call for all of us. His message is clear: the fight for racial and economic justice is far from over, and in the spirit of Juneteenth, we must stand in solidarity, committed to continuing the battle for a more equitable future.

+ The full statement can be read here.

 

Related News

Stay up to date with all the latest news and information from the Machinists Union

Sign up for Email Alerts

Juneteenth: The Fight Continues for Racial and Economic Equality

June 19, 2023

“Our union has recognized the importance of racial justice in and outside of the workplace over the years.”
-Machinists Union International President, Robert Martinez

Juneteenth holds a vital place in American history. As a holiday, it commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Celebrated on June 19, this day is a tribute to the abolition of slavery, first observed in 1866 by Black Texans in Galveston, Texas. As the IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. articulates, this day was more than just an end to a harrowing chapter of history. He writes, “This day marked the end of an ugly chapter in American history and a new beginning for Black Americans and their quest for equality.”

However, Martinez underscores that the fight for democracy and economic justice is ongoing. “This day is a reminder that the fight continues for democracy and economic justice for all Americans,” says Martinez, elucidating on the role of the IAM union in this battle. Their efforts have been instrumental in dismantling societal barriers and paving the way for full participation for everyone.

According to Martinez, collective bargaining agreements are essential in confronting current threats and ensuring economic success. “The collective bargaining agreements we have fought for over the years have been an essential tool that allows everyone to succeed economically,” he says. An existing threat looming large is the erosion of voting rights, which labor movements strive to counter by highlighting harmful legislation.

In the fight for workers’ rights, Martinez emphasizes the significance of unity and diversity. He states, “We must all come together and fight for workers’ rights. The best way to achieve that goal is to embrace and celebrate our diversity.” For the IAM union, racial justice has always been a pivotal issue. Their constant fight is to ensure its presence in their collective bargaining agreements. Martinez believes “racial justice and economic justice go hand in hand.”

As Juneteenth approaches, Martinez encourages reflection on the strides made thus far and the future work required to achieve racial and economic equality for all. He writes, “Please take this holiday to reflect on how far we have come and the work needed in the future to achieve racial and economic equality for all.”

In closing, Martinez’s words resonate as a profound rallying call for all of us. His message is clear: the fight for racial and economic justice is far from over, and in the spirit of Juneteenth, we must stand in solidarity, committed to continuing the battle for a more equitable future.

+ The full statement can be read here.

 

 

Related

Controversy as Airline Workers Lose Critical Protections

Controversy as Airline Workers Lose Critical Protections

Jun 14, 2023 | Front Page, MNPL, Other News, Row 2

Controversy as Airline Workers Lose Critical Protections

IAM141.org
June 14, 2023

How a Court Ruling Undermines Massachusetts Sick Leave Law for Airline Workers

New details are emerging in the struggle to preserve aspects of the Massachusetts Sick Leave law that would have protected airline workers facing significant personal challenges, including health crises, domestic abuse, and the need to care for family members. 

A court recently ruled that the state could not enforce its sick leave law for airline workers because, in part, “sick leave abuse is common in the airline industry.” Powerful industry lobbyists showed a handful of examples of individual cases of misuse of the law, including a pair of flight attendants that went “sightseeing” after calling out sick and spikes in call-outs following the law’s implementation.

In effect, U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled that airlines should be exempt from state sick leave laws because airline workers will likely need them. 

In reaching its conclusion, the court listed examples of “abuse” that included only a few actual examples from the thousands of legitimate uses of the states’ protections.

Moreover, the court found that airline employees’ misuse of sick leave isn’t limited to the Massachusetts law. In her ruling, Judge Burroughs found that airline employees also abuse company sick leave rules, particularly by calling out sick on holidays and immediately before and after scheduled days off. In one such example, lobbyists pointed to a Logan-based ramp worker who called out sick during the Christmas Holiday in 2016, 2017, and 2019 and another Logan-based ground worker who allegedly used the Massachusetts law to call out on Thanksgiving and during the Superbowl. 

In another example, American Airlines Flight Service Base Manager at Logan, Elena Salinas, recounted an instance where two Boston-based flight attendants traveled to New Zealand and used one day under the Massachusetts Sick Leave law. Salinas then claimed that an “investigation” into their sick calls found the pair “had gone sightseeing on one of the days they called in sick using (Massachusetts Sick Leave.).”

None of the witnesses offered proof that the alleged sick leave misuse cases involved calling out for reasons not covered under the state sick leave law, which covers more than just illness. 

The Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law (MESTL) gives employees the flexibility to use their accrued sick leave for a range of situations. These situations include times when the employee or a close family member, such as a spouse, child, or parent, needs home care or professional medical care. The law also applies when an employee needs to attend their regular medical check-ups or those of their family members. Furthermore, the law includes protections for circumstances involving domestic violence. Under MESTL, employers must not view an employee’s sick leave negatively due to these situations when making employment-related decisions like evaluations, promotions, discipline, or termination.

None of the cherry-picked examples industry lobbyists cited included evidence that the laws were actually misused. Despite the insinuations, the company lawyers did not show that the holiday sick leaves, for example, were not related to the home care of a close family member. In the case of the flight attendants allegedly misusing sick leave, lawyers did not testify whether they became sick on the day they went “sightseeing,” from food poisoning, for example, and used the subsequent call-outs to recover. In each instance, company lawyers assumed the leave options were being misused and did not consider the possibility the leave was taken for legitimate reasons.

The isolated examples used to justify denying state-provided sick leave are part of a larger trend that, airlines claim, shows their employees are particularly likely to misuse any leave of absence. This includes day trades and company-offered leaves. American Airlines’ lawyers pointed to high absenteeism in 2021 after the carrier paused its attendance policies as evidence that sick time abuse is rampant. Yet, no mention was made that this “absenteeism” was happening at the height of a global pandemic that took an estimated 5.1 million people out of the workforce.

Likewise, United’s Director of Airport Operations, Christopher Painter, testified about a specific instance on December 17, 2020, where so many

ground employees called out sick that he had to cancel four flights because there were not enough employees to complete the necessary services. Painter further testified about flight delays on February 27, 2021, also attributed to ground employee sick calls. His testimony was substantiated by an email from one of the United supervisors he manages, Richard Freddura, stating that the delays resulted from ground employees calling out sick due to mass COVID infections and otherwise arriving late. In these instances, United’s mitigation measures, including overtime and staffing employees to its resource pool, did not prevent these flight delays and cancellations. The airline then blamed the outages on relaxed sick leave policies like Massachusetts’s and completely ignored the then-raging COVID pandemic. 

The recent court decision that Massachusetts cannot enforce its sick leave law for airline workers is a dangerous precedent that could endanger similar state laws across the country. The decision was based on the flawed argument that sick leave abuse is common in the airline industry, but the evidence presented to support this claim was weak and anecdotal. In fact, there is no evidence that sick leave abuse is any more common in the airline industry than in other industries. The industry lobbyists were disingenuous when they used Pandemic related outages to make the case that sick leave was being abused by airline workers. 

The Massachusetts Sick Leave law was designed to protect airline workers facing personal challenges. The evidence presented at trial, rather than proving the law was being abused by lazy airline employees, demonstrated the law was a necessary tool benefiting Massachusetts workers. The lawyers representing airlines ignored the fact that non-punitive sick leave taken during the pandemic undoubtedly saved lives. This decision, which is widely expected to be used in other states with similar workplace protections, will do nothing to prevent absenteeism; instead, it reinforces the crucial importance of worker rights and underscores the pivotal role these laws play in safeguarding public health and individual well-being in times of crisis.

+ The full decision can be read here.

Related News

Stay up to date with all the latest news and information from the Machinists Union

Sign up for Email Alerts

Controversy as Airline Workers Lose Critical Protections

June 14, 2023

How a Court Ruling Undermines Massachusetts Sick Leave Law for Airline Workers

New details are emerging in the struggle to preserve aspects of the Massachusetts Sick Leave law that would have protected airline workers facing significant personal challenges, including health crises, domestic abuse, and the need to care for family members. 

A court recently ruled that the state could not enforce its sick leave law for airline workers because, in part, “sick leave abuse is common in the airline industry.” Powerful industry lobbyists showed a handful of examples of individual cases of misuse of the law, including a pair of flight attendants that went “sightseeing” after calling out sick and spikes in call-outs following the law’s implementation.

In effect, U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled that airlines should be exempt from state sick leave laws because airline workers will likely need them. 

In reaching its conclusion, the court listed examples of “abuse” that included only a few actual examples from the thousands of legitimate uses of the states’ protections.

Moreover, the court found that airline employees’ misuse of sick leave isn’t limited to the Massachusetts law. In her ruling, Judge Burroughs found that airline employees also abuse company sick leave rules, particularly by calling out sick on holidays and immediately before and after scheduled days off. In one such example, lobbyists pointed to a Logan-based ramp worker who called out sick during the Christmas Holiday in 2016, 2017, and 2019 and another Logan-based ground worker who allegedly used the Massachusetts law to call out on Thanksgiving and during the Superbowl. 

In another example, American Airlines Flight Service Base Manager at Logan, Elena Salinas, recounted an instance where two Boston-based flight attendants traveled to New Zealand and used one day under the Massachusetts Sick Leave law. Salinas then claimed that an “investigation” into their sick calls found the pair “had gone sightseeing on one of the days they called in sick using (Massachusetts Sick Leave.).”

None of the witnesses offered proof that the alleged sick leave misuse cases involved calling out for reasons not covered under the state sick leave law, which covers more than just illness. 

The Massachusetts Earned Sick Time Law (MESTL) gives employees the flexibility to use their accrued sick leave for a range of situations. These situations include times when the employee or a close family member, such as a spouse, child, or parent, needs home care or professional medical care. The law also applies when an employee needs to attend their regular medical check-ups or those of their family members. Furthermore, the law includes protections for circumstances involving domestic violence. Under MESTL, employers must not view an employee’s sick leave negatively due to these situations when making employment-related decisions like evaluations, promotions, discipline, or termination.

None of the cherry-picked examples industry lobbyists cited included evidence that the laws were actually misused. Despite the insinuations, the company lawyers did not show that the holiday sick leaves, for example, were not related to the home care of a close family member. In the case of the flight attendants allegedly misusing sick leave, lawyers did not testify whether they became sick on the day they went “sightseeing,” from food poisoning, for example, and used the subsequent call-outs to recover. In each instance, company lawyers assumed the leave options were being misused and did not consider the possibility the leave was taken for legitimate reasons.

The isolated examples used to justify denying state-provided sick leave are part of a larger trend that, airlines claim, shows their employees are particularly likely to misuse any leave of absence. This includes day trades and company-offered leaves. American Airlines’ lawyers pointed to high absenteeism in 2021 after the carrier paused its attendance policies as evidence that sick time abuse is rampant. Yet, no mention was made that this “absenteeism” was happening at the height of a global pandemic that took an estimated 5.1 million people out of the workforce.

Likewise, United’s Director of Airport Operations, Christopher Painter, testified about a specific instance on December 17, 2020, where so many

ground employees called out sick that he had to cancel four flights because there were not enough employees to complete the necessary services. Painter further testified about flight delays on February 27, 2021, also attributed to ground employee sick calls. His testimony was substantiated by an email from one of the United supervisors he manages, Richard Freddura, stating that the delays resulted from ground employees calling out sick due to mass COVID infections and otherwise arriving late. In these instances, United’s mitigation measures, including overtime and staffing employees to its resource pool, did not prevent these flight delays and cancellations. The airline then blamed the outages on relaxed sick leave policies like Massachusetts’s and completely ignored the then-raging COVID pandemic. 

The recent court decision that Massachusetts cannot enforce its sick leave law for airline workers is a dangerous precedent that could endanger similar state laws across the country. The decision was based on the flawed argument that sick leave abuse is common in the airline industry, but the evidence presented to support this claim was weak and anecdotal. In fact, there is no evidence that sick leave abuse is any more common in the airline industry than in other industries. The industry lobbyists were disingenuous when they used Pandemic related outages to make the case that sick leave was being abused by airline workers. 

The Massachusetts Sick Leave law was designed to protect airline workers facing personal challenges. The evidence presented at trial, rather than proving the law was being abused by lazy airline employees, demonstrated the law was a necessary tool benefiting Massachusetts workers. The lawyers representing airlines ignored the fact that non-punitive sick leave taken during the pandemic undoubtedly saved lives. This decision, which is widely expected to be used in other states with similar workplace protections, will do nothing to prevent absenteeism; instead, it reinforces the crucial importance of worker rights and underscores the pivotal role these laws play in safeguarding public health and individual well-being in times of crisis.

+ The full decision can be read here.

Related