IAM Reopens Winpisinger Education and Technology Center to In-Person Classes

IAM Reopens Winpisinger Education and Technology Center to In-Person Classes

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IAM Reopens Winpisinger Education and Technology Center to In-Person Classes

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With COVID-19 protocols in place, the IAM reopened its classrooms this week at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, MD, to participants resuming in-person programs for the first time since March 2020. The nearly two dozen IAM members are attending Leadership 1.

Many thanks to the IAMAW Journalists at GoIAM.org, who first produced and published this story.

With COVID-19 protocols in place, the IAM reopened its classrooms this week at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Hollywood, MD, to participants resuming in-person programs for the first time since March 2020. The nearly two dozen IAM members are attending Leadership 1.

“Our instructors and members quickly and successfully adapted to an online learning environment, but there’s nothing like face-to-face worker education to build and strengthen relationships among our participants,” said Winpisinger Center Director Chris Wagoner. These experiences foster a lifelong investment in learning, build solidarity, and help sustain collective action efforts among members, officers, activists and staff. We take great pride in welcoming our members back to their facility.”

WATCH: Winpisinger Center Ready to Reopen

“We are extremely excited to welcome members back to the Winpisinger Center,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Education has always been essential to the mission of the Machinists Union, and no facility does it better than the William W. Winpisinger Center, but our focus is also on the health and safety of our members to ensure a safe learning environment for participants and staff”

Because the safety of member participants and staff is of the utmost importance, the W3 Center will return with a phased reopening schedule and a strict set of protocols and procedures. The W3 Center will continuously reassess all safety measures in accordance with CDC, state and local guidelines—and where appropriate, make necessary changes.

  • All participants are required to provide proof of vaccination prior to purchase of travel to attend class.
  • All participants will be required to mask and socially distance while at the W3 Center.
  • All W3 Center employees are fully vaccinated.
  • Leadership programs are limited to 50 percent enrollment.
  • Guest rooms will not exceed 50 percent capacity. Each will be cleaned and sanitized daily and will not be occupied for one week after use.
  • Classrooms and dining room will be cleaned and sanitized throughout each day, and set up to allow for social distancing.
  • Participants will not be allowed to bring guests at this time.
  • The W3 Center will carefully and fully follow CDC recommendations and fully comply with State of Maryland laws and the St. Mary’s County Department of Health guidelines.

Registration is currently open for leadership and staff programs. The 2021 calendar is now available online.

 

 

IAMAW District 141 Names Three Auditors

IAMAW District 141 Names Three Auditors

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IAMAW District 141 Names Three Auditors

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IAMAW District 141 is welcoming three new Auditors this week. District President Mike Klemm named Faysal Silwany, Helena Thornton, and John Martinez to the new positions last Wednesday.

“Our District 141 Auditors serve a vital role for our union membership,” said Klemm. “I’m proud of the team of auditors we’ve been able to put together. I do not doubt these three longtime union activists will perform their jobs with dedication, and with the same attention to detail that has marked their service to our membership for years. They have my full trust,” he said.

The new Auditors will begin work immediately.

Faysal J. Silwany began his airline career in 2006 at Continental/United Airlines in Newark, NJ as a Ramp Services Employee. A Member of IAMAW Local 914, he became a Shop Steward in 2015, serving in that position until 2018. In 2016, he was elected as a Local 914 Trustee, and in 2019 he became the Ramp Services Grievance Committee Representative.

“I had the opportunity to work on a union shop floor at a young age so I’ve always understood the importance of being unionized,” Faysal said upon becoming a District Auditor.  “I’m proud of the work we’re doing as a union,” he said. “I’m proud to serve as Committeeman, and I’m honored to be a part of this team.”

 

John Martinez, the President of Local Lodge 1886 in Denver, Colorado, has a long and distinguished history as a union activist.

He began his career at United Airlines in 1994 as an RSE and currently works as a Lead on the ramp at Denver International Airport. Martinez began his union service as a Shop Steward in 1998, later becoming a United Airlines Assistant Ramp Committee Person in 2010, a position he held for two years.

Since then, he has served as a Local Lodge Trustee and Vice President. He was elected President of Local 1886 in 2012. Since 2018, he has also served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Colorado State Council of Machinists.

Martinez is an experienced District Auditor, having worked in that role from 2010 to 2012. 

 

 

Helena Thornton began her airline career at American Airlines as a Charlotte-based Fleet Services Agent in 2006. A member of Victory Lodge 1725, she has held numerous positions serving the IAMAW membership and the communities surrounding Charlotte International Airport. Thornton currently holds several union positions, including Chair of the Local Lodge 1725 Community Service Committee, Recording Secretary, Women’s Committee Chair, and Shop Steward. She represented Local 1725 as a Delegate to the Grand Lodge Conventions in 2012, 2016, and 2020 (rescheduled to 2022).

Thornton’s community involvement in Charlotte has been recognized by non-profit and grassroots organizations in the region. “I was honored to be named the 2017 IAM Recipient of the Community Service Award after our Local Lodge adopted a school in a working-class neighborhood,” she said upon being appointed District Auditor. 

“The membership of Local Lodge 1725 keeps me focused,” she said. “Together, we make sure that all working people are treated fairly.”

 

 

Survey: 82% of JetBlue Ground Workers Worry About Getting Fired

Survey: 82% of JetBlue Ground Workers Worry About Getting Fired

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Survey: 82% of JetBlue Ground Workers Worry About Getting Fired

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A recent survey of 900 Ground Operations workers at JetBlue found that a stunning 82% of respondents reported fearing they might lose their jobs as the pandemic ravaged the airline industry in 2020.

JetBlue Ground Operations Crewmembers can support union organizing by signing a card authorizing a union vote. Add your name at the Justice at JetBlue webpage.

JetBlue Ground Operations workers load and unload baggage, among other tasks, such as moving and inspecting aircraft on the tarmac and at the gate.

While pandemic-related slowdowns in the airline industry are likely driving the unusually high fear of terminations, the survey paints a picture of a tense workplace at JetBlue. 77% of JetBlue Ground Operations workers rated the professionalism of their supervisors at three stars or less on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the best score. Only 23% of participants gave their supervisors a score higher than three stars. 68% said their supervisors do not respect Ground Operations employees, and 77% reported that management had inconsistent work rules. Complaints of favoritism have plagued the airline for years.

Overall, JetBlue Ground Operations Crewmembers rated the JetBlue workplace three stars out of five, indicating widespread dissatisfaction. 

Union organizers at JetBlue have observed a pervasive climate of fear at the airline. Frank Giannola, Director of Membership Services at District 141 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, suggested the fear of supervisors is fueling in part a recent uptick in union interest at JetBlue. “These guys depend on supervisor grace at an existential level,” he said. “Supervisors at JetBlue have a lot of power compared to other airlines, and a lot of them are bullies,” Giannola said.  “At JetBlue, access to overtime, job security… all of it – is only as secure as their most sadistic supervisor allows it to be.”

Ground Ops: Authorize a union vote at JetBlue >>

One unusual way that JetBlue supervisors exert undue power at the airline is centered on random drug screenings. According to Giannola, management has weaponized random drug tests at JetBlue. The worry isn’t limited to those who are suspected of misuse of illicit substances. “These guys are worried about getting sent home without pay while they wait for the results of a BS drug test to come back,” Giannola said. “This kind of thing is completely unheard of at a union workplace,” he said. “They just don’t mess with union workers like that.”

While low pay and overall compensation were top issues for GO Crewmembers, they were closely tied to the potential for supervisors at the airline to abuse their power. When asked how fairly supervisors applied overtime rules, 86% of respondents awarded JetBlue three stars or less, with only 14% giving the airline a better than mediocre score. Another 14% rated the overtime rules at JetBlue with only one star. Non-union employees can be forced to work past their shifts without being paid a premium for overtime, as long as they don’t go past 40 hours in a week. JetBlue is toying with the idea of changing this rule but hasn’t committed to anything yet. 

IAMAW union contracts require premium overtime pay to kick in when a worker goes past their scheduled work hours, with rules that allow for time-and-a-half and double-time overtime pay. At United, if ground workers are required to work mandatory overtime for two days in a row, their contract requires them to be paid double-time on the second day, and on every consecutive day after that.  

Union members working at airlines could not be subjected to involuntary layoffs throughout the pandemic, including having their hours reduced from full-time to part-time. Airlines that wanted to reduce their workforces had to pay bonuses to encourage retirements. Giannola suggested that JetBlue could avoid layoffs altogether because managers can summarily fire Ground Operations workers instead. “Through the pandemic, if JetBlue wanted to reduce its workforce, they could just fire any non-union people they wanted, for any reason or no stated reason at all. If I had to guess why so many Ground Operations workers were worried about losing their jobs, that would probably be it.”

The survey of 985 current and former JetBlue Ground Operations workers was conducted by phone and email between July 7 and July 23, 2021. 

TAKE ACTION: Authorize a Union Vote at JetBlue Ground Ops>>

 

JetBlue Workplace Survey Results

Overall, how would you rate JetBlue as an employer?

JetBlue Ground Operations Crewmembers rate their workplace three stars out of a possible five, with five being the best score and one being the worst.
Breakdown:

Very good: 14%
Good: 9%
Mediocre: 45%
Poor: 23%
Very Poor: 9%

How would you rate the professionalism of your supervisors?

Very good: 9%
Good: 14%
Mediocre: 36%
Poor: 27%
Very Poor: 14%

Please rate your supervisors on how fairly they enforce work rules.

Very good: 9%
Good: 14%
Mediocre: 27%
Poor: 32%
Very Poor: 18%

Please rate your supervisors on how respectful they are to Ground Ops Crewmembers.

Very good: 14%
Good: 18%
Mediocre: 32%
Poor: 18%
Very Poor: 18%

Please rate the likelihood that, if a JetBlue employee works hard and follows the rules, they will be able to keep their job.

Very good: 23%
Good: 27%
Mediocre: 23%
Poor: 14%
Very Poor: 14%

In the past year, have you personally been worried about losing your job for any reason?

Yes: 82%
No: 18%

Please rate JetBlue policies on BREAK and LUNCH PERIODS.

Very good: 9%
Good: 9%
Mediocre: 27%
Poor: 18%
Very Poor: 36%

How would you rate the current OVERTIME RULES at JetBlue?

Very good: 5%
Good: 9%
Mediocre: 36%
Poor: 36%
Very Poor: 14%

Please rate the current SAFETY PROGRAMS at JetBlue.

Very good: 14%
Good: 9%
Mediocre: 45%
Poor: 9%
Very Poor: 23%

In the past year, have you personally been injured at work?

Yes: 27%
No: 59%
Would rather not say: 14%

(If yes), did your injury result in a loss of work hours? Did you need to miss work as a result?

Yes: 67%
No: 33%

Please rate the PAY AND COMPENSATION at JetBlue.

Very good: 5%
Good: 5%
Mediocre: 45%
Poor: 23%
Very Poor: 23%

I feel that my company values the work I do.

Strongly Agree: 5%
Agree: 5%
Neutral: 27%
Disagree: 27%
Strongly Disagree: 36%

I get enough training and support to do my job properly.

Strongly Agree: 9%
Agree: 27%
Neutral: 23%
Disagree: 27%
Strongly Disagree: 27%

I always feel safe at work.

Strongly Agree: 9%
Agree: 23%
Neutral: 27%
Disagree: 23%
Strongly Disagree: 18%

Workplace Priorities for JetBlue Ground Operations

Premium Pay for certain shifts / Net promoter score: 81.82
Longevity Pay Increases / Net promoter score: 81.82
Profit Sharing Increase / Net promoter score: 72.73
Triple-Time for Holidays Worked / Net promoter score: 81.82
More Defined Holidays / Net promoter score: 68.18
Improved Work – Life Balance / Net promoter score: 88.5

 

2021 Adolph Stutz Memorial Scholarship Winners Announced

2021 Adolph Stutz Memorial Scholarship Winners Announced

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August 1, 2021
 

On behalf of the District Lodge 141 Scholarship Committee, I am pleased to announce the results of the Adolph Stutz Memorial Scholarship Award competition for 2021.

The top award of $2,000 goes to Anabel DeJesus of Spring, Tex. Anabel is the daughter of Luis J. DeJesus, a baggage handler at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 811. She is a student at Sam Houston State University, where she majors in graphic design.

Six runner-up awards of $1,000 will be presented to (listed in alphabetical order):

Olivia Amendolara of Seaford, N.Y. Olivia is the daughter of Nick Amendolara, an RSM at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 845. She is an incoming freshman at Chapman University.

Alexandria Henderson of Dyer, Ind. Alexandria is the daughter of Thomas Voas, a Ramp Service Employee at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 1487. Alexandria is a student at Indiana State University in Bloomington.

Rayna Holandi of Villa Park, Ill. She is a Customer Service Representative at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 1487. Rayna attends Eastern Gateway Community College.

Sofia La Grasta of Whitestone, N.Y. Her father, Mike La Grasta, is a Customer Service Representative at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 1322. Sofia is a student at the State University of New York at New Paltz.

Iain McCutchan of Kenosha, Wis. Iain is the son of Steve McCutchan, an OPBLP at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 1487. He is an incoming freshman at the University of Washington at Whitewater.

Joseph Triano of Kenilworth, N.J. Joseph’s father, Gary Triano, is an LDRSE at United Airlines and a member of Local Lodge 914. Joseph is a student at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass.

To the winners: Congratulations! To receive your award, you must mail to me, at the address on the bottom of this letter, confirmation of your enrollment at an accredited college or university for the Fall 2021 term and that you are taking a minimum of six credits. A copy of a signed, valid registration or class schedule confirmation will be satisfactory. Once this confirmation has been received, the AGC in your area will notify you when you can receive your check at a Local Lodge meeting. To those who did not win: The Scholarship Committee commends your interest and efforts in the 2022 competition. We encourage you to try again next year!

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Brin
Chair, District Lodge 141 Adolph Stutz Memorial Scholarship Committee

Send confirmation of enrollment to:
P.O. Box 8160 • Calabasas, CA 91372

 

141 Report: “A Proper Send-Off” in SFO Celebrates Retirements and Solidarity

141 Report: “A Proper Send-Off” in SFO Celebrates Retirements and Solidarity

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What began as a plan to have a small retirement party for 49 Storekeepers who chose United’s voluntary separation programs turned into a day-long celebration for all Machinists Union members in SFO.

141 Report: “A Proper Send-Off” in SFO Celebrates Retirements and Solidarity

Over 1,000 union members from Local Lodges 1781 and 1782 in Burlingame, CA enjoyed food, live music, games, and camaraderie while saluting their brothers and sisters moving on to new horizons after their service at United, American, Hawaiian and other carriers.

Dave Lehive talks with Chris Lusk, Committee Chair and Vice President of Local 1781, who also serves as Vice President, West of District 141, and with Olu Ajetomobi, Assistant General Chair for District 141.

AGC Troy Rivera joins the conversation on a video clip, where he tells how his plan blossomed into a celebration and proper send-off for 285 retirees that all members could enjoy. The original group of 5 planners turned into an organizing committee that had 35 volunteers on the day of the event. “It was a pretty well-oiled machine,” said Chris Lusk.

The organizers had gathered 650 RSVPs on their social media posts, but once they shared pictures of the setup on the morning of the event, phones and social media websites exploded with excitement and more RSVPs. Attendance numbers are not finalized, but they expect they had “well over” 1,000 participants. The event was open to all IAM members working at United, American, Hawaiian, and Flagship Services in SFO. 

Four food trucks, which earned “rave reviews,” kept members and their families well fed, along with a beautifully displayed dessert table featuring the IAM logo. Members also enjoyed live music, games, and raffles. 

The most popular feature was a “dunk tank” where members had the opportunity to hit a target that sent their favorite AGC or local officer into a water tank for good fun and to raise money for Guide Dogs of America, the Machinists Union favorite charity. Cristina Odoardi, District 141 Community Services Director, was on hand and helped coordinate that part of the event.  

There were also opportunities for members to learn more about the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League (MNPL), the Retiree Club, and other ways to stay involved in the union. 

Brother Olu Ajetonobi says many retirees “just drop by,” but members of the Retiree Club are active in the local’s community service events, such as food drives. 

The celebration left IAM members, guests, and families wanting more. Hearing comments such as “when’s the next event, what can I do to help?” encouraged Chris to declare that ”this will be an ongoing event.” He encouraged every local to take time to celebrate our bonds and solidarity. 

Passenger Rage is So Bad the TSA is Offering Free Self Defense Classes

Passenger Rage is So Bad the TSA is Offering Free Self Defense Classes

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Passenger Rage is So Bad the TSA is Offering Free Self Defense Classes

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Amid a wave of violent attacks from passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is restarting self-defense classes designed specifically for flight crews and gate agents.

The classes, which the TSA paused due to the pandemic, are starting this month.

Safety is a core responsibility of flight crews while onboard an aircraft. Recent legislation has increased penalties for abusing inflight and gate agents, imposing steep fines, lifetime bans, and even prison time for attackers. The FAA has fined some passengers as much as half a million dollars and implemented a “zero tolerance” policy towards lawbreakers. The Machinists and Aerospace Union was part of a coalition of labor and industry groups that pushed hard for increased efforts to protect airline workers.

While the penalties may discourage some attacks, they do not prevent all of them. Anti-mask and political ragers, drunks, and the usual “you’re not telling me what to do” crowd can still go on the attack. And, some of these violent encounters can pose real threats to flight crews and passengers.

In July, a woman was duct-taped to her seat after trying to open the aircraft door mid-flight. The American Airlines flight had 190 passengers on board. In June, a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta was forced to land in Oklahoma City when an off-duty airline employee began assaulting flight attendants. Overall, airlines have reported more than 2,000 cases of misconduct directed at employees in 2021. 

Hence, the TSA is giving flight crews free self-defense training. 

“Through this training program, TSA’s Federal Air Marshals are able to impart their specialized expertise in defending against and de-escalating an attack while in an aircraft environment,” said Darby LaJoye, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the TSA Administrator. “While it is our hope that flight crew members never have need for these tactics, it is critical to everyone’s safety that they be well-prepared to handle situations as they arise.”

The classes are led by certified instructors who train flight crews to deal with violent encounters in an aircraft setting.

In addition to simple martial arts maneuvers, flight crew members also learn to identify and deter potential threats before they happen. The four-hour classes are available at 24 locations around the country and are free of charge. Active airline workers are eligible for the training, including gate, ramp, ticket counter agents, flight attendants, and pilots. 

Interested airline workers with an active employee or crew number can register through the TSA website.