Machinists & Aerospace Union Recognized at Inauguration Welcome Ceremony

Jan 20, 2021 | Featured, Featured News, Front Page, GOIAM Stories, MNPL, Organizing, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

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The Machinists Union was recognized Saturday by the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) during its programing America United: An Inauguration Welcome Event Celebrating America’s Changemakers.

Machinists & Aerospace Union Recognized at Inauguration Welcome Ceremony

The Machinists Union was recognized Saturday by the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) during its programing America United: An Inauguration Welcome Event Celebrating America’s Changemakers. The video congratulates the incoming administration and pays tribute to IAM essential workers who have been on the frontlines during the pandemic.

The PIC hosted a welcome event to celebrate America, reflect and honor its history, and highlight the incredible diversity of the nation. It featured musical performances, celebrity appearances and remarks from some of the most popular leaders from across the country. The event kicked off five days of programming leading into Wednesday’s inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

Watch the entire program.

141 Report: Local 1782, A Powerhouse in the Bay Area and Beyond

This week we had a conversation with Wendy Goodell, President of IAM Local 1782, based in Burlingame, California

Sister Wendy, a 24-year veteran at United Airlines in SFO, became a Shop Steward 10 years ago at the urging of Greg Brown, a past Local 1782 president who recently retired after a long career as a union activist in the Bay Area. Her experience working in all areas of airport customer service helped her become a caring and effective representative for her co-workers. Her talent and abilities were strengthened by the knowledge and skills she gained in Leadership courses at the Winpisinger Education and Technology Center.

Wendy leads a diverse group of Machinists that includes over 1,700 members from 3 airlines in 5 California cities, in Air Transport Districts 141 and 142. Shortly after taking office, Wendy and Vice President Wallace Chew had a plan to visit every station to familiarize themselves with their members’ work environment, but the coronavirus pandemic forced them to change the outreach using online tools instead. They have spent the last few months updating the local’s website, so it contains up-to-date information and useful links. They are also more active in social media and are conducting training sessions via Zoom, which Wendy said allows some members to participate more easily from their homes.

Local 1782 President Wendy Goodell is a leader who recognizes the importance of communication and member education to support the various activities that are important to our union’s mission: Justice on the Job, Service to the Community.

Organizing for Power: District 141 Recognized for Growing Union

District 141 of the Machinists & Aerospace Union was recognized for its union organizing work, which saw 11 new locations and more than 800 new members added to the union in 2019. The accolades were presented at the second annual International President’s Excellence in Organizing Awards, held near Washington, DC., last week.

The event, held virtually this year due to the pandemic, recognizes union members for their continued efforts to grow the IAMAW and increase working families’ power.

District 141, one of the largest aviation and transportation workers’ groups in the US, was singled out for two awards, the Top Organizing District Award and the Top Organizer Award. Accepting on behalf of the District was President & Directing General Chair Mike Klemm.

After decades of decline, labor is starting to show real signs of growth in recent years. According to a recent Gallup Poll, 64% of Americans have a favorable view of unions, marking a 50 year high. Union members make an average of 20% more overall compensation and are more likely to have pensions and better health care than their non-union counterparts. Because of this, labor is finding increasing success in places like aviation.

“In 2018, we were number one in the entire AFL-CIO for organizing,” said the Machinists & Aerospace Union International President Bob Martinez. “We continue to organize new members across North America and deliver a better life to working families.” Martinez praised the union’s efforts to create a multi-level strategic organizing strategy that has proven that labor can grow and expand – even in the face of the COVID pandemic.

In presenting the awards, Machinists & Aerospace Organizing Director Vinny Addeo said, “This district… has consistently demonstrated the Transportation Department’s strategy for organizing through collective bargaining, and this approach has been working, as is evident by their success.”

“District 141 is the largest district in the IAM, and that’s not by accident,” said IAMAW General Vice President, Sito Pantoja. “Eight years ago, District 141 had about 24 thousand members. Today, they have 38 thousand members. That tells you the effort that they’ve put into organizing. Organizing over 13 thousand members in that period of time is quite an achievement. Congratulations to Mike Klemm and District 141.”

“I am so proud of the efforts our organizers and leaders have put in to growing our great union and bringing power back to the working people in the U.S. and Canada,” said Martinez. “Organizing can be an extremely difficult, yet rewarding job and these members do it with tenacity, passion and drive. I want to thank Organizing Director Vinny Addeo, the Organizing Department and all the organizers in every Territory for their dedication to working families and to growing the IAM.”

“Recognizing our Brothers’ and Sisters’ successes in organizing is so paramount to the task itself,” said Addeo. “Organizing is the most difficult challenge in the labor movement and that’s why it is so important for our Union to show our appreciation to them, which reinforces the significance of their accomplishments.”

Awards for 2019 were given for the top District or Local from each respective territory, top individual organizer from each respective territory, top organizing territory and top individual organizer.

Top Organizing Territory: Western Territory

Organizer of the Year: Justin Mauldin, District 725 Director of Organizing

Western Territory

Top District/Local: District 725

Individual: Justin Mauldin, District 725 Organizing Director

Transportation Department

Top District/Local: District 141

Individual: Mike Klemm, District 141 President and Directing General Chair

Eastern Territory

Top District/Local: District 1

Individual: Brent Coleman, District 1 Organizer

Southern Territory

Top District/Local: District 776

Individual: Valerie Rodriguez, Grand Lodge Representative

Canadian Territory

Top District/Local: District 11

Individual: Nektarios (Nik) Sifakis, District 140 Organizer

Midwest Territory

Top District/Local: Local 701

Individual: Scott Brown, Local 778 Business Representative

IAM Headquarters

Individual: Dennis Mendenhall, Grand Lodge Special Representative

141 Video Report: District 141 Communications Team

This week, the IAM141 Communications Team makes a rare appearance in front of the camera to talk to Dave about some of the work that goes into union communications.

IAMAW Communications teammembers Ines Garcia-Keim and Eric Price joined fellow coordinator Dave Lehive to talk union communications, art, and outreach.

Video Report: Spotlight on Southern California

This week, Deryl Gaylord, President of IAMAW Local 1932 describes the sprawling, 1600 worker-strong lodge, the work that it’s doing, and the women and men that make it all possible.

IAM Local Lodge 1932 President Deryl Gaylord talks with Dave Lehive about one of the largest air transport locals in our union. Based in LAX, Local 1932 represents over 1,600 active members from every airline in the IAM, and their leadership reflects this diverse membership.

Brother Deryl Gaylord is a 22-year veteran of United Airlines who had served in a variety of roles in his local lodge when he joined the IAM organizing team in 2011 during the United/Continental campaign. That experience motivated him to become more active in union work, and after his return to LAX after 7 months on the road, he was elected to the grievance committee and also as vice president of Local 1932. He served as vice president for six years and is now on his first term as president of the local.

Deryl recognized the work of union activists who blazed the trail before him, especially the late Stephen Cooke, who served as president of Local 1932 and whose legacy benefits IAM members to this day. He also gives credit to committee chairs, EAP representatives, and all the active Local 1932 members who keep doing far-reaching work in the City of Angels.

Machinists Mobilize for Pro-Worker Candidates in Georgia

The IAMAW is urging members to pack the polls and elect two pro-worker US Senators: John Ossoff and Rev. Rafael Warnock, to carry out a working family agenda in Washington.

Union members believe that a progressive Senate will do a better job of solving critical problems like the COVID-19 Pandemic and rebuilding the economy, top concerns for IAMAW District 112 President Reggie Dixon and Assistant to the President (IAMAW District 19) Andrew Sandberg. “We’re coming up with more positivve cases, and more deaths, because of the way this virus is being handled… or not handled,” said Sandberg.

IAM Political advocates also want Congress to pass the PRO Act, which will ban anti-union “Right to Work” laws nationwide. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives and could pass the Senate if Ossof and Warnock win in the Georgia runoffs. “This is one of the most important peices of legislation to come down for unions in 80 years,” said Jim Clements, the Georgia State Council of Machinists Presidents. “I have not seen anything that has the potential to have as much impact on me personally, on everybody that works in my shop, and everybody that works in a union or wants to work in a union,” he said.

“This is the future of what could happen to unions,” said IAMAW District 141 Legislative Director, David Roderick. “I really don’t want to see the demise of unions,” he continued.

Along with the anti-worker JANUS v AFSCME Supreme Court Decision, Right to Work Laws have made it possible to confiscate union property, including services and expertise, without paying for their use. Under these laws, union members must perform work for free, on demand, a set-up intended to bankrupt employee groups. Shifting control of the Senate could reverse these policies.

Early voting in Georgia begins on December 14.

In Georgia, runoff elections occur when candidates do not win a required majority of votes in a regular election. The US Senate is closely divided, and if both Ossoff and Warnock win in the Peach State, Democrats will hold a slight majority.

To learn more about how to get involved in IAMAW Legislative Action, or to get more information about how the MNPL is funded and operates, contact IAMAW District 141 Legislative Director, David Roderick at IAM141.org/Advocacy.