Video Report: Obie and Rich, the Spirit of 1776

Video Report: Obie and Rich, the Spirit of 1776

Oct 2, 2020 | Featured News, Front Page, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

This week’s 141 Video Report features C.A. “Obie” O’Brien, President of the Pennsylvania State Council of Machinists, and VP Rich Howell

Brother O’Brien is a legendary figure in the Machinists Union, whose activism during his 56-year career has inspired countless others, including Howell. They are the driving force behind the Pennsylvania State Council, representing 9,000 active Machinists Union members in 52 locals and 5 districts in the state. 

Obie also serves as Vice President of the Pennsylvania State AFL-CIO and is a member of the New Jersey State Council of Machinists. He has received numerous awards, including the Frank Darcy Award from the NJ State Council. His home Local 1776 in Philadelphia, where he has served in several capacities, bears his name.

Rich is a tireless organizer who served as Local 1776 President for 19 years and continues to advocate for Pennsylvania’s working men and women. The coronavirus pandemic has not stopped him from finding ways to contact members to organize and direct phone banks and other activities to get out the vote during this important election year.

“This is not a drill,” says Rich when asked about what is at stake during this election. Pennsylvania is a key battleground state in which both presidential candidates are spending a lot of time and resources and is considered a “must win” in order to win the presidency. In the interview, Rich mentions the labor-friendly candidates on this year’s ballot who have earned the endorsement of the PASCM and the productive relationships the council has cultivated with them. 

Together, these Machinists Union leaders have 97 years of experience representing the interests of union members and working families in the Keystone State and we are proud to recognize the work they do.  

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Last Clock Video Goes Viral As Airline Job Cuts Begin

Last Clock Video Goes Viral As Airline Job Cuts Begin

Sep 30, 2020 | Airlines, American, COVID, Featured News, Front Page, Hawaiian, MNPL, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Philippine, Row 2, Spirit, Uncategorized, United, Video | 0 comments

/// Click Here to see video on Facebook ///

A “last clock” video posted on Tuesday to TikTok and Facebook by a United Airlines Customer Service Agent is drawing attention to the thousands of airline employees who are losing their jobs due to congressional inaction. 

Vange Arizala, a member of IAM Local 2239G, is one of 30 agents at United in Guam who are being furloughed due to the pandemic-related collapse in air traffic. The airline plans to furlough about 16,000 employees like Vange this week, after an extension of the Payroll Support Program for airlines failed to materialize. Across the industry, over 200,000 airline employees and related workers are expecting to become jobless. 

On her last day at work, Vange filmed her final trip to the timeclock and her final look at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM) in Guam. The mood is both optimistic and heartbreaking.

“I’m going to miss this work, and I’m going to miss you guys,” Vange tells coworkers in the post as she records her final walk through the breakroom. With the United Airlines’ theme song “Rhapsody in Blue” playing in the background, she tells friends that the situation is only temporary. “I’ll be back,” she says confidently.

Finding herself working with only one other employee, Vange suggested capturing the moment on video. “After everyone went up to (UA flight) 200, Joel & I were the only ones left at the counter,” she said. “I told him, ‘let’s do a mini photoshoot!’ I was happy to see Mike & Luisa walk in so we had more people to take pictures with. It was like a skeleton crew this morning!”

The “last clock” video posted on Tuesday to TikTok and Facebook by a United Airlines Customer Service Agent is drawing attention to the thousands of airline employees who are losing their jobs due to congressional inaction. 

Vange Arizala, a member of IAM Local 2239G, is one of 30 agents at United in Guam who are being furloughed due to the pandemic-related collapse in air traffic. The airline plans to furlough about 16,000 employees like Vange this week, after an extension of the Payroll Support Program for airlines failed to materialize. Across the industry, over 200,000 airline employees and related workers are expecting to become jobless. 

On her last day at work, Vange filmed her final trip to the timeclock and her final look at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM) in Guam. The mood is both optimistic and heartbreaking.

“I’m going to miss this work, and I’m going to miss you guys,” Vange tells coworkers in the post as she records her final walk through the breakroom. With the United Airlines’ theme song “Rhapsody in Blue” playing in the background, she tells friends that the situation is only temporary. “I’ll be back,” she says confidently.

Finding herself working with only one other employee, Vange suggested capturing the moment on video. “After everyone went up to (UA flight) 200, Joel & I were the only ones left at the counter,” she said. “I told him, ‘let’s do a mini photoshoot!’ I was happy to see Mike & Luisa walk in so we had more people to ta

Friends were quick to flood her comments with warm thoughts and fond expressions of friendship. “Vangie… what a graceful exit!” said Carol Salgado of Hagatna. 

Efforts by airline workers to avoid historic job losses in commercial aviation have been nothing short of heroic. Union members have sent over 90,000 messages to lawmakers, winning the support of both parties and the president for an extension of the Payroll Support Program (PSP). The program was part of the CARES Act which paid labor costs for airlines while forbidding them from conducting layoffs. Early retirements, union-negotiated buyout offers, and partial pay programs have cut the number of involuntary furloughs by thousands. A new COVID relief package including the PSP is still being negotiated by House Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and has yet to be formally introduced.   

Vange Arizala (on right) in a pre-pandemic pose with friends at work.

Earlier in the day, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker told a CNN interviewer that he would consider postponing layoffs for a few days if Congress could ensure that a job package would happen soon. The current PSP expires at midnight on September 30, which triggered the furloughs. 

When asked about the decision to share her touching farewell message, Vange said that building community was important at this moment. “So many of us are going through this,” she said. “It may help to know that we are going through it together.” 

 

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Rep. Mucarsel-Powell Discusses the Urgent Need to Enact the New Heroes Act

Rep. Mucarsel-Powell Discusses the Urgent Need to Enact the New Heroes Act

Sep 29, 2020 | COVID, Featured News, Front Page, MNPL, Page Five, Page Four, Page Three, Page Two, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

The House passes an airline relief bill as the industry begins most massive job losses in history.

 More than 36,000 airline workers will lose their jobs if the House and Senate do not extend payroll support before October 1. After long months of summer vacations, finger pointing and excuses, both parties finally seem ready to make a deal that would prevent the most catastrophic job cuts in the history of United States aviation. But, with only hours left, will they actually do it in time?

Additional Resources /// Tell Lawmakers: Support for Airline Payrolls Cannot Wait  /// Read the joint airline union letter the IAMAW sent to the Senate last week

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Today at 2:00 EST: Top Labor Lobbyist, Hasan Solomon Talks Politics and Airline Work

Today at 2:00 EST: Top Labor Lobbyist, Hasan Solomon Talks Politics and Airline Work

Sep 11, 2020 | Airlines, COVID, Front Page, MNPL, Organizing, Perusals, Safety, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

The CARES Act, Payroll Support Extension, Furloughs. There’s a Lot at Stake For Airline Workers This Election Season.

Hasan Solomon is one of the Machinists & Aerospace Union’s fiercest and outspoken advocates in Washington, DC. This week, he sits down with Dave Lehive to lay out the legislative agenda of the IAMAW.

Hasan is the voice of our union on Capitol Hill. He serves as the National Legislative Director for the IAMAW, and in that role he develops and implements our union’s legislative agenda.  District 141 owes Hasan a special debt of gratitude for his tireless advocacy on behalf of airline workers. With his leadership, we have achieved the strongest legal protections for customer service agents from assault and increased rest periods for flight attendants, with language on the FAA Reauthorization Bill of 2018 that was drafted by our own union members and him. His tireless work has ensured that airline workers were included in the CARES Act, providing several months to prepare for pandemic-related job losses in the industry. 

Brother Hasan Solomon is a graduate of Bowie State University and the University of Baltimore School of Law.

He has been recognized by his peers with numerous awards and is regarded as one of the top Trade Union lobbyists on Capitol Hill. He is an extremely passionate and zealous advocate for workers’ rights and a powerful public speaker.

 

Additional Resources /// Donate to the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League

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IAMAW 141 Video Report: Mike Bucci, President of East Boston Local 1726

IAMAW 141 Video Report: Mike Bucci, President of East Boston Local 1726

Sep 4, 2020 | Front Page, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

Mike Bucci, President of Local 1726 in East Boston

Local Lodge President with the attitude of a Shop Steward and Organizer.

My name is Michael Bucci, President of Local 1726 located in East Boston, Massachusetts. I began to work for the airlines in December 1991, as a part time ramp serviceman for United untill 1996. From there,  I began full time till 2001, then I began my interest in the union in 2007.

It began when my friend Mike Deindia asked me to become a shop steward, until 2013. Then, I ran against the incumbent of the Local Lodge for many years to become the president until the present day. I have had the honor of representing the local many times at the Transportation, Safety, Grand Lodge and District Conferences.

I have also had the opportunity to be trained at the Winpisinger Center for classes specializing in Leadership, Safety, and politics.

The local I represent was charted in 1952. The building was purchased around 1964, by Frank V. Celona, Edward Burke, and Don Mac by the selling of pots and pans out of trailer trucks parked around the city. At this time there were around 2000 members of mechanics and cargo employees. Eddie Burke became the local president,and Don mac was the recording secretary. Frank  became a general chair in 1966, and became a GLR in 1974, from there he rose to assistant railroad coordinator 1990 then in 1996 he became the chief of staff for VP of transportation.The building became known as the Frank Solana building around the 1970s in honor of Frank’s achievements.

Currently, the local represents approximately 900 members consisting of airline mechanics, customer service agents, and fleet service. We currently have members in each state of New England. As the president of the local I currently sit on the states board of machinists consoul. Our website has all current events, charity drives, and local political endorsements sanctioned by the machinstits state council.

The pandemic has a great effect on the local lodge, due to it we have lost members to covid19, and the industry hasn’t seen changes so dramatic since september 11th 2001, when the industry as a whole has changed completely.

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IAMAW 141 Video Report: Bill Gula, President of Newark’s Local 914

IAMAW 141 Video Report: Bill Gula, President of Newark’s Local 914

Aug 28, 2020 | Airlines, American, Community Service Page, Featured News, Front Page, MNPL, Organizing, Perusals, Row 2, Uncategorized, United, Video | 0 comments

Bill Gula, Local President and Activist 

Brother Bill Gula began his career in 1996, as a Ramp Services Agent at Continental Airlines.

Bill split his time between working on the ramp and later took on additional responsibilities as a Load Planner. He worked as a Hub Operations Coordinator for several years, in the tower at Newark Liberty Airport.

In 2010, Bill began organizing for the IAMAW after the merger of Continental and United Airlines. Working with Grand Lodge Reps Tom Regan, Bill Rody, and Edison Fraser, he began organizing the Newark workforces under the IAMAW banner. After the successful campaign for representation in 2011, Brother Bill initiated into the Machinists Union and began service as a ramp Shop Steward.

In 2013 Bill was elected Vice President of the United Lodge Local 914, filling a vacant position.That same year, he began his affiliation with the NJ State Council of Machinists. In 2014, Brother Gula was re-elected as Vice President of the local during the normal election cycle.

Bill rose to the position of Local 914 President in 2016 when former President Richard Creighton was promoted to Assistant General Chair at District Lodge 141. That same year, Bill was elected Vice President of Airlines for the NJ State Council of Machinists. He continued his work on behalf of union members and in 2017 was elected president of his Local for a full term, a position he proudly holds to this day. Bill continues to be active in Community Service endeavors as well as legislative efforts in his IAM local and in the NJSCM.

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