Philadelphia Remembers IAMAW Brother, Mike Byrd

Philadelphia Remembers IAMAW Brother, Mike Byrd

Jul 17, 2020 | American, Featured, Featured News, Front Page, Organizing, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

Philadelphia Remembers Mike Byrd

AM Local 1776 American Airlines members say goodbye to our departed brother, Mike Byrd.

Crowds of co-workers gathered on Thursday afternoon to say goodby to longtime union member and friend, Mike Byrd.

Escorted by his parents, Mike was sent to his resting place near Los Angeles by a solemn gathering of friends and co-workers.

“We just want to say that we love him,” said ABR Lead Larry Smith, who spoke in remembrance of Mike at the planeside observance. “Our heartfelt prayers go out to him and his family,” he said. “We want everyone to realize that we are here for the same reason; and we need to love up to one another, and look out for one another.” 

“We never know what someone is going through,” he continued. “A few words from the heart to someone could mean so much to them.”

Mike was a close personal friend of IAMAW Special Representative, Gil Simmons, who attended the service alongside Smith. 

Smith asked that Mike be remembered for his brotherly spirit, his kindness, and his faith. Leading a prayer, he said, “We say thank you, we say ‘Peace’ to each and every one of you, and we love you.”

Mike Byrd had worked for American Airlines for 35 years. 

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Union Plus: Standing Up For Union Members

Union Plus: Standing Up For Union Members

Jul 10, 2020 | Featured, Featured News, Front Page, Organizing, Row 2, Video | 0 comments

Standing Up For Union Members: Keith T.W. Anderko Explains How Union Plus Can Help 

Keith T.W. Anderko is the IAMAW’s Union Service Representative at Union Plus, which provides invaluable member-only benefits and discounts. 

Long before joining Union Plus, Keith was a campaign field organizer to elect labor-friendly candidates for public office.  He then worked with National Nurses United, organizing health care professionals in Right-To-Worse states across the US.  Keith used the Union Plus discount programs as a way to enhance his organizing campaigns, which brought over 5,000 RNs into the labor movement. 

He is proud of his labor heritage as a fourth-generation union member.  He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with his wife, two children, and five cats. 

Union Plus Hardship Help

As we collectively battle the Coronavirus pandemic, our team at Union Plus is focused on providing you with resources to support you and your family. Participants in our Union Plus Mortgage, Credit Card, Personal Loan or supplemental insurance programs may be eligible for additional hardship assistance through our Mortgage Assistance Program or other Union Plus hardship assistance programs.

Learn More About Union Plus Hardship Help

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Video Report: A Conversation With Russ Gittlen from Guide Dogs of America

Video Report: A Conversation With Russ Gittlen from Guide Dogs of America

Jul 3, 2020 | Community Service, Community Service Page, Featured, Featured News, Front Page, Row 2, Video | 0 comments

A Conversation with Russ Gittlen from Guide Dogs of America

Russ Gittlen joined the IAM as a UPS mechanic and has been an active member for nearly three decades. He became a shop steward at UPS in 1990 and was appointed Business Representative in Lodge 447 in 2000.

Gittlen has actively supported Guide Dogs of America for many years, helping raise over half a million dollars (and counting) for the number one charity at the Machinists and Aerospace Union. 

Before becoming the president of GDA, Russ worked tirelessly as a volunteer for 16 years. As director, he has helped lead Guide Dogs to its current position as a trusted and effective charitable organization. Under his leadership, Guide Dogs of America has earned a coveted Perfect Rating for transparency and accountability by Charity Navigator.com. 

 

In recognition of his work, Guide Dogs of America honored him with it’s 2014 “Gift of Sight Award.”

His efforts have helped countless vision-impaired women and men lead more normal lives. 

Want to Know More About Guide Dogs of America?

Guide Dogs of America empowers people to live with greater confidence, mobility and independence by providing expertly matched service dog partners.

GDA services are provided free of charge and available to people within the U.S. and Canada.

Visit Guide Dogs of America

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Video Report: A Conversation With IAM141 Education Director, Mac McGovern

Video Report: A Conversation With IAM141 Education Director, Mac McGovern

Jun 26, 2020 | Education, Featured, Front Page, Row 2, Video | 0 comments

Video Report: A Conversation with Education Director, Mac McGovern.

Today’s guest is IAMAW District 141 Education Director, Mac McGovern. A staunch union supporter, Mac’s journey began years ago, after graduating from High School in 1978. While pursuing a career as a hard rock singer, Mac worked various jobs to cover the bills. One of these was on Wall Street, where Mac was first introduced to United Airlines.

After moving from Hollywood, California, Mac began working at UPS, eventually studying computer programing at the Job Institute. He began working at United Airlines part-time in 1992, and when he was offered a full-time position at both United and UPS, he chose to go with United Airlines.

Mac became involved with the Employee Assistance Program in 1998, later becoming a shop steward. He was elected President of Local Lodge 914 in late 2000. He attended his first class at the Winpisinger Center, which had a class for all Local Lodge Presidents.

Mac drove to the center with fellow Local Lodge President from 1322, Richie Chu, who had become a union mentor to him. 

Brother Chu was a District 141 Educator, and took Mac with him to a Steward Class that he was doing in Albany, NY., when someone cancelled on him at the last minute. It was there that Mac learned that he not only wanted to help members of his local, but that he also had a passion for education and teaching. 

In 2004, Brother Rudy Asuncion asked Mac to become his Regional EAP Coordinator, which was a newly-created position. This made Mac a Local Lodge 914 President, an EAP Northeast Regional Coordinator, a District Educator, and soon after would become part of the EWR Grievance Committee. 

In 2009, he got a call from then-District 141 President, Rich Delaney asking him if he would join the United Airlines contract negotiations team. 

After Asuncion retired and left United Airlines, President Delaney appointed Mac United Airlines Chair of District EAP. Mac remained in that role until current IAMAW District 141 President Mike Klemm asked Mac to become the Director of Education. 

IAMAW District 141 Director of Education, Mike “Mac” McGovern.

Need More Information?

To find out about scheduling training at your location, Contact Mike “Mac” McGovern, Director of Education. Your Local Lodge will coordinate with Mac and your AGC or Committee Person, to determine who will attend specific training in your area.

Visit IAMAW District 141 Education Department

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A Conversation With Safety Advocate, Danny Schwarz

A Conversation With Safety Advocate, Danny Schwarz

Jun 19, 2020 | Row 2, Safety, Uncategorized, Video | 1 comment

A Conversation with Safety Advocate and Attorney, Danny Schwarz

Danny Schwarz has established himself as a fierce enforcer of workplace safety, and a dedicated defender of airline and airport workers.

His pioneering work is forcing employers to eliminate poorly maintained and unsafe equipment and maintain a safe work environment. In a half-century of taking on billion-dollar corporate giants in court, Danny Schwarz and his firm had noticed disturbing industry injury trends, which they began to track. In response to these alarming injury trends, Danny Schwarz developed a groundbreaking program to report and track repetitive workplace injuries. The Safety System Danny created collects specific information obtained from OSHA and industry activists like us. The data can then be used to protect the safety of workers … and hold employers accountable.

Today, Danny Schwarz is helping OSHA to modernize and digitize many of its record-keeping systems in a project overseen by the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. 

Need More Information?

National Group Protection offers airline workers a wide variety of supplemental insurance options. Find out more at the National Group Protection website.

Visit National Group Protection

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A Conversation with Tim Ryan about the Free College Benefit.

A Conversation with Tim Ryan about the Free College Benefit.

Jun 12, 2020 | Education, Front Page, Uncategorized, Video | 0 comments

IAMAW 141 is extending the deadline for the Adolph Stutz Memorial Scholarship.

Applications and essay submissions are now due by August 1, 2020, and winners will be announced by August 15. The student with the best essay will win a $2000 scholarship to help with expenses while enrolled in college classes.

Six other students will receive $1000 each.

This essay contest is open to District 141 members, as well as children, spouses, and dependent grandchildren of our members. Interested students can get an application form, and learn more about the scholarship competition, by CLICKING HERE>

 

In this video report, Timothy Ryan, the Vice President of Benefit Relations and Higher Education Onboarding Strategist for the Free College Benefit, sits down to discuss the program with Dave Lehive. 

Tim comes to the free college benefit program on the recommendation of the Rhode Island Institute for Labor Studies and Research. He spent his first two years as a director of the Free College Student Resource Center. Since leaving the position in 2017, Tim has been traveling the country meeting with union leadership and general membership to find new ways to promote the program.

 

Need More Information?

District 141 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is offering six $1,000 scholarships and one $2,000 scholarship to the winners of its yearly Adolph Stutz Memorial essay contest. The contest is open to select union members and their families.

Learn More About the Scholarship Contest

Are you or a family member considering earning an Associates Degree through the Free College Benefit? 

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