In recent years, and especially since the mega-merger of United and Continental Airlines in 2011, few stations have seen the turmoil Cleveland has. 

Joe Lanasa has been president of IAM Local 1731 since 2020, just seven years after a friend who was a committee member urged him to get more involved in the union. United Airlines workers founded the local in 1946, and while small today, under Joe’s leadership, it remains a strong and active group in the IAM.  

Air Transport Local 1731 currently represents 272 members working at United Customer Service, Ramp, and Stores in CLE, and Customer Service workers at Southwest Airlines in Columbus, Ohio (CMH). Just five months ago, the local had close to 400 members, but the COVID pandemic caused many members to take options for retirement and extended leaves of absence. This last wave of retirements comes after the local lost close to 300 members after United decided to downgrade CLE’s status as a hub airport for the airline.   

Throughout it all, Joe Lanasa remains optimistic. “CLE would have been outsourced if we didn’t have contract protections. The company wanted to downgrade every worker to part-time status,” he says, stressing how a legally binding union contract can make all the difference in workers’ lives and livelihoods. 

Joe is relentless in his mission to educate members on how union solidarity strengthens workers so they can navigate the fluctuations in the airline industry and control their future. “You wouldn’t be talking to me right now if we didn’t have a union,” says Joe, who began his airline career 33 years ago. 

Joe speaks about the City of Cleveland and his own family’s history in organized labor. What started as curiosity developed into a calling to address needs that he discovered as he became more involved in the union. He jokes how he was told when he ran for vice president that his primary responsibility was to order the pizza for the local’s meeting. He ended up leading his first meeting as vice president when the president could not attend. 

“I never thought I would be this involved with the union. But it escalated quickly.” 

Dave talks with Don V. Villar, Secretary-Treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Labor about the city’s important role in labor history and how it drives their commitment to today’s working people.

The Chicago Federation of Labor is the third-largest central labor council in the United States, an umbrella organization with 300 union affiliates representing over half a million members from Chicago and Cook County, Illinois. 

Don Villar was literally born into the union movement – his mom gave birth to him while his father was on strike, fighting for better wages and benefits for workers in the Philippines. After his family moved to the United States, his mom worked at the flight kitchen in O’Hare and was a member of UNITE-HERE Local 1. 

Don earned his bachelor’s degree while working a building security job as a member of SEIU and went to work for the ABC affiliate TV station in Chicago. He worked there for 25 years and won an Emmy award. 

In 2007, he joined the negotiating committee of NABET-CWA Local 41 with ABC, which made clear to him how systemic inequality for workers could only be overcome through union power and activism. That experience inspired him to apply to law school, and he completed his law degree while working full time.

He is dedicated to civil rights advocacy and labor law. “We see a lot of injustice out there, the devaluing of our labor, workers being disrespected,” said Don, which gets him “fired up” to make things right.

The discussion turns to the important role the city of Chicago has played in labor history. Many labor unions were born out of street actions in Chicago, and many unions “Local 1” and “Local 2” are still based there. During the interview, Don says he is sitting only a few blocks away from Haymarket Square, where at least 8 workers died in 1886 when a labor protest for an 8-hour workday turned into a riot. Today, workers around the world honor their sacrifice on May Day every year. 

Don also speaks about the commitment that the CFL has with workers who have suffered job loss during the coronavirus pandemic, and how their community service events have served as a lifeline for many union members. In partnership with their affiliates, they conducted a food drive the day before Mothers’ Day in the parking lot of IAM Local 1487 near O’Hare Airport. 

Dave Roderick and Ann Clifford from District 141 helped coordinate the event with Machinists and members of many CFL affiliates, from Bricklayers to Musicians. “Union members helping union members,” distributed 1,600 pounds of food to 400 needy families that day. 

Don is deeply grateful to Local 1487 and District 141 for their dedication and solidarity. “Machinists have always been a big part of the CFL; Chicago can’t move without our Machinists Brothers and Sisters.” 

Learn More about the Chicago Federation of Labor >>

This week Dave heads up to the Pacific Northwest to catch up with Doug Kohler, President of Air Transport Local 1885 in Portland, Oregon.

A 24-year veteran at United Airlines, Brother Doug Kohler began his career in Eugene, Oregon before he transferred to PDX in 2000. Doug was a strong supporter of the organizing effort for Customer Service agents at the airline in 1999, and he credits the IAM with the elimination of “C scale” wages and bringing pay equity and fair representation for all workers. He became active in the union as a Shop Steward in 2003 and was elected CS Grievance Committee Representative in 2013. Doug served as Local 1885 Vice President before becoming President of the local this year. 

IAM Air Transport Local 1885 represents 500 members working in Customer Service at United, Southwest, Alaska, and Hawaiian Airlines, Fleet Service at American, and Stores and Ramp Service employees at United, all based at PDX.

Doug is especially proud of the solidarity and the work the IAM is doing to protect the jobs, wages, and benefits of workers during the pandemic, and how union resources like the EAP help support lives and livelihoods. He is focusing on developing a Women’s Committee at the local level and continuing to work collectively to preserve the dignity of work.  

Dave speaks with Leroy Taylor, President of Local 811 in Houston, Texas.

Based in the largest city in Texas, IAMAW Local 811 represents below the wing workers at United and American Airlines. Leroy Taylor began his airline career with Continental Airlines in 1986, attracted primarily by the flying benefits the job offered. He initially kept his full-time job at a local hotel until a year later when full-time Lead RSE positions became available. Leroy decided to make a change and “lose a gig with the hotel but earn a career with the airline.”

He speaks passionately about how the union provides benefits that go well beyond travel, and how important it is to have legal representation and “go to the table and be strong.” Leroy cites the airline’s attempt to cut workers’ schedules at the beginning of the pandemic, and how the IAM forced the company to honor the contracts we have negotiated. “I wouldn’t change it for the world,” says Leroy, and he urges non-union workers to choose union solidarity to make sure their voices are heard and they have a say about their future. 

An early supporter of unionization, Brother Leroy was a Shop Steward during the merger of United and Continental and is grateful and proud to be a member of the IAM. Driven by his desire to learn more about the union movement, he became active in Local 811 (he tells the story of how the number 811 was chosen), becoming a Trustee and Safety Advocate before he was elected President.  

Local 811 represents 2,400 members in IAH and several smaller airports including BHM, LFT, MAF, and SHV. They share space and building costs with their sister Local 2198 that represents above the wing workers. Similar to many locals, Local 811 has seen many member retirements over the past year because of the coronavirus and the voluntary programs offered by companies to reduce staff. 

As the interview wraps up, Leroy urges every union worker to “get the shot, let’s get back to where we need to be.”  

In this 141 Report, we speak with the president of one of the oldest airline locals in the IAM, Capital Lodge 1759, based in Herndon, VA, just outside Dulles International Airport. 

Brother Bill Huston has worked in a variety of functions both below and above the wing in his 51-year career at United Airlines. He started working on the ramp in Norfolk while he was attending college and later transferred to customer service at IAD. Since the CS group joined the IAM in 1999, Bill has served as Shop Steward, Building Committee Rep, Trustee, and Vice President before he became president of the local. He also currently serves as a Safety Advocate in IAD.

Capital Local 1759, named after Capital Airlines, whose workers founded the local, represents 2,000 members who work for 5 airlines at 7 airports in four states. Capital Airlines merged with United in 1961, and the local also represents workers at Southwest, American, Alaska, and British Airways, and also airline support workers from Ogden, Menzies, and UGE.

Bill values the proud history of the IAM and works to ensure all members see the importance of solidarity. “We are as strong as the weakest member,” he says, which is why he devotes time to member education and mentoring. 

Dave wraps up the interview recognizing the work that Local 1759 members do in community service. In 2018, they held a golf outing honoring the late District 141 AGC and Local 1759 member Rich Pascarella, which raised $70,000 for Guide Dogs of America. As we resume in-person events after COVID, Bill is looking forward to planning events like that one.