Mar 14, 2020 | COVID
IAMAW Transportation ///////
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
As the COVID-19 virus outbreak evolves and expands in the U.S. and across the globe, our industry has been especially vulnerable. It is our business to transport passengers and goods around the world. Unfortunately, this virus uses our workplace to jump from point to point, and that has made some people nervous to use the transportation services we provide.
Last night, President Trump issued travel restrictions from more than two dozen European countries. Air and rail carriers have also cut service to meet the temporary drop in demand for passenger travel. Our daily routine has and, most likely, will continue to be altered until this pandemic is under control. These changes create a natural apprehension for employees. We are in constant discussion with our carriers to ensure our members do not bear the brunt of the economic effects during this period.
Together, we have been through terrorist attacks, bankruptcies and other health-related threats to our industry. Transportation workers have unparalleled resilience, and we only need to compare our collective bargaining agreements today to what they looked like in the aftermath of 9/11 and subsequent industry restructuring as proof of our enduring strength.
Our intent is to continue ongoing negotiations with Southwest and Hawaiian Airlines. Upcoming negotiations with United Airlines are still scheduled to take place. National rail negotiations remain on track, as well as all other scheduled negotiations with IAM-represented carriers. Ratification of the historic American Airlines agreement will take place later this month. The business of the Machinists Union fighting for and protecting our members will continue as it always has.
It is the job of management to ensure we have a healthy industry. It is your union’s job to make sure that any temporary impact to a carrier does not result in permanent negative changes for our members. Jointly, union and management have a responsibility to make sure our members, their employees, are safe. The health of the industry cannot come at the expense of you and your family’s health.
I urge every IAM member to follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for the most effective prevention measures. We will continue to monitor these guidelines and pass on to you as much information as possible. Please visit
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html for more information. If you have concerns about potential exposure in the workplace, contact your District Lodge General Chair with your concerns.
The COVID-19 virus, according to the most recently available information, does not pose serious health risks to healthy adults and children. The problem with the virus is that it is extremely contagious and dangerous, even potentially life-threatening, for people over 50 years old and/or those individuals with underlying health conditions, particularly heart and lung conditions, diabetes, and immune-suppressing conditions. Please be safe and use common sense at work and at home so we can put this latest threat behind us.
Fraternally yours,
Sito Pantoja, General Vice President
Aug 12, 2017 | Departments, Featured, Home
Safety Coordinator Darrell Steele, at the location of the incident. In addition to Mr. Steele, four additional Storekeepers, Charles Richardson, CJ Justice, Waynette Lyons and Hugo Alaniz used safety training to come to the aid of a fallen Aircraft Inspector.
Eric Price
August 11, 2017 Houston, TX. —
Storekeepers from Houston are being commended for helping to rescue a coworker who suddenly collapsed while working near the United Airlines hanger at Houston’s IAH.
Charles Richardson was at work in the receiving area of Hanger B at IAH when he saw a United Airlines Aircraft Inspector suddenly collapse, falling unconscious just feet away from his work station. Instinctively, he knew that the situation was serious and immediately called for help.
First to the scene was IAM 141 member and Stores Safety Coordinator, Darrell Steele. Quickly assessing the situation, Steele instantly began administering CPR and coordinating the efforts to help his fallen co-worker.
Darrell Steele
A certified CPR Instructor, Steele knew right away that the situation was dire.
“Once I got to him, I saw that he was bleeding from his face, from the way he fell. I checked his vitals and I couldn’t find a pulse, and he wasn’t breathing. CJ (Charles Justice) rushed to grab a nearby defibrillator, and I was able to use it to restore a heartbeat. I had to shock him 3 times.”
Although defibrillators are widely available throughout much of the airport, many employees lack the training needed to use them effectively. Luckily, Darrell Steele was trained in the use of the lifesaving equipment.
Once he had established a faint heartbeat, Darrell then performed 2 rounds of CPR. When he could no longer continue, Hugo Alaniz took over the chest compressions, performing an additional round. Storekeeper Waynette Lyons helped count off the compressions.
A “round” of CPR lasts about 2-3 minutes, and requires from between 30 to 60 chest compressions each. It is a physically demanding process, and emergency responders can quickly become too exhausted to correctly perform the procedure. In this case, the storekeepers were able to assist one another to continue the lifesaving efforts.
Paramedics arrived and transported the patient to a nearby medical facility, where he is reportedly in Intensive Care. No further information as to his condition was available as of Friday afternoon. The cause of his collapse is still unknown.
“I just pray he’s going to be ok.” Darrell told IAM141 EAP Regional Representative Bahiyyah Wright, who came by the Hanger to extend her sympathies, and to offer the services of the EAP, should they be needed. The IAM141 Employee Assistance Program can help connect members to professional help in cases of extreme stress or trauma.
IAM141 Regional EAP Coordinator, Bahiyyah Wright discussing the Employee Assistance services that are offered to IAM members.
“Everybody just responded perfectly,” United Airlines Warehouse and Distribution Senior Manager Bienvenido Brea said.
“Even though we still don’t know what the eventual outcome of this will be, this was the best response any of us could have hoped for.” Moreover, Brea promised to try and work with the Red Cross, because he wanted the Storekeepers’ actions to be recognized, and to serve as a model for other airline employees. “We want to tell more people about how important CPR training is,” Brea said.
He also underscored the importance of keeping emergency contact information current, saying that there are often issues with contacting the next of kin in cases like this.
Local 811 Committee member Kevin Davis echoed the sentiments, saying “this is a textbook example of how we should all respond to an emergency. This is something that we will all use as an example going forward.”
“One thing that this experience has taught me,” Davis continued, “I was never CPR certified. I knew it was important, but I just never went through with taking the training. I have now decided to take the class. You just never know when this sort of thing might happen. You have to be able to help out in a situation where seconds count and lives are at stake.”
Kevin Davis wanted to stress how impressed he was with the five IAM Storekeepers that came together in support of their coworker. “There were five people that were critical in this situation. Every one of them played a vital role.”
For his part, Darrell Steele remains humble. “I was just following my training,” he said. “I understand what we all did, but that’s why we took the training.”
The United Airlines Hanger at IAH, as seen from the receiving area.
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Nov 7, 2017 | Featured, Home, Video
The Local 811 Women’s Committee held their 3rd annual Memorial Cancer Walk on Saturday morning in Houston. The goal of the event was to raise awareness for those impacted by cancer – caregivers, families and patients alike.
The walk was part of Houston’s yearly IAM Union Picnic.
“The first year we did it we had maybe 15 people,” said project organizer Sarah Monderoy. “We’ve learned a lot since then, about how to plan dates, locations and times that work for more members,” she added, jokingly. “Since we started, we’ve built a much stronger turnout, and we are very proud of that.”
Among the activists participating in the event were cancer survivors, families of survivors, and those who were walking in honor of others who have passed away.
The project began three years ago, led by the Local 811 Women’s Committee Chairwoman, Jackie Golphin. Jackie is herself a cancer survivor, who wanted to find a way to encourage women like herself to get early screenings. Jackie approached United Airlines managers at IAH in Houston about including public service announcements to promote cancer screenings as a regular part of the company’s health and wellness messaging. Hub Manager Becky Alberts was willing to partner with the Women’s Committee – and Breast Cancer awareness became a top priority at the Houston airport. Today, thanks to the activism of the Local 811 Women’s Committee, travelers that pass through Houston’s international airport will see pushbacks, baggage carts, tugs and other heavy equipment painted bright pink. “Everyone was wearing pink last year,” Sarah joked.
“The momentum that we gained from that work was incredible, and we used it to start the Memorial Cancer Walk,” said Sarah, referring to the Memorial Cancer Walk.
To date, the Memorial Cancer Walk has helped drive the message that early screenings save lives to an audience of several thousand IAM Union members in Houston, including Locals 811 and 2198. “We try to remember that caregivers and families are impacted by cancer, too. And we also work to remind people that we don’t just care about breast cancer,” Sarah said. “All cancer patients go through many of the same struggles with chemotherapy, surgery, and financial hardships. Cancer is cancer, and we want to support everyone that has to deal with this disease.”
The Local 811 Women’s Committee hopes to grow the program so that it can reach more people, and inspire more women to become activists in their communities. “Activism is one of the key roles of union members,” Sarah said. “And, activism comes in many different forms; it could be organizing, volunteering, educating. All of it is important, and it is especially important for women to embrace activism so that women’s issues don’t get sidelined as ‘gender concerns.'”
Cancer awareness programs and early screenings save lives. Any Women’s Committee members that are interested in networking with activists in Houston may do so by contacting Sarah Monderoy via email at Hibicus79@yahoo.com or Jackie Golphin at firecat1020@yahoo.com
Jan 16, 2019 | Airlines, American, Community Service, Departments, EAP, Education, Hawaiian, Home, MNPL, Organizing, Philippine, Safety, Spirit, United
Updated: 1/17/2019
The Federal Government shutdown began back in December, screwing over about 2 million workers and everyone who depends on them. This includes 51 thousand TSA Agents that keep our airlines moving. Here’s a running list of how the shutdown is impacting airports and airlines.
The Machinists Non-Partisan Political League has a plan to end the shutdown – find out more at GoIAM.org. Speak Out Here >>
1. Food courts and gift shops are losing business.
IAM141 Media
When TSA security checkpoints close, they dramatically rearrange the flow of foot traffic around them. Airport restaurants and shops that depend on passengers with plenty of wait times walking past and patronizing their establishments are struggling to attract customers who now have little time or are not even in that part of the airport.
2. TSA agents are starting to depend on food pantries.
AMY MATTHEWS/ST. MARY’S FOOD BANK via AZCentral.com
A Phoenix-based charity recently attracted some 300 TSA agents to their food distribution operation. Jerry Brown, a spokesman with St. Mary’s Mobile Food Pantry, helped deliver about 10,000 pounds of staples such as canned goods, bread, and eggs to the women and men that work to keep our airports safe.
The sheer number of needy TSA families left him stunned. “I didn’t expect that from missing just one paycheck,” Brown said, adding that he saw “everything from smiles and thank you’s to tears” from thankful TSA agents.
More details from AZ Central:
Read More >>
3. Dulles is closing security checkpoints.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images. Via Fox5 DC
The airport is also blaming recent snowstorms, but TSA related staffing shortages are the leading cause for reduced security checkpoints. Story from Fox5 DC.
Read More >>
4. Houston’s Bush Intercontinental is closing security checkpoints.
IAM141 Media
The massive United Airlines hub is also a key station for Spirit Airlines and an estimated 4,000 IAM members. Closures have caused work area disruptions for airline workers.
Read More >>
5. MIA has had to cut back on hours of operation.
Pedro Portal, via MiamiHerald.com
From the Miami Herald: Concourse G closes at Miami International Airport as federal government shutdown drags on.
Read More >>
6. TSA agents need money to come to work, because gas, toll roads, and work lunches aren’t free.
Win McNamee/Getty via Vox
But, since they haven’t been paid a dime since before Christmas, hundreds of them can simply no longer afford to report for duty. This won’t change simply because the government re-opens. They need a paycheck.
7. Air Traffic Controllers are federal employees mandated to work and not getting paid.
Chalabala via IAM141 Media
Although better able to sustain a missing paycheck in the short term than other federal employees, Air Traffic Controllers have an incredibly stressful and critical job.
Read More >>
8. Many FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Officers are furloughed.
Acc.af.mil
This makes it impossible for airlines to get new routes approved and accomplish other critical housekeeping tasks, such as creating new pilot licenses and approving plans to expand and improve airport facilities.
Without FAA inspectors, an aircraft training facility in Oklahoma City has been forced to suspend operations.
Read More >>
9. Delta’s CEO Says that the airline has lost $25 million because of the shutdown so far.
Flickr
Delta CEO Ed Bastian says that the shutdown is holding up new aircraft certifications and preventing federal employees and contractors from flying. All the slowdowns have cost the nation’s largest airline $25 million in the first month of the shutdown, according to Bastian.
Read More >>
10. Security Lines at Atlanta’s Hartsfield airport stretched for more than THREE HOURS as a result of staffing shortages.
Photos: Twitter/Omar Jimenez via Business Insider
What does it take for long lines and unendurable waits at airports to become newsworthy? At the busiest airport in America, travelers now also have the longest lines. Business Insider has all the details.
Read More >>
11. At least three unions representing federal workers are suing the Trump administration to end the shutdown.
Photo Credit: J. Scott Applewhite/AP via Washington Post
On Tuesday, a federal judge denied a request from the unions to force the government to pay workers during the shutdown, but the legal fight is far from over. More hearings are scheduled for next week, if the federal courts have not run out of money and are still operating.
Read More >>
12. Several airport and airline unions are marching, protesting, and lobbying lawmakers to bring an end to the shutdown.
GoIAM.org/IAM141 Media
The largest airline and aerospace union in the world, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, is confronting federal decision makers over the shutdown. And they’re not alone. Thousands of union members from a range of industries are holding marches, rallies, and lobbying efforts… all aimed at ending the shutdown as soon as possible.
Read More >>
13. Several airlines are posting record profits, and really don’t need all this right now.
Chalabala via IAM141 Media
Airlines in the US have had a tough time since 9/11. The long, painful (but ultimately successful) recovery has largely been an inspiring tale for the US Commercial Aviation Industry. But, CEOs and market insiders are warning that the creeping impacts of a prolonged shutdown will be impossible to predict and prepare for, placing the current stairline prosperity in grave peril.
Read More >>
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Apr 1, 2022 | Front Page, Page Four, Page Three, Perusals, Row 2, Video
…Dsauls.com. Also, look for it on Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.com. IAM District Lodge 141 Report with Host Dave Lehive is a weekly podcast featuring Machinist Union Members and Allies…
