Jan 15, 2025 | Politics & Legislative News
The state legislature in Kansas only meets for 90 days each year – and as the saying goes, “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” This year, members of the Kansas State Council of Machinists continued an annual tradition of being front and center at the table.
As the 2025 legislative session began, the IAM teamed up with other Kansas unions to ensure members’ concerns are heard by elected politicians from both political parties.
“What matters to us? It’s the basics,” Martin told hundreds of labor activists at the state capitol. “It’s what labor has always fought for—the things that lift up our families and our communities. Economic development, infrastructure, opportunities for job growth, and strong ‘Made in America’ policies. Tax relief and policies that make it easier for workers to provide for their families. Workers’ rights and workers’ comp. Workplace safety.”
Last year, the IAM and the Kansas AFL-CIO saw their lobbying efforts result in the passage of the Enhanced Kansas Worker Compensation Act. Between 2011 and 2023, workers compensation laws and rules had seen Kansas fall to one of the worst systems in the nation. The previous system was very cheap for employers, but was economically harmful to any worker injured on the job. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly lauded the union’s lobbying efforts to get the necessary changes into the bill and passed by the legislature for her signature.
At a rally inside the capitol building, just off the floor of both branches of the Kansas legislature, Martin closed his remarks with a powerful call to action.
“Fighting for these things works,” said Martin. “Fighting for the workers of Kansas, their families, and their communities works. Fighting back against those who think that workers don’t matter and don’t have power works!”
The post GVP Martin, Kansas IAM Union Members Bring Working People Power to State Capitol appeared first on IAMAW.
Jan 8, 2025 | Politics & Legislative News
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2025 – Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union, issued this statement on incoming President Trump’s recent remarks about outsourcing domestic Navy shipbuilding to foreign nations:
“As International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and a former pipefitter at Bath Iron Works (BIW), I express deep concern about any discussion to outsource Navy shipbuilding to foreign nations.
“We know that American workers and domestic shipyards have the talent and capacity to meet our national defense needs if given proper investment and support.
“The incoming administration must prioritize rebuilding the U.S. industrial base by addressing the skilled labor shortages and backlog in shipyards, not by turning to foreign builders and suppliers.
“A strong domestic shipbuilding industry is essential to economic and national security in an era of increasing geopolitical tensions. Maine shipbuilders have been at the forefront of innovation and excellence for over 400 years, consistently delivering vessels that meet the rigorous standards of the U.S. Navy.
“Our nation’s security and economy depend on a strong domestic shipbuilding industry, and IAM members stand ready to build the ships America needs.
“We look forward to engaging with the new administration to help strengthen American shipbuilding and secure our defense industrial base here at home.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
The post IAM Union Continues to Champion Expansion of Domestic U.S. Navy Shipbuilding appeared first on IAMAW.
Jan 7, 2025 | Politics & Legislative News
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives recently passed the IAM-endorsed Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) laws that reduce or even eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of public sector workers. President Biden has signed the legislation into law.
The GPO and WEP unfairly reduce Social Security benefits for retirees who receive a public pension or the spouse or survivor of a Social Security beneficiary who worked in a job not covered by the Social Security program.
By passing the Social Security Fairness Act, Congress voted to fix two unfair provisions that are currently being used to calculate benefits.
“No one should face financial hardship in retirement because of outdated and unfair policies,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “Passing the Social Security Fairness Act is a crucial step toward justice for millions of Americans who deserve the benefits they’ve earned.”
The GPO and WEP cause an unnecessary hardship for 2.8 million retired and disabled Americans. It is fundamentally unjust that public employees who earned Social Security credits and benefits through non-government employment cannot receive the full benefits from their work.
The post Passage of Social Security Fairness Act Increases Earned Benefits for Millions of Public Sector Workers appeared first on IAMAW.
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