Service Contract Worker Victory- Herrnstadt Confirmed to U.S. Export-Import Bank Board- Strong Funding for NDAA

Jul 22, 2022 | Machinists On The Hill, Politics & Legislative News

BIDEN’S EXECUTIVE ORDER GIVES IAM MEMBERS WORKING UNDER SERVICE CONTRACT ACT A HUGE VICTORY: The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), the largest defense and aerospace labor union in North America, welcomes the Department of Labor’s publication of its proposed rule to implement Executive Order 14055, “Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts,” which will significantly improve job security for service contract workers across the country.

After the IAM’s advocacy, President Biden signed Executive Order 14055 on November 18, 2021. It requires federal contractors and subcontractors on a covered successor contract to offer jobs to qualified employees employed under the predecessor contract.

READ: The Labor Dept. Moves Forward on Reducing Turnover on Service Contracts  Government Executive

The IAM led efforts in urging the Biden administration to protect Service Contract Act (SCA) workers’ jobs by reinstating critical job security protections that had been taken away under the Trump administration.

“This is a win for workers and employers who work under the Service Contract Act,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “President Biden’s reinstatement of President Obama’s Executive Order turned back the disastrous policy of President Trump and created clear guidance for employers. President Biden is a champion for working families and continues to put them at the top of his agenda. Thousands of IAM members and other service contract workers can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing their jobs won’t be displaced when government service contracts change hands from one employer to another. Our nation can take great pride in the efficient government procurement and fairness to these workers and their families under Executive Order 14055.”

READ: Notice of Proposed Rule: Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers under Service Contracts (Executive Order 14055)

In 2021, IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. wrote a letter to President Biden urging him to restore Service Contract Worker’s job protections. 

Service Contract workers are private-sector employees who work under federal contracts, primarily at military bases and other federal installations. The IAM represents nearly 40,000 Service Contract Workers in various industries, spread across more than 800 locations.

IAM members work at over 800 Service Contract Act locations across the country, primarily at military bases and federal institutions. Some of the IAM’s larger bargaining units include 4,000 SCA workers at Fort Rucker, Alabama; more than 1,000 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; nearly 800 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona; and 750 at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland.

MACHINISTS UNION APPLAUDS CONFIRMATION OF OWEN E. HERRNSTADT TO U.S. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Robert Martinez Jr., International President of the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), released the following statement:

“On behalf of the IAM Executive Council and our entire membership, I want to congratulate Owen on this historic accomplishment. Owen has been an important voice for manufacturing, international and employment law, and workers’ rights globally. In his 34-year career as IAM Chief of Staff to the International President, Director of Trade and Globalization, and more, Owen served as an invaluable resource to the IAM and workers worldwide. His work to advance global trade and human rights that benefit working people has been internationally recognized inside and outside the labor movement.

“The IAM applauds President Biden and Majority Leader Schumer for Owen’s appointment and confirmation to the Export-Import Bank Board of Directors. The Ex-Im Bank is one of the few U.S. trade policies that support U.S. exports and jobs. This confirmation will help to maintain and create U.S. jobs and contribute to a stronger national economy.” 

OHIO DISTRICT 54 MEMBERS ATTEND PRESIDENT BIDEN’S ECONOMIC AGENDA SPEECH: IAM District 54 members recently attended President Biden’s recent announcement at Max S. Hayes High School in Cleveland. President Biden focused on his economic agenda, increasing vocational training opportunities, and building the economy from the bottom up and middle out.   

IAM District 54 members Jim McClelland, Phil Baker, Mary Napier, Barbara Sherrod, and John Graf attended the event.   

“So here’s the deal,” said Biden while addressing the Cleveland crowd. “The deal is quite simple. When I ran, I was criticized for the basis upon which I ran. I said I’m running for three reasons. One, to restore the soul of America — the decency and honor of this country. And two, to rebuild the backbone of the country. The backbone of the country is the working women and men, the middle class. And, you know, there’s a middle class for one reason: American unions.”   

“It was meaningful to have President Biden visit Max S. Hayes High School, my alma mater and that of many of our members, and bring the spotlight on one of our few trade schools in the Cleveland area,” said T. Dean Wright, Jr., President & Directing Business Representative District Lodge 54. “His visit to our trade school is a signal of his commitment to investing in the middle class and Machinists Union members and their families.”   

“Announcements like this are impactful for our members,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “A strong economic agenda is not only good for our members, but it is good for the nation. The policies implemented by this administration will positively impact our members here in Ohio and elsewhere for years.”   

President Biden lauded the work of Democrats and U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for their leadership.

MACHINISTS ADVOCATE FOR MIDDLE-CLASS JOBS, TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE AT GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN FORUM: Since late 2021, the economy has suffered debilitating setbacks primarily due to wrinkles in the global supply chain. As a result, President Biden hosted a supply chain summit with 14 other countries that same year to begin tackling the immediate supply chain issues. 

Fact Sheet: Global Supply Chain Summit

Machinists Union was invited to participate in the Labor and Workforce Development breakout of the two-day 2022 Ministerial Forum on Global Supply Chain Resilience, scheduled for July 19 and 20. 

The event hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, focuses on ways to tackle the supply chain issues championed by President Biden. 

Included in these discussions were geographic diversity of advanced manufacturing centers, fostering stakeholders in labor, small businesses, transportation, and logistics to improve supply chains. All while expanding global training to enhance readiness in workforce participation for all workers, including women and other underutilized minority groups.

 2022 Supply Chain Ministerial 

“The IAM made it clear that to improve supply chain issues, the next generation of workers must receive the skills they need to fill good middle-class jobs,” said Peter Greenberg, IAM Strategic Resources Assistant Director. “We need improved and consistent funding for apprenticeship programs and the continuation of Trade Adjustment Assistance programs for displaced workers.”

The overall goal for this global partnership is to reduce and end near-term supply chain disruptions. The Departments of State and Commerce are committed to building long-term solutions while easing future troubles in the global supply chain. Advocacy and education are needed at every level, from workers, city leaders, state, federal, and international leaders. In addition, the Biden Administration aims to secure custom supply chain solutions for businesses and workers in each locality – securing jobs for all workers.

 Watch: The Modern World Doesn’t Work Without the Global Supply Chain.

MACHINISTS UNION ADVOCACY NETS STRONG HOUSE FUNDING IN NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT: On July 14, the U.S. House of Representatives passed their annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the Fiscal Year 2023. The House-passed NDAA totals $839 billion for national defense programs, including extensive funding for IAM-built programs.

The House NDAA included language championed by the Machinists Union and U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) to increase Buy American domestic content requirements on Major Defense Acquisition Programs from 55% to 75%. The IAM has been pushing the increase for years to strengthen the defense industrial base and domestic supply chain while helping prevent vulnerabilities created by military products being made in China and other countries.   

Thanks to the IAM’s lobbying efforts, the 2022 NDAA authorizes funding for the following IAM- built and maintained programs:

• F-35 Joint Strike Fighters
• F-18 Super Hornet
• C-130J Super Hercules
• F-15 Eagles
• KC-46 Tankers
• P-8 Poseidons
• DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class Destroyers
• Virginia-class Attack Submarines
• Columbia-class Ballistic Submarine program
• IAM-built missile system and ammunition manufacturing

The Machinists will continue to fight for funding for these programs and improvements in Buy American requirements as the Senate takes up NDAA later this year.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCES LANDMARK PENSION SECURITY ANNOUNCEMENT: President Biden recently rolled out a final plan to help ensure Americans’ pensions are protected and guaranteed by the federal government. As part of the American Rescue Plan’s Special Financial Assistance, pension security is now realized for millions of Americans. 

“We fought for the Butch Lewis Act to protect pensions for millions of workers and retirees,” said Biden. “So knowing when it’s time to retire, your pension you earned will be there; knowing that together with your Social Security benefits, that pension will continue a good middle-class life for you in retirement.”

According to a statement from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation on July 6, “(PBGC) provided its final rule and implemented changes to the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program for financially troubled multi-employer pension plans. The changes are responsive to public comments received on PBGC’s interim final rule. They will better protect the pensions earned by workers and retirees covered by multi-employer plans eligible for assistance.”

READ: President Joe Biden will visit Cleveland to announce final American Rescue Plan fix for troubled multi-employer pension plans. Cleveland Plain Dealer

“The final changes implemented by the Biden administration will secure benefits for retirees who deserve to retire with dignity,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “ President Biden understands the value of protecting the earned benefits of retirees, workers, and their families. “These rules will strengthen the foundation and maintain the financial integrity of the PBGC.” 

The announcement of pension protection means strong security in retirement and includes the following:

• Over 200 multi-employer plans were on pace to become insolvent soon because their investments struggled during economic crises. That would result in two to three million workers who paid into these pension funds seeing their benefits cut in retirement.
• Because of the American Rescue Plan, every multi-employer pension plan facing near-term insolvency and benefit cuts and receiving Special Financial Assistance is projected to remain solvent through 2051, many of them for much longer.
• Two to three million workers and retirees who would have faced dramatic cuts to their pensions will receive the benefits they paid into and depended on for their retirement security, and previous cuts will be reversed.

President Biden lauded the work of Democrats and U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh for his leadership to ensure retirees’ peace of mind. You can learn more about the ruling here and here.

UNITED RAIL UNIONS’ STATEMENT ON APPOINTMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY BOARD: The United Rail Unions (which includes the IAM and TCU/IAM) issued the following statement July 15, 2022.

The Rail Unions who are bargaining as part of the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way/SMART Mechanical Coalition attended the Public Interest Hearings hosted by the members of the National Mediation Board on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, and we thank the National Mediation Board for their efforts to help the parties reach a voluntary agreement. Unfortunately, the Nation’s rail carriers continue to refuse to negotiate an agreement that our members would accept.

As a result, and as was expected, President Biden announced on July 15 that he is appointing a Presidential Emergency Board before the expiration of the cooling-off period at 12:00 AM on Monday, July 18, 2022. The Presidential Emergency Board will have thirty days to convene, hear the positions of the Unions and rail carriers, and issue recommendations for settlement of the dispute. A second thirty-day cooling-off period will begin when those recommendations are issued.

The Rail Unions remain united in their efforts and are now working together in preparation of a unified case representing the best interests of all rail employees before the Presidential Emergency Board. Our unified case will clearly show that the Unions’ proposals are supported by current economic data and are more than warranted when compared to our memberships’ contribution to the record profits of the rail carriers.

Contract talks have been ongoing for years. Railroad workers have not had a pay increase since 2019. While the industry is touting all-time record profits, the railroads have offered a net pay cut to their workers. Moreover, management has eliminated 45,000 jobs in the industry since 2015, threatening our national supply chains.

The coalition of about a dozen unions represents 115,000 railroad workers covered by the various organizations’ national agreements, and comprises 100% of the workforce who will be impacted by this round of negotiations.

Additional information will be provided as developments warrant. We appreciate your continuing support.

MACHINISTS UNION SUPPORTS SEMICONDUCTOR FUNDING LEGISLATION: The Machinists Union sent a letter of support to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for semiconductor funding. The legislation will provide billions of dollars in subsidies and tax credits for the semiconductor industry legislation that will support American workers from coast to coast. 

The IAM’s support urges strong consideration of the many other pro-worker provisions, especially the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. The TAA program protects U.S. workers who lose their jobs due to outsourcing. The program offers extended unemployment benefits for up to two years while members participate in retraining classes, out-of-area job search allowances, and more.

READ: U.S. Senate votes to move ahead on chip bill to compete with China Reuters 

“The IAM strongly supports legislation that will benefit the American worker and help turn the tides of the unfair trade with China,” said IAM International Robert Martinez Jr. in the letter to Majority Leader Schumer. “The CHIPS legislation offers some much-needed resources to help supply manufacturers with the semiconductors needed to improve domestic supply chain woes. But, we should not stop there. There’s still work that can be done for improving the lives of the American worker.” 

TAA was instrumental in helping our members who worked at Caterpillar in Joliet, IL. That plant was shuttered in 2018 and 2019, moving the work of 600 IAM-represented workers to Mexico; and when Truck-Lite Co. closed a site in Falconer, N.Y., moving the work of more than 150 workers to places such as Mexico and China in early 2020, TAA was there to support our membership.

The TAA program works to help workers rebound from the hardships of bad trade policies, and it’s important to keep this program a priority to help support our nation’s workforce and their families when they need it.

Funding TAA is a win-win for legislators because it will be an opportunity for them to help their constituencies and for workers that need new prospects when their work is moved out of the country.

Read the entire letter here.

The post Service Contract Worker Victory- Herrnstadt Confirmed to U.S. Export-Import Bank Board- Strong Funding for NDAA appeared first on IAMAW.

Political Pressure Turned Up to Save St. Louis Aerospace Plant — Fight to Restore Washington State Aluminum Plant Goes National — One Last Reminder for the IAM Legislative Conference

Jun 10, 2022 | Machinists On The Hill, Politics & Legislative News

REPS. BUSH, CLEAVER SEEK ANSWERS TO STOP GKN AEROSPACE PLANT CLOSURE: U.S. Reps. Cori Bush (D-MO) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) are asking GKN Aerospace CEO David Paja and GKN President of Defense Shawn Black for answers and requesting their support and assistance in saving approximately 1,000 family-sustaining jobs at GKN Aerospace in Hazelwood, MO.

Click here to read the letter.

“The recent announcement that the facility would close next year came as a surprise for our local community, particularly given the risk of losing hundreds of good-paying jobs in the process,” write Reps. Bush and Cleaver in a letter to GKN leadership. “Given the impact, this would have on families and our economy, our top priority is to see what can be done to keep these jobs in St. Louis.” 

WATCH: Missouri representatives work to save 1,000 GKN jobs FOX 2 Now St. Louis

GKN Aerospace recently announced plans to completely shut down this facility by the end of 2023, with layoffs commencing in mid-2022. Workers at the facility, many of whom are U.S. military veterans, have devoted their lives to proudly producing world-class aerospace components.

IAM Local 387 (District 837) members currently produce aircraft parts for a wide variety of U.S. Defense Department platforms, including the F-15, F-18A, CH-53, and Advanced Programs. The facility was previously owned by the Boeing Co. but was purchased by GKN in 2001. In 2018, GKN was purchased by the British parent company Melrose Industries.

“The IAM will provide the necessary resources to make sure all workers at this GKN facility in Hazelwood receive information from the company,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Our members have worked years to make this company a major supplier in the aerospace industry. The IAM will work to educate our elected officials on Capitol Hill on the importance of keeping this facility open and maintaining this highly skilled workforce.”

READ: U.S. Rep. Cori Bush presses GKN Aerospace for answers on Hazelwood plant closure affecting 900 St. Louis Business Journal

“The IAM appreciates Reps. Bush and Cleaver for standing up for our members at GKN,” said IAM Midwest General Vice President Steve Galloway. “We are trying to find the answers to keep this facility open, especially since it plays a huge role in keeping our nation safe. IAM District 837 is fully engaged with the entire Missouri Congressional Delegation and will continue to have discussions with state and local elected officials. Our union will fight to ensure IAM members can continue their careers at GKN Aerospace.”

“IAM District 837 is grateful that Reps. Bush and Cleaver are requesting information that our members, other families of Hazelwood, and the surrounding communities need to make major decisions for their future,” said IAM District 837 President and Directing Business Representative Tom Boelling. “We hope that we can keep this plant open and continue to keep our nation safe.”

PRESSURE INCREASES ON POWER ADMINISTRATION TO RESTORE IAM ‘GREEN’ ALUMINUM PLANT IN WASHINGTON STATE: The IAM is on the front pages of the national media for its efforts to restore hundreds of IAM jobs in Washington state and restart the only “green” aluminum smelter on the West Coast. A deal with the regional power authority, the Bonneville Power Administration, is the last remaining hurdle.

READ: A factory wants to reopen making ‘green’ aluminum. Now it just needs clean energy. The Washington Post

IAM Local 2379 (District 160) members at Intalco Works recently overwhelmingly ratified a five-year collective bargaining agreement with Blue Wolf Capital Partners, one of the last steps toward reopening and modernizing the facility and restoring hundreds of jobs in Whatcom County.

The entire Washington state congressional delegation is pressuring the BPA to “work in good faith” to “reach a competitive power agreement sufficient to reopen the Intalco aluminum smelter in Ferndale.”

SIGN THE PETITION: Tell BPA to let Intalco reopen!

“Our members at IAM Local 2379 have endured so many ups and downs over restarting the aluminum plant and securing an agreement with the Bonneville Power Authority,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “Our members need elected officials in the state of Washington and Washington, DC to help bring relief for hundreds of working families in Whatcom County. The members earned this contract that will serve a model in the aluminum manufacturing industry.”

“The IAM has committed our full resources to help restore the hundreds of strategic manufacturing jobs at Intalco Works,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “We need our allies to do everything possible to reopen the facility. Restarting the operations at Intalco Works is an opportunity to reverse bad policy decisions and secure a victory under the policies implemented by the Biden-Harris Administration. Our union is urging the U.S. Department of Energy and the Bonneville Power Administration to restore the power agreement to help make our nation less reliant on aluminum imports from foreign enemies.” 

THE IAM LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! BE SURE TO BOOK MEETINGS WITH YOUR SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS: We look forward to seeing many of you at the 2022 IAM Legislative Conference from June 20 to 22 at the Hyatt Regency Washington!

Friendly reminder: All delegates planning to attend the 2022 IAM Legislative Conference should pre-schedule meetings with their Congressional District Representatives and Senators for the afternoons of Tuesday, June 21, and Wednesday, June 22. No delegate will be allowed to enter the Congressional office buildings without a confirmed meeting scheduled and a government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.

Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your Congressional District Representative and Senator’s offices to schedule meetings directly with their offices.

IAM TURNS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HELP SAVE NORTH DAKOTA MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES PLANT: The IAM, which represents approximately 174 workers at the Motor Coach Industries (MCI) bus plant in Pembina, N.D., is using every resource available to protect its membership and stop MCI’s parent company, Canada-based New Flyer International, from closing the facility.

“Despite being profitable, the company intends to shutter this Pembina facility and lay off its hard-working men and women who helped them reach its set goals for the quarters,” wrote IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. in a letter to the North Dakota congressional delegation. “We are asking for your help in reaching out to MCI and have the company reconsider the decision to shutter this Pembina facility.”

The announcement to close the Pembina facility comes a year after the IAM raised concerns that MCI was secretly taking steps towards closing the plant. The company, at the time, disputed those claims.

READ: Devastated community, North Dakota jobs to move to Minnesota Cool 98.7 FM Pembina

IAM members at the facility proudly build motor coaches for inner-city transit and commuter buses, as well as specialized tour buses and prison buses. The company says that work done in Pembina will be transferred to MCI facilities in Canada and Minnesota.

“Unfortunately, our suspicions were correct when we sounded alarm bells about impending plans to close the MCI plant in Pembina and devastate this community,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “At a time when transit systems and the government are making massive investments in bus transit, it makes no sense to close this facility and lay off hundreds of skilled workers. We are in constant communication with our North Dakota District leadership and will continue to provide our members with any assistance necessary. The IAM is reaching out to all stakeholders to launch a full-court press to save this plant and this community.”

IAM CHAMPIONS SUPPORT ON CAPITOL HILL FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH PROGRAM: As the largest defense and aerospace union in North America, the IAM staunchly supports the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program and the essential resources required to maintain its success.

The Machinists Union applauds the work of U.S. Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO) and Douglas Lamborn (R-CO), who authored a letter asking Air Force Secretary Frank Kendell III to continue making the NSSL program a priority.

“Consistent, robust support of this highly successful program is essential to ensuring our national security, maintaining the U.S. advantage as the world leader in space, and bolstering our domestic space industrial base and the workforce that ensures the program’s success,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. in a letter supporting the effort.

The bipartisan Congressional letter outlines the need for a resilient and reliable space program, including the NSSL program, which will continue to keep the nation safe and deter aggressions from outside threats.

Machinists Union members have played a vital role in the success of the U.S. space program since its inception, with generations of IAM members working to maintain and further a space program that is second to none.

From coast to coast, the IAM represents thousands of highly-skilled workers throughout the NSSL program, from launch sites to manufacturing facilities at United Launch Alliance, Kennedy Space Center, and beyond. Continued support of this program is vital to our member’s jobs, the domestic economy, and U.S. national defense.

IAM LOCAL 701, CONGRESSIONAL ALLIES PUSH FOR FEDERAL FUNDS TO OPEN NEW, EXPANDED CHICAGOLAND MECHANIC TRAINING CENTER: IAM Automobile Mechanics’ Local 701, as well as U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and 13 Illinois members of Congress led by U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), are asking for federal funding to open a new, larger and more modern training center for automotive, trucking, forklift and other represented mechanics in the Chicagoland area.

The Mechanics’ Local 701 Training Fund Board of Trustees is looking to triple the number of entry-level mechanics they can train and place in good wages, good benefits, and lifetime career employment opportunities.

Interest in technical skill careers has increased precipitously, forcing the Fund to relocate from a 5,000 square-foot facility in Carol Stream to a 20,000 square-foot facility in Aurora.

“Mechanics’ Local 701’s grant submission for the Farnsworth facility will address the technician shortage across the country by enhancing training options and increasing capacity,” wrote Durbin to the U.S. Economic Development Administration. “The new facility, which is nearly five times larger than the current facility, will include entry-level programs which have seen increasing demand since before the pandemic.”

“Mechanics Local 701 is a critical organization that is responsible for training thousands of mechanics across the Chicagoland area,” wrote Foster and 12 other members of the U.S. Congressional delegation from Illinois. “This funding will enable the organization to expand their operations, tripling the amount of entry-level mechanics who benefit from the competitive wages, benefits, and a lifetime of employment opportunities.”

MAINE, PENNSYLVANIA STATE COUNCILS GATHER TO GROW POWER: Hundreds of IAM members in both Pennsylvania and Maine recently joined together to plan for upcoming elections and hear from federal, state, and local officials.

WATCH: Video recaps of the Maine State Council and Pennsylvania State Council

The post Political Pressure Turned Up to Save St. Louis Aerospace Plant — Fight to Restore Washington State Aluminum Plant Goes National — One Last Reminder for the IAM Legislative Conference appeared first on IAMAW.

Machinists Union Ratifies New Labor Deal at Washington State Aluminum Plant- Tale of Two Administrations- NFFE-IAM Calls on Biden Administration to Increase Firefighter Pay Nationwide

Jun 9, 2022 | Machinists On The Hill, Politics & Legislative News

Machinists Union Ratifies New Labor Deal at Washington State Aluminum Plant as Urgency Increases on Bonneville Power Administration to Help Restart Facility, Save Hundreds of Jobs: IAM Local 2379 (District 160) members at Intalco Works, a Washington State aluminum manufacturing plant, have overwhelmingly ratified a five-year collective bargaining agreement with Blue Wolf Capital Partners, one of the last steps toward reopening and modernizing the facility and restoring hundreds of jobs in Whatcom County.

The final remaining hurdle for IAM Local 2379 members in Ferndale, WA,  is the absence of a power agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The BPA previously provided electricity for Intalco Works for 50 years. A reopened and modernized aluminum manufacturing plant would be one of only two green aluminum smelters in the United States. The reopening of this plant would also reduce aluminum imports from Russia, China, and the Middle East.

The agreement builds upon the previous collective bargaining agreement with improvements to wages and benefits, quarterly bonuses, and job protections.

“Our members at IAM Local 2379 have endured so many ups and downs over restarting the aluminum plant and securing an agreement with the Bonneville Power Authority,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “Our members need elected officials in the state of Washington and Washington, DC to help bring relief for hundreds of working families in Whatcom County. The members earned this contract that will serve a model in the aluminum manufacturing industry.”

Highlights of the agreements include:

• Improvements in wages, performance bonus plan, paid sick leave, paid vacation, overtime distribution, and new employee starting wages.
• Quarterly retention bonuses
• Seniority will be honored for previous employees, meaning they don’t have to start over with wages, vacation, etc.
• Guaranteed equity in the new company; if there is a sale in the future, employees and retirees will get a payout.
• Generous 401(k) contribution and match

“The IAM has committed our full resources to help restore the hundreds of strategic manufacturing jobs at Intalco Works,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “We need our allies to do everything possible to reopen the facility. Restarting the operations at Intalco Works is an opportunity to reverse bad policy decisions and secure a victory under the policies implemented by the Biden-Harris Administration. Our union is urging the U.S. Department of Energy and the Bonneville Power Administration to restore the power agreement to help make our nation less reliant on aluminum imports from foreign enemies.” 

The Ferndale, WA City Council recently passed a resolution calling on BPA to restore power to the Intalco Works aluminum manufacturing plant. A 2019 economic report developed by Western Washington University highlighted the economic multiplier of creating manufacturing jobs in the region.

The IAM will continue working with the State of Washington, former members of management, and Blue Wolf Capital Partners to reopen and modernize the Intalco Works.

READ: IAM Asks Washington State for Funding to Restore Aluminum Smelter Jobs

READ: IAM, Allies Secure Help for Laid-Off Members at Alcoa Intalco Works

READ: As Layoffs Begin at Alcoa Intalco, Machinists Continue Fight to Save Aluminum Jobs

Washington Congressional Delegation Urges Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to Negotiate in Good Faith to Restore Intalco Aluminum Plant: The entire Washington state Congressional Delegation, led by U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., sent a bipartisan letter to the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), asking them to negotiate in good faith with Blue Wolf Capital and labor groups to reopen the Intalco green aluminum smelter in Ferndale, Wash. And decrease U.S. dependence on foreign aluminum.

This letter comes on the heels of IAM Local 2379 (District 160) members at Intalco Works ratifying a five-year collective bargaining agreement with Blue Wolf Capital Partners, one of the last steps toward reopening and modernizing the facility and restoring hundreds of jobs in Whatcom County. The agreement builds upon the previous collective bargaining agreement with improvements to wages and benefits, quarterly bonuses, and job protections.

“As we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and work to forge more resilient supply chains, reopening Intalco is an incredible opportunity to bring back over 700 family-wage union jobs and restore the only source of domestically produced aluminum west of the Mississippi River,” reads the letter from the Washington Congressional Delegation. “Prior to its curtailment, the Intalco plant was one of the largest employers in Whatcom County, supporting thousands of indirect jobs and economic activity throughout our region in addition to the workers at the facility itself. Restarting Intalco would allow Washingtonians to return to these high-paying jobs, reinvigorate our economy, and secure our domestic production capacity to make aluminum in America for years to come.”

“Our members at IAM Local 2379 appreciate the Washington Congressional Delegation for their efforts in helping secure an agreement with the Bonneville Power Authority,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “Their voices represent the entire state and help accelerate the much-needed relief for hundreds of working families in Whatcom County. Our union has worked tirelessly with many allies and stakeholders to reopen this shuddered facility for nearly two years now. We need to restore the jobs and get our members back to work.”

“On behalf of the IAM, I want to thank the Washington Congressional Delegation for standing with our members and their families on their quest to restart their careers and build back some of what was lost when the plant closed,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “Restarting this facility is critical for these workers and the local economy. As our union has been advocating for generations, it is vitally important to our economic and national security that we increase strategic domestic manufacturing and bolster our domestic supply chains. Reopening this facility would be a huge step in this direction with a shovel-ready project that could be up and running within months.”

The IAM will continue working with the Washington Congressional Delegation, the State of Washington, former members of management, and Blue Wolf Capital Partners to reopen and modernize the Intalco Works.

READ: Machinists Union Ratifies New Labor Deal at Washington State Aluminum Plant as Urgency Increases on Bonneville Power Administration to Help Restart Facility, Save Hundreds of Jobs

READ: IAM Asks Washington State for Funding to Restore Aluminum Smelter Jobs

READ: IAM, Allies Secure Help for Laid-Off Members at Alcoa Intalco Works

READ: As Layoffs Begin at Alcoa Intalco, Machinists Continue Fight to Save Aluminum Jobs

A Tale of Two Administrations: A Stark Contrast for Working People and Unions at the NLRB and Beyond: Regardless of your personal political beliefs, the facts illustrate how the Trump Administration’s actions weakened union members’ rights, while the Biden Administration has taken steps to empower unions.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is a critical independent government agency that is charged with enforcing U.S. labor law. NLRB members and its general counsel are appointed by the president, and make many decisions that affect the lives of working people.

The Trump NLRB made a slew of rulings that weakened our rights, including:

• Stripped flight line workers who voted for IAM representation of a union
• Prevented union organizers from accessing cafeterias/public areas
• Made it harder for unions to prove they have majority support
• Gave employers more time to urge employees to not join a union without following standard procedure
• And much more

The Trump Administration also took away workers’ rights to retain their jobs when a new service contractor was brought in, affecting thousands of IAM Service Contract Act workers who work on military bases.

The Trump Administration removed union access for federal sector employees and made bargaining in the federal workforce more difficult.

The Biden administration, on the other hand, showed its pro-union stance when the first step Biden took as president was to fire former NLRB General Counsel Peter Robb, who had pushed anti-worker cases and decisions at the agency. The Biden Administration has also created a first-of-its-kind Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment that expands union access for both federal workers and private sector workers who work on military bases and other federal property 

The Biden NLRB has taken a historically pro-union, pro-worker stance and invited briefs on:

• Allowing unions to organize appropriate bargaining units, instead of only “wall-to-wall”
• Expanding traditional make-whole remedies for unfair labor practice to include consequential damages
• More rights for workers to engage in concerted activity
• Expanding the definition of independent contractors to bring greater protections to workers
• And much more

Click here to access the IAM Fact Sheet on the “Presidential Impact on Labor

Federal Wildland Firefighters’ Union (NFFE) Calls on Biden Administration to Increase Firefighter Pay Nationwide, and Fast, or Face Disaster: Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) National President Randy Erwin is calling on the Biden Administration to use its authority granted under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 to increase federal wildland firefighter pay across the board nationwide and to do so immediately. The union warns that federal agencies are currently experiencing critical staffing shortages nationwide and further delay of the pay increase, or geographically limiting its implementation, would significantly jeopardize our nation’s ability to fight wildfires and protect communities.

“I do not think folks are aware of just how serious the wildland firefighter staffing issue is in this country,” said President Erwin, “Federal firefighters are so woefully underpaid that agencies are unable to hire and retain the staff they need to operate. All indications are that the United States is going to face a very difficult fire season, and right now, fire agencies are simply not going to have the personnel they need to contend with it. Frontline workers will be forced to use skeleton crews filled with highly inexperienced firefighters. This is a recipe for disaster, both for our brave wildland firefighters and the communities that will not be sufficiently protected.”

The Biden Administration is at a critical juncture right now because federal wildland firefighters who overwhelmingly live paycheck to paycheck have been holding out hope that this long-overdue pay increase authorized by Congress last year would finally come through. Just this week, wildland firefighters are starting to get a glimpse of what might be forthcoming on pay, and many are infuriated by proposals that will exclude certain locations. The infrastructure legislation called on agencies to “increase the base salary of a Federal wildland firefighter by the lesser of an amount that is commensurate with an increase of $20,000 per year or an amount equal to 50 percent of base salary, if… the Federal wildland firefighter is located within a specified geographic area in which it is difficult to recruit or retain a Federal wildland firefighter.” Even though recruitment and retention are clearly nationwide problems, it appears that the Biden Administration is not currently committed to that interpretation as it relates to this pay increase.

“It is absolutely imperative that the Biden Administration get this right – that means implementing the wildland firefighter pay increase right away and nationwide,” continued Erwin. “Everyone knows that recruiting and retaining wildland firefighters is extremely difficult right now everywhere across the country. If this Administration chooses a path that involves significant raises for some wildland firefighters, but not others, it will be met with outrage from those – the loyal few who did not seek employment elsewhere – drawing the short end of the stick. Recruitment and retention will go from difficult to impossible. That means more wildland firefighters being put in harm’s way and more communities burning because of a lack of adequate fire personnel to stop it. The Biden Administration needs to get this done right and get it done fast.”

 Machinists Union: New Flyer International Carrying Out Plan to Betray U.S. Workers, Close Motor Coach Industries Plant in Pembina, N.D.: The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which represents approximately 174 workers at the Motor Coach Industries (MCI) bus plant in Pembina, N.D., will use every resource available to protect its membership and stop MCI’s parent company, Canada-based New Flyer International, from closing the facility.

The announcement to close the Pembina facility comes a year after the IAM raised concerns that MCI was secretly taking steps towards closing the plant. The company, at the time, disputed those claims.

On May 19, 2022, MCI management informed its workforce that the plant, which has operated in Pembina since 1963, would close by the end of 2022.

IAM members at the facility proudly build motor coaches for inner-city transit and commuter buses, as well as specialized tour buses and prison buses. The company says that work done in Pembina will be transferred to MCI facilities in Canada and Minnesota.

“Unfortunately, our suspicions were correct when we sounded alarm bells about impending plans to close the MCI plant in Pembina and devastate this community,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “At a time when transit systems and the government are making massive investments in bus transit, it makes no sense to close this facility and lay off hundreds of skilled workers. We are in constant communication with our North Dakota District leadership and will continue to provide our members with any assistance necessary. The IAM is reaching out to all stakeholders to launch a full-court press to save this plant and this community.”

The closing announcement comes despite the company telling the IAM that the Pembina facility was one of two of its facilities that had made goals and were profitable during the first quarter of 2022.

In 2019, MCI moved the bulk of its CRT electric bus production from Pembina to its Crookston, Minn. facility. MCI expanded its Minnesota facility to accommodate the production, even though Pembina already had the capacity to run the product on an assembly line no longer used for production.

IAM offers to help further attract skilled workers to the Pembina plant have not been taken up by the company.

Machinists Union Urges American Worker-focused Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) with Binding and Enforceable Labor and Environmental Standards: The IAM urges the Biden administration to shape an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, also known as IPEF, that prioritizes benefits for the American worker. This includes transparency in the negotiation process as well as enforceable labor standards.

On Monday, President Joe Biden announced the launch of the IPEF, a multi-nation trade strategy intended to solidify U.S. ties in the region. The IAM has been involved in recent discussions with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Commerce, the two agencies tasked with sculpting the IPEF. 

“I thank the Biden administration for seeking input from labor unions such as the IAM as they shape the IPEF. As I told U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo during a meeting earlier this month, the IAM is not against trade, but we are against unfair trade policy,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr.  “We’ve seen the hardships on workers due to bad trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA. That said, we strongly encourage the IPEF to include binding and enforceable labor and environmental standards. It is not fair for our nation’s workers to be forced to go up against a competing nation that does not recognize human rights like collective bargaining or even environmental protections that could result in a company’s production facility poisoning workers and their families. We encourage IPEF to be a trading strategy that requires involved nations to match U.S. labor and environmental laws.”

Martinez has also said that trade policy should be led by USTR and the U.S. Congress, which has the expertise of lawmakers and support staff who know labor, environment, supply chain, and other factors involved in fair trade policy. The proposed IPEF does not require congressional ratification.

The proposed IPEF is made up of 13 nations, including countries like Vietnam and Malaysia, which the IAM has historically raised human rights concerns with during the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) during the Obama administration. The TPP deal was eventually withdrawn.

“As we’ve said in past, the TPP placed corporate interests over basic human rights. The failed TPP would have promoted wage declines and outsourcing of hundreds of thousands of domestic jobs to countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, which historically fail at recognizing fundamental human rights, like the right to join a union, engage in collective bargaining and be free from discrimination, child labor, and forced labor,” Martinez said.

COMPETES ACT: IAM International President Robert Martinez, Jr., recently submitted a letter to all members of Congress, urging conferees to meet on the Bipartisan Innovation Act (USICA and COMPETES Act) to reach an agreement that will benefit the American worker. Both chambers of Congress are hashing out a reconciliation of the two massive trade bills. The IAM has been a supporter of the trade title in the COMPETES Act, which was drafted with several worker-friendly provisions, including robust funding for the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. Martinez’s correspondence to the lawmakers urges them to retain all provisions in the trade title of the House-passed COMPETES Act. Read the complete letter.
 

IAM Members Should Service Historic Route from Washington to Cape Town: This week International President Robert Martinez, Jr. sent a letter to United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to support United Airlines’ application for international flights to Cape Town, South Africa, from Dulles International near Washington D.C.

“United’s proposal for consistent and reliable flights between the two destinations will greatly benefit the Washington, DC metro region and beyond,” stated Martinez. “In addition, this approval would strengthen the work our members do at Dulles and elsewhere.”

Read the full letter.

The proposed tri-weekly 14.5-hour flights will provide the vital union jobs the Biden administration has promised to protect. In addition, many hard-working IAM members will service this route which aims to tie government, business, and cultural ties that current competing airlines cannot match.

“Being United Airlines’ longest direct flight destination is historic,” said Air Transport Territory General Vice President Richard Johnsen. “The IAM will continue to advocate for this approval from the Department of Transportation, which supports solid union jobs for our members.”

Learn More: Why Must a U.S. Airline require approval from the DOT for International Flights?

Leadership II Classes Back On Capitol Hill: More than 25 Machinists Union members from the IAM Leadership II program at the William W. Wipinsinger Center recently lobbied their members of Congress, bringing the voice of working people to the halls of the U.S. Capitol.

It was the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic the class was able to lobby in person, making sure the issues of Machinists Union members and their families reached both houses of Congress.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Rep. Rodney Davis (D-IL), and staff members from Sens. Patty Murray’s (D-WA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), took time to meet with IAM leaders and hear about the issues affecting our members.

The day before the class headed to the Hill, IAM Local Lodge 751A and Local 1351 members lobbied via Zoom from the W3 Center with staff members of Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), creating a unique opportunity for the class to observe and prepare for in-person meetings the following day.

IAM Local 709 Member Honored by Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff: Chandra Williams, Georgia State Council of Machinists executive vice president and member of the IAM Local 709 legislative committee, was recently honored by U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) for her outstanding work in the labor movement and community.

Sen. Ossoff presented Williams with a certificate during a community roundtable held in Cobb County, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. Williams is well known in the Atlanta area for her community advocacy and a strong voice on behalf of working men and women at Local 709 and in the Atlanta metro area. Williams also serves on the AFL-CIO Atlanta Central Labor Council as an executive board member.

“I am humbled to receive this certificate of achievement from Senator Ossoff,” said Williams. “I appreciate his connection to what is happening to working families all over Georgia. Our state has many issues that we need to address, including workers’ rights, student loan interest rates, and voters’ rights. I look forward to ensuring the voices of Georgia Machinists and others in my community are heard in the state capitol and the halls of Congress.”  

Chandra remains dedicated to helping the community stay engaged on the issues that matter most in their lives.

“We are proud of Chandra’s work on behalf of our members at IAM Local 709,” said IAM Local 709 Directing Business Representative Jason Schroeder. “Chandra continues to be an integral part in moving our interests forward and developing solutions to our issues. IAM Local 709 members are grateful for how she keeps us updated on labor issues and connects us with political allies that support the labor movement.”

“Sister Williams has always been an important voice in the Southern Territory, so this achievement does not surprise us,” said IAM Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “This shows why we must keep strong ties in our communities throughout the Territory. Chandra fights every day to protect workers’ rights and their families in the state of Georgia. Our union is thankful for her advocacy.”

“Chandra Williams has been an absolute delight to have our board,” said Atlanta Labor Council Executive Director Sandra Williams. “She has been engaged in every facet, including the Atlanta labor council on the political side and community. Especially during the pandemic, where I couldn’t be more thrilled about her recognition from Sen. Ossoff. Chandra Williams is a pillar in the labor community.

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